One Chance

Chapter 3

It's coming near me, all I know is that its scary and I can't move, I try to scream but nothing comes out, I want to run away but I feel numb.... It's cominggggg....i almost scream out loud and then suddenly open my eyes to realize it was just a nightmare. I take a look at my surroundings and calm myself down. I don't have any water in my room so I go to the kitchen to get some.

For some reason, Amanda is also in the kitchen and I look at the clock on the wall and it's only 6:30 am. I walk up to her and I can see that she's as rattled up as I am. " Bad dream?",I ask. She looks up at me and says " we shouldn't have watched the horror movie last night just because we couldn't fall asleep. I give out a slight chuckle and say," I had one too. But I do think we should give up on watching anything scary in the night."

Since both of us are up, we end up making an early breakfast. Afterwards, we get ready and head out early to go take a walk in the park before heading to our jobs since we still have an hour to go before we have to go work. Both of us love the park, walking was something that has helped clear our heads and we both needed some air after this morning. We both get spooked easily, but we still loved watching horror movies together. We take in the fresh air ,talk and laugh till we both almost forget to check the time. We hurry to get to work.

As I am running into the office, my boss gives a smirk but doesn't say anything which I take a cue to silently start working. I don't stop to even head out for lunch. But all of my colleagues along with my boss go out to eat. I never mind having lunch outside because I usually get something with me to eat. Today I don't seem to have an appetite anyways so I just keep working.

As I decide to take a break and get some water from the tiny kitchen in the office, I notice someone open the door. Since there is still some time to go till the lunch break was over,I get a little suspicious. Maybe I'm still queasy from this morning, but I take precautions and hold my bottle in my hand as a weapon, and make my way to the front of the office. I almost hit the person coming in but abruptly stop when I see that it's Toby holding a bunch of books.

He almost gives me a side smile at my attempt to hit him with a water bottle. He then laughs at my feeble attempt to hide the bottle. I must admit I was a little embarrassed. When he calms down, he says he's here to give these books to my boss as she had requested them to be delivered the last time he was here. I help him with the books and we put them in my boss's office. I take a look at the books and I notice a Nicholas Sparks novel Two by Two. A smile immediately forms on my face as it is one of my favorite books. He notices the look on my face and asks me what kind of books I like to read.

I tell him I prefer to read romantic novels . I also subtly mention that I happen to write a few novels myself, at which he gives me a look which is either confusion or amusement- I can't tell. I tell him, I just post them online and that it was a hobby at best. To my surprise, he says, "I actually didn't expect that and which was why I couldn't think of anything to say.I would like to read them sometime. If you have time you should come to the bookstore opening in a few days". He then hands me an invitation card. " "I'll be leaving then. Tell your boss I stopped by" and gives me another invitation and leaves.

I stand there for a minute trying to take in what just happened. From my embarrassing attempt to blurting out that I write novels. I still can't comprehend his mind. His reactions still leave me puzzled. I walk back to my office after leaving a note on my boss's desk about the books and Toby.

The clock strikes 5:30 in no time and I pack up and leave. It's my day to work in my parent's bakery so I head out by foot a little tried after everything that happened today. I reach the Bakery, which my parents named very simply " Holden's Bakes and cakes". My parents greet me when I enter and I'm pulled into a quick hug by both of them. I help them with the customers and also end up stealing bites from the pie my mom has just made. My mom notices and just gives me the pie to eat while smiling to herself. I love this about my mother. She always knows what I need without me having to say it.

My dad on the other hand is well, more committed to his food than to anything else, well, maybe to my mom a little bit more. The love my parents share is something that I have always dreamed of having. Maybe that's one of the reasons why I have lagged behind. I have high expectations. Not that my dad minds. He's happy that he doesn't have anything to worry about. But, I guess he also wants me to be happy so he is pretty encouraging when he wants to be.

As the day goes on, Mr and Mrs Williams show up. I like to call them Aunt Cindy and Uncle Greg as they are Amanda's parents. My parents are really close with them. Amanda's parents are both doctors so they work in the local hospital. But once a week they show up in the shop to spend time with my parents. They greet me warmly and go take a seat in their usual place.

My parents go join them leaving me all alone at the counter. Not that I mind, but today the bakery is especially busy. But I take one look at the four of them chatting away happily that I carry on with my work. As I am working, Toby shows up. He is as surprised to see me as I am to see him. He has a questioning look in his face and I smile and let him know that it's my parent's bakery and I work here part time. I think this actually made him smile. He asked me what was good so I suggested the humble Apple pie. He seemed to be pleased with it and ordered one to eat and one to take away. While I am packing one for him, my mom shows up behind me and starts a conversation with Toby.

She must have noticed that he was new in town. People rarely escape my mom's eyes. She has a great memory too. As I see them chat away happily I can't help but feel a little warm inside. He really seems like a nice guy. My mom seems to agree because she is smiling happily and doesn't notice that I already put his pie and the package on the counter for him to take. As I give her a nudge she finally notices and gives his order to him.

Soon, it's time to close up. My parents close the bakery by 7:30 because they like relaxing at home before dinner. So I help them clean the tables and close up while they close up the kitchen. The last customer is Toby who is about to leave. He comes up to me and thanks me for my suggestion and gives me a small smile before leaving and saying goodnight. As he leaves , I have a good feeling about the newcomer in town. I watch him go away and then finish up my work.

My parents offer to make me dinner but I politely decline and head home. I reach home before Amanda so I end up making us both dinner, Pasta with chicken and veggies. It's both of our favourite. Plus we both have been eating at the restaurant a lot that we stopped making dinner at home. This feels like a good way to make up for that. And like on time Amanda shows up a little after 9:30. She is incredibly happy looking at the dinner on the table that she digs in even before freshing up. We decide to go right to sleep after the uneventful morning we had.

As I slowly drift to sleep, I replay all the things that happened today. The interaction with Toby and work. I plan to show up to work on time tomorrow. I chuckle to think of my boss and how she is usually grumpy but is also the best, my parents and their relationship and just now everything seems just perfect but something seems to be missing. I think of the word love and before I know it I fall asleep.

I wake up the next day and head into work before time. Slowly make my way quickly passing my boss's office and settle into my chair. I am in the middle of writing a new article that my boss shows up. She sits across from me and says that she needs me to go somewhere to collect some information for a new article.

I almost want to say why me.. but think against it and just ask her.. where do I need to go? . She gives me one of her signature smiles that makes me scared as well as confused and wait for the words to come out of her mouth.
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Authors note: Thank you for reading . This is only the 3rd chapter. I hope to write more soon. Since it is my first book, I hope you can give me feedback and I will work on it.