LITTLE GIRL LOST - SARAH BETH LEE (tharntype novel english .TXT) 📗

block and no one listened or respected me because of my age.” Hannah refrained from adding that she had owned the company so they had no choice but to listen.

Zach felt a little sorry for the shy little girl he could see hiding in her eyes. He knew now why Nick had felt compelled to reach out to her. She seemed so innocent and fragile and he found himself wanting to protect her from all the people and things that would take advantage of her if given the chance.

“Wow you must be really smart.”

Hannah nervously began to fidget on the couch. She finally looked at Zach and offered a shy smile, “Well when you’re whole reason for living is suddenly taken away you have nothing else to do but study. I focused on school and making something of myself that I could be proud of. I had always been in the top of my class and scored amazingly high on aptitude tests. I had been offered the chance to skip ahead in school but I had never wanted to until the summer after my dad passed. Boys, clothes, music and everyday things seemed so unimportant. I kind of shut down and the next thing I knew I had become one of those nerdy kids that no one wanted to be friends with anymore and when my teacher asked me if I wanted to skip fifth grade I agreed. Then I had only been in the sixth grade for four weeks when they asked if me to take another test to evaluate my reading level. I was way beyond my classmates and they gave me another test that I aced and the next thing I knew I was in the eighth grade and I had just turned nine. I graduated high school at fourteen and started college that fall.”

Hannah had no idea why she was sharing so much personal information with a complete stranger but she felt comfortable with this guy. She was a little embarrassed at having shared so many intimate details of her childhood.

“You must be very dedicated to whatever you set your mind to.”

“Oh I suppose but all I ever really wanted was to help kids.”

Hanna h was shocked she had said that out loud where had that come from? She had never shared her dreams with anyone.

“Well that sounds like a good ambition, so what’s stopping you?”

“I guess I have too many unresolved issues of my own to help anyone else.”

Zach could see that lost little girl staring at him with her sparkling eyes full of doubts

“Peyton what is it that makes you want to help kids?”

“Because kids don’t judge you they accept you as you are. I want to make a difference and be for them what no one was for me at that age.”

Zach didn’t know what to say to that. He cleared his throat and shifted directions.

“That sounds honorable so on to the next question, what is your favorite band?”

“Well my favorite is Linkin Park but if I am feeling sentimental it’s U2.”

“Wow that’s kind of a far stretch why U2?”

“My dad loved them and all of my happiest memories are Saturday morning’s making pancakes and singing U2 songs like With or Without You and Where the Streets Have No Name.”

“Ok that’s cool, so what’s your favorite song?”

“Oh man I am embarrassed to say. But it’s I’m Gonna Be by the Pretenders.”

“Wow your favorite band is Linkin Park but your favorite song is I’m Gonna Be how does that work?”

“Well I’m Gonna Be was my dad’s favorite song and I remember him playing it and we would dance around the room with our hands up. I don’t know. It’s just that when I hear it I think of my dad and I remember being young, innocent and happy. I guess it’s like the world still had possibilities. Now if you ask me what my favorite Linkin Park song is the answer is New Divide and Iridescent.”

“I get it and I am surprised that you picked Iridescent that’s on the new CD.”

“Yeah I got it when it came out and man I fell in love with that one as soon as I heard it. I swear I felt like they wrote that song just for me.”

“Moving on what’s your favorite book?”

“The Catcher in The Rye, by JD Salinger and The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer.”

“No way, I loved that book Holden Caulfield was such a rebel. I haven’t read the others but Beth, my girlfriend loves the Twilight movies. So speaking of movies what is your favorite movie?”

“Breakfast at Tiffany’s, I love Audrey Hepburn she was an a amazing actress who survived so much as a child.”

“Really I thought she was just a pretty face.”

“No not at all she struggled as a young girl through World War II and barely made it through alive. She lost everything including her father to the war. She and her mother came to America to have a new life. Audrey took dance and tried to make it as a dancer but she wasn’t very good, however she caught the eye of a director. She stared in her first film in 1953 with Gregory Peck. She won an Oscar in her first film and she was off to the races after that. She stared with Humphrey Bogart and William