The Photo

"Come on Jasper time for walkies," says Cass. 

The fluffy honey coloured tail brushes past her bare leg as Jasper ruffs his excitement.

"Park time boy. I can't wait to stretch my legs this fine Saturday after finishing my photo assignment for the paper yesterday. Now what shall I wear today. Keeping my legs bare to catch some rays might be nice."

"Ruff, ruff," barks Jasper.

“Okay boy, let's give you breakfast then run over into the park to take some photos."

                       ***

Cass is surprised at how packed it is already at nine a.m. Then she sees the ice cream van at the entrance to the park and heads over to buy herself something.

"Yes Miss what can I get ya?" The ice cream van guy asks Cass.

"Got any tissues?"

The guy stares at her bare legs and trim figure in her tight shorts, "Sure with your order Miss."

She nods, tightwad.

"Sure, a blueberry slushie and a buttered hot cross bun please."

The guy turns around in his ice cream van and calls over his shoulder, "Coming right up, that's four pounds please Miss, I take contactless."

Oh right, the payment. "Sure that works for me."

The warmth of cinnamon adds to the early morning heat of the day. Cass looks down at the dark splodge at the corner of the food bag. I better eat this soon. Behind her is a queue of four couples touching shoulders while their eyes slit in laughter as they share time together.

Oh right the Saturday couple's thing in the park walking hand in hand in matching boring tops, ugh. Cass goes past the park entrance with her brown paper bag. "Let's sit by the fountain while I eat my breakfast Jasper," says Cass.

"Ruff, ruff," Jasper swirls his tail around in a circle.

"Okay boy let me sit down with my breakfast bag then I'll let you off the lead so you go say hello to your friends." At the park fountain she checks her phone then slides it back in her shorts to unclip Jasper from his leash. Some shouting makes her look up.

"Oi come back, stop that!" Shouts a man.

Cass looks over to the park café nearby and sees a black haired man with a chiselled jaw running towards her with something in his hand. A rotund guy wearing a t-shirt with a Rolling Stones world tour tongue on it is chasing the hot dude.

Cor that dude is smoking, look at those muscles flexing as he runs, erm towards me. Oh no, what? Cass thinks.

Smash, the hot dude runs right at her knocking her breakfast all over the floor. In an instant she's in his arms on the grass behind the hedge as the t-shirt guy runs past them.

      ***

The smell of disinfectant and the feel of a rough bed cover shocks Cass to blink then squint a little. Ouch my head hurts and what's the pain in my leg? 

"She's awake doctor."

Cass flicks open her eyes and half closes them because of the bright overhead lights. "Er where am I?" She says looking at the blonde woman with a crisp white dress on and a badge clipped on that says Nurse Peters.

Nurse? Okay so I'm in hospital. "Where's Jasper my dog?" Cass says, pulling herself up in bed. She looks left and notices the jug of water and her phone which has a crack on the screen.

"What a crappie Saturday afterall," Cass says, as the nurse plumps up her pillow and pours water into a clear plastic glass.

"Hello sorry about earlier," says the hot dude.

Cass's chin is on her chest while she rubs the bandage on her head, "What the hell dude. You ran right at me, what did you do that for?"

The guy flushes red and shakes his head, "I had paid but apparently grabbed the wrong burger the guy serving me so he chased me. Meanwhile I knocked you over heading for the second park exit where I live. I don't normally accost pretty young women with flame red hair and legs that go on for miles."

Okay so he thinks I'm hot too, that works for me. "Tell me you have Jasper right?"

The dude grins, and his pale cheeks flush darker, "I have Jasper, and by the way my name's Johnathan Peterson I live across the park and am always breaking my phone."

The nurse coughs and leans into Cass. "Call me if you need me Miss Emery, I'll be right over there at the nurses station.”

Cass nods. "Yeah, and you broke mine too. I hope you intend to pay for its repair? I need it Monday."

"I'll go buy you a new one from that new phone shop and get them to transfer your phone stuff across, how about that?"

"I need the same phone model as I like the camera features on it," replies Cass.

"Sure, erm what's your first name Miss Emery?" He adds, pressing the screen of his phone. He hands his phone to her and Cass sees the contacts section open.

Blimey dude you're slick.

     ***

Slobbers and lots of cuddles from Jasper knock Cass onto a nearby bench on her way out of A&E near her home and she is caught by Johnathan. His dark chocolate eyes freeze her still for a moment in his arms.

A distorted ringtone snaps them both out of the moment. 

Blimey I'm not normally this relaxed around unknown hot dudes. My mouth usually clamps shut, thinks Cass. She picks up her phone to clicks the green image that’s flashing on her screen,

A muffled sound of a high pitched voice echoes in her ear, "Hi mum, you got a call from the hospital?...yes, I'm fine after being knocked out by a hot dark-eyed dude."

Cass flutters her lashes at Jonathan and ends the phone call, still blushing.

"I'm a hot dude? Erm...thanks."

"It means my mum will be less worried about me with a hot dude by my side," blushes Cass.

Johnathan nods, "Let me drive you home and get you inside your apartment.

It never crossed Cass’s mind that he wasn’t safe until she got home and found photos of the dead cafe owner on her phone. Then she wondered if she should move.

                                                         ***

“Knock knock your friendly hot dude neighbour is here with dinner.”

Cass swallows hard while Jasper goes to hide under her bed.