AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What are we waiting for?”
“Aren’t you coming too?” JJ asked.
“I’ll be there, but right now it’s more important that you get there first.”
She paused. Dr. Chare was standing there, bent over breathing hard. “I’m sure Dr. Chare would be happy to give me a ride.”
“Of course.” The chair beamed. Even though he was still breathing heavily, he extended his right elbow out for Rain to take. They followed Garrett and JJ down the hall.
“Wait for us,” Alex called. “Don’t forget us.”
“And me,” Rob said. “I’ve got to see what happens next.”
JJ heard his footsteps, just a bit faster than anyone else’s.
“For crying out loud,” Nan sighed, clearly irritated. “I guess I have to see this, too.”
Chapter 53
JJ felt the wind ripping through her clothes. It’s not like I woke up this morning planning to ride on a motorcycle, she thought. The chilly fall air proved downright cold when it hits you at fifty miles per hour, she observed. She swayed to the right and the left along with the cycle as Garrett navigated the potholes.I’ll never do this again. Speed may be of the essence, but I’d really love to live long enough to see Kenn again.
Garrett shouted something back at her, momentarily taking his eyes off the road. Because of the rumble of the bike, the whooshing of the wind, and the protective helmet, his words reached her as mere garble. He didn’t seem to notice as he immediately turned his head and concentrated on the road again.
Finally, the bike came to a halt in front of the Physics Café. It felt as if it went from fifty miles an hour to nothing in three seconds. First the motorcycle stopped, then her body stopped. But not before it bumped into Garrett’s back.
Clumsily, she dismounted the cycle. No easy task for someone so short or so inexperienced in the act. She stumbled backward a few steps before regaining her balance. Getting off these things, she thought, looks so easy in the movies.
Once stable, she dashed into the café. Her only thought was her need to explain herself to Kenn. She couldn’t lose him, not now. Now that she had learned how wonderful having a real life was—even with all of its ups and downs.
She found him exactly where Rob said he would be, at the barista bar, talking with Alvin.
“An enormous pompous ass.” JJ heard his muffled admission.
“It’s Micro Munchkin in the flesh,” Alvin said. That’s when she took a good look around. Several broken chairs were in one corner.
“Sorry about the fight. I’ll pay for the damages.” She looked at her feet. “It may take me a while.”
“We’ll discuss that later.” He nodded in Kenn’s direction.
“Kenn, we need to talk.”
Immediately, he stood and assumed his self-defense pose of the Tai chi flamingo, left leg up, hands covering his face and his eyes tightly closed.
“Hey, Micro Munchkin,” Alvin said. She took a deep breath. Her muscles tightened at being interrupted. “What?”
“Take off the helmet. You’ll gain some credibility.”
New to the whole helmet thing, she fumbled with the fastener for a moment. Finally, she removed it. With her expanded view, she was able to see more. And what she saw surprised her. The café was unusually full of customers, the vast majority of them students, of course. And it felt like every single one of them had their eyes trained on her.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Alex and Blake rush in. She also noticed that several members of the cheerleaders and pep squad immediately pulled them out. That was of little concern to her at the moment, however.
She gave her full attention to Kenn. It looked as if every second it was increasingly more difficult for him to hold the pose. She could see him totter a bit. “Preparing for the worst, I see.”
“Yes, ma’am. Just standing here waiting for you to unleash your unique brand of anger on me.” He spread his fingers slightly and opened his eyes. She couldn’t help but smile.He’s a very special man, all right.
“Let’s go outside,” she said, still feeling the eyes of the students as they evidently waited for a floor show. She took his hand and led him through the café. A large collective groan echoed throughout the establishment.
The students watched them closely. Her cheeks grew hot in response, and she knew they were glowing crimson. Once safely out of earshot on the sidewalk, she poured out her feelings.
