First Kiss

Bobby hung up the phone, frustrated. This wasn't like her at all. She always, always called him back. Even when she was mad, she called him back. He leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. Then he opened his top right desk drawer and rooted through it hastily. At last, he came up with a green post-it note with writing on it.

He dialed the number. "Hi, uh, Liz? This is Bobby Goren. I was wondering… do you know where Eames—uh, Alex, went? I've been trying to get hold of her for hours."

He listened, and scribbled on another sticky note. "Okay, thanks. And…Liz? Can I… leave you my number? In case you hear something." He told her the number and hung up the phone.

Bobby grabbed his suit jacket and left 1PP.

He drove out of the city and into the mountains. The sun was starting to set when he pulled into the Golden Motel. He booked himself a room, and went out for a walk.

It was a tiny little town, quite the contrast to the city. He saw a few businesses on the main road that the hotel was on, and only a few houses. Most of the people in town must live down the side roads, he thought. There were several of those.

As he headed back to the motel, he saw a hiking trail heading into the woods behind the building. Without a second thought, Bobby started walking.

There was a lake behind the motel. The trail led down to a private pier on the lake. There was a rickety looking boathouse beside it. As he approached the pier, he heard something in the boathouse. Warily, he peered into the darkness.

Someone was crying. He couldn't see the person in the darkness, so he stepped further inside. "Hello?" he called. "Are you all right?"

The tears squelched to a stop.

"Hello?" Bobby called again. "I just want to make sure you're all right," he said.

A sniff and a squeak, and then… "Bobby?"

His heart fell. "Alex?" He stepped forward a little too quickly and one foot slipped. He almost fell into the water. "Where are you, Alex?" He said angrily.

She appeared on the dock in front of him: small, wet, and pitiful.

His anger was already gone. He pulled her into his arms. "Alex, what's wrong?"

She sobbed into his chest, despairing once again. He was smart enough to just hold her, and keep silent.

At last, her sobs subsided. They sat down on the planks of the dock together, his arms still wrapped tightly around her. She spoke. "I… I can't explain it," she began. "It's just like… everything hit me all at once."

He didn't speak, but petted her slowly with his hand. They listened to the water lapping at the dock. She grabbed his shirt and said, "You're wearing your good clothes? You'll ruin them!"

"A little late for that," he replied.

"Oh, Bobby!"

They helped each other up and started groping their way out of the boathouse. They reached the pier and Bobby's shoe slipped again. In an instant, he was in the water.

"Bobby!" she screamed. She kneeled on the pier and reached her arms out towards his splashing. In the moonlight, she could barely see anything. At last, his hand got hers and she pulled him in. He pulled himself up onto the pier.

Within seconds, they were laughing. He could see her face in the moonlight, and he reached out for her smile. His fingers traced her soft lips. Bobby leaned in and kissed her.