Heart Throbs

"Oh! I'm sorry!" Lizzy goes to get up.

"No you stay. He can use the stool." Gramps says motioning her to stay seated. "Besides it's about time he clocked out and went home."

"Uggg." Alex sets the parts in his arms down on his work desk. Another victim from Blue eyed Bob.

"Joyful as ever." Karen mumbles.

"You say something?" Alex looks at the Soleil. She doesn't acknowledge him any further. He pulls up the steel stool to his work station.

"Burta, send a message to my wife tell her I'm going to be a little late tonight. I will be talking to the new hire. It's been a long time since I reminisced." Gramps is holding onto his tea cup and a cookie.

"Should I tell her you had dessert already?" Asks Burta.

"Heavens no! You have to eat dessert first because you might not make it through dinner at my age." Gramps chuckles at his dark humor.

Lizzy takes the cookie box in her hands and goes to turn to offer Alex one.

"Don't bother. My wife spoiled him so bad he won't touch a cookie unless it's hers." Gramps informs Lizzy. She sets the box back down. "Go on and have one don't be shy here."

"Thank you." Lizzy picks out a sweet chocolate chip cookie.

"Rumor has it you grew up on a farm." Gramps asks starting the conversation.

"Yea I had some cows, pigs were only a few months out of the year, goats and chickens." Lizzy tells Gramps.

"That's an assortment. Did you every have rabbits, sheep, horses, llamas or alpacas?" He asks.

"No I was never allowed a horse because they can be dangerous. I did have a rabbit when I was little but he died. Sheep and the others though don't interest me after being a vet assistant."

"Oh, you were an assistant were you? What career do you want to persue?" Gramps asks.

"I want to become a large animal veterinarian."

Gramps whistles. "Those are rare now days. Well once you graduate how about you come back and help us?"

"We have Soleils. She doesn't have to come back Gramps." Alex chimes in.

"That's if you can program them right." Gramps mumbles. Lizzy about chokes on her cookie when a giggle almost escaped her lips.

"I'm leaving." Alex stands up and the stool clatters to the ground. He doesn't really look while reaching down to grab the stools leg. His hand grabs onto Lizzy's smaller warm hand. It takes a second but he jumps back when his heart starts beating rapidly. Lizzy finishes picking up the stool. Her green eyes flickered up to meet his gaze.

"I could have taken care of it. It seems your having fun with Gramps anyways." Alex says shyly looking away. His feelings are mixed. He likes the fact Gramps is enjoying himself but he wants to be included. He also now understands she isn't like the other entitled population thanks to her few small gestures today alone.

"Well I should head out to check on my chickens." Lizzy replies. She has a few questions for Alex that can't be pressured by Gramps.

"Leaving so soon?" Gramps asks sadly.

"Yup." Alex walks out the door. Then he walks right back in realizing he never took his uniform off. 

"I will be back everyday for awhile. I will come say hi." Lizzy gives Gramps a smile. "Thank you for the tea."

"You're welcome! Thank you for the treats! Stop by when ever. We work pretty much everyday." Gramps smiles back.

"Thank you." Says Lizzy getting up. 

By now Alex is heading out the door in his red shirt and grey sweat pants. All without a word.

"Um?" Lizzy looks at the door after him.

"Don't worry. He has some things he never fully worked through. Grams is also making his favorite tonight so he is in a rush to get to my place." Gramps explains. "Now to hide these cookies here. Burta if you say a word to Shoko about these..."

"Yea yea. You will solder me to the ceiling." Burta rolls her eyes. Lizzy giggles at the scene.

"See you soon!" Lizzy says taking off. 

She races down the stairs hoping to catch up to Alex. She wants to ask him if he is working this weekend and could help her.

"Lizzy! Who was that hunk that got on the electro bike? Don't tell me you work with him." Stacy appairs out of no where.

"Stacy? How did you get here?" Lizzy asks. Her heart skips a beat. Stacy changed after school and has her Jean short shorts on with a pink tank top. Along with her black hair is down blowing in the soft breeze.

"Kiki gave directions. Now tell me who the hotty was! Watching him get on the bike and driving it was oooof! What a heart throb!" Stacy gives her friend a hug.

