I just wrote this out of bordem, and interest. I would appreciate it if I could get comments on how it sounds so far? How good it sounds? Any input? How bad it is? Anything? Enjoy. Maybe I wll finish it one day, but until then I would like to know if anyone would even be interested in it? Thanks, Ashley

On hot day in July a young boy was born. He was as cute as any baby at birth, born right on time and had the brightest blue eyes. “Look at that face honey, he is going to look just like you, handsome.”Abby said smiling at her new son. “Austin” he said looking at him through the clear box. “What?” she said looking up at him, standing next to her. “I think he looks like an Austin”, he said shaking his head tilted to the left. “hum, Austin? I do like that but whats wrong with the name we picked out, Terence?” she said staring at him waiting for a response. “Look at him, he doesn't look like a Terence, that sounds like a football player, he's an laid back kinda guy, look at the way he has his feet are kicked up.” She turned her head to look at the baby then jerked back to look at him, “so you're saying my sons going to be lazy?” He smiled and let out a sigh, “I wasn't calling him lazy and I don't want to argue about it, I'm just saying he looks like an Austin instead of a Terence.” She looked down and fiddled with her hospital bracelet, “Yea you're right, I'm sorry.” The door creped open and the nurse came in. “Just here to get your blood pressure, and take the baby to the nursery, thats enough mommy time.” She said rushing to the machine beside Abbys' bed. “The doctor will be in a minute to tell you when you and him can leave”. A chubby tan lady pushed the door open all the way and pulled a cart in with a type writer on it and cords dangling everywhere. “Hello, Mrs. and Mr. Goodnight, I'm here to get the birth certificate information”. She pulled the cord up to her face and pointed to each one mumbling to herself. Then she hooked them up to the type writer in the color order. She plugged it into the wall and turned it on. As Abby was watching her she got startled by the nurse lifting up her arm. She watched as the cold plastic wrapped around her arm. The nurse pressed two buttons on the screen and it began to blow up. The little lady was now taking a piece of paper and typing. She then jerked it out and placed a blue piece of paper in it with a gold border which had the heading “Cooke Hospital”.

“Okay, you are Mrs. Abigail Mary Goodnight and Mr. Christopher Todd Goodnight.” She said as she typed the words. She waited for no conformation she just went on to the next blank. “Today is July 21, 1989 and it was 4:22pm at time of birth.” She typed for another second. The nurse was pushing the blood pressure machine away as she wrapped the cord around the holder. “Congratulations Mrs. Goodnight, your a healthy mother and the doctor will be in shortly. Say goodbye to the baby.” The nurse walked pass the short lady typing carefully stepping over the cords. She went to the clear box where wrapped up in a blue blanket laid the little boy sleeping away. She smiled as he swarmed in her arms. She smiled the whole way to the side of the bed where she handed him to Abby. She slowly touched his nose. “My little baby, my little boy, my little Austin.” Chris, who had been slowly drifting away to sleep, sled up. He let out a big smile of accomplishment. The short lady looked at Abby and said “Austin, thanks that answers my next question and could you spell that for me?” Chris stood up and walked over to the cart. As he started spelling Austin for her, Abby gave Austin a light kiss on the forehead. The nurse slowly picked him up cradling him in her arms. After watching every step the nurse took to the door Abby turned her attention to Chris and the lady. She then noticed how actually short the lady was compared to Chris's size. He was only 6 foot but she had to be around 4 foot tall. 'Isn't that a legal midget?' She thought to herself. She quickly came down from her thoughts when Chris asked her what would be a good middle name. “ugh, Austin lee, Austin Todd, Austin Jay, Austin Michael.” She said shrugging her shoulders. Chris rubbed his chin “hum I like that Austin Lee. “Austin Lee Goodnight, future president” The short lady giggled as she typed moving her lips to the words she was typing. Abby shook her head and smiled. “Let's just shoot for Pre-K honor roll right now babe.” The Lady rolled up all the cords after she released the paper and said “Here you go” with a smile that covered ear to ear. As soon as she got the cart through the door another nurse came in, walking quickly. “Hello Abigail, sorry but time for more meds, this one will make you sleepy.” She took the needle and stuck it in the clear tube leading to her IV.

