Tempting Fate

by A N Busch

  "I guess I should let you go now, right? Think you will be ok to stand on your own?"

  Abby could hardly get out a yes she was breathing so fast. As he let her go, she almost wanted to stop him and have him hold her closer. With his embrace gone, she was able to shake off the cloud in her brain that had developed. She thought that she must be going crazy or something. She did not even know this guy, yet she was so drawn to him.

  "Well Abs, I'll see you in history."

  "What? History? I, I don't understand."

  "The class we have tomorrow is history." The smile on his face was wide and Abby could see that his eyes were glowing with laughter that he was holding back, "So I was referring to the class."

  "Right, sorry I knew that. I, um, just got confused I guess." She looked at the ground as she spoke. How could she not realize what he had meant? All Abby could do was blame it on the haze still lingering in her brain. She started to walk away with a small smile for him, when she realized she did not pick up her things. As she turned around to get them, Westly was already on the ground placing the books she had out into her bag.

  "You want to take this with you?" Westly did not look at her as he said it, and Abby was glad, her face was burning red-hot.

  "That would help, wouldn't it?" As she grabbed her bag her hand lingered against his; it was so warm. Abby pulled her hand and bag away slowly and thanked him.

  Heading back to her room, she wanted to scream and laugh at the same time. Westly, that was his name. Wow. In her brain she was acting like a crazy woman, but she didn't care. She was holding herself together and hoping that it would pass. If not, she was going to at least wait until she got back to her room to act like a fourteen-year-old at an N'SYNC concert. She had to see him again, and she could not wait until she did. Abby was almost at her dorm when she heard her name being called. As she turned around Westly was walking briskly toward her and calling her name. When he finally reached her it was with a broad smile.

  "Um, I was going to get an early dinner off campus; did you want to maybe join me? I know you said you were expecting a call, and well I mean, if you have other plans tonight, or um, if you just don’t want to go with me, then I understand." He looked down at the ground; did he even want her to say yes?

  "Where were you going to go?"

  "Off campus to Abe's dinner; they have great burgers there."

  Abby could not believe her ears or her eyes. Yes she was going to go, anywhere. "Sure that sounds great. I was thinking about dinner anyway. I can talk to my aunt later; it's fine." She knew she was really only thinking of him, but he didn't need to know that. "Just let me take my bag up to my room. I'll be right back."

  "I have to go back to my room and drop off my book too. Um, do you want me to wait for you or just meet you outside in five?"

  What did she want to do? Maybe if she had five minutes she could freshen up or change.

  "Um, yeah. Lets meet in five. In front of your dorm or mine?" Did she just admit she knew where he lived? No, he would not think that, or would he?

  "I'll meet you here, but if you don't see me just start walking toward Butler Hall, and I'm sure we will find each other."

  "Alright see you in five or so." Thank goodness he didn't read into what she had said the way she was afraid he would.

  "Ok, and um Abs, thanks for joining me for dinner."

  "Oh, you're welcome; it will be ... fun I'm sure." She knew she needed to leave right then or she was going to say something stupid.

  As she went inside she really wanted to scream this time. She didn't even wait for the elevator but instead ran up the stairs. The phone call from her aunt could wait. Melissa wasn’t going to like it and maybe even freak out, but she could find an excuse later. It was only dinner; it wasn't like she was going far away without telling anyone.

  Inside her room Abby fell into her bed and yelled into the pillow. When she was done with that, she threw on a clean sweater, pulled her long hair out of the ponytail and ran a brush through it. She decided to leave it down as she looked in the mirror. Did she look all right? Abby thought she was so plain; the only thing that sparkled about her was her eyes. With the thought of Westly on her mind, they looked like huge emeralds that someone had put under a strong light. She grabbed Melanie's pink tinted lip-gloss off the counter and put on a layer.

  When she walked out of the elevator on the ground floor, he was already inside waiting for her. He had changed into a sweater himself, and if it was even possible, he looked more handsome than before.

  They walked to the restaurant, and just like dinner it was filled with him asking questions about her. Every time Abby thought of something to ask him, she didn't get a chance to before she found herself just answering another of his questions.

  Leaving Abe's and walking back across campus, both of them remained in almost complete silence until they got to her dorm. She thought about asking him up to her room. But for what, she had no idea. She had missed her chance to ask him anything; maybe if she just started asking questions and walked in, he would follow. Abby was too late; they were outside her dorm, and he had stopped walking altogether. She didn't really want him to leave her, but she knew he was going to.

  Westly thanked her again for joining him. This time when he leaned in to hug her, Abby put her arms around him willingly. As his arms wrapped around her, she felt safer than she had ever felt in her life. She rested her head on his chest and sighed. She knew acting impulsive was not like her, but she let herself go with no real plan at all.

  "Have a good night Abs; I had a really nice time. Maybe we can get together again sometime for dinner, or, you know, a movie or something."

