He was wondering why he had bothered to help her. He had never done anything like this before … he wasn’t used to acting noble and being charitabl.... He had to wait until she left, turning his thoughts off those images. She had been a help to his success, she needed this, it would give her self confidence, and she would command respect. But then he was thinking she would give up after a week’s effort anyway. He would give it a shot and then keep his nose where it belonged after that. And he had. I turned around and saw an attractive woman, with bright blue eyes and a blond ponytail waving at me. Kim was almost 30 years old, but still half my age. We had been computer lab partners all summer session. She was working on her graduate degree in Microbiology, which required a lot computer work, and I was brushing up on my data collection skills. I was always happy to share a few moments with her over a cup of coffee or maybe an occasional lunch.Kim was all excited because she just gotten a. . dead," I settled on. "I don't do feelings. I don't trust them. I'm like a raw nerve around you. My instinct is to flee." He stroked my hair as he spoke. "That's reasonable, but have you thought that I could also heal you? That maybe I'm the best thing to come into your life? You're so doped up on medication and clamped down emotionally that you call yourself dead. How much worse could your life possibly get, Alex?" I flinched. I hunched up like I'd been struck. "I'm sorry." He said. "That. "Mackenzie, my parents are leaving to go to Alabama to visit my sister at college for the night, they will be getting back Sunday afternoon and until then I or we have the house all to ourselves until then. Don't tell anybody because I honestly don't want to have a party, but why don't you come stay with me for the night?" Josh asked, hoping that she would say yes."Sure, that sounds like a lot of fun, I'm gonna have a make a lie or two to get it past my parents, I'll see what I can do.".