“Honey wake up, the doctors here to tell us something important.” She opened her eyes and saw Chris shaking her shoulder. She rubbed her eyes trying to focus on the doctor. Once she could see straight she pushed the button connected to her bed which pushed her bed in an upright position. “Good morning Ms. Goodnight” “It's Mrs. Goodnight, we are married.” He sat down in an extra chair after scooting it up close to the bed. He looked up at Chris and pushed his glasses back “Christopher please have a seat this news maybe devastating.” Chris looked shocked “yea okay, um call me Chris.” he said as he sat in his chair. Abby noticed the quibble in his voice. 'Oh my gosh what could be wrong?' “Is it me or the baby this news is about Dr. Price?” He looked at the tan folder in his hand and hung his head, looking at the floor. “I'm sorry to say it's about Austin” Abbys' eyes got big her mind expanded on the stuff that could be wrong. Tears swelled up in her eyes. Chris dropped his jaw, still opened he covered his mouth with his hand. Abby swallowed hard, and loud enough Dr. Price and Chris heard the gulp. “Is he okay, is my baby okay?” She started breathing hard to the thought of him being gone. Dr. Price sighed, “ he is fine and healthy Mrs. Goodnight, he's just not going to be able to walk.” Before a second of silence passed by “What?” Abby threw right at Dr. Price. “Why not? What is wrong? Thats not what I would call healthy Dr. Price. Cut to the chase.” Dr. Price dropped his head “He has been diagnosed with duchenne muscular dystrophy, I'm sorry.” Abby sat there a minute it seemed like the only thing she could do was listen to her heartbeat. Chris laid back in the chair totally shocked at the unexpected news. Abby shook her head. “Doctor, theres no way, not my baby, I mean how could this happen? Me and Chris are perfectly normal with perfectly normal family history” Dr. Price lifted his head and grabbed the folder next to him. “Yes, that is true but that doesn't mean it was heredity, that means his genetics failed on their own. He won't be able to walk, no matter how much you work with him.” Chris was in such disbelief, he couldn't help but to shout at Dr. Price. “Don't tell me my son can't do something, are you sure you even have the right parents? I think you have the wrong room or something, because Austin was perfectly fine.” Dr. Price stood up pushing his palm towards Chris. “I understand this is hard but lets not get physical, your wife needs you right now, not a jail cell.” Chris looked over at Abby who was out of bed dragging her pole with the IVs on it. She was pouring tears out. Chris made a firm look at Dr. Price and then went over to Abby and grabbed her from behind. As soon as she felt his touch her knees collapsed in front of the open door. Nurses and people walking by frowned as they saw her face in the fear of Abby losing her child. Abby covered her face and made a loud screech. Chris heard the nurse whisper behind the counter, “That's not the worse we have seen it.” Chris gave a stern look at her “We did not lose our child.” He then turned his attention at Abby. He knelt down beside her and slowly fingered her hair out of her face. “Abby baby, he is going to be okay; We always said we would love him no matter what he looked like or acted like, this would fall under that category.” She squinted her eyes and shook her head. “Chris I am not upset because I am afraid I wont love him as much as if he was normal, because I love him no matter what. It's the fact he won't be able to be normal and do fun kid activities and just be a kid is what pierces me the most.” As Dr. Price quietly walked up behind them he asked in a kind voice, “I am again sorry about this Abby and Chris, things just happen and we can't change it no matter how much we want to. I am sorry to rush out but I have another delivery in 15 minutes, if you could just excuse me.” Chris the looked around and noticed they were blocking the door. He grabbed Abbys' hands and helped her up slowly. “It's okay doc, we know you did what you could, thank you.” Chris then scooted Abby to her bed as he listened to the click of the business shoes all the way down the hall swiftly walk away. Abby was sniffling and wiping her eyes. After she was placed comfortably in her bed he went to retrieve the tissue box. After he sat it on her tray he sat down. Minutes went by and all they could do is think of everything that was in store for them on this journey.

