It's official. I'm bored. I have been here for three weeks and accomplished nothing. Not that I was aspiring to do anything. But it has been almost a week since I left my apartment since the run in with Officer Ridley. My days were filled with me laid out on the couch watching TV or reading one of the books I checked out of the library. Everytime I attempted to get up and out of the house I slumped back down, it required too much energy. I lived in darkness shutting out the world. The only light that was present came from glare of the TV and sunlight that peeked between the window shade. Here in this place I was not surrounded by well meaning friends that harassed me constantly to get out of the house. Here I didn't have people around me always looking at me with pity and telling me that they understand what I'm going through. How can they when I didn't even know. The only thing I knew was that I wanted to be left alone. I needed to get out and get some fresh air. Plus I was running low on some supplies. I glance out of the living room that overlooked the parking lot. Whew. No police car. This would be the best time to leave avoiding another encounter with Officer Ridley. I pulled into a vacant spot in front of the diner that was located on the end of the row of shops on Main Street. Downtown comprised of several streets that was littered with mom and pop stores and a couple of high end clothing stores. I had eaten at this diner a couple of times and fell in love with Ms. Lulu's pecan pie. She said she has the picture perfect pecans flown in from one of the southern states. She swears the pecans are the reason her pie is the best in town. After one bite, I had to agree. It was midday and the diner was quiet only a few patrons sitting at the booths. I liked sitting at the counter where I could talk with Ms. Lulu and Kevin. I loved listening to Ms. Lulu talked with her southern accent as she buzzed around the diner greeting customers and taking orders. "Hello Celeste, its been awhile." "Hi Kevin, yeah I've been a shut-in lately." "Well I'm glad you decided to join the living." "To be honest, I missed Ms. Lulu's pecan pie." "I'm hurt and I thought you missed my company." I laughed at that because Kevin had to be in his late fifties. "You know I couldn't handle you." "Now Kevin, leave that poor girl alone, you old fart." Ms. Lulu walked behind the counter shooting me a friendly smile. I tried hiding my giggles behind a menu at Ms. Lulu shooing Kevin away. "Sorry Celeste, I forgot how jealous Lulu gets when I speak to younger women!" Ms. Lulu then swatted at Kevin's chest with her order pad. "Ow that hurt Lulu. You know you are my one and only." "Hush your mouth! You are too old for me too! Now git. I have an order number three that needs fixin." Kevin gave me a parting wink and went back to the kitchen to cook up Ms. Lulu's order. I could sit here all day and watch them banter back and forth. Ms. Lulu was a healthy woman in her forties with dark brown, curly hair that stopped right above her shoulders and a vivacious personality. Kevin was the only person I've ever seen call her Lulu. I remember one of the last conversation I had with her, I asked why people called her Ms. Lulu and not just Lulu. She said it was a southern thing and I left it at that. I could tell that there was a little undercurrent of romance between the two, but they never showed it in public. "I was getting a little worried about you Celeste. You haven't been around in days. Is every alright?" Ms. Lulu sat down on the barstool next to me. "I'm ok." I looked down at the menu not wanting her to see the sadness in my eyes. She patted my hand before rising from the stool. "Well if you need anyone to talk to. I'm here. I know you are new to town and don't know anybody, my door is always open." "Thanks I appreciate that. And I may take you up on that offer one day." Ms. Lulu put a slice of her pecan pie in front of me and I smile my thanks before she left to attend to new customers. I spent two enjoyable hours at the diner talking with Ms. Lulu and Kevin before deciding to walk over to the library. "Hi Celeste." his voice made me jumped. "I'm sorry, did I scare you?" "Yes a little. I didn't see you." Warning bells set off inside my head as Officer Ridley fell into step with my smaller strides. "You need to be more aware of your surroundings. You never know who may be lurking around to try and snatch you up." Although his voice was light, his eyes were hard. "I will remember that." I quicken my pace. "Did you have a nice time at the diner?" I stopped in mid-stride and faced him. "Are you watching me?" I knew I was taking a risk but I had to know. He was creeping me out. "Sorta of." He reached out a hand towards my chest and I immediate took a step backward out of his reach. He dropped his hand his gaze intensely watching me. "There is a ladybug on your shoulder." I looked down and sure enough there was a ladybug. I brushed it off. "Are you afraid of me?" I shifted my weight to my other foot and briefly looked down at my feet before raising my eyes back to his. His eyes were green with hints of black throughout and they were waiting for my answer. He raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms over his chest. Now don't get me wrong Officer Ridley was a nice piece of male specimen if you were into that body builder type. I wasn't. He towered over me by a foot and a half at least if not more. "You are somewhat intimidating." Dangerous more like it. He looked like a badass street thug playing dress up in cop clothes. "I'm harmless. That is if you stay on my good side. Right now you are on my good side. It would make it even better if you would go out with me. I will show you a less intimidating side of me." That of course was not possible. No matter how you dress him up, he will forever be intimidating in my eyes. We were interrupted before I could give him an answer. Thank the lord. God was looking out for me at this moment, at least. "Ridley." the new heaven sent male approached us. "Hello Chief." so he was his boss. Now his boss was more my type, if I was looking for one. Still as tall Officer Ridley but not as bulky and intimidating. He looked like a surfer with blonde hair and blue eyes, and a great tan. Couple all that with a friendly smile, I welcomed the interruption from his superior. "Well are you going to introduce me to your friend?" chief waited patiently for the introduction and smiling at me. "Oh yea. Chief this is Celeste. She is my new upstairs neighbor." "Ah so you are Celeste. You can call me, Todd." He extended his hand towards me and I gladly accepted the gesture. His hand was warm and inviting. "Hi Todd. Celeste." I pointed to myself. "Ridley your needed at the station." Todd still held onto my hand as he looked at Officer Ridley. I could tell that he didn't want to leave me with his chief, but he had no choice. He gave us both a quick nod and left in the direction of the police station. Todd let go of my hand. "I hope you don't mind that I interrupted, but you seemed a little uncomfortable." So did he hear our conversation? I didn't care I was glad for the save. "I was a little. Thanks." I was unsure of my next move so I waited. "No problem. He can be a little intimidating." so he did hear our conversation. Well I didn't care as long as it got me off the hook from giving Officer Ridley an answer. "Where you headed?" "The library." "Do you mind the company?" "No, of course not." "So how are you liking our town." "It is very quaint. Really nice and the people are friendly." We walked around the block making small talk. "Here you are. If you need anything, please feel free to ask. I will tell Officer Ridley to back off." "I don't want to start any trouble." "It's no problem. Don't worry he will not give you any trouble. If he does, here is my number." Todd handed over his business card and I glanced down reading his name and Three hours later, I enter my apartment with a handful of books and toiletry supplies. I decided to bring home some fast food getting ready for a long night of reading.