  Abby replied, "Yes" softly to his chest; she didn't want to leave his arms. The two of them stayed like that for a long time. With his cheek resting on the top of her head, his arms held her tightly; Westly held Abby as if he were shielding her from the rest of the world. She didn't move a muscle of her body, fearing he would let her go. She could feel his heart beating, and the rise and fall of his chest as he took in each breathe. His arms slowly loosened their grip on her and she unwillingly let hers loosen as well. She let his hands slide down her arms and take her hands in his. It was time to say goodbye to him, even if she didn't want to.

  "I'll see you soon Abs."

  "Yes soon, goodbye Westly."

  "Not goodbye just goodnight. I'll see you soon." As he said it he took a step away and let go of her hand slowly.

  Abby watched as he walked away smiling at her when he turned back the last time.

  His wonderful smile and bright eyes were the only things on Abby's mind when she got back in her room. She changed into her pajamas slowly and mindlessly, just thinking of him. Abby grabbed her favorite book off her shelf and went to her bed to read, but she never got to open it. The phone ringing on the small bedside table interrupted her thoughts of Westly and her plans to read. The answering machine light was blinking right beside it. In Abby's haze she had forgotten all about the fact that her aunt had probably called fifteen or more times by now.

  She picked up and before she could say hello, her aunt was talking, "Abby where have you been? I have been calling you for hours now! Don't scare me like that. I was so worried about you."

  "I'm fine Missa! I was out to dinner with a friend and it took awhile. I was just getting comfortable to do some reading when you called. How was your day?"

  Abby only talked to her for about five minutes before Melissa had to go and get ready to go on stage. She was very thankful that she did not ask her what friend. Abby was not ready to tell her about Westly; what could she have said anyway? She played the answering machine messages and quickly deleted the ones from her Aunt Melissa. She had three other phone calls to return before she could settle in for the night.

  Her father, Rachel and her grandmother had also called while she was out. Abby called her grandmother back first, then her father. She left Rachel's call for last knowing that would be the longest. Rachel alway
s had a lot to say. Abby thought about telling her about her dinner with Westly but quickly changed her mind. She would never hear the end of it, not to mention that Rachel would want to meet him right away.

  Over two hours later, she was yawning her goodbye to Rachel. As she lay back onto her pillow and opened her book, her mind drifted back to thoughts of Westly. If she closed her eyes she could still feel his arms around her and the warmth of his chest against her cheek. Maybe it was her imagination, but in her memory her whole body was tingling in his arms.

  All throughout dinner she had felt like his eyes were looking right into her. His smile intrigued her even more now that she was thinking back to it - as though it were saying something that was never going to be spoken out loud. Just the thought of it in her mind was enough to make her blush again right there in her bed.

  Abby realized again she did not get a chance to ask him even one question. What was his last name? What state was he from? How old was he? She made a mental list of questions she had to ask him. Next time he would have to do a little more talking about himself. Trying to read was pointless even if she knew the book by heart.

  Giving up on the book, Abby remembered that Jamal wanted her to run with him again the next morning and to invite Melanie to join them. He was so into Melanie. As she grabbed a dry erase marker and went into the bathroom to leave a note for Melanie on the mirror, she heard Melanie's door open. Putting the marker down, she just yelled at her through the door. "Good evening Mel; how was work today?"

  "Oh you know same job, different day. Files go into the cabinet drawer; I have a list of others to pull out. Then there is another stack to file; all the while answering the phone in between." She opened the door slowly and yawned, "How was your day?"

  "Great, yeah it was great." She knew the smile on her face was giving it all away.

  "Um hum, great huh? Who is he?" Melanie's eyes lit up and she giggled.

  "'He?' What do you mean by that? Why does it mean there was a guy involved for it to be a great day?" Abby was caught, but she was not going to give up any information about Westly. She couldn't, she didn't know anything, except for his great smile and the way his eyes blazed lighting up any room he was in. The way she felt in his arms, so safe and protected from the bad things of the world.

  "Right. Okay, I'll believe you, for now anyway." Melanie yawned again, "I got to change and get to bed. I'll see you in the morning."

  "Hey I know you're tired, but Jamal wanted me to ask you if you wanted to go running with us in the morning? He wants to meet at the track at seven."

  "Seven, sure you can get up that early?" She had a smart smile on her face as she said it. "I'll wake you at six-fifty, but I'm not going to pull you out of the bed so you better get up! How far are you going to run?"

  "I'll get up don't worry. I'm going to bed now, so I can get some extra sleep. More than likely I can do about two miles; although, I'm sure Jamal will want to do way more than that."

  "Alright, I'll see you bright and early. I'll make sure to have some coffee ready for you."

  "Sounds great already. I'm glad you have that wildly illegal coffee pot of yours - such a rule breaker."

  "It's expensive on campus. With as much as I drink, I would be broke in a month." Melanie and Abby both laughed, it was true. Melanie drank at least two or three pots a day and that was just from her room. Adding work hours to that, only Melanie knew how much she drank in a day.

  Getting ready to get back into bed, Abby found herself thinking of Westly again. Smiling as she drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter 6

  As Abigail awoke, she tried to ignore the fact that she dreamed of him again. The day was going to be busy, but at least it was Friday. As she got ready for work, she started thinking of the weekend plans. The washer had died on Tuesday, so they would have to go out and get a new one first thing in the morning. Christian, her oldest, had his first baseball game of the season in the afternoon and she had to bring the snacks and drinks for the team. “Guess I better go to the store at lunch time today.”

