Chapter Two

Kate sat shivering in the cold dark room.  She didn’t know how long she had been there, the last thing she remembered was finishing up a performance of The Big Picture and then heading over to the little park where they had planned to have their lunch.  While everyone else was over watching a magician, she had wondered over to the edge of a little stream and was sitting quietly watching the water when Robby came up behind her…

 

<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>

“Don’t like magicians?”  Kate asked as Robby sat down next to her on the rock overlooking the stream.

“No not really.”  They sat in silence for a few minuets. 

Kate could tell that there was another reason that Robby had sat down with her, but she wanted to let him say it in his own time.  All during the trip, she could sense something different about him.  But maybe it was just the whole ‘being one of the leaders’ type of things that was getting to him.

Finally Robby was the one to break the silence.  “You know, Sara and I first started to get together on a mission trip.  It made the next year’s trip a little awkward, because I knew it was coming, but we broke up just about three weeks before I left.  And then last year, being my senior year and all, I thought that it would be my last mission trip with this group.  That’s why I was so excited when Janet asked me to come back this year and help as a chaperone.”  He paused for a moment.  “I thought that this year would be different, but something happened before we came.”  Kate could tell that there was something that he was trying to tell her, but he was having a hard time finding the words.  “Well it started back last December, and until recently I’d been too afraid to say anything.  When we were at Sweetheart, I saw a side of you I had never seen before.  I don’t think I ever said this, but you looked beautiful.”  Robby met Kate’s eyes and saw her blush.  **Come on man, you’re rambling, just spit it out.**

He was snapped out of his thoughts when Kate brushed her fingers down his cheek.  She was leaning over and looking attentively into his eyes, with a sweet smile playing across her lips.  He blinked back to reality and Kate gave a little giggle.  “Where did you go?  You seemed a thousand miles away?”

“I was right here.”  Robby took her hand in his and looked down at her soft delicate fingers laced with his.  “Your hands are like ice.”  Robby brought her hand to his lips and blew on them to try and heat them up.

Kate’s smile only deepened.  Not the smile of laughter or amusement, it was more of a secretive smile.  The kind that dances in a young lady’s eyes that can make the coldest of hearts melt.

“I think you gave me something to hold onto before the performance.”  Robby said looking down at her right hand.

“Huh?  Oh, yes my ring, I nearly forgot about it.”

“I didn’t.”  Robby reached into one of his jacket pockets with his other hand, still not letting go with his other hand, and pulled out the ring box Kate had asked him to keep safe for her.  He took the caladash ring out and slipped it on her finger.

Kate looked down and gave a half smile, Robby could tell that there was a hint of sadness hidden deep in her smile.  “You put it on wrong.  The way you put it on means I have a boyfriend.” 

Kate began to take it off again to fix the mistake but Robby stopped her by taking both her hands in his.  Kate lifted her eyes up to look into his questioningly. “ I know.  I did it that way for a reason.  I was wondering if you would wear it this way.  I guess what I’m trying to ask is, would you be my girlfriend?”

<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>

 

That was where everything went black.  Then she woke up in the room she was in now cold and scared.  Th memories of that afternoon warmed her heart, but she felt a sharp pain when she realized that she never did give Robby her answer, and as far as she knew, she might never get the chance to tell him that her answer was yes.

Just then, the door swung open and a figure appeared in the doorway.  It was to dark to see who it was, so Kate just huddled as far way as possible.  The person spotted her despite her repeated wishes to become invisible.

“Kate.”  His voice was filled with relief at seeing her unhurt.

Without taking a moment to think, Kate jumped up and ran to the figure.  She would have known that voice anywhere.