When Hearts Collide by J.S. Connolly

Part 1
"If they knew if they knew you at all. Then one by one the angels,
angels would fall."- M. Etheridge

Conner entered Creations, a small yet quaint coffee shop and took a deep
breathe as she looked around on her way toward the counter she paused to
take in the local artwork displayed on the walls, which were mainly
abstracts. One in particular caused her to shudder, a hard thing to do as
she'd seen a lot in last year of her life. It was dark in color with shadows of
people screaming as a figure that looked to her like the devil grinned evilly.
Maybe someone was trying to exorcise his or her demons. She could
understand that but it was still creepy.

The interior of the shop was cozy with small tables, and a separate area off in
the back corner with a small sofa and a coffee table that the students in between
classes seemed to flock to relax and get a much needed shot of caffeine. On her
way to the counter to order herself a latte she noticed a tall dark haired girl with
glasses who obviously worked there as she had on a polo shirt with the shop logo written
on the pocket over tight blue jeans, and paused for a moment as she watched
her go put some things in the back before returning to stand behind the
counter. Suddenly, she was caught in a pair of blue eyes that looked at her
questioningly.

Alex had noticed the petite blonde when she walked in and
didn't know if she was new to the establishment, as she seemed to take it in
as if it was all new to her, but perhaps that's just the way she is she mused.
She also noticed the small shiver that the blonde couldn't hide when
she looked at that one ungodly piece of work, and could understand her
reaction as she herself had reacted the same when she first saw it. She'd
made a point of it not to look at it ever again after that one time.

She felt eyes upon her as she brought some unneeded supplies to the backroom,
and returned to find green eyes gazing at her as she stepped behind the
counter. She raised a curious eyebrow at the small woman, which
seemed to bring her back to the present but not before she saw the woman's
cheeks redden.

Conner shifted awkwardly on the balls of her feet, as she knew she'd been
caught, but then who wouldn't look at six feet of long legs, raven hair, full
red lips and penetrating deep blue eyes that now held her own tired eyes
with warmth and a bit of amusement. Alex looked into the sea green eyes of
the petite blonde noticing her discomfort and a weariness in them. She
wondered what the cause was while hoping she could do something to ease
it a bit.

She smiled brightly, "What can I get for you darlin," she asked in
low southern drawl.

Conner turned red and swallowed as visions of tall
southern latte filled her mind along with the words from that famous
Campbell's soup commercial. She could feel herself beginning
to sweat and hoping her voice wouldn't betray her thoughts said,

"How about a double expresso."

Alex cringed inwardly thinking the woman must be completely wiped out to want that much
of an eye opener.

This thought was sidetracked as Conner took the computer case from her
shoulder and removed her leather jacket. Alex's mouth dropped and she
began to worry that she might begin to drool as she took in the small
muscular form embedded in a tight red T-shirt and equally form fitting black
jeans.

She had to literally shake herself as the small woman turned, "Umm,
you sure about that hun. What I mean is I can see you're tired and obviously
you have something you need to stay up for but you'll have a devil of a time
trying to sleep once you're finished if you have one of those."

Connor stopped to ponder this and sighed heavily before meeting sympathetic blue
eyes, "Yeah, you're probably right. Unfortunately, it's the only thing that
will keep me awake at the moment. The thing is I just got back from my first
dig and before I can catch some sleep I need to finish inputting my notes
hence the expresso."

Alex nodded as her eyes lit up, "Wow you're first dig
how exciting. I'm majoring in archaeology myself over at the University."

Connor smiled, "I was wondering how you knew what I was talking about
when most people unless they know me are like 'what's a dig?' so I end up
having to explain and at the moment that the last thing I feel like doing."

Alex returned the smile, "That's understandable. Can I make a suggestion?"

"Sure"

"How about I make something up for you while you go get settled, and when it's done I'll bring it over."

"You really don't have to do that umm."

"Alex, well Alexandra really but everyone calls me Alex, and I don't
mind."
"Are you sure, I mean what if you get busy."

"It'll be pretty slow for awhile it usually is this time of day so park it missy
before you drop right here," she finished with a playful smile.

Connor grinned, "Yes ma'am, and my name's Connor."

