Unreadable You: Chapter 2
Johnny walked back to his house, lost in thought. It was the first time in a long time that a woman had affected him the way Sarah had. He loved Sarah still but it had dimmed with time. She had Walt and didn't need him. They were friends and they had a son together, something he would always love her for.
He went upstairs to his room, all the while thinking about Emma. She was special. There was something about her that he liked. The softness in her eyes when he was petting the puppy, her aloofness that intrigued him, the need for something, he wasn't sure what, in her soul and manner that made him want to protect her. She was special and if he believed in love at first sight, he would be inclined to call it that. All he really knew was that he wanted to see more of her.
As it turned out, Johnny saw very little of her for the next three months. It was almost like she was avoiding him. He cornered her, one day at the local gas station, when he stopped to fill up the Land Rover. She pulled up a moment later to fill up her truck.
"How are you, Emma?" Johnny asked as he started the gas pump.
"I'm doing fine. I'm remodeling my house and fixing up the barn, that why I haven't been around." She answered.
"I see. I was wondering if I said or did something to offend you. If I did, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I didn't mean to chase you off." Emma looked guilty for a moment.
"No, Johnny, its my fault. I'm trying to avoid getting too close to people because I don't want to get hurt again. You didn't do anything wrong."
"Will you have lunch with me today, if you are busy?" He asked suddenly.
"I would love to." She answered with a gentle smile. Johnny smiled back.
They had lunch at Johnny's house. He was an excellent cook, something Emma enjoyed immensely, and she told him so.
"Thank you." Johnny answered. "Do you like to cook?"
"Heaven's no! I'm horrible at it. Everything I make ends up burnt or tastes awful." Johnny hid a smile behind a sip of water.
"Maybe we can remedy that. I'll teach you, if you want?"
"Really?" He nodded. "I would love that." That's where their true friendship began. They made dates for cooking lessons each week. Emma enjoyed it so much after having minimal contact with people. She found herself truly enjoying his company and looked forward to it. She found she wanted to be around him all the time, and in a small amount of time with a heart that thought it would never get close again. He was so sweet and he never pressured about anything. Sometimes he would reach out and touch he just for human contact without visions. She became his sanctuary, his peace.
Johnny fell in love with her easily and quickly. His heart was ready to love again and was telling him, she was the one he needed. They became a normal fixture around town. If you saw one, the other was often near by. Bruce, Walt, and Sarah were happy to see Johnny was finally moving on with his life. This went on for months.
Emma knew when she woke up one morning that it was going to be a special day. She and Johnny had been going out officially for eight months. She knew when she woke that she loved him and needed to tell him right away. She got up and threw on a robe and some shoes and ran down the street to Johnny's house. She didn't notice that it was dark outside; she just needed to see him right away.
Emma reached his door and rang the doorbell several times before knocking. She saw the hall light come on and Johnny opened the door. He was in a pair of boxers and his hair was tousled and standing on end, his blue eyes sleep filled.
"Emma, its 4 in the mornings, is something wrong? What is it? Did something happen?" His concern for her taking precedence over everything.
"Nothings wrong, I just needed to tell you something really important."
"What is it, sweetheart?"
"I love you Johnny and I cant live without you." She waited as her words sank in and watched a slow grin spread across his face.
"I love you too Emma." They were still standing in the doorway when they kissed. "What do you say we move this upstairs?" Johnny asked when they broke apart for air.
"I'd say you must be psychic, because that was my thought exactly."
"I must be. Come on, let's go back to bed." With that Johnny closed the door and led the way upstairs.