"1,2,3 Strikes You're Out."

Chapter 3

Grasping the door handle, Keely opened the side door to the school and walked inside. So much to do today, and not so much time to do it in. The school halls were already humming with students, some who acknowledged her with a wave and others who ignored her completely. Sighing, she tip-tapped her way down the hall to her office.

"Hey Keelz, what's up?" greeted Megan, the desk clerk with a wave and a broad smile.

"Nothing much, Meg, what's up with you?" she returned her smile.

"Just sorting mail, which reminds me, here's your's." handing her the mail with a flourish, Megan went back to her sorting.

Keely waved her thanks and walked back to her office, glad to have the reprieve from people for a few minutes. Lowering herself to her plush office chair, she began sorting through the mail herself trying to find something aside from junk to look at. One envelope in particular caught her attention, it displayed tiny roses crawling across the front and in the midst of the roses was scrawled her name. Catching her lower lip between her teeth, she began to open the letter.

Dear Keely,

Meet me at the picnic table under the oak tree at noon. See you there ;)

Blaze

The short note sent butterflies to her stomach and goose flesh rising on her arms, what was it about him? Sighing, she smiled and tacked the note to her small cork board as a reminder. Lunch with Blaze for the second day in a row, Jazzi would be pleased. But was she? The butterflies took flight all over again as she spied the picture on her desk of the two of them together at last years school picnic. Yes, she was pleased. Quite pleased.

Staring holes through the clock she begged for it to move faster. Would noon ever come?

--

The sun was exceptionally warm for the spring day, but Blaze smiled as it was the perfect setting for the picnic. Throwing a checkered table cloth over the table he set the basket atop it. Jazzi had assured him that the idea was sure fire. It was sweet, innocent, and quite the alternative to taking Keely out to dinner every night. The aroma of homemade pies wafted his nostrils as he set up the plates and cups he'd brought from home. Jazzi had hand-made the food, but she'd told him he didn't have to tell Keely that. Laughing, he shook his head, the woman was almost more worried about their relationship than either of them was.

"Hey there."

Keely's voice came from behind him, making him turn swiftly and nearly dropping the dishes all over the ground. He swallowed hard trying to take in the picture of her in an official looking suit and smiling eyes. "Hey." What a cunning answer, witty Blaze, really. Witty.

Searching through brain files for something better to say, he went back to setting the table before being haulted by a soft hand touching his.

"Don't be so nervous, it's only me, Blaze." she winked, before taking the silverware he held and setting both places.

"Me? Nervous? Never." he grinned at her as he set the last glass down on the table. "You're just so beautiful that I lost all thought, that's all."

Looking flustered, she sat on the picnic bench and reached for the basket, "So what did you bring me?"

Chuckling to himself, he opened it, "I have no idea, Jazzi cooked."

"Knew she had something to do with it. It wasn't your handwriting on the front of the envelope." she shot him a smile that made him weak at the knees, so he sat on the bench facing her.

"Thanks, you under estimate me you know. That very well could've been my handwriting." he dared her to say anything, tossing his chin in the air like that of a four-year-old fighting over a toy.

"But it wasn't." she grinned tugging his chin down until he met her eyes. They sat transfixed for a moment in each other's eyes before she shrugged away.

"No it wasn't." he hedged, trying to pull himself together after the electric shock her blue gaze had jolted into him.

"Right...well I suppose we should eat before it gets cold." said Keely, reaching for the fried chicken that sat in the basket.

"I suppose so." he replied, watching her although he wasn't quite as hungry as before. What had just passed between them?

--

Jazzi pulled the binoculars away from her face with a smug grin replacing her serious set lips, "This is working." she added aloud.

"You are bordering on crazy." came Lidia's voice from the seat beside her.

"Shut up, I am not." she shot back, groaning as she watched Blaze and Keely pull away from each other and begin eating. "This is going to take a while."

"Stop complaining, you think everything should happen right now. Let's leave them alone and take a walk for goodness sake." Lidia rolled her eyes and tugged the keys from the ignition when Jazzi hesitated.

"A walk? Now? When it's just getting good?" she complained.

"Yes, right now. Maybe you'll spot someone who will help take your mind off of everyone else!" Lidia began to stomp up the sidewalk ahead of her.

Jumping from the car, Jazzi began to run to catch up. "I do not need anyone, I'm perfectly capable of a long, happy life without anyone."

"Right, you keep thinking that."

"I will." she sputtered, crossing her arms and stomping along behind her friend like a child mid-tantrum. But did she care? No, not really.