Chapter Three

Chapter Song: Thunder- Boys Like Girls

Carlisle approaches me three days later, having noticed my distraction. I can't help it, everything I do leads me back to thoughts of her, her face, her hair, her clothes and that warm feeling that spreads through my bones whenever I see or think of her. She invades my senses and my mind, yet I don't feel overtaken, I feel refreshed. I begin to visualise her beauty but Carlisle's calm, even tones bring me back to the present.

"Are you alright, son?" he asks, the concern that he shows as my adoptive father evident in his voice.

"Never better," I reply truthfully. Despite the general clumsiness that comes with the distraction caused by her, I honestly am happier than ever before. I can't wait for lunchtime, if only to see her beautiful face. If only to score a home run for her, as I promise I will each bat.

"Ok, just let me know if you need anything then," he calls, placing a vanilla latte, my favourite, onto my desk. He retreats to his office gracefully, mumbling something about stock prices and growing sons that I don't quite catch.

I get on with some work, emailing and calling people to help with a report I'm writing, savouring the sweetness of he latte as I do so. I can't help but glance at the clock every so often and am disappointed each time by how little it has moved. But time has to pass, and pass it does. With irritating slowness, lunchtime eventually arrives. I leave hastily, eager to be at the fields.

All too soon, I am waiting for Emmett to arrive. We are always the first to the fields, enjoying the time together to catch up and joke around. He rounds the bend in the path and jogs over to where I stand.

"Ready to play some ball little brother?" he queries.

"Naturally," I reply, smiling at the muscle mountain who, despite being 2 years younger than me, could never count as a 'little' anything. We catch up for about 15 minutes whilst the other guys filter in. The last to arrive is Jazz, having been caught up on the subway. After apologising, he is first to the plate.

I still haven't mustered the courage to check if she's here, still savouring the joyful anticipation that sends butterflies to tickle my skin in the most delicious way. When it is my turn to bat, I decide I need something to hit for.

My eyes rise from the tiny ant that I was staring at towards the sky until they reach a flash of red.

It's her, she came.

I am once again captivated by the tame mane of chocolate that is beautifully offset by her ivory skin and the scarlet blouse she has chosen to wear today. It is low cut, and complimented by a large straw hat and a bright red bow. She is so stunning, I can't form a cohesive thought, I can only stare. I can see her perfect legs peeping out from under the black polka dot skirt she's wearing. I can't get over how amazing she makes me feel. She still holds an iced tea in hand but she doesn't raise her eyes to look at me, she is too busy poring over her papers, too engrossed in her own little world to notice someone like me.

'Get your head in the game, you can talk to her later.' The first cohesive thought since I laid eyes on her snaps me back into the real world, the world where I am the fastest runner on our team and the only one who is likely to get a home run. If only I could concentrate. When the ball comes this time, I swing the bat and it sails all the way to the rocks. I sprint as fast as I can, the whole world blurring into a mass of green and blue.

"Safe," Jake calls. I look up and see a smile appear on my angel's face. It is the single most beautiful thing in the whole world and I realise, with a start, that I want to be the one who makes it appear more often. I smile back, conveying plainly on my face the euphoria that I feel. The girl in red simply ducks her head, picks up her books and leaves. It must be near to the end of lunch hour. I leave central park with the image of her smile in my head. I know that smile will star in my dreams tonight. I smile in turn at the thought.

All characters belong to SM. I hope you enjoy my take on them. Have a nice day, Laura xx :)