"His name is Alex. He isn't the friendliest." Lizzy informs her friend.

"Dang. Maybe he will soften up over time. How about you show me Bea? I got use to seeing her everyday." Stacy holds onto Lizzy's arm.

"Alright. I need to check on the chickens too." 

Lizzy leads the way down the path. Showing Stacy the outside of the barns and telling her what's inside them. They try to go into the chicken barn together but the doors won't let Stacy in.

"This place is bio-secured so to protect the chickens it looks like you can't come in." Kiki informs the group.

"That's no fun. Tell Henrietta I say hi! Kiki find out how I can get clearance to these buildings." Demands Stacy.

"Alright I won't be long." Lizzy takes off and checks on the chickens.

She asks for some meal worms to treat her chickens and the Soleil in charge got her a handful. She reaches into the pen and let's them peck away. Speckles was a little aggressive with his pecks. Lizzy strokes the hens feathers.

"I will be back tomorrow. Maybe I can spend more time with you." She tells them before leaving. Lizzy washes her hands for the door to open.

"Alright let's see if you can get into the goat barn." Lizzy says stepping out of the chicken barn.

"Looks like I would need to do a class on bio-security. Which I can do over the weekend." Stacy explains once her friend comes out.

"So it doesn't look like you can come in today?" Asks Lizzy.

"According to Kiki no. Maybe we can video call while you're in there?"

"That can be done." Kiki's cheerful voice was very bell like. Her screen displayed a large pinkish purple smile.

"Uggg." Karen sighs. Moody as always with a grossed out look.

"Why did you make her moody?" Stacy looks at the Soleil.

"Because I need variety." Lizzy shrugs. "Sounds like you will might stick around? Want to walk back together?"

"That was my plan. I didn't make any other plans tonight. Maybe we can try one of those restaurants on the way home?"

"That sounds good, I'm hungry." Lizzy smiles.

"You're always hungry Lizzy!" Stacy giggles and Lizzy joins in.

.     .     .     .     .

"Hey Grams." Alex says walking into the apartment his grandparents live in. It's older than his so it's not as white. The furniture is older. Mostly made from wood than steel.

Alex finds Grams in the kitchen. Her thinner figure walking around looking for bowls, spices and utensils to make dinner tonight. Her light tan skin sagged from sun damage through the years she had to work in a field. Her brown eyes still full of life when she looks at her only grandchild. If it wasn't for her long silvery white hair she probably would fool most any one about her age.

After washing up Alex kisses his grandma on the cheek. They do their how was today speals to each other while Alex helps cut the vegetables that are hard on his grandma's hands. Alex leaves out his wild Lizzy encounter. 

The two work in harmony in the kitchen supporting each other. One is still weak in the knowledge and art of cooking where the other is physically weak from age. They both cherish their time together since they don't get much anymore.

"Oh Grams. Gramps already had a cookie or maybe more. I know you are supposed to be watching his salt and stuff." Alex doesn't like it but Grams is always more lenient if your blunt with her than hiding things.

"I'm going to let you know a little secret. I already know so that's why those cookies over there are the special ones to help him out. Come here." She ushers him over to a cupboard. She pulls out a cherry blossom cookie for Alex. "Since I know their your favorite."

"Thank you Grams!" Alex gives his grandmother a hug. Then savors every bite of cookie while sitting on the kitchen stool. Just like old times.

Gramps walks through the door. He washes up and sits at the table. The wooden table is set at three of the four chairs and everyone giving thanks for the food. They dig in to the salmon, rice and many side dishes of steamed and pickled vegetables.

"Did Alex tell you about Lizzy?" Asks Gramps throwing Alex right under the bus. 

Alex's heart skips a beat at Lizzy's name. Why? He can't physically like a girl that behaves like an animal. She is on his mind a bit but that's because yesterday's encounter was nothing like he ever had with another person. Then adding today's gestures.

"A girl a presume?" Grams asks looking at Alex with hopeful eyes.

"She is someone that is at the office to do research. Today was her second day. And no I'm not interested in the minor." Alex explains. 

His grandparents have lightly pushed for him to be with someone. Maybe from fear of him being alone once they pass. Alex closes his eyes and rubs his temples. Doing this he missed the winks Grams and Gramps gave each other.