Chapter 2

20 years later.

“Hey sweetie wake up pancakes are ready!” He cracked one eye open. “ughhh” he rolled over to his stomach and glanced at his clock. It read 6 o'clock. He took a second glance. “You've got to be kidding me.” 'This gets so old' he thought to himself. She brought the tray to his night stand. He could see the steam rolling off the nice hot pancakes. “Mom, I am a grown man, I get the point I can't walk but this gets so aggravating, I can take care of myself.” She sighed, she knew this is what started the same old argument. He would say shes too clingy and she would say he's too cocky and they wouldn't talk for hours. “Honey don't start, I don't feel like arguing, not this morning.” She walked around his room and got his electric wheelchair. “Mom, I'm serious this time, it's enough. I moved out for a reason, not for you to come cook and get me out of bed every morning.” He pulled himself up so he was leaning on his head board and sitting up. “Austin, if I don't do it then who will?” He snapped back as soon as she finished the question. “I will mom, thats the purpose of my life is to actually do something, not sit around and have my mom as my slave.” She let out another sigh. “I just care for and love you so much Austin, I couldn't bare seeing you get hurt.” “Mom, enough, give me my spare house key and go to work. Call me in a couple of days.” Her jaw dropped. “Why I never..” she reached in her coat pocket and pulled out a key chain. She went through the keys and picked out a silver key with holes in the top. She looped it off the key chain and slammed it on his night stand. “I am so sorry for loving you and caring about you, and not wanting you to get hurt.” Her eyes whelped up as she walked away and closed the door behind her. Then he realized how cruel he was without even meaning to be. He felt extremely bad. All she really did was care about him. Maybe this was a good thing though, maybe she would back off a little. 'I mean come on, I'm twenty years old, living in my own house, give it up already'. His mind wondered for a good twenty minutes till he popped back to reality. “Jozey!!” He yelled very loud, so loud it echoed in is small house. Which reminded him had very little furniture. What was the point in having some if he didn't use it and never had any company? “Thump, Thud, Thump, Thud.” The loud stomps echoed down the hall. The door knob twisted and here came in Jozey. Jozey was Austins' true friend, the one he could tell everything to. The only friend he had that he would trust with his life. He has had her for 3 years and shes the best, well trained anyone could ask for. Shes a beautiful all Black German Shepherd fully service dog trained. She was the apple of his eye. “Hey girl!” he said like he was just as happy to see her as she was to see him. If he would have had a tail it would have been wagging faster then hers. “Chair” as soon as the words came out of his mouth she turned towards the middle of the room, where his mom had left it. He watched her as she clicked it on with her nose the used her mouth to navigate it to the bed. As soon as she reached the bed she clicked it off and sat down, waiting for her next command. “Help me get up” She jumped on the bed being very precise not to step on him with her mastiff paws. She stood directly over top his body so that he was looking at her side. Austin grabbed her collar and she slowly pulled him to the edge of the bed. She the got off the bed and stood parallel to the bed. She jerked his pants leg to were he was almost sitting up off the edge of the bed. He then grabbed the arm rest of the chair and twisted his way around to perfectly be sitting in the chair. “Thats my girl, Jojo. Does my girl want a pancake this morning?” She wiggled tail, and looked at him with her head sideways and her ears perked. He stretched to his tray and grabbed a pancake. The steam made his fingers burn. He tossed to the ground, then quickly blowing on his fingers. “ I wouldn't eat that right now, it really hot.” Jozey looked at him as he talked and then gave her attention to the steaming pancake on the floor. He turned his chair towards to his closet and opened the doors. “I think we will walk down to the coffee shop today girl, and maybe to the park. What should I wear?” Jozey paid no attention to his question, she was enjoying her pancake. He looked back and forth. “I'm feeling bright today, so how about yellow?” He grabbed the bottom of a short sleeve yellow shirt and jerked it off the hanger. He smiled, knowing today was going to be a good day. He slipped his shirt off and placed his new, bright shirt on. “ He