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

Chapter 6

Keely climbed into bed, her body exhausted from the day before, and the feelings her body now was flooded with. Sliding between the sheets, she let the exhaustion seep out of her as she snuggled into the warmth of her bed. Sleep wasn't far off, it clipped her as soon as she got comfortable.

The fog around her lifted and she stood before his casket once more. It wasn't fair. Why hadn't she been able to stop this? Tears slipped down her cheeks in trails, soaking the black blouse she wore. The scent of flowers only served to make her stomach flip in nauseous tumbles. Sounds of weeping and mourning of the family made her want to jump in along side her friend and cry him back to her. There was nothing anyone could do. Least of all her.

Before she could blink, she was standing on the sidewalk outside of her apartment, watching the dust rise behind Blaze's truck. It wasn't the last time he'd gone on a search for some "time." No this was present time, present day. Bile rose in her throat, tears welled behind her eyes yet they couldn't fall. No three strikes your out. Stomping inside, she threw her clothes into suitcases and closed them tight. She would not wait around for him to come back. When he did come back, he'd eat her dust this time. Walking out the door, Keely slammed it closed hard.

Jumping up from her sleeping position, she sat up and tried to regulate her breathing.What was that about? Why when things were just getting to be good she'd lose it? Her heart racing near out of her chest, she grabbed the phone and dialed Blaze's number.

A sleepy, "Hello" was mumbled into the phone and she smiled despite herself.

"Hey honey." she whispered, wishing she hadn't waken him.

"Keely? Is anything wrong?" his voice cleared immediately, she could invision him sitting up quickly and at attention.

"No, baby, no." hurriedly she reassured him, "Everything is fine, I just needed to hear your voice, that's all." After a quick conversation, she hung up the phone and tried to get settled in bed. However, her heart still raced, her body shook. Standing to her feet, she shoved her sheets back onto the bed. It didn't seem like she'd be sleeping much tonight.

--

Blaze sat holding the phone in his hand long after Keely had hung up and went back to bed. His heart raced as his mind still spun with the thoughts he'd had. What if something had been wrong with her? How would he move on or make it without her? Closing his eyes, he leaned back against the headboard of his bed. Something had to change, he had to keep her in his life forever before he lost her. How could he do that? Feelings inside of him warred for the pedestal in his heart. He loved her, but could he make the kind of commitment that would make him her's forever?

Getting up from his bed, he padded his way barefoot toward the closet and pulled out an old pair of jeans. Quickly, he dressed and reached for his shoes. He wasn't going to sit here thinking. No, he had better places to be, things to do, people to see. The clock ticked three a.m. as he shrugged out the door and slammed it behind him. He was on his way to a fast food joint and some cigarettes.

The road spread before his truck was empty and dusty, he pulled into the drive thru of the fast food joint and ordered himself a hamburger and french fries. What he'd do after he got something to eat, and smoke he had no idea. But, good enough. Driving to the next window, he paid the tired looking woman who handed him the bag of food, instructing her to keep the change.

"Where to now, Blaze?" he asked himself as he reached into the bag to pull out a few fries.

Keely's. The voice inside commanded, yet he shook his head. It was nearly four in the morning, she wouldn't still be awake. Would she? Shrugging it off, he turned toward home, and began on his way. Yet, he still couldn't shake the feeling that he needed to be with her. Checking in his mirror, he did a U-turn taking him in the course toward Keely's apartment. Too bad if she was asleep, she'd wake up to open the door for him. She had to.

Parking his truck in front of her house, he climbed out and raced up the sidewalk knocking on the door. Footsteps inside alerted him to the fact that Keely hadn't been sleeping. His insides grew jittery as the steps came closer and closer. Finally, the door slid open and a crying Keely stood on the inside. Walking inside, he pulled her into his arms, "What's wrong?" he asked immediately.

"I..I..had a bad dream." she sobbed between sniffles.

"Want to talk about it?"

She shook her head against his chest, "No, but I'm so glad you came."

With one arm, he closed the door behind them and then led her to the couch. Together they sat in silence, him letting her cry and get it out, she crying her eyes out thanking God he had shown up. When she'd exhausted herself, she closed her eyes and fell asleep with her head in his lap. He smiled at her, this idea was the best idea he'd had in a long time. Retrieving the blanket from the back of the couch, he covered her with it and settled back himself. This was turning out to be the start of a good day.

--

Jazzelle sat in the coffee shop across from her friend Mike rolling her eyes as he began to talk about his girlfriend again. "Could you hurry, it's nearly four in the morning and I have to be bright and cheery tonight for my sister's engagement party." she motioned with her hand for him to wrap it up.

"Fine, fine, but I'm warning you, when you run into Rachel you had better be nice." he cautioned standing and laying money on the table to pay for their check.

"I wouldn't know if I ran into her right now." she said walking toward the door almost running into a short woman with dark hair.

"Well, you just did!" called Mike running up from behind her. "Hey honey." he leaned down and kissed her cheek.

"Hey love." Rachel turned to look at Jazzi, "This must be Jazzelle."

"How did you know?" Jazzi asked, skeptical as a friend of Rachel's walked in behind her.

"Instinct." she shrugged, totally ignoring her friend who interested Jazzi a great deal. His dark eyes assessed her in a way that made the hairs on the back of her neck tingle.

"Right..well we'll see you later, Jazzi needs sleep." claimed Mike grabbing her arm and tugging her away from the coffee shop.

On the way out Jazzi waved slightly to Rachel and her friend, and followed Mike. Tongue tied the entire way home, she simply sat as Mike drove, waiting for the time when she could climb into bed and dream about the encounter she'd just had.

Maybe it was more than a look, more than a chance encounter...you're dreaming without even reaching the bedroom! Her mind commanded her, and within that second, she knew she'd read and written too many romances for her own good. Time to get back to reality.