Writer Blog: entry 004

Jake reached for her hand and touched it lightly. "Hi, I'm Jake Smith," he said rather sheepishly, trying to recall something catchy to say. However his memory bank of witticisms came up with a big fat zero. That left him standing there holding her hand and stammering for words. It all seemed to be happening in super slow motion. Look at me while I make a fool of myself, he thought.

She watched him carefully, critically trying to decide if continuing their conversation would be worth the effort. She sized him up. He was pretty average in physical features. He was athletic and that was a plus. It seemed that he shared her interest in jogging. In truth she was more than a jogger, having successfully completed two marathons in the past eighteen months.

He was rather handsome. His angular jaw and nicely tanned facial features were very appealing. His brown eyes screamed for adventure. She looked at him once more before speaking.

"I've seen you before in the park," she said taking him off the hook for his awkward greeting. "Usually I come and sit and read or feed the fish. I noticed you on the jogging trails. It seems like you run a lot."

"I've noticed you too," stammered Jake. "I guess I run about 3-4 times a week. Always on the weekend. Do you live in the area? I have a flat across the street, over there," he finished. She followed his index to look at his apartment building.

"Well, maybe I'll see you again soon," she said as she gathered her things and stood up.

"Warning, Warning! Danger, Will Robinson, Danger!" Jake heard the robot's voice from 'Lost in Space' screaming that phrase in his head. Jake smelled the brushoff coming. He hadn't been very eloquent and he felt the panic of having blown his chance with this raven haired goddess. His got that old sick feeling in his stomach, which now felt like it was free falling into his Nike training shoes.

He was speechless and stood motionless as he watched her turning away from him and head toward the walking path. Before he could get out a sound, she turned back towards him.

"Maybe we could have coffee or lunch sometime," she said. He wasn't sure if his heart stopped or just skipped a beat. He wasn't even sure if he should believe his ears. But then just as suddenly she said, "how about tomorrow morning? I could meet you here and then we could grab a coffee around noon."

"Sure, that would be great."

Jill gave him a wave goodbye. "Okay, then. Tomorrow at noon, see you there."

He stood watching her as she walked away. What had just happened, he wondered as his mind played back their conversation. It seemed that through no fault of his own he would be having lunch with a beautiful woman he had been admiring from afar for the past few months.

Little did he know that it would change his life forever.