shoots and .. he scores!” He aimed his old shirt at the laundry basket and shot it, making in directly in the basket. Jozey was finishing up her pancake, and walked over to Austin and sat by his side. “Jeans please?” he looked at her pointing at the top dresser drawer. She grabbed the rope hanging off the handle and pulled as hard as she could with her teeth. She jerked it open and dropped the rope. She jumped up and grabbed a pair of jeans and brought them to Austins' lap and dropped them. He gave her a pat between her ears. “That's my girl!” She wagged her tail and ran back to the dresser, standing on her back feet pushing the drawer back in. She happily came and sat by his side. He went over to his bathroom, that was wide open in his room. He had a lifter that lifted him to the commode and to the bath tub. He climbed in it, but didn't move it. He just slipped off his pants and struggled into his newly picked out jeans. After he had the button tight and the zipper zipped up, he lowered himself back down and sat comfortably in his chair. He navigated towards the hallway, and towards the living room. He went to his front door. He grabbed his house keys and the cash on the coffee table. He opened his door and looked back at Jozey. “Get your leash girl”

She trailed off down the hall way. “thump, thud, thump, thud” She came running around the corner, wagging her tail. She loved walks and knew she was going to meet people. She had her pink leash in her mouth and dropped it at his feet. “Come on, you know I can't reach that.” She picked it up and placed it on his lap. He quickly grabbed it and snapped it on her collar. “Let's go” he headed out the door. She trailed right behind him. When he got the ramp, he pointed to the door, “ Lock it up girl” She dragged her leash to the door, while pushing the door open with her nose. She went in the house, he could hear the clicking sound and she came out, she pulled the rope connected to the handle. She ran back over to him and picked up the end of her leash and laid it on his lap. He gave her a scratch behind her ears. “I don't know what I would do without you girl.” He smiled as went down the ramp. He went down his driveway straight to the sidewalk. They took a silent walk into town. Only 5 minutes down the road was the coffee shop, called 'Starbucks'. He had his normal drink, the Carmel frap and Jozey got her crunchy cookies she loved so much. All the people of the small town of Cooke knew who Austin was. He had lived in the town his whole life. Coming out in the town every once in a while, but mostly stayed at home. He worked from home for a survey company, making money to be comfortable. He arrived at the coffee shop and entered. Everyone he passed said hi, or hello. He would just smile and wave as he made his way to the counter. “The normal Kimberly, and add a cherry on it this time. I'm having a great day”. For some reason he felt refreshed to get his mom off his shoulders. He felt bad for making her upset, but it was nice to do things on his own. After all thats why he moved out. He moved about 7 miles away from his parents. He made it to his table and straightened up the napkin box, ash tray, and the sugars. He was very organized and had to have everything in order. He got it from his dad, always being neat and cleaned up. He looked over to Jozey who was staring at Kimberly, she knew she would be bringing the cookies and coffee any minute. He sat there looking at the table design. Then an old buddy of Austins' named Justin walked up to his table. “ Hey man, long time no see.” Austin looked up. “Yo man, I haven't seen you in years, I thought you left this town along time ago.” He smiled and looked back at his table, where a beautiful woman sat. “things change, You know that is right?” He looked closer, she was blonde with a beautiful smile. “Oh my gosh, no way.” It was another classmate of theirs. She was the captain of the cheerleaders, dated the football jocks, and was always well dressed and beautiful. Her name was Crystal, and they both had a crush on her growing up. Austin remembered back when Justin use to play girls and hurt them, in an emotional way. He hoped that he had changed because he had a piece of gold now. “How did you get her?” He smiled, as he smiled Austin could feel how much he loved her. “It's a miracle bro, a miracle. We went to the same college for acting, and we were Romeo and Juliet in a play. Then things just clicked. It was like god sent.” Austin was amazed how Justin had changed. He would just talk about womens bodies and how smoking hot they were. Love was the last thing on Justins mind. Austin was