Sensibility

Chapter 16

So this was Zayn: his dark searching eyes, wilderness smell, and all consuming lustful pull. And he was like me: plagued by an uncertain past and unknown future.

Would my world ever stop spinning when I was around him?

He had just easily admitted that he could influence how people feel, as though feelings were an origami project for school children. Furthermore, he had barely flinched at my own admission that emotions radiated towards me uncontrollably. After all that, he said he was 'in like with me', and honestly, I was in like with him. The things he did to me; the way he makes me feel; Zayn was a high I never wanted to come down from. I craved more answers from him but right now feeling his rough hand in mine was enough.

Upon reentering the veterinarian hospital waiting area, the pull of unrest and sorrow returns. Yet, I find it more manageable and quickly spot Tori typing away on her laptop. She looks up as Zayn and I walk towards her. She smiles, glows a bright yellow, and her eyes drop to our linked hands. I shuffle uncomfortably at her waves and pull my hand away from the solace of Zayn. Tori noticeably frowns at my actions before I pass her the coffee cup in my hand.

I look away and take a seat by her side while Zayn moves to her other side gracefully. "So," she begins perking up again. "The doctor just told me that Curly is out of surgery and doing well. However, they're keeping a close eye on him for the next few hours as the medication wears off."

My insides jump at the news. I'm relieved that the tiring experience this morning hadn't been for naught.

"You really did a great job, Nik," Tori beams at me and I flush from the compliment. I feel Zayn's gaze as well, and I swear my body is baking under his tempting eyes. I'm suddenly taken back to the night before, and my thighs ache with need.

"So, now the bad news," Tori continues tearing me away from my dissipated thoughts. "Curly didn't have an electronic tracker or collar, so we need to find his owners or hopefully an adopter as soon as possible." Tori's mood has dropped as apparent worry settles over her. "I've been searching Craigslist and Facebook trying to put the word out there, but I need you two to get to the library and make flyers. I'll email you a work up and picture. We can't just turn him over to the shelter without at least trying."

The hopefulness and ambition from Tori strikes my chest. I recoil. Is she really going to make me go out and talk to people? The anxiety speeds my heart rate while my always gung-ho subconscious is pulling me out the door.

"Sounds good," Zayn replies with a smile. I sigh at him. "Let's go, Nicole." His eyes are dancing and as per usual my body bends to his will before my mind can catch up.

......

I watch the copy machine spit out image after image of Curly. He looks content in the picture with his brown optimistic eyes. It's as if no disgusting pain had run through him at all. Somehow it calms my nerves seeing it, and the memories of my meltdown earlier start to loosen even more. I crack a smile thinking how Tori managed to snap the picture in the short time we had been away from her. She probably wrestled the doctors away claiming a greater good was at stake.

I shuffled the warm papers in my hands and walk back to the cluster of computers where Zayn is seated. "So," I say. "What now?"

Zayn rises from his seat and pulls out his phone. "Well I just found a dog park that's only about a mile from here. I say we start there." He seems to type the address into his phone before landing his knee-shaking gaze on me. "You ready?" He asks with a smile.

I organize the papers in my hands and sigh. "As I'll ever be."

Zayn laughs at my clear displeasure and puts a delicate hand on my shoulder to lead me out of the library.