Living Fantasy, Bit III

Word Count 984

    “What are you doing here?  Want some pizza?  There is nothing growing on it.”  I couldn’t believe that’s what came out my mouth.  Jen looked at me with a quizzical expression.  Great opening you idiot.  I’d never seen the Statue of Liberty with a questioning look before, but even dumbfounded Jen looked good, dang hot actually.

    “Um, I’ll pass on the pizza, Hank, thanks anyway.  Are you okay? you left the party before I could say hello.”

    “Yeah,” I intelligently replied.  I couldn’t think of anything else to say.  Women do that to me.  Quick, something witty, say something witty you dolt.  “The pizza is still good, I cooked it yesterday, wait maybe it was the day before that.”  Arghh, you moron, get a grip.  Man my tongue was thick

    Jen pushed her sun streaked hair behind an ear.  “Are you okay, did you hit your head or something when you fell?” she said with a now worried look.  “Do you need to go to the doctor or something? I can take you if you want.” 

    Man, she had beautiful eyes, “I uh, um, didn’t know the Statue of Liberty had such beautiful green eyes.”  Holy @&$%, I should just become a hermit.  “Yes, I mean no; I mean I am fine, sorry.”  I was sweating now; I’d started in the Creature from the Black Lagoon costume and with Jen near my glands kicked into high gear.  “Sorry, I just don’t do real well with a lot of people around, sorry.”  My shirt was getting wet.

    She smiled at me, her emerald eyes twinkled and she cocked her head slightly to the side.  Man my tongue was swelling.

    “Good, I was a little … worried for a moment.  I thought maybe that was you in the Creature suit, nice costume by the way.  Would you like to come back up, I’ll introduce you around if you like?”

  “Huh? you mean me?”  That was an intelligent reply Don Juan.  “I mean thanks but no, I’ve probably done enough damage for one night thanks.”

    “Oh, well okay, I better be getting back since it is at our apartment and all.”

    If I didn’t know better I would have thought she looked a little disappointed.  Don’t let her walk away you dolt, this is your chance do something!  "Uh, Jen, maybe if you aren’t busy we could go for a bike ride or something Saturday?  I mean if you can’t that’s okay if you don’t want to, or you have to wash your hair you know.”  Real smooth there Romeo.

    She smiled, my heart did a flip-flop.

    “Sure Hank, that would be great, I’ll be down about one okay.” 

    With that she spun around and left before I could do anything else stupid.  And I was thankful.

arfarfbowwowwooarfarfbowwowwowarfarf

    Jen was standing at my door in a pair of jeans and a black tank top, hair pulled back in a loose ponytail.  I am pretty sure it was my turn to say something but I was having a tough time thinking.  I was actually living a fantasy spending the afternoon with Jen.  “Hi,” I squeaked.  Nice, she’ll think I am going through puberty at 26.

    We rode a few blocks to a bike path that circled town.  I followed her, the scenery was utterly breathtaking.  I had a very difficult time concentrating on riding the bike.  Arriving at the bike path I pulled next to her and we rode side by side.

    “I see you leaving on your bike fairly often, you must like riding.”  Good move dolt, now she thinks you’re stalking her.  It was all I could think of to say.  “I like to ride, I don’t get to as often as I would like though, school keeps me pretty busy, but physical activity helps me think.”

    “Really? I like riding, I find it relaxing.  I assume you go to the university here, what are you taking?”

    “Yeah, I am a grad student there.”  I almost sounded normal, but she was about to discover what a dweeb I am.

    “And … you are a grad student in?”

    “Physics,” there it was out. 

    “Wow, PhD or masters?

    “PhD,” I mumbled

    “Neat, I’d ask you what your dissertation is but I need to be sitting still to listen and maybe get it.” 

    She laughed and it sounded like soft joy, I think maybe it was the most wonderful sound I’d ever heard.

    “Really? you think so?  I mean that it is neat.  I am pretty much a dweeb you know, and I don’t have much of ahhhhh…. “  I was falling, more specifically the bike was stopping and I was still moving forward, well except my leg.  My pants were stuck in the chain ring; the bike and I were still attached when we hit the asphalt.  You are one suave guy Hank, way to impress her with your physical prowess.  I was trying to disengage from the bike so my face hit the ground first, my nose did actually.  It made a satisfying crunching sound as it broke, again.  It bled, a lot even for a messed up schnoz.

    “Oh my … Hank?  Are you okay?  No you aren’t I am taking you to the emergency room.”

    “No, No it’s okay really, it is just a broken nose.  I’ll clean it up and I’ll be fine really.”  I could feel the swelling already. 

    “No I am taking you to the hospital, maybe you hit your head and have a concussion or something.  Don’t argue with me.  We’re going to the hospital.”

    “Weawly, I’d  be fine Wen.”

    Jen locked our bikes to a bench, took me by the arm and led me in the general direction of the hospital while calling for a cab on her cell phone.

    It wasn’t exactly the fantasy I had in mind, but it was with Jen and that was close enough.

   

Word Count 984