glad he changed and that at least one of them got what they wanted. “did you hear about the new people that moved in, down the street?” Justin said while pointing his finger out the window. Kimberly placed the coffee on the table with a green straw, she then placed a bowl filled with cookie on the ground. She stood straight up and wiped her hands on her apron. “Yeah, I heard about them, it's just a women and her boyfriend isn't it?” She said looking at Justin. “Oh, I heard they had kids but they weren't married.” Justin said looking at Kimberly and turning his head toward Austin shrugging his shoulders. “ I have no clue, I don't know anything about it.” Austin said turning his head and tearing the paper off his straw. Kimberly gave Austin a hug, “ Well I get to work.” Justin gave Austin a look as she walked away. Austin knew what he meant by the face expression. “Nah, shes just a friend.” Austin said, with all honesty. Crystal walked up and grabbed Justins hands. “Austin, is that you? I haven't seen you since high school. How have you been?” He smiled and looked at her for a second remembering how good she use to look in the cheer leading costume. “uh, I'm doing fine, never could be better.” “Thats great to hear she said looking at Justin. “ready to go?” Justin patted Austin on the back, “ good luck man, hope to see yeah around sometime, maybe we'll meet up and have a guys night out.” Crystal turned toward the door and started walking. Austin shook his head, “yup, I need one of those nights. ha.” Austin smiled as Justin walked away waving. He watched them threw the window, get into a sports car and leave. Smiling and just so happy. He looked down at Jozey. “ Why couldn't that be me?” he finished his coffee, thanked Kimberly and started on the side walk to go the park. The whole way there thoughts were running through his mind. 'Luck. It must be luck. Things like that just don't happen to people like me. He use to be a bad kid, and did wrong things all the time. I made straight A's and never got in trouble. Maybe being the good one doesn't always have the best out come. I am a nobody. I didn't go to college, even though I had the grades, I didn't get the girl, even though I have the best love to offer.' He stopped at the over look of the park. He stared at the park. Jozey sat next to him and placed her head on his lap. “hah. You're right girl, I am happy and content. I don't need a sports car or beautiful women to make me happy. I have you, and my coffee.” He smiled, and petted her. She licked his hand as he started to go again. He smiled and laughed. “you know just what to say, without saying anything at all.” He reached the entrance of the park. He unclipped her leash and dug in his bag. He felt the tennis ball at the bottom and picked it out. He threw it as far as he could. She ran to it, in great speed. She looked like black lightning as she treading across the green grass to retrieve the ball. He went and sat under a big oak tree, out of the park pathway. They played fetch for a hour or so and headed back home. Once they arrived at home he went out on his back deck watching Jozey sniff through the yard. He drifted off in thought about his encounter with Justin today, and how he had changed. He heard a growl, and a deep hissing snap. He then realized he didn't see Jozey. “Jozey, come!” he yelled looking around everywhere. She came running around the house, and up the deck ramp at full speed. She had a dog running right behind her. He expression was that she was scared and trying to get away from this dog. The dog was skinny and very wolf like, he had beautiful hair. He wasn't mangy at all, and had the prettiest blue eyes. Austin didn't know a lot about his dogs, but he knew that was a purebred Siberian Husky. He was wearing a blue collar, and had the slickest hair. She circled around Austin, while the dog trailed right behind her. “Get dog, go on somewhere!” He said shoeing the dog down the ramp. Then a women from around the front of the house was yelling, “Nitro!” The dog purked his ears and went running around front. “Jozey, heal” He followed the dog down the ramp through the grass and to the front yard. Where a women in a wheelchair sat, petting the dog. “good boy, Nitro.” He had lived in this town, and never saw this women. She was young and had a very warming face. She seemed to have a happiness about her, that she seem to beam off. She clipped the leash on the dogs collar and looked up. She seemed to be surprised someone was watching her. “I'm so sorry if he bothered you or your dog, he doesn't have a mean bone in his body.” Austin just shook his head. “uh, um