A half an hour had passed, and she was still sitting alone on the bench while the cold, hard rain battled against her. For awhile, she couldn't even feel it pattering against her. Her emotions blinded her from the rest of the world as she stared off into space. A crash of lightning in the distance snapped her back. She had to find shelter before the storm moved any closer.
She slipped into Joe's undetected by any of her friends and colleagues sitting at the bar. She slid into a deserted booth at the far end of the building. Hopefully she'd be able to stay invisible until the storm cleared. She watched her friends from across the room. They all looked so happy, so content. They were laughing, joking, just having an all-around good time without her. It made her feel so lonely. She stared down at her hands, trying to avoid seeing everyone else so happy. She didn't notice him slip into the booth across from her.
"So you changed your mind after all?"
The voice caused her to jump three feet into the air. She was taken a-back and really didn't know what to say at the moment.
"Alex, you shouldn't hang around with me. You were having such a good time over there."
"And I can have just as good of a time here with you."
"No you can't. Don't worry. After the storm clears, I'll be gone."
He reached across the table and grabs her hands. She glances up and looks into his eyes…his beautiful eyes. All she could see at that moment was that sparkle of caring in his beautiful eyes.
"Now you listen to me, Izzie Stevens. You may be feeling a little down right now. You may feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders, and that's okay. It's to be expected right now, but there is nowhere else I'd rather be. That's what friends are for. You hear me?"
She just nods. Why is he such a good friend to me? He gives her hand a little squeeze, and she squeezes her hand back. Some people don't believe her when she says Alex is a good person with a kind heart, but she has no doubt. He always has a way of showing up when needed.
"Come on, Izzie. My car is right outside so you don't have to walk in the storm. Let's get you out of her before the others come over and try to cheer you up."
"Yeah. That's probably the last thing I need right now…a hoard of people surrounding me."
He wraps his arms around her shoulders once more and ushers her outside. The drive home was silent, but both knew there was no reason for talking at the moment.