Page 35 of Sparrow

High-pitched clanging and shattering.

That was the sound I heard when the plant stand hit the window. It was a dead hit, square in the middle of the lower part of the window, and the crashing sound was instant.

"Owen!"

I was so overcome with adrenaline and emotion that the word came out weak.

"Owen!"

I tried again, not yelling as loud as I wanted to.

But he had heard me. He had heard the crash, and he was now looking around, staring at the front of the house with great interest. My face morphed into an uncontrollable smile.

"Owennn!" I pulled that voice out of the pit of my stomach, yelling his name in a much louder tone.

He started running.

He was a long way off, and I laughed with excitement as I saw him coming my way.

I saw it when he caught sight of me. I heard my mom yelling, but Owen didn’t take his eyes off of me. I stood up and waved vigorously from inside the window, not daring to stick my hand out for fear of the shards of glass.

Those seconds felt long.

He came to me as quickly as he could, but the yard was large, and he had been far off. I could see him more clearly as he approached. He was such a man. His shaggy hair was hanging out of a ballcap, and I was in love. He had on jeans and hiking boots with a t-shirt.

He moved toward me with a determined stride, not taking his eyes off of my window.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't meet you the other day!" My voice betrayed me again. I was trying to call to him, but I was breathless and shaken.

"Hang on, I'm coming!" he yelled.

"Be careful," I said, knowing there was glass below me. My window was situated a few feet off the ground and there was a shrub under it, but he came to stand as close as he could. I could not believe how handsome he was. I was not expecting to see him, and I had on unmatching pajamas. I had bare feet, no makeup, and greasy hair, but I didn't care about any of that.

"I'm so sorry about Monday. I wanted to be there. I hope you didn't go there and wait for me. I would've gone, I promise."

"I did go. Of course I went. I didn't know where you lived, or I would've come here sooner. We've been busy on set. I've been thinking about you."

"You have?"

"Yes, Corey."

"Me too. I’m sorry about Monday. I broke my ankle."

"I heard you… wait, you broke it? Your ankle's broken?" He tried to look into my window. "Are you on crutches?"

"Yes."

"Your mom is out there with a gun."

"I'm so sorry. She's not going to use it. She wouldn’t do that."

I had no idea how I could say that with such confidence while I was standing there with a broken ankle. He looked over his shoulder again. "Paul's here with me. How did you hurt yourself?"

"I fell," I said, feeling too embarrassed to tell the whole truth.

"I'm sorry. Can you come out here and see me?" He was sincere and serious, and my heart wanted to melt.

"Yes," I said breathlessly. "I'll come to the door." I turned and grabbed my crutches, heading out of my bedroom in an adrenaline-fueled whirl.

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