Tempting Fate by A N Busch Page A

and put on a layer.
    When she walked out of the elevator on the ground floor, he was already inside waiting for her. He had changed into a sweater himself, and if it was even possible, he looked more handsome than before.
    They walked to the restaurant, and just like dinner it was filled with him asking questions about her. Every time Abby thought of something to ask him, she didn't get a chance to before she found herself just answering another of his questions.
    Leaving Abe's and walking back across campus, both of them remained in almost complete silence until they got to her dorm. She thought about asking him up to her room. But for what, she had no idea. She had missed her chance to ask him anything; maybe if she just started asking questions and walked in, he would follow. Abby was too late; they were outside her dorm, and he had stopped walking altogether. She didn't really want him to leave her, but she knew he was going to.
    Westly thanked her again for joining him. This time when he leaned in to hug her, Abby put her arms around him willingly. As his arms wrapped around her, she felt safer than she had ever felt in her life. She rested her head on his chest and sighed. She knew acting impulsive was not like her, but she let herself go with no real plan at all.
    "Have a good night Abs; I had a really nice time. Maybe we can get together again sometime for dinner, or, you know, a movie or something."
    Abby replied, "Yes" softly to his chest; she didn't want to leave his arms. The two of them stayed like that for a long time. With his cheek resting on the top of her head, his arms held her tightly; Westly held Abby as if he were shielding her from the rest of the world. She didn't move a muscle of her body, fearing he would let her go. She could feel his heart beating, and the rise and fall of his chest as he took in each breathe. His arms slowly loosened their grip on her and she unwillingly let hers loosen as well. She let his hands slide down her arms and take her hands in his. It was time to say goodbye to him, even if she didn't want to.
    "I'll see you soon Abs."
    "Yes soon, goodbye Westly."
    "Not goodbye just goodnight. I'll see you soon." As he said it he took a step away and let go of her hand slowly.
    Abby watched as he walked away smiling at her when he turned back the last time.
    His wonderful smile and bright eyes were the only things on Abby's mind when she got back in her room. She changed into her pajamas slowly and mindlessly, just thinking of him. Abby grabbed her favorite book off her shelf and went to her bed to read, but she never got to open it. The phone ringing on the small bedside table interrupted her thoughts of Westly and her plans to read. The answering machine light was blinking right beside it. In Abby's haze she had forgotten all about the fact that her aunt had probably called fifteen or more times by now.
    She picked up and before she could say hello, her aunt was talking, "Abby where have you been? I have been calling you for hours now! Don't scare me like that. I was so worried about you."
    "I'm fine Missa! I was out to dinner with a friend and it took awhile. I was just getting comfortable to do some reading when you called. How was your day?"
    Abby only talked to her for about five minutes before Melissa had to go and get ready to go on stage. She was very thankful that she did not ask her what friend. Abby was not ready to tell her about Westly; what could she have said anyway? She played the answering machine messages and quickly deleted the ones from her Aunt Melissa. She had three other phone calls to return before she could settle in for the night.
    Her father, Rachel and her grandmother had also called while she was out. Abby called her grandmother back first, then her father. She left Rachel's call for last knowing that would be the longest. Rachel always had a lot to say. Abby thought about telling her about her dinner with Westly but quickly changed her mind. She would never