I’ve mentioned before I was working on something new. I’m kind of itching to get back to it, but I need to finish this current revision first.
But before I got sucked back into revisions, I wrote a couple of short stories around the characters for my new idea. They’ve come alive for me already and I miss them. So since I can’t play in their world today, I thought I’d share a snippet from one of their short stories instead. (FYI – Taylor’s the guy, Max is the girl. This is a snippet so that might be confusing up front).
What are you working on right now? And if it’s not what you want to be working on, what’s keeping you from your real desire?
Snippets of the night before drifted back to Taylor as consciousness set in. He couldn’t believe he had finally told Max how he felt. And the after…parts of him still tingled. He frowned when he realized he was the only person in the bed. Had she moved back into her own?
He forced his eyes open and rolled his head toward the second queen mattress. Unslept in. He couldn’t hear the shower running either. He sat up with a jolt. Where was she? Sunshine fell into his eyes from the crack in the curtains, and he winced.
A strange noise hummed through the room. What the hell? He looked around, gaze falling on his phone. It was vibrating against the nightstand. He needed to calm down. She had probably just gone out for food or something. He grabbed the phone, a flicker of a smile crossing his lips when he saw it was her. “Hey, you.”
“Hello?” an unfamiliar voice greeted him.
His brow furrowed. “Who is this?”
“I’m sorry, sir. I’m a nurse at Alpine memorial. Do you know a Maxine Robbins? You were the only number in her phone.”
Shit. His stomach dropped into his feet. “Yes.”
“We need you to come down here and help us fill out some paperwork.”
“Wait, what?” He slid on his shoes and grabbed his car keys, already heading toward the door. “Is she all right?”
“She’ll be fine, sir. But there was an assault. Do you know where we’re located?”
“I’ll be there in ten minutes.” Taylor dropped his phone into his pocket before she could say anything else.
The drive to the hospital took forever. He usually used the other drivers’ emotions to move more easily through traffic, but he couldn’t focus that day. Horns blared each time he cut someone off, and his nerves were shot by the time he pulled up to the hospital.
He tried to feel relieved when a nurse knew exactly why he was there and led him toward the back rooms. But all he could think about was Max. He was shown to an exam room near the back of the hall
Max looked up when the door swung open. A bandage covered the right side of her forehead, and a large bruise was visible beneath her shirt sleeve. But at least she was she was sitting, her legs swinging over the edge of the bed.
Taylor let out a tiny laugh and stepped forward.
Her eyes grew wide and she scooted back, shaking her head. “Don’t.”
He stopped halfway across the room, searching her face for information. Nothing was there but fear. “Max?”
She stood and backed away.
“Miss, you need to stay in bed until the doctor says otherwise,” the nurse warned.
“Go away,” Max growled, eyes never leaving Taylor.
“But-” What had he done?
“They found me.” The three words crossed her lips, and suddenly it all made sense. “Run.”
You’re mean! More! Gah!
I sort of want to be working on a short story, but I need to quit avoiding chapter nineteen. 🙂
Yes! No avoiding chapter 19! 😀
In my defense, both of these short stories were contest entries. I mean, it’s a good excuse, right?
And the full version is in my writing.com portfolio for those people who are site members 😉
Ohhhhh, I like that!!
Right now, I’m… working on the business-y networky side of things while I percolate on how I want to approach the next segment of a story. I WANT to be working on the story… I think. But I’m not ready for that yet… so I’m keeping my hands busy while the thinking goes on. 🙂
Jo
In Which We Start Anew