Rachael's mood brightened when she looked at the clock.  It was twelve o'clock and nearly time for lunch, which meant that she would see Ian again.  Hopefully.  When she woke up in the morning, Rachael only wondered about one thing in her day - would Ian show up.  She never knew if he would come, which drove her crazy.  Half the time he would, and half the time he wouldn't.

 

After finishing up her work, Rachael hurriedly grabbed her lunch and made her way to the elevator.  The down button had already been pressed by a man from her office.  The wait for the lift was mildly annoying to Rachael.  When the lift finally arrived Rachael let an old couple get off before she got in.  She pushed the "G".  Down she went.  Floor 4, floor 3, a stop on floor 2 for a young carpenter to get on, floor one and finally ground floor.  Out she walked, into the bright sunshine.  In fact the sun was so bright and warm that the change of conditions made her sneeze loudly.  She made her way over to the bench on which she sat every day.  No sign of Ian yet.  So Rachael began to unwrap her sandwich.  As she was just about to put it in her mouth a familiar face meandered over.  It was him.

 

"Catching flies are we?" Ian said.  It took her a few seconds for the meaning of the expression to sink in to Rachael's mind, and when it did she realised how silly she must look with her mouth wide open and her sandwich sitting in her hands, suspended about halfway between her lap and awaiting mouth.  She let out a pitiful giggle.  Now she was really feeling stupid.  Did he think that she was an idiot?  Was she screwing up her chances with him?  It was at that point that Rachael realised that she was absolutely crazy about him.

 

"Cat got your tongue?" was Ian's next sentence after a slight pause, which made Rachael realise that she must now really be looking like an idiot, just sitting there staring at him.  Her face went red and she put her hand over her mouth.

 

"I'm sorry," she murmured unintelligibly back to Ian.  "How are you today?"

 

The two chatted for the next little while.  Then, without warning Ian looked at his watch and told Rachael that it was time for him to leave.

 

"Hey listen," he said, "I am busy over the next two days, but are you free for dinner Thursday night?"  Rachael's felt herself feeling nervous and excited all at the same time.

 

"Sure," she forced out.

 

"Then meet me at El Salvadore's Restaurant at 6:30 sharp," Ian said authoritatively.

 

To be continued...