Shooting Stars

Chapter 2: Garden Salad Goddess

    We finally get to the bagel shop and it's been about 40 minutes! " I thought you said it was close?" I spit out upset that I had to listen to his terrible imitation singing of (famous UK pop singer) and a little about not getting my bagel yet. " Well we're finally here aren't we. Now time to eat!" he says as he rushes to the store  not even bothering to lock his car doors. Seems like the rain stopped I say as I make my way out of the passenger seat. Are these bagels that good I wonder? "Nooooooo!!!!" I rush in " What happened!" I say as I look around the room and see a collapsed Zane curled in fetal position in front of the last register. " Oh! Is this your father?" A young lady says from  behind the register. " No! " I say in defense refusing to claim him as someone I know. "Oh," she says again  a little confused " well I told him that it  is 10:30 and we stop serving breakfast at 9:00. It seems he took this news very harshly."All I could do was stand there and stare, not at that fool Zane but at this cashier this beautiful, flawless goddess. For a good minute and a half just staring at her. This is nice I thought just me and her no one to interrupt our silent conversation. "Kiddo did you hear that there's no more beautiful , flawless, celestial bagels." That's creepy not the fact that he's talking about a bagel, but the fact that he just once again read my mind I'm truly starting to believe he's a mind reader. Arghhh curse you Zane why did you interrupt such a perfect moment. I say in my head while I try to come back to reality."Yeah... no bagels. That sucks ." I sputter still eyes locked on this unbelievably  beautiful women. " Can I get you anything else?" The women asked trying to fill the silent stares and moaning sounds we called a conversation. I instantly thought your number but instead said " Umm, what type of salads do you have?" Salad urgh is that the lamest thing you could think I bark at myself in my mind. Well at least I'm not obsessing over some stupid bagels. But your obsessing over a girl that doesn't even know your name. Wait am I really doing this now so I try to focus on what she's saying "Blue cheddar," she starts" I myself like the apple caramel salad the best," this pointless but tyet meaningful conversation goes on for about another two minutes. But for some reason I feel like I'm starting to get to know this women no it feels like I already know her." I'll take your word and get the apple with carmel." "OK" she smiles sweetly at me. My heart almost jumps out of my chest as I restrain myself from doing anything else but smile back.  " Ughhhh," a groan comes from the floor. It's Zane still in fetal position. " Do you have any salads with bagels on them?" He asked truly wanting the answer to be yes. " No sorry," the woman says."but we do have a salad and bread stick combo!" she says with hope trying to make him feel better. Instantly  he shoots up and says "I'll take it." "What dressing?" and before she could say anything else Zane shouts" CREAM CHEESE AND JELLY!!!!!" Huh what a perfect role model I have here it seems like he's some type of anime character or a little kid. When she comes back with the salad Zane is over-joyed, jumping up and down. I'm ashamed I know this man. "That would be (Euros), can I get you anything else?" " No we're good" Zane responds finally seeming to be satisfied with getting some form of bread. She takes the money and gives him his change with his salad and bread sticks, she then proceeds to make my apple and carmel salad. Carefully skinning the two apples to make sure you get your money's worth and then slicing  it ever so gently in half then quarters and then in eighths. I wish I could just stay standing here like this just  watching her make that salad. It's almost like watching an angel descend from heaven. "I will get us a table." Zane says as he walks off some where behind me. " OK all done!Oh wait the carmel." she turns to me " How much do you want?" she asked me while I'm still a little spaced I can't stop my self from saying " However you take yours is fine." Urghhh idiot just stop talking. " OK!" she says with that sweet smile of hers as she walks off and starts to drizzle carmel all over my salad. She comes back and some how she has carmel on her nose." All done!" " Umm you have a little something on your nose" I say to her as I scratch my own nose as an example. She starts to wipe her nose " Did I get ?" " No still there." she wipes again " Now?"   " Nope you're just spreading it around. Here let me do it." I say as I reach over the counter. I wipe all the carmel off with my hand she doesn't seem to mind me touching her. " "There, all gone." I say as I retract my hand. "Thanks you...you feel,"  she hesitates " What?" I say wanting to know more "Familiar. I'm sorry this is probably weird for you it's just I ..." she stops mid-sentence as I grab both her hands. " It's not weird because I feel the same way about you." I say as I slowly let her hands down on the counter. " Hey kiddo why don't you come over here and start eating with me?" Zane says from over my shoulder stuffing his mouth full of bread completely for getting the salad part of the meal. "Huh how did I get stuck with this man?" I ask myself as I shake my head." Ha ha , I think he's cool ." she says smiling at him. " I mean he is just trying to look out for you."Huh I guess. Well I'll see you later then ...umm I never got your name." I say smoothly " Oh it's Amanda. And yours?" Amanda says as she reaches out her hand. " Alex" I say not ever wanting to let go of her soft warm hand. We let go slowly savoring every last moment. "Well I get off of work at 12:00 . I mean if you want to, that is if you're  not to busy could you walk with me?" " Sure no problem. Well then I'll see you at 12:00." "Yeah." she says and I grab my salad which is absolutely drowned in carmel. And head for my table. " So how did it go?" Zane ask when I get to the table. " I don't know what you're talking about." I say trying to enjoy my salad and avoid all conversation that could lead to talking about Amanda." Don't play dumb you were so flirting with her!" he said back as he began to get upset that I wasn't telling him anything. " I have no idea what you're talking about." I respond once more absolutely refusing to say any more. " Fine two can play at that game." he said as he got up from our table.  "Wait. I'll tell you. She just asked me to walk with her after she got off work." " OOOOOO. Just asked you to walk with her huh, because that's no big deal. Fool it's obvious she's been  interested in you for a long time!" he says suddenly getting upset and sitting back down." Well how was I supposed to know, this is the first time I'm seeing her. But for some reason she does seem oddly familiar." I respond as I take another helping of my surprisingly delicious apple carmel salad. " What do you mean? Like you knew her some where before. Oh no did I hit you so hard you lost your memory. But you seemed so fine, I swear I didn't..." "Shut  up will you I didn't lose my memory."I cut him off mid-sentence."Where were you  headed then when you were biking?" he spits back." Uhh well I was going to umm..." " See I told you, I'm sorry I didn't mean to hit you it was.." "Enough babbling!" I shout at him. "It's ok I'm fine really. Just forget about it." "Are you sure?" Zane says  a little teary eyed." Yeah I'm fine see." I say as I stand up. Blam a headache like before but this one is not going away the pain is so intense I drop to the floor. All I can do is lay there and watch the world move around me. I see Zane and Amanda but I can't make out what they're trying to tell me. I finally give in to the searing pain and just black out.