Eleven

Cole

Work was busy, and I was never so thankful for a big order to put away as I was today. A few people noticed my hair, but I just said that it was time for a change, and I shaved it on a whim. The singe marks on my arms and abrasions on my face were harder to ignore or explain, but the more serious burns had all healed and faded to nothing more than pink marks. Mostly I gave vague excuses about me tripping and falling while on my morning run. Because they all knew I ran.

I was busy stocking up the hiking boots when the door chime sounded, and I looked up to see Miss Avery. Fuck. "Cole?"

"Oh, hey, Miss Avery, how are you?" She never came in here unless she needed something, and I knew this had more to do with this morning than her needing a new pair of shoes.

"I came to see how you are. I was just at the grocery store and noticed you through the window. Are you sure you're not hurt?"

"What do you mean?" I asked and looked away because I knew exactly what she meant.

She walked close enough to grab my arm, and I noticed her freakishly strong grip. I didn't know how old she was, but it had to be at least in her seventies. She had lived alone on her farm as long as I'd been alive, and still managed to plant her crops and tend her goats with help from a hired hand or two. But most of the work she did on her own. Including milking her herd of goats. "I saw you get struck by lightning. I was just on my way out to check if you were injured when I saw a van pull up and a strange guy load you up. I was worried he might be trying to take advantage of you, so I wrote down the name of the company just in case."

"He took me to the hospital, and they checked me out. There was nothing seriously wrong other than a bit of singed hair and skin." I grinned and hoped it would come out lighthearted while inside I was freaking out. I didn't want anyone to know what had happened if I could avoid it. But I wasn't sure why it even mattered.

She leaned in close, while Trina peeked around the corner before backing away and making herself busy with something else. "There is no way you weren't hurt. You were thrown at least ten feet and landed hard. I saw smoke coming off you when you landed."

"I guess I got lucky," I said with a shrug.

"With a flash of blue," she mumbled barely loud enough for me to hear.

"What was that?" I asked and hoped she didn't say another word.

"Nothing. Just something I remember from a long time ago." She had a faraway look in her eyes and for a moment I stared at her staring off into the past, or the distance, I wasn't sure which.

"Sorry, but I've really gotta get back to work. I came in late because of going to the hospital so I want to make sure I get everything done before closing time."

"Oh, sorry, Cole. I understand. Please let me know if you need anything. I'm so relieved to know you weren't injured." Without another word she walked out the way she'd entered. Full speed ahead, head held high, and full to the brim with confidence.

"You really did get struck by lightning?" Trina asked, her eyes wide.

"Yeah, but it wasn't as bad as it probably looked. I mean I did get a little banged up but nothing serious."

"Except burnt hair. You still smell like burnt hair," she said.

I reached up and scrubbed my hand over my newly short hair and after smelling my hand I agreed, I did smell like burnt hair. "Hopefully that goes away soon."

Trina burst out laughing making her eyes light up in humor. "Hopefully, or you'll be scaring the customers."

"Does it smell that bad?"

"Well, I can smell it, but I have a sensitive nose." She laughed again. "I'm sure it's fine and I really am happy you weren't hurt worse."

"Me too. I was lucky Bobby was driving along at the same time. I'm not sure what I would have done if he wasn't there." I knew I wouldn't have been able to walk back to town, I was at least five miles out, and the only other house in that area was Miss Avery. I guess I would have tried to make it there. "What was that?" I asked Trina when I realized she was waiting for me to answer something I hadn't heard.

"I said that was lucky. I don't even want to think about how badly you could have been hurt."

"Yeah, well Brian will be back next week, and we'll be back to normal before then."

"Sure thing, Cole." She walked back to where she'd left a few boxes of running shoes someone had tried on earlier and got back to work.

My mind was a mess of Bobby, and blue lightning, and so many questions about both. I'd googled his business since I'd seen it on the side of the van and there was no way I'd forget that. It was just like he said, a family-owned printing business in Sugarfield that had opened recently after expanding from another office in Dublin.

There was a picture of his family, and I couldn't bring myself to stop looking at him. He wore a big smile like the rest of his family. His blond hair was a little longer and he was tanned, but other than that he looked exactly the same. Unable to stop myself I sent him a text asking where he wanted to meet. We'd said we'd meet in Woodland, but he hadn't said where.

What do you think of meeting in old town, and we can decide then?

he sent back almost immediately.

That sounds great, I'll be there around six-thirty.

I was off at six and I planned to get everything done before then and be ready to leave.

I can't wait to see you.

he replied. Once again, the strange connection we had pulled at me, and I wondered if he felt it too because even though I didn't send another text, I knew he knew I felt the same way. Only a few more hours until I'd see him again, and I hoped he didn't think it was weird that we had this connection. Because I wasn't sure what would happen if he wasn't there, at the other end of the blue glowing cord that connected us.