Fate Intervened

Weakened State

MIKE

I wake up the next morning and one thing is on my mind. I have always been this way. When something is unanswered I need to find an answer. I think that is why it is so difficult for me to accept my condition. Because there is no answer.

I need to know why would my grandpa entertain somebody like Penny. There must be a very good reason for this and I will get to the bottom of it. I am only in town for one more day and I will make it my mission for the day.

So, I put on my clothes and go into town. I know that people like to talk and if there is anything newsworthy they will let me know. But then I remember that Brandon came here every week so he must know something.

I make my way to the trustworthy hair salon, where I know people like to gossip.

"Mike! Oh my god, is that you?"

"Yes, Hannah. I came to visit my grandpa"

"Oh, old man Sanders, he has been pining for some company recently"

"Really? Do you know who that company is?"

"No, I'm sorry honey, you know how your grandpa is. He is impossibly private. But I think that Brandon would be able to answer some questions for you?"

"I would love to ask him some. Do you perhaps know where he lives?"

I knew that I will get what I want in this salon. People have nothing else to do in this town except talk about each other. She eagerly shows me where Brandon lives and even gives me directions. I thank her and make my way to his house.

AMY

My heart is ready to jump out of my ribcage as I listen to the voice whose company I desire. What is he doing at my house? Did he find out where I was staying and then followed me?

Then I realize that I am not even dressed yet and I can not afford to be seen looking like this. I get up from my chair and quickly hide behind a door. Then I see my dad looking at me strangely. I know what he is thinking but at this point, I do not care.

All I care about is him not seeing me right now, looking like this. Then I hear his deep rusty sexy voice again.

MIKE

"I'm sorry for the intrusion, I wasn't sure if I would find you here"

"No, it is not a problem at all, we are just having our breakfast. What can I help you with?"

"Well, it's actually a very awkward question that I need to ask you and I know that in a normal family you would just ask your grandpa but-"

Brandon lifts his hand to make Mike stop talking.

"No need to explain. I have a good grip on reality and I know that your grandpa, no offense, is not the easiest person in the world to talk to"

I chuckle at Brandon's response and I feel relieved that he knows him so well.

"Well, thank goodness. Then this question would not come across as weird"

"No, not at all. Please tell me what you would like to know?"

"Well, I just want to know if he has any company during the week from anyone?"

"I don't see him so much but I remember one time when I was there to drop off groceries, an older woman opened the door. I am not sure who she is but I know she's not from around town. I hope that would help you?"

Then suddenly everything becomes clear. This woman must be Penny's grandma. I only know this because Penny has told me everything about herself and her life and her family. If she had a dog, a cat, and a fish I would have probably also known about them.

"Yes, thank you so much. It helped a lot"

"It's a pleasure. Would you like to come in for a cup of coffee?"

AMY

I cannot hear everything that they talk about to each other but I am sure I just heard Brandon inviting him in for coffee. As much as I want to keep his company, I am definitely not dressed for the occasion. I just pray he says no.

"Wouldn't I be intruding? I couldn't possibly?"

I would like to get to know this man and find out what makes him give groceries to my grandpa every week. What drives him to do this? He seems like such a good guy.

"No, of course not, please do come in"

I hear the words that I have feared and all I know is that I need to get to my room without anyone seeing me. My dad is still staring at me and now I'm seeing him smiling at me. I quickly make my way down the hall to my room like someone on a stealth mission. I closed the door just in time for them to pass my room to the kitchen.

I am going to kill Brandon and kiss him at the same time. I want to keep this mystery man's company but I would have liked to get to know him first before inviting him to meet my family. I can not help wondering what was he doing here in the first place and what they were talking about.

Then it is as if a freight train crashes into my brain. He must be the grandson Brandon was talking about yesterday. Old man Sanders is his Grandpa. That must be why he's here. He must have asked Brandon something about his Grandpa.

I quickly put on something nice to wear but everything I try on does not look good enough. After what seems like hours, I exit my room. I walk slowly towards the kitchen and I hear laughter filling the air.

His laughter injects my heart with a feeling of him belonging to my family. Why is it that the man whose name I do not even know seems to be the man I have to be with?

I finally turned the corner and see him sitting at the kitchen counter, drinking coffee. When he sees me, he chokes on his coffee.

"There you are, where did you go to?"