no. He is fine, he he just followed my dog around.” She smiled “I'm sorry, your dog must be a female. He loves them.” Austin laughed “ Yeah, me too. Uh I mean I like female people.” She laughed “Are you from around here?” He turned his head, looking back at his house, “closer then what you think. I haven't seen you from around here before.” She looked left down the street, and took a sigh. “I just moved here from Colorado, away from the parents.” His jaw dropped, “Colorado? Wow, I moved like maybe like 3 minutes from mine, and you moved across the country.” She smiled and shook her head, “If you met them, you would understand. “yeah, I understand what you mean, my mother still hasn't cut the cord yet.” She looked down at her dog, then looked over at Jozey. “She's huge but very pretty.” She patted Jozey on the head, and Jozey wagged her tail and licked her hand. “yeah, she's really all I have, my best friend and very well trained.” She looked at her shaking her head up and down. “I believe it. She seems intelligent just from her looks and you can tell she loves you.” Austin looked down at her, he cracked a big smile. He looked over at the women as she looked over at Jozey. He noticed how beautiful she was. Her happiness just made him want to smile, so hard his cheeks could hurt. Her hair made her skin tone look so blended in. Her smile was breath taking. She looked up at him, while he was noticing her beauty. She smiled, and he did in a chain reaction. “So is he a service dog or just a pet?” She got a shocked look on her face. “oh, I am so sorry. This is Nitro, also my best friend. He is my faithful guardian dog, and my service dog. I have had him since he was a puppy, and got him trained myself. And I am Jessica, I prefer to be called Jess. My grandmother is the only one who calls my Jessie.” He was smiling the whole time she was talking, and after she stopped. She waited for him to stop smiling and introduce himself, and his dog. “May I ask your name?” He blinked his eyes. “I'm sorry, I am so rude. I am Austin, I live here at this house. This is Jozey, my kid, my saint. I have lived here my whole life. I prefer to be called Austin. He cracked another smile. She started laughing. “you are really funny.” The both glance yet another smile. She looked down the road and tightened Nitros' leash. “ well I must go, I have a lot of unpacking to do. I hope I see you around some time. Maybe we could sit up a play date?” He quickly blurted back, “of course, and nice to meet you.” She turned toward the sideway, and gave him one more smiling glance, “nice to meet you too.” she strolled down the road. He still, shamelessly smiled as he watched her go down the sidewalk. “wow, Jozey.” he said shaking his head, still watching her get smaller and smaller. He turned to his house, and sighed. “She has a boyfriend, though, remember what Kimberly said? She's everything I want. Everything I need though, I can feel it.”

Chapter 3

The next morning he waited for his mom to come in with a tray, a big pile of pancakes and a note that said 'I'm Sorry' but he waited and waited. She never showed up. “She must have got the hint Jozey.” He got himself dressed and headed down to the coffee shop. Most of the time he will get coffee, and cookies for Jozey. He was having a different feeling today. He grabbed the leash and headed down the ramp. He was hoping to run into Jessica again. He had a dream that she lost her dog again, and they met up. He knew this was almost impossible for the dog to come back, unless he had a liking to Jozey. “I'm wasting my time aren't I? She has a boyfriend, and I don't think she liked me very much; but who would blame her?” He said watching where he was going but leaning his head towards Jozey. He looked over at her, when he finished his sentence. She was looking at him. “I swear, you must know English, I don't know what I would do without you.” He patted her on the head. He tried to think of random stuff the whole way there, just to distract himself from thinking about her. He wondered how everything was wired to keep the stop lights coordinated and not once making a mistake. Then it brought him to thinking about the United States electric bill for all the stop lights, and signs that flashed. His mind kept wondering off in thought. He soon reached the coffee shop. He made his way to his table. Kimberly came walking around him with a cloth, wiping down the tables. “Hey Austin, the usual?” She said looking at him but also wiping off a rather dirty table. “um, to be blunt Kimberly I would like a change today. I would like a croissant roll with a regular up of coffee and some