Alex paid or an admission ticket and made a beeline towards the maps and information center. She was early so she figured she would check out whatever was closest to the Butterfly garden.
Unfortunately, the closest exhibit was something called the "Mouse House" which held a house full of rodents.
Alex shuddered and thought, 'Seen plenty of those in my old apartment. No thanks.'
She wandered along the windy paths admiring the lush landscapes, amazed to find such a sanctuary in the middle of the Bronx.
As Alex turned a corner, she came upon a beautiful glass enclosed greenhouse surrounded by a variety of wildflowers. The sunshine glinted off of the glass creating blinding rays of color. The pace of her footsteps increased as well as her heartbeat.
Upon entering the greenhouse, she noticed the sign at the door noting that the butterflies were released twice a day for maximum exposure. The next release was to be in 5 minutes, so Alex made her way to the middle of the greenhouse marveling at the lush meadows surrounding her. She breathed in the heady fragrance of the wildflowers around her. She recognized lilacs, snapdragons, and the sweet white clover.
Taking a moment to glance around, she did not see anyone besides children holding onto the hands of their parents, hoping to catch a glance at a butterfly.
Alex checked her watch and noted that is was precisely 12:10 p.m. He was late.
I bet you George Clooney doesn't keep his ladies waiting, she groused with a smirk.
She pulled out the lone sapphire cashmere glove and rubbed the material between her fingers. Maybe this was a bad idea, she thought. Whoever her admirer was wouldn't be able to erase the feelings that she harbored for Bobby. Best to get this over with and try to figure out how to approach Bobby with her feelings.
Alex never liked rejecting someone, unless he was a total ass. This person seemed sweet and gentle and she wasn't looking forward to the awkward, it's-not-you-its-me conversation she was going to have to dole out.
Maybe I won't have to. Maybe he chickened out, she prayed.
At that moment, just when Alex was going to leave, she felt a shiver go through her. She knew that feeling. Someone was watching her.
Author's Note: Don't hit me, Mr. Mysterious shows up in the next chapter!!