Chp 20
Kieran's POV

Pizza must be the most amazing creation on earth. I brushed off the crumbs of the beautiful olive, peppers and pepperoni pizza on a napkin and sat back taking a sip of my beer.

I stared out at the city of lights, taking advantage of the windless evening by sitting on the roof and enjoying my meal. I had my old camping lantern with me, providing some light.

I had gotten a phone call from my brother, Henry, to say he had proposed to Kirsten - and she had said yes. Apparently everyone at home was supper excited and were looking forward to getting plans started.

I was happy for them too. How can't I be? Although it sounds mean, if she had t cheated on me with him, they wouldn't be happy. And I was fine with the break up now, I was used to the bachelor lifestyle.

Obviously I had dated a couple girls in the past two years - it's just never been serious. I wasn't sure what I was looking for in girls, I wasn't sure when I felt happy in a relationship. I was just at the dead end at the moment. But I was fine with me, myself and I for a bit.

I looked up as I heard the roof door open and close. My eyes were adjusted to the slight darkness so I could easily make out that it was a girl. She had very blonde hair, that went darker at the ends, tied up in a messy high ponytail.

She wore a pair of skinny jeans with ankle length boots, a loose top and a jacket. Light was illuminated as she took out a fire lighter and lit a cigarette. She leaned against the balcony, inhaling the smoke before blowing it out.

"You not cold?" I asked, catching her eye. She shrugged, turning to face me. "Grew up in Alaska, cold doesn't bother me." She said. I chuckled at her remark. "Explains a lot." I said. She smirked and pushed off the wall, walking to come sit on the chair next to me.

"Kieran Johns." I said, putting out a hand. She smiled. "Callie Dominic." She introduced herself, shaking my hand with her free hand. She sat back and took another inhale of smoke. "What brought you here?"

She looked over the city lights. "Studies. And actual life." I chuckled.

"What you studying?" I asked, taking another sip of my beer.

She simply shrugged at the question. "I want to be a writer." She said. "But I'm afraid the depth of my thoughts and my cynical self can make my writing not be what others want to read."

She said it in such a way that it made me look at her again and wonder how she thinks, how she works. "Have you ever wanted to know how long it takes for your mind to wonder from a point?" She asked.

I thought about the question. "Five seconds - the average brain can't concentrate on a single object for too long. We are consumed by distractions, constantly having sugar activated bodies, restless selves that want to break free from our constraining lives."

I didn't dare speak, too eager to hear more. "It takes around five seconds to judge someone by their appearance. And it can take one conversation to judge a person by their inner thoughts."

She looked at me. "Too bad people lie these days to be liked." She said, smirking. She blew out some smoke. "I won't be offended if my words disturbed you - if I disturbed you - and you want to leave so you no longer have to sit with the un ordinary girl."

I just smiled. "Trust me, darling, I'm not going anywhere."

~ Two Weeks Later ~

I grinned at Callie's laugh, her leaning into my side as we enjoyed another one of our favorite 'supper-on-the-roof' evenings. She shook her head, chuckling and wiping at her eyes as she had been laughing so hard.

"I don't think so." She replied to my joke. I put a playful arm around her shoulders, and she surprisingly moved into my side. I had become accustomed to the sound of her voice, her quirky personality and her cynical side.

I noticed the cigarette in her hand and slipped my hand to hers. I easily took it out her fingers. She looked shocked for a second as she thought I was going to take a puff myself, but I just looked her in the eyes and said, "You shouldn't smoke."

She chuckled as I stubbed the deathly cigarette on the ground and through it in the bag that had our finished food. She blew out the bit of smoke that was in her mouth and said, "As my mom keeps telling me."

I smiled softly, although I really hoped she would stop. "I'm serious." I said, looking at her. She sighed and looked to me. "Kieran, don't worry about me. I can look after myself." She said, giving a smile.

As she turned away from me to get something out her bag I , yet again, noticed the dandelion tattoo on her shoulder blade, the seeds being blown across her right shoulder. "How many tattoo's have you got?"

She turned back smirking. "You'll have to find out now, won't you." She said. My skin felt hot as she said it. Was that an indirect invitation? Obviously I had thought about the feel of her skin on my fingertips the past few days.

She was different, not ordinary. And I think that is exactly what I'm looking for.