Rohan couldn't get into the café on Monday. He had waited excitedly all weekend hoping to go there. When he got to work Bill Peters hadn't turned up so Rohan had all of Bill's tests to complete as well as his own.

He waited until the regular lunch hour was over before he went into the staff room and made a cup of coffee. He hadn't made himself any lunch because he had hoped to go to Ruby's so he was feeling very hungry when Sally came in and stood close to him at the urn.

"What you doin', Rohan? I ain't seen you around for a while. You been hiding again?" She put her spoon in her mouth, sucked it suggestively, and then pulled it out and stood closer to him.

Sally rose on her tip toes while Rohan stood straight and tense against the wall unable to move.

"You want to lick me, Rohan? I bet you do." She ran her tongue up the side of his jaw.

Rohan's stomach grumbled.

Sally burst into laughter. "My, my, Rohan Wayland, you are hungry for little sexy Sally." She licked her spoon again, and then swaggered away.

Rohan didn't care about protocol. He took his coffee back to the lab and drank it there.

*

"You're back. Did you have a day off yesterday?"

Rohan shook his head and inhaled. She was making conversation again. He loved the way her lips moved when she spoke. "No. Just busy."

Annie thought it was time to get back to last week when he'd had his anxiety attack. He seemed much more settled now. Though his leg still shook it didn't appear to be as bad as it was. "Are you a regular now?" He looked at her confused so she continued, "Last week I was asking about your order and me putting it in when I see you coming. Do you think you'd like me to do that?"

"Ah... yeah, I guess."

Annie sensed he wasn't completely happy about it. "If you ever want to change it, that's okay. I'll only put it in when I see you sit down. If it's not what you want you just raise your hand or yell at me or something and I won't. Okay."

Rohan watched her talk. She seemed to be talking faster and he wondered if this was what she did when she was nervous. He nodded and repeated, "Okay."

When she came back with the coffee, he looked up to see her smiling broadly at him. She was giving him one of her angel smiles. Rohan fought to keep control of his breathing, and then he heard her say, "You have very nice eyes. The colour is amazing. Has anyone told you that before? I bet they have millions of times."

Rohan bit his lip. He felt a strange surge of energy creep up his chest. She liked his eyes. Last week she liked his face and his smile now she liked his eyes. He couldn't control the immense feeling of happiness that made him want to pop. He burst into laughter and as he hooted, he heard her chuckle with him. Rohan couldn't believe how good it felt to laugh. As he continued, he became aware that the sensation was turning slowly into hysteria. He stood up abruptly and uttered, "I have to go."

He knew he left her confused, but if he didn't leave right then, she would witness him having a breakdown of some sort. He ran along the street to the train station and rocked backwards and forwards on the seat as it carried him home. Rohan knew he was attracting attention but he didn't care. He felt like a great weight was slowly being lifted from his shoulders. He entered his unit and burst into tears which soon turned to laughter, and then changed quickly back to tears.

When he had settled, he rang work. The conversation was brief because it was Sally who answered. He blurted, "I'm sick so have come home and won't be in tomorrow." Before she could say anything mocking, he hung up.

Rohan wondered if he should go to a doctor but decided they'd probably lock him up if they knew his history. He worked out on his gym set instead. It always helped calm his nerves when he was angry or frustrated.

*

Annie couldn't believe how wonderful his laughter had sounded. To think she had made his face look that happy until it had twisted in fear and he had rushed out.

"What the hell happened there?" Ruby came to stand beside her as the man dashed down the street.

"I don't know. I made him laugh. He looked shocked. I think he scared himself. Somehow, I don't think he's ever laughed like that before. Good God, Ruby, I hope I haven't pushed him over the edge," Annie said in a distraught voice. "I just wanted to make him smile."

Ruby shrugged. "Not your fault if the silly white boy slits his wrists. At least you know he laughed once before doing it."

"Oh... Ruby, this is no time for jokes." Annie brushed a tear from her eye. "I feel like crying for him. I hope he'll be okay?"

Photo - Stocksby