Pursuit

Although Zeke followed her as quickly as he could, he couldn't quite catch up to Natalie, she always seemed to be just ahead, nipping through groups of people and across roads causing Zeke to have to almost run to keep up. Trying to keep track of her thoughts slowed him down as he kept glancing above her head and trying to make sense of what she was thinking. Somehow it seemed so random, there were some words, but mostly nonsense. "Ow ow ow oh!" Was she in pain? She didn't look like it. He was puzzled.

As he crossed the road after her, he realized why she was in such a hurry. She was headed down into the subway. She must be trying to catch a train! Zeke actually broke into a run, imagining that he would get there just as the doors closed and watch her vanish. Thankfully he got there just in time and jumped in through the doors after her.

The compartment wasn't too busy, and he managed to get a little closer to her. Close enough to read her thought bubble a little easier anyway. "Oh -oh! Oh, I’m running from the shadows in the midnight air. Looking for a spark but you’re never there" eh? wondered Zeke perplexed, then he noticed the musical symbols for semiquavers floating around the words. She was singing a song in her head! He stepped close enough to her that he could grab the bubble beside her head and pulled it to him. His sudden movement caused her to turn, and do a double take. The thought bubble in his hand changed and read - "Hey, you're the guy from the park - you again!?" Up close, she looked if anything, even hotter than she had in the park.

Zeke hastily added to her bubble "but I really like you and I want to get to know you! I'm very attracted to you".

"Hey - isn't this a coincidence?" asked Natalie with a smile, "I'm sure I keep seeing you around".

He quickly wrote - "whatever he says I find funny and endearing. He's perfectly charming". then said, "Really? Oh yes - I think I remember - were you in the park?"

"Yes! That's it! I was out running." she laughed lightly, "What were you doing?". She leaned towards him to hear him over the noise of the train clacking and whooshing through the tunnel.

Zeke recalled his encounter and how she had reacted when he was looking over her shoulder. "um bird-watching?"

Natalie laughed as if that was the most delightful joke, and touched him lightly on the arm.

"Maybe you're following me!" suggested Zeke. Natalie laughed again and this time held onto his arm.

"Oh no, this is my stop!" exclaimed Natalie as the train started slowing to a halt.

"Mine too!" agreed Zeke and took her hand in his and left the train with her.