"Nice too meet you Connor. "

"Same here Alex,' she said pausing for a moment, 'Um, Alex could you come
over here for a minute" she said quietly afraid of what the other woman
would think. Alex just nodded and moving like a large graceful cat came
around the counter as Connor watched until she suddenly found herself
looking up into amused blue eyes 'Damn caught again I've really got to
watch that.'

"So here I am what do you want sugar."

Connor mentally shook herself as her earlier visions reappeared with the playful words
and gathering herself took a delicate hand in her own as she tried not to stutter under the
penetrating gaze, "I..I just wanted to thank you. You see having been on the dig for the
better part of a year, and even before that when I was here I rarely ran across anyone
who was truly kind, so thank you for reminding me that good thoughtful people are out there,"
she said and raising the hand in her grasp gave the knuckles a gentle kiss.

Alex was so touched she cupped Conner's cheek and caressing it said, "Well
then I should thank you as well. I don't recall anyone ever truly appreciating
anything I did until you," she smiled.

Connor slowly let go of Alex's warm hand and before stepping back kissed her
palm; "Well then they are all fools and idiots because it's too rare a thing not to be
appreciated and so are you," she said as she picked up her case while Alex sighed softly.

She then proceeded to move with a sexy little swagger to one of the tables up front.
Alex felt turned red as a small growl escaped her mouth at the sight 'Dear
Lord what's going on with me I've never reacted this way to anyone
especially so fast, but my word that woman is so sweet and she moves just
like a little lion. I wonder if she can be as fierce as one too.' she thought as
her face flushed, She fanned herself hoping to cool her internal temperature
and taking a breath began getting Connor's drink ready.

She suddenly jumped as she felt a presence behind her and turned to gasp,
"Jesus Kate you have to stop sneaking up on me like that." The slightly
shorter Kate tucked a brown lock behind her ear as hazel eyes
mischievously looked at her friend, "Oh, but Alex it's so much fun." Alex
tried to glare but couldn't quite get there so she settled for raising an
eyebrow which only made her friend laugh. "So what's up with you
anyway you usually don't jump that much?" "Nothing" Alex looked away
only to spy Connor at her table. Kate followed her line of vision, "Uh huh
nothing right. Looks more like a hot little blonde has you all distracted."
Alex blushed.

"It is the blonde. I knew it!"

"Kate keep your voice down alright. She's just a really nice girl that's all
nothing else. She thanked me for helping her and meant it unlike the rest of
these people." Kate took in her flushed face and nervous expression, "Wow!
you really like her don't you. I know how much you hate falseness and if she
was really that sincere you must have been knocked over not to mention
she's extremely cute and toned." Alex began fanning herself again, "Don't
remind me. Now I've got to get this done for her. The poor woman hasn't had
any sleep in god knows how long so the faster I get this to her the sooner she
can finish her work and go home to bed," she said as she began mixing the
drink.

"Well guess you better get at it then,' she said as she turned to go to the back
room and as she walked away continued 'after all she does need to go to bed
too bad you won't be there with here, huh." Alex turned red at the remark
and shook the images it brought from her mind as she picked up the drink
and a couple Almond biscottis to go with it, and as she went past the back
door she leaned in and said, "You're evil Kate. Pure evil," only to receive a
cackling laugh. After telling Kate that she wouldn't forget this she rounded
the counter and headed toward Connor's table as she tried to steady her
heart which beat like a drum at the sight of the small woman. She didn't see
the man, who rushed into the cafe as her sight was set elsewhere, but she felt
him as he pushed roughly by her and went without stopping to a table near
the window as she tried to keep her balance.

Connor began typing up her notes on her laptop as the laughter of the
patrons surrounded her along with the enticing aroma of almond, chocolate
and roses, which seemed to draw closer to her table. She breathed in
deeply debating how she could feel so excited by a mere scent or
combination of scents, and shrugging mentally went back to her work.
Suddenly, a liquid substance hit her fingers as she typed, and she looked up
to see Alex losing her balance and reaching out to grab her before she fell
found herself with a lapful of one flustered brunette who's glasses were now
hanging crooked on her face.

