What the heck?

"Tell me what's wrong, if you don't mind."

"I just wanted to beat the storm before I got to work and within a few seconds the flood gates opened and my car was drowning in rain."

"Oh gosh, I'm so sorry."

"It's ok. I hopped out the car and saw your cat under the table outside of the bakery."

"I'm so glad you found him. Even if it was by accident."

The rain outside picked up and Dave thought the bakery was gonna be filled with water. I looked at the door and the water was splashing on it, like hard waves against a beach shore. Hopefully the glass would hold after the storm passes.

"What's been on your mind lately, ummmmmm wait. What's your name?" I asked since I never told him to tell me his name.

"Vin, and nothing really has been on my mind."

"Oh well Vin, I'm Julian. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too Julian." He smiled a little when he said that, and I knew I was wearing him down and digging deeper into who he really is. Deep inside we're always hiding something that we only keep to ourselves, whether it's something small or an embarrassing story, or even a crime you commit that didn't get you in much trouble. But I knew Vin had something that he was holding, and he needed to release that energy of containment. Once it's out you'll be free; free of being held down and exhausted. You'll feel like your old self again when you do.

The storm passed on after 3 hours of me sleeping on the table. I woke up and Tusky was in my arms purring away. I sat up quickly and then I noticed Vin was gone.

"Vin?!" Where did he go?

Dave came to me and said, "The young man left 2 hours ago when the storm stopped. He told us to let you sleep and he said thank you for everything."

"Thanks Dave"

"No problem."

The nervous guy left and didn't say goodbye. The last moment I could recover was when we was talking about how bad the storm was gonna do damage to the city. I thought I was making a friend maybe I just ran him off. Tusky meowed and licked his paws, gosh it was adorable to see him do that. I picked him up and I was headed for the door until someone came around the corner and opened the door. Mason...

"Oh, sorry Julian. Hope I didn't scare you." He did since he almost bumped into me.

"You're good."

"You didn't call today. I was worried." Oh my god, the call. I totally forgot since the storm came and Tusky was my top priority.

"I'm sorry. I woke up this morning and this sneaky cat ran off into the storm and then I ended up here taking shelter."

"Oh, well ok. Glad you found him."

"Yeah me too."

"I was going to tell you that we can schedule the photoshoot next Thursday if you could do it then."

"Yeah I can. I'm off that day, so it's perfect."

"Great, I'll see you then."

"Yep." Then he kissed me on the cheek and headed further inside the bakery. I left with Tusky and began walking down towards my neighborhood. The kiss was unnecessary, and the more and more Mason does stuff, the more I get bothered by him. I need to tell him how I want to go about things, especially physical contact. We were going to fast when we need to slow down (ahem, him) not me.

It was a fifteen minute walk back home and my legs were tired of walking. I went up my small porch steps and pulled out my keys and then opened the door. Tusky ran out of my arms and went straight into the kitchen.

"That's where I'm headed Tusky!"

I went in the kitchen and opened the cabinet to grab some granola bars. Tusky curled up in his bed and he was already drifting off to sleep. I went upstairs to my bedroom and snuggled in the covers to get warm since I was in the rain for awhile today. Wait, WHY AM I IN THE BED! I got out the bed and went straight for the shower. I took of my clothes and threw them into the clothes bin. I bent my head down to tie it in a bun so it wouldn't get wet. I pulled the shower curtain and enjoyed the hot water gliding down my body. The water was so hot that steam rose to the ceiling and filled the bathroom.

I heard a crash downstairs and my head jolted towards the door even though the curtain was blocking it. I listened closely to see if Tusky knocked something over, but I didn't hear him at all.

"Tusky! You ok?!" I didn't hear him come up the steps or meow.

"What was that? Is someone there?!?!"