My Friend From Work

Part 3: Fireworks

An hour or so later, I was at the Park of Roses with Blake for our date. We strolled through the park together, which looked just as you'd imagine: a large garden of roses, an assortment of pastels and deep reds, interlaced with stone walkways and beautiful white gazebos. It was like walking straight into a Jane Austen novel. I loved it.

We made our way to one of the gazebos to get out of the sun for a while. I had already filled him in on the mysterious rosary, but I knew he really wanted to know about my "friend-date" (as he called it) with Jody that morning.

"She's a really nice girl," I said, when he finally asked about her. "But I think she might be a little too religious for me."

"Bummer," he said. "I guess it is kind of hard to connect with someone when you don't share the same belief system... or lack thereof."

"Yeah, well, normally it wouldn't bother me so much but..."

I went on to tell Blake what I thought I heard Jody whisper to the homeless woman. I felt silly telling him about it, but Blake turned serious.

"Whoa, that's insane," he said, serious. "Honestly, that doesn't sound like any religion I know about. She sounds kind of... unstable? I don't know, I wouldn't meet up with her again if I were you."

"Yeah, I don't plan on it."

"Hey, I know what'll make you feel better," Blake said, smiling now. He was always good with changing the mood, cheering me up. "Let's take that creepy old rosary and throw it in the lake."

I laughed, nodding. It had been such a weird day, and it all started with this damn rosary. We got up together and ran into the woods toward the lake. When we reached its edge, I fished the heavy beads out of my bag.

"Should we say a few words?" Blake said.

I smiled and said in a loud, official voice: "Begone!"

Blake added in the same tone, "Send these foul beasts into the abyss!"

Laughing, I launched the rosary into the lake as far as I could throw. It sunk instantly with a plop.

Blake put his arm around me and I leaned into his side. I closed my eyes, enjoying the warmth of the sun on my face. Blake pulled me closer and kissed me, deep and slow.

Suddenly, he pulled away, staring intently over my head and across the lake.

"Everything okay?" I said.

"Yeah, it's just, there's someone over there," he said, still staring across the lake.

I followed his gaze. Standing on the other side of the lake, a woman stood, looking in our direction. My heart backflipped in my chest.

"That's Jody."

Blake looked at me, a question on his face. "That's Jody?"

"I'm pretty sure that's her..." I said, squinting in the sun. From this distance, I couldn't see her face in much detail. But I recognized her long, golden hair. The clothes she was wearing earlier today. It had to be her. What was she doing here?

"But I thought you said Jody was a girl?" Blake said.

"What?" I said, surprised. "Yes, Jody is a girl. What are you talking about?"

"That's not Jody," Blake said. "Look closer. You can see that's a man. He has a beard."

I looked at the figure intently, then up at Blake's face, trying to read him. Why is he bullshitting me right now?

"You're paranoid," Blake said, in response to the look on my face. "I promise you, that's not Jody coming to get you."

I looked out across the lake again, starting to question myself. But I looked at the figure, and I couldn't see a beard, no matter how hard I tried. I saw a young girl, with thick brown hair down to her waist. I could imagine her dimpled cheeks and fresh, bright eyes.