Page 4 of Consumed By Fire
"Um … I have a huge favor to ask you. I know you don't know me but the guys are going to make fun of me, like, forever, if I don't,” he says, almost pleading me.
"Go ahead," I urged him. I'm curious.
"Aide and Jake dared me to ask you for your phone number."
I burst out laughing. I’ve never heard this excuse before. "Dylan, you're right. No, I don't know you, and I don't know how to help you. I'm sorry,” I say.
He sighs. "At least I tried. Thanks, anyway,” he says, smiling as he returns to his colleagues.
After about an hour, Lacey says that she’ll close the bar and thanks me for helping her. It was nice to be back here, though Dylan's words have haunted me all evening. I don't know why, but I can’t stop thinking about or even stop looking at him. I see the boys approaching the exit and I follow them.
"Good evening, guys," I say, approaching Dylan, giving him a Post-it note, and then walking toward my car.
2
DYLAN
Not being able to get her number made me sad, both because Charlotte has something that appeals to me and then because my colleagues laughed at me.
This wasn’t the first time I’ve seen her. Usually, she’s at Pete’s Bakery, or busy around the city. She never stops. She has always intrigued me. Once, I managed to talk to her, but then someone else distracted her and my chance was gone, as was my courage to look for her. She always seems to be in a hurry.
After our shift, the guys ask me to join them here and I can’t say no. We leave the bar, and I look at her for one last time. She’s busy writing down something. I’d like her to lift her head and look at me, only for a second, so that I can see those eyes that have bewitched me from the first moment, but she doesn't.
We leave the bar and pause outside. I promised the boys that I’ll go to the firehouse in the morning, and when I hear the bar door open, it's like a sixth sense. I don't know how to explain it but I know that she’s the one who is coming out.
"Good evening guys." Charlotte approaches, leaving the bar as well. She lifts her eyes while zipping up her jacket. Those eyes, magnetic and unique, stop on me as she hands me a Post-it note. Then she smiles and walks away. I open it and see her phone number.
"No shit! That's impossible. How the hell did you do it?" says Aide.
"It's not hers. It's just a joke," says Jake. I take out my cell phone, digit the number, hitting the call button as I watch Charlotte walking toward the parking lot. Please answer, please. After two rings, she takes her cell phone out of her back pocket and turns to me. Our eyes meet. She responds and I smile upon hearing her voice. She nods, ending the call.
This girl has bewitched me. I can't understand anything anymore. My heart is beating wildly. Who are you, Charlotte?
Jake and Aide are as speechless as I am. I need to pinch myself to be sure I'm not dreaming. After saying goodbye, I get into the car with a smile on my face and I head home, thinking of her.
The journey is short though, and once home, I decide to send her a message:
Me: Thank you for saving me from my colleagues.
When the three dots appear after a while, I look like a teenager, staring at the phone anxiously while her message arrives:
Charlotte: You're welcome. It’s dangerous to use the phone while driving.
I smile. Is she worried about me?
Me: I’m not. I'm already home.
Charlotte: Awesome. Good night then, Dylan.
Me: Good night, Charlotte.
I reply, smiling like an idiot as I go up to my room. I need to know more about her. How does she have this effect on me? Yes, she’s beautiful, but in her eyes, I see something that makes me want to hug her, to keep her safe.
3
CHARLOTTE
Dylan occupies most of my dreams that night. The next morning, I decide to go for a run to get rid of the adrenaline and this strange feeling that I have while thinking about him. It's dangerous and I'm not going to suffer again. I have to get him out of my head ASAP, and the only way to do that is to go to the East Range, a perfect place with no distractions.