Rescue Me

Rescue Me | Chapter Three

Andrea leisurely walked through her resident Whole Foods, enjoying her moderately quiet shopping experience. All of the usual hustle and bustle of the evening shoppers dialed down this Friday evening. Most people would be out with friends or on a date.

Halfway through the produce department, her internal dialogue is interrupted when she hears, "We have to stop meeting like this, people will talk." Recognizing Jared's smooth voice she turned towards him. His big, bright smile took her breath away.

"I didn't take you for a man worried about his reputation. She giggled, "I am, however, starting to get concerned that you have a habit of following me. Do I need a restraining order?"

Jared laughed as he pulled her into a hug, "I promise I'm not, we just keep crossing paths. What are you doing grocery shopping on a Friday night?"

"I could ask you the same question, Leto." She replied freeing herself from his embrace and continuing through the store, Jared right behind her.

"What's with the formalities, Bennett?"

Andrea rolled her eyes before she turned to the shelf, "Did you lose your sense of humor?"

"Did you just roll your eyes at me?" Jared asked in a playful tone. "Really though, why are you here, shouldn't you be out on a date or something?"

She glanced at him, noting the hint of shyness in his voice when he spoke and the look on his face resembled a pout. 'One minute he's warm and playful the next he's cold and distant.'

"Yes. I rolled my eyes at you. As for why I'm not on a date, mom, that's none of your business." She answered, gently hitting him on the arm with a fresh baguette before placing it into her cart. They walked along together aisle by aisle collecting items from their lists for a few moments when Andrea spoke, "I had an audition and decided to grab some things while out. "

"How did it go?" Jared asked, sounding genuinely interested.

"I think it went well actually, I feel really good about this one. Trying not to get too excited though because I have before and it didn't work out."

They approached the checkout line and started unloading their groceries. "You'll get there, just have faith in yourself." Jared said as he nudged her arm.

As she handed her credit card to the cashier she smirked, "So when do you guys leave? You said you wanted to see me, but have yet to call. Good thing I didn't hold my breath, huh?"

Jared narrowed his eyes at her while he quickly grabbed her card from the cashier, replacing it with his own.

"Ah, there's the sass I've come to expect from you. I had a theory we would see each other again."

"So you're a scientist now as well as a rockstar?" She quipped, jutting her left hip and snatching her card from him, her voice showing her irritation at him, "I can buy my own groceries, thank you."

Jared took his card back from the cashier, grabbed their bags and they started towards the door. "You know Andie, you're pretty cute when you're pissed off." He stated, " and I bought the groceries because I wanted to, not because I didn't think you couldn't. Chill out." He stopped, gesturing at the parking lot, "Which one is yours?"

"Chill out? Really Jared? You're going to tell me to chill out? You're the one that's different every time we see each other. YOU chill out!" She yelled, crossing her arms over her chest. Jared raised his eyebrows at her and smirked at her raising her voice at him. "Don't you smirk at me, you know it's true."

'She has a point.' he thought spotting a small gray SUV that looked similar to the one she got into the first night they met and started towards it hoping it was hers. Stopping at the back end of the car he waited for Andie to catch up and nodded, "Is it this one?"

"You're such a pain in the ass. Yes, Stalker, it's this one." Jared laughed as Andie opened the trunk and loaded the bags. He shut the door and leaned against it, placing his hands in his pockets, "That's not the first and certainly won't be the last time I've been told that." He said with a wink.

She was so frustrated with him but couldn't help laughing. Making her way to the front of the car to leave, "Ugh. Go home Jared."

"Let's have dinner together instead. I want some of that vegetable lasagna you just bought the ingredients for."

"You bought them, remember?" She scoffed.

He reached out and grabbed her forearm. "Andie stop, come on. Now who's being the pain in the ass?" He chuckled, "Did it really piss you off that badly that I bought you ten dollars worth of groceries?"

She lightly smacked him on the chest, "No, I guess not. Come on, punk you can follow me to my house. I'm not far from your place." Jared opened the door of her car for her and then jogged across the parking lot to his truck.

They pulled up in front of her slate gray townhome. Jared followed her to the door, taking in his surroundings and admiring the sunset as she fumbled for her keys. "The door always gets stuck." Andie said as she bumped her hip against the door. "Come in, make yourself at home." Jared walked into her home and followed her down a short hallway before making a left into the kitchen. He placed the groceries on the counter and turned around, watching as Andie stepped out of her high heels and rubbed the bottom of her left foot up and down her right leg.

"I do not miss wearing those things. You ladies go through hell for beauty's sake."

Andie looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "You have experience wearing heels?" She questioned as she walked over to stand next to him at the counter. He had laid the vegetables out already, so after she washed her hands, she grabbed her cutting board and a knife.

"Briefly, during my last film project." Picking up the zucchini he asked, "How do you want this cut?"

Andie smiled at him, "You get more interesting each time I see you. And lengthwise, please, that's the noodle substitution of my veggie lasagna." As if on cue, Jared's stomach grumbled and they both laughed.

Once dinner was ready, they sat on her balcony talking. Jared knew it was getting late and that he should be getting home. He had a flight to catch in a couple days and a ton of prep to complete prior. He shoved those thoughts aside quickly as an idea hit him. Why hadn't he thought of it sooner? He looked across the small patio table to Andie, who was lost in her own thoughts, dragging her finger carefully around the rim of her wine glass.

"Hey Andie," he said, breaking their comfortable silence, "I have an idea."