Pawsitively Improvised

Thwarting Procrastination

Chapter 7

Walking into the rec center was unnerving. There was noise coming from the direction of the gym. It seemed to still be very busy. She hadn’t considered asking Crystal how long it stayed open normally. While the pool was eerily quiet in comparison, she didn’t want to be seen by anyone.

“Can I help you?” She hadn’t expected to run into another person. Standing near her, looking her over curiously, was a rather large, bulky man. His shirt bore the emblem of the center, cluing her to the fact that he was most likely a staff member.

“I’m looking for Jude.” She cringed inwardly at having to use his first name. She wished he had given her a last name. They were nowhere close enough to being on a first name basis. It made her skin itch to have to do so. She also didn’t miss the guarded mask that fell over his face when she did it. Yet another reason why a last name would have been helpful.

“What do you need with him?” His stance had widened as he crossed his arms over his chest. It made him intimidating. He was twice her size. Just what did he think she could do to him? It was almost laughable except for the fact that she couldn’t imagine what he had probably had to put up with before.

“I need to return the clothes he was nice enough to lend me yesterday. Though if he’s busy, I could always leave them with you.” His face broke as he cracked up laughing at her. Her face warmed with heat and her lips thinned. She really didn’t see the humor at all.

“So, you’re her, huh?”

“Excuse me.” She tried to keep her tone polite, but she was sure there was some bite in her response.

“Nothing. I’m not doing anything right now, so I can take you to him. I’m Mac, by the way.”

“Nice to meet you.” It was a small fib. She was sure that under different circumstances she would have found him rather pleasant. Although there was that first name intro again. What was it with all of them and giving only their first names? She was going to have to give him hers now too. She simply couldn’t see a way to politely introduce herself using her last name after that. It would make her sound like a complete brat. Though the longer she didn’t respond in kind, the more awkward it would be when she did. Brave the weird intro or remain silent and come off as a jerk? She just couldn’t decide.

“Hey man, I’ve got a stray that was looking for you.” She had been so consumed by her inner debate that she failed to notice when they had come to the familiar office. Mac sent a broad smile at her before walking away.

“I’m Kira.” He wiggled his fingers at her in a teasing wave before he disappeared.

“So, you’ll give other people your name but not me?” Jumping, she turned back to the office, shocked to see Jude standing there leaning against the doorway.

“I was being polite. He told me his name first.”

“So did I but you weren’t polite yesterday.” There was no way she could see to get her way around the impending argument. He was right. She had been incredibly rude to him the day before.

“I brought your clothes.” She dug them out of her bag, thrusting them out at him. Jude laughed, taking them from her. He obviously knew what she was doing. He could have ignored her subject change too. Instead, he took the offered clothing and headed back into the office. She stood there uncomfortably while deciding on her next move. She needed to go over the schedule with him regarding lesson times. However, if they didn’t discuss it, she could put off the subject altogether. Smiling, she turned to leave back the way she came. She might risk him hunting her down at work again, but she would worry about it if it happened. Mentally patting herself on the back for a well-made choice, she lifted her foot to take the first step to walking away.

“Get in here, Kira.” Instead of walking in the opposite direction, she about faced dropping her smile as she turned. Grumbling under her breath, she headed into the office. Looking around for a place to sit, she found the only other chair placed next to him. Smiling, he patted the seat, expecting her to accept the chair. Standing in front of his desk, she took out her papers and handed them to him. Taking them, he gave her a wry smile in return.

She patiently waited for him to read over everything. Glancing about the room, she noticed several medals displayed upon the shelves. They were too far away for her to be able to read them. Likewise with the photographs that were set among everything. The nosey part of her wished he wasn’t there so she could snoop a bit.

“What is all of this?” Turning her attention back to him, she found his brow puckered as his eyes moved over what she had written.

“My schedule.” Laying the papers down, he met her gaze with a wide-eyed one of his own.

“You plan everything out every day?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?” He scoffed at her and leaned back in his chair.

“What about the unexpected?”

“Unexpected?” She wrinkled her nose gauging if he was serious.

“Yeah. Like things kids do that you don’t see coming. Or something coming up out of the blue?” She gave his question time to properly roll through her thoughts before responding.

“I don’t plan my steps for work just in case. As for unforeseen circumstances, I can shift things around as needed. I can weigh what needs to be done against activities that can wait for another day.”

“Are you joking?” The tone of his voice left her completely off balance. No one had ever questioned her process before.

“Why would I be? I like knowing what needs to be done.”

“I just can’t take you seriously. If you plan for everything, where are your bathroom breaks?” Now he was simply making fun of her. Her cheeks heated at the thought.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I have no idea when those will happen and take them as needed.” He held his hands up as if that would calm her down.

“You need to loosen up. How can you have any fun if your whole day is listed from start to finish?”

“I have plenty of fun thank you.”

“No, you don’t.”

“And you know me so well, do you?” Realizing he may have overstepped, his eyes widened in surprise.

“You need a sense of adventure.”

“I have plenty of that.” Snorting in response, he briefly motioned to where her papers lay.

“Clearly.” By this point she was nearly shaking with the effort to hold her tongue. Reaching across his desk, she grabbed her papers, intending on taking them back. He took hold of her wrist, gently keeping her in place as her eyes lifted to meet the brilliant blue of his.

“Prove it.”

“Prove what?” He had her completely shaken to the point that she had lost track of their argument entirely.

“That you can handle the unexpected.”