Meanwhile, a large man who she suspected had been the cause of Alex's sudden
clumsiness went by the table without bothering to stop. The tall, lanky brunette
looked at her sheepishly with sad blue eyes that made her want to tear the inconsiderate
man's head off. She was too angry to question why she felt so protective of a woman
she'd just met. She only knew she was going to have a few words with the human
bulldozer that he wouldn't soon forget.

However, she first had to let Alex know that she didn't blame her for what happened,
so she tried to push her anger aside for a moment and cupped a soft cheek to bring
down-turned eyes up to see her own which were warm and forgiving. She then adjusted
her glasses so they were sitting right and received a grateful smile and a kiss on the cheek as
Alex got up to get something to clean the mess up with before the laptop was ruined.
Conner wiped the grin off her face and pushed her chair back loud enough to make
everyone including the source of her anger turn and look as she walked menacingly
toward him with cold green eyes causing the man to flinch despite his great height advantage.

Alex having gotten some paper towels from the back rushed out when she
heard the noise, and seeing that Conner was about to confront the man that
pushed her became concerned that she'd get hurt, so she went over to
intervene before things got out of hand.

She felt a bit shaky as she approached and saw the fire in her green eyes, "Conner?"

"Stay out of this Alex."

The man just swallowed as he looked into blazing green eyes. "So, where's
the fire Goliath, hmm? You come rushing over hear like your ass is on fire
and knock this poor young woman who's only doing her Damn job right off
her feet and in the process you ruin my laptop. All my work was on that you
Asshole! and now it's gone. So I think you better apologize to the lady or I
might just have to kick your ass. Maybe I will anyway. It'll sure make me feel
better," she said with a nasty smirk.

Alex gasped and watched with wide eyes to see how the giant man would react
to such an obvious threat.

"Look I'm sorry. I'll be more careful from now on. I promise, okay." The man said
wondering how such a small woman could be so intimidating.

Conner knew that her work wasn't gone as she always wrote her notes and then saved
them on disk after transferring them to her laptop. However, she couldn't
abide rudeness especially when it was directed at a sweet girl like Alex. She
would have loved to teach him a lesson but with Alex standing right there
she couldn't do it.

"Allright, but just remember what I said," she growled as she unclenched her fists and
went toward her table followed by a relieved Alex to try to clean up her computer.

As they wiped the area and the keyboard the best they could they looked at
each other with raised eyebrows as 'The Theme from Rocky' came over the
sound system. They looked at the speakers above them and then over to the
counter where Kate waved at them and then began to shadow box. They
began laughing so hard they were on the verge of tears. After a moment Alex
wiped her eyes and took a deep breath saying softly, "You know as funny as
it is it's very appropriate. "

Conner looked at her a bit confused, "How so? I mean it's not like we duked it out
or something."

"Well, maybe not but I noticed earlier that you were typing from your notes so
unless I need my eyes checked again I believe you were defending my honor so
to speak, so that makes you my hero."

Conner tried to hide her blush, "You noticed that did you. Well, I really hate rude people
and you were so upset," she said with a shrug.

Alex just smiled shyly, "Yes, I was and you made me feel better not to mention
giving me a soft place to land. I could've ended up on my butt on the floor," she said
with a small blush that was mirrored on Connors' face.

"Happy to oblige, my lady," she said as she did a faux bow.

Alex giggled and then became nervous, "Umm, Connor if you'd allow me I'd
like to take you to dinner for helping me out."

"You don't have to do that."

"I know but I want to."

Conner grinned, "Alright, when and where?"

"How about tomorrow night, and you can meet at my apartment say around six."

"Alright, sounds good, but I'll need directions."

"Oh, right," Alex said as she grabbed a napkin and wrote them down before handing the
napkin to her smiling brightly.

Connor returned the smile and then sighed, "I guess I better go and get this to the shop to
see if they can salvage it."
"Oh, okay. I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yea, tomorrow", she said as she put the laptop in the case and slung it over
her shoulder.

As she began to turn to walk to the door she almost slipped when Alex winked at her,
and as she made her way outside a soft giggle followed her out and she grinned as her
heart leapt. However, her grin faded and a familiar fear wrapped around her heart as
she recalled the past and how her relationships with women always seemed to start out
with this feeling only to end with her brokenhearted and in agony as her love was
thrown back in her face.

To be continued? You let me know.

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