"She said yes!" Joe called over to the others who immediately cheered. A sly smile spreaded across my face.
"Race ya." I challenged.
"You're on." He accepted.
We started to dart through the soft sand. I had forgotton how hard it was to run in sand. I was winning, creaming him, until he caught up, grabbed my waist with one of his muscular arms and flung me behind him. I raced and jumped onto his back. We were neck and neck by the time we got back to the fire. Only I knew the truth: I had beaten him senseless. The night passed on filled with songs and laughs and jokes. They really seemed to like me, and sooner or later I didn't have to control my breathing. When did my life become perfect?
The party ran onto the late hours of the night and by midnight I was on the way home which if you thought about it is a really long party considering it started at 2:30 in the afternoon. Joe offered to drive me home but I declined and said I would rather walk. Which was true I enjoyed walking but I also needed the entire walk home to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming and after that I had plans to happy dance.
I got home in a daze. I went right to bed. I just hoped that my reputation for having really good things happen to me and then really bad things fails. I don't know how many emotional rollarcoseters I can climb aboard.
Two weeks later...
I watched Disney movies. Lots of them. I watched Tangled, Hercules, Monster's Inc, and Finding Nemo. In that order. Then it was time for work. Luckily I work only three days a week. $8.00 a day. Tonight was one of those days. I rolled off the couch into my uniform and walked down to the Flying Seagull. Everything went fine. I was serving a Scotch on the Rocks to a creepy fellow in a trucker hat. And I wasn't even hit on by someone over 40. I was talking to this guy who had just had a fight with his wife. He seemed really worked up about it. I was very good at giving advice. I don't know if it was my expirence of having a pretty hard life growing up or all the Hallmark movies but it worked. I was about to walk into the kitchen when I heard screaming. Confused I listened more closely.
"FIRE FIRE!" The cooks yelled as they ran out the back. My life started to flash before my eyes as I stared straight into the fire's live flames. I stepped backwards before I made a dart for the entrance. Smoke filled my lungs and my eyes and I tripped over my two feet because I couldn't see them. Peoples' screams were heard all around me. My, My, Miss American Pie,this would be the day that I died. A figure helped me up, wrapped his arm around my shoulder and got me out of the burning building alive. I thanked him senseless, before I started to cough and wheeze. My throat burned and ached for water. I collapsed in front of the firetruck and supported myself on its ledge. I never went through anything like this. It was exhausting and I felt weak. I hated feeling weak. The nice firemen took care of me while other firemen went into the building to save people and put out the fire. I always admired firemen. How they could just run into a burning building like it was no big deal. Like "oh yeah I'll be over in a bit lemme just take care of this burning building." Amazing.
"Anna!" Someone was calling my name. Using my leftover strength I turned me head. Joe was fighting through police officers to get to me. The kept holding him back but he shrugged them off.
"I have to get to her!" He strained.
"Stop!" I called at the police. "It's okay I know him!" I jogged over to meet him. "He's my boyfriend!" The cops gave concerning looks but once I made it over to the tape they let him through. The first thing Joe did was consume me in a giant bear hug.
"I was so worried! As soon as I found out I rushed right over I couldn't bear the idea of you getting hurt." As Joe talked his words seemed to get slurred and distant. I couldn't keep my eyes open. The last thing I saw was a muted Joe calling my name as I fell to the ground.