creamer. Actually make that two croissant rolls, one for Jozey, instead of her cookies. She gave him a surprised look, and placed her hands on her hips. “Wow, in all my seven years, I would have never thought that you would change on me.” He just smiled and looked at Jozey. “Somethings got to change sooner or later.” As he looked up at Kimberly who was heading down to the kitchen; he heard the bell ring on the door, and a kind man say, “right this way.” He glanced over and then glanced back at Kimberly. He was shocked at what he saw, so he snatched his head back real quick, focusing his attention on the door. It was Jessica and Nitro. He had this feeling come over him, like he wasn't dressed properly to meet her. As soon as she came in she noticed him at the table. She came over to him, and Jozey. “Fancy meeting you again, does this place She settled down under the table and got comfortable. “Yes, it does. I would know I have a been a customer here everyday for almost eight years. Just always ask for Kimberly and you'll get the best coffee in town, not to mention the service.” As he talked she noticed his features, and his expressions. “So, wheres the lucky lady at?” He turned his head side ways. “Lucky lady?” she giggled. “I mean like, your wife or girlfriend, fiancé.” “oh, no. I mean I don't have a 'lucky lady'. Never wanted one to settle down with. I'm kind of the independent type.” She shook her head like he knew what she meant. “Are you gay?” She said giving him a wise look with one finger over her mouth. “God no. I have had a girlfriend, way back in the day. She just was going out with me for a joke. Everyone thought it was funny to hurt my feelings. We dated for 5 weeks, and I thought she really cared about me. I was mistaken. It's fine now, though. It doesn't even bother me.” She had this sadness over come her face. “I'm so sorry. People can be cruel. It's like people think it's funny to kick someone when their down.” He shook his head in agreement as he watched Kimberly come from behind the kitchen with his coffee. Kimberly reached the table and sat down the coffee. “Oh, hi there. I am Kimberly. I work here, and is their anything I can get you?” She smiled. “Yes, I would like a Carmel frappé, and cookies for my dog, Nitro please?” She giggled and looked over at Austin. Jessica stuck her hand out towards Kimberly. “My name is Jessica, I just moved here, and this is my dog Nitro?” She shook her hand. “Nice to meet you Jessica and Nitro.” “May I ask why you laughed when I gave you my order?” Kimberly giggled and looked at Austin. “I think you guys will be great friends.” She smiled again and walked away. Austin looked at Jessica. “What she meant was that I order the same thing everyday I come in here and you just ordered the same exact thing.” She looked over at his drink and down at Jozey. “Doesn't look like you did today.” He looked out the window at all the people walking by. “Somethings different about today. So what about you? Boyfriend, husband or fiancée?” She looked down at her feet hanging off her chair. “Neither. Just Nitro. The only man I can depend on for loyalty.” She looked over at Nitro. Austin couldn't believe what he had heard. No boyfriend? He thought to himself. Kimberly was wrong, but in a good way. Wow I might actually have a chance with this girl. “But that doesn't matter. So what brings you here besides getting away from mom and dad?” Austin said quickly as the question he asked seemed to make her upset. He knew it must be a touchy subject for her. She looked back up at Austin. “Well, it was either here or Virginia. I ask for a sign to pick between them. Like a week after that the Virginia Tech shooting happened. So I knew that was my sign to not go there.” When she finished her sentence Kimberly came from around back with Jessicas coffee and cookies. “here you go, Jessica and Nitro.” She sat the coffee down on the table and a bowl on the ground. “Oh, thanks, you didn't have to get a bowl, he would of ate it off the ground.” Kimberly smiled. It's no problem, we use those for when Jozey comes in.” The total is five twenty six. Austin stuck his finger in the air, just place it on my tab. Jessica started routing through her purse. “No, I have it.” Kimberly looked over at Austin. He gave her a signal to walk away. “Jessica, it's fine. I got it.” She sighed then smiled. “thanks. Next time it is on me.” He smiled and shook his head. “I don't think so.” She giggled. In her entire life she has never had a guy be so kind and mean it, she watched him as he take a drink of coffee. She knew deep down inside. He was special, or in girl words, he was a keeper.