Of course, it would only be my brother asking a question like that when it is obvious that I went to put on some clothes for the guest that he invited into our house. But I can not tell Brandon this as this man with his piercing green, blue eyes are staring at me.

MIKE

I can not believe that the woman of my dreams and quite possibly the woman of my heart just walked into the kitchen where I am sitting with someone that I barely know. I am not sure what to make of this. All I know is that her beauty completely consumes me.

I remember the last time I had an encounter with her and what my heart did when I saw her. I can not help choking on my coffee when I see her because I can not believe that I walked into the house where she possibly lives. Suddenly, I have no idea how to act or what you say.

I watch her as she smiles shyly while looking at the ground. I am waiting to hear what she has to say to Brandon's remark. Then the angel before my eyes starts to talk.

"I just went to the restroom"

Then her eyes lock with mine and she walks towards me.

"Hi, I am Amy and you are?"

Oh god, her voice is like sweet music to my ears. Now, I finally know what her name is and what a beautiful name. It is only fitting for an exquisite creature like herself to have a name like that. I swallow deeply as I answer her.

"Please to meet you, Amy, my name is Mike"

I can feel Brandon and his dad's eyes staring at the two of us but it is as if I do not care what they think at this very moment. All I am seeing right now is the beauty that stands before me. We greet with the hand and as her soft hand touches my rugged hand, I swear I felt a spark shooting through my being straight to my desire for her.

AMY

I watch him as he smiles at me and I can not help but smelt in his presence. But when his hand touches mine I almost felt my knees giving in. I hold onto the counter so that I don't make an embarrassment of myself and then take a seat next to him.

"He is the grandson of old man Sanders. The one we talked about yesterday. Do you remember?"

My brother asked me this question but what he does not know is that I have seen his grandson last night, as well. I remember him very well and I also remember that he ran out on our encounter. I do not want my brother and dad to know that I have some kind of feelings for this man sitting in our kitchen.

I do not know if I should ask Mike about why he ran out on our encounter now or should I wait till we are alone?

"Yes, I remember you spoke about him yesterday morning. If I may ask what brings you to our humble home?"

We share a smile between the two of us because we are both acting as if we do not know each other. I must say that I am enjoying this little game we are playing. I enjoy the smiles that he gives me and the way he looks at me but that is not all, I love how it almost feels as if it is just us in a world of our own.

Then I watch as his cheeks grow a bright red color. There is nothing more beautiful than a blush on a man's face.

"I...uh..."

And then my dearest brother interrupts.

"He just wanted to come over and thank me for the groceries that I bring to his grandpa every week. So I invited him in for coffee"

Damn you, Brandon. I wanted to know what makes Mike blush. Now that Brandon answered for him and I might never know what all of this was about.

MIKE

As I listen to what she asks me I am ready to give her an answer but before I could give her the answer I feel my heart starting to race again. I can not believe what effect this woman has on my heart and I want so desperately to talk more to this woman.

But this time it is not just my heart that is racing, it is also my breath that is increasing. I struggle to get out a sentence and luckily, Brandon stepped in for me. I need to get out of here as soon as possible and go and drink one of my damned pills.

Maybe if I could just stay for a little while longer my heart will return to normal. But the problem is my breathing that I can not control. Maybe if I do not speak a lot. Damn, I don't know what to do but I know I want to be here with her.

"If you knew my brother, you would know that no thanks are needed. He has always been the one that likes to help out those in need"

I want to answer her and tell her that I really do want to thank him. There are not many people that will do this for a stranger. But as I open my mouth I can hear my breathing making it impossible to talk.

I feel as lightheadedness also starts to creep in and I know I better get out of here as quickly as possible. If only my heart could act normal around this unbelievably incredible woman. Not only is she something I have never seen but her brother seems to be a diamond in the rough.

I can not believe that I am doing this once again but I can not afford her to see me in my weakened state.

AMY

I watch as the smile on his face starts to fade away and I see his chest moving irregularly. I should really learn to switch off my doctor's side when I am with normal people. But I can not help the doctor in me seeing symptoms of something that could be wrong.

"Are you feeling okay?"

MIKE

Fuck!

She knows that something is wrong with me and I do not want her to know this now. I want her to get to know me for me and not the way how everybody else got to know me. I want this one to be different.

I need to get out of here and I need to get out of here right now.