  “What was that my love?” Her husband had entered the room.

  “Just talking to myself; we have a busy weekend you know. I have to go out at lunch today and get snacks and drinks for Christian’s team.”

  “I know,” he wrapped his arms around her from behind, and she thought of Westly again. She had to shake it off; it was just a stupid dream! “Is there anything I can do to help?” He kissed her on the neck and she knew instantly what he was thinking.

  “While I am enjoying the thought of that right now, I think we both know we don’t have the time,” Abigail turned in his arms and wrapped hers around his neck. “But it would help if you got the stuff out for breakfast while I wake the kids up and get them ready upstairs.”

  “Ok, I guess. The alternative would be more fun though!”

  “Yes it would, but you and I both know there is no time.” With a kiss for him she was out of his arms and headed upstairs to wake the kids.

  During Breakfast Brady asked if she had picked up the present for Adam’s birthday party tomorrow or not. Abigail had forgotten about it all together. “We have to go out and get a new washer in the morning, so we will pick it up then. What time is the party again?”

  “I don’t know Mommy, gosh I’m only four! I can’t remember everything.”

  “I know baby boy, I’m sorry. The invitation is on the fridge, I’ll look at it in a second.”

  “Mommy I’m not a baby! Stop calling me that! I’m almost five now; you know?”

  “You will always be my baby boy Brady no matter how old you get.”

  Abigail walked over to the calendar on the fridge, filled with plans like she had always kept it. Christian’s game was at 2pm, Brady’s party from 3 to 6, and a family brunch on Sunday with her in-laws.

  “Hunny we have a time conflict. One of us will have to leave the game to take Brady to the birthday party.”

  “We already discussed this, my love. I was going to take him remember?”

  “Good. When did we decide this again?”

  “When you wrote it on the ‘all mighty’ calendar of yours. Miss ‘I have to be organized or the world will fall apart.’” The grin on his face was from ear to ear, he just loved it when she forgot or the calendar faltered in some way. He hated the thing and could never understand why she could not just go with the flow.

  “Hey, you might think I over plan, Mr. ‘Fly by the seat of my pants,’ but you knew how I was before you married me.” He laughed so hard at her she wanted to smack him in the back of his head.

  “Alright troops let’s head out the door before your mother tries to tackle me and makes us all laugh.”

  “You might be bigger than me mister, but you know what’s what around here,” Abigail smiled as she said it.

  Abigail’s day at work was over in a flash. Twice she had peeked her head out of her office looking for Westly. Had she really thought she heard his voice? She was mad at herself for even thinking it. Westly was a dream and nothing more and she needed to forget him altogether. There was work to be done and thinking of him was no way to waste her time.

  As she got in her car to head home, she called to order the pizza, and then called to remind her husband to pick it up on his way home. Pizza night was every Friday, the one night a week she did not have to think about cooking or cleaning up a big mess afterward.

  All through dinner her mind was on Westly and why the dream seemed so real to her. She just could not figure it out. Everyone else in a dream about college made sense: Rachel, Melanie, Jamal, and Paul. She still knew them all and talked to them on a regular basis. She was Melanie’s matron of honor when she married Jamal about five years ago. Even seven months pregnant with Brady, Melanie insisted it had to be her.

  Abigail had transferred to a college in Texas closer to home her junior year. Tennessee had just gotten to be too far away from her family.

  “You’re quiet tonight Abigail. What are you think
ing about?”

  “Hum, what? Oh nothing, just work and the weekend and other stuff.” What was she going to say to him? Oh just another man; he is in my dreams and I just can’t get him out of my mind. Oh but don’t worry hunny, he’s not real. Yeah that would go over real well!

  “Remember when we were young and didn’t want to stay home for the weekend? We should have stayed home then and slept all the time. I can’t remember the last quiet weekend we had at home.”

  “Well maybe someday when we are retired love.”

  “You mean when we are too old to do anything?”

  “Right,” Abigail started laughing and her husband joined in.

  Samantha started laughing right along with them. “Silly Mommy, silly Daddy.” She had no idea what was funny. Abigail and her husband started laughing even harder than before.

  After dinner Abigail loaded the dishwasher while the kids went to play in their rooms and her husband went for a run. As soon as she was done, she went into her office and hopped on the Internet to look at washers and make a list of where she wanted to go tomorrow. By luck she found the perfect one and it was on sale. That will make everything easier in the morning she thought. She was done so fast she sent a quick e-mail to Rachel.

  Rach,

  I think I’m going crazy! I’m dreaming of a person that does not exist, almost every night. I can’t get his eyes out of my head and I just can’t make sense of any of it. I’m hoping you can help. Did we know a Westly in college that I don’t remember? And if we did, why do you think I’m dreaming of him?

  Anyway, everything else is going great here. I got a huge project at work and I get to fly to New York City to present it. Maybe there will be a promotion in it for me!! All your God-babies are good and growing so fast. We all miss you and hope we get to see you soon.