The Secret of The Glow

Chapter 3

Kizzy thought the meeting went pretty well considering that she was basically turning down the wonderful opportunity her boss had given her. Adding insult to injury she was also questioning their judgment and requesting that they give her a different assignment. The audacity!

Her ears burned slightly as she remembered how awkward and guilty she felt as they pressed her for specific answers as to why she felt she was no longer qualified to work with the case study.

Luckily, her knack with words was able to pull her through, but just barely. She had told them that the subject was no longer an integral source for her main focus areas and it would be in both their best interests if they were both free to pursue other avenues which would directly benefit their key interests.

Did they buy it? She was not sure especially since her cheeks were redder than Rudolph's nose when she said it. Could they also tell how much it hurt her to say those things about her and Dylan. Even though it wasn't true it still felt so final like she was saying goodbye. It felt like she was rejecting him, and letting everyone know that she didn't want him. It felt like she was making a mockery of their connection. This was far from the truth. She wanted him more than ever. Every single fiber of her being ached to be near him. While in the same vein she was petrified of getting too close to him. Convinced that she would be putting his life in danger again if someone came after her necklace again. Fearful of the pain and grief she would feel if she had to lose him. Worried that she too like her dad would buckle under the immense weight of the loss of the one he loved.

Just as she was about to spiral off into more despair about not being with Dylan her cell phone rang. Her heart skipped a beat at the thought that it could be him. Maybe he felt her thinking of him and with the wonderful connection they had, that's why he was calling her now.

She checked the caller's id and tried to hide her crushing disappointment when she saw that it was not him.

"Hi Tara!" she said with as much cheer as she could muster.

"Hi Kizzy!" Tara replied, " You sound really happy to hear me, NOT!"

"Aren't you tired of moping around yet?"

Kizzy bit back a sigh of exasperation. She knew that Tara was just trying to help but still it didn't really seemed to be helping or working.

"I am not moping around," Kizzy lied, more to herself than Tara. "I am actually just leaving campus, I had the meeting today with the Association."

Tara sighed inwardly. I can't believe she really went thru with this.

"I am on my way to your apartment - and I come bearing gifts - ice cream, your favorite, Rocky Road." Tara continued. "I will see you in a half hour or so."

"Okay see you then," Kizzy replied. She had mixed emotions, she loved Tara like the sister she never had but she didn't even feel like being in her company. Yes, she knew she could be herself around Tara, but she wasn't feeling like herself. She was feeling like an emotional basket case. All she wanted to do was to curl up in a ball and never come out from under the covers of her bed.

Dylan parked the rental Hyundai Elantra neatly in the Bayfront Park Amphitheater parking lot. It was 2:15 pm. He was early but he kind of just wanted to get the meeting over with. He knew she and Davis were worried about the tour and his state of mind, especially after what happened at the previous show the other night. He himself still wasn't sure what exactly had happened. But he knew it could never happen again or his career and the tour were ruined.

He had been on stage when he completely forgot the lyrics. He had caught himself and had made a joke to the audience about it. He was about to start again when he saw her. At least he thought it was her, Kizzy. She was there in the audience, looking at him, with so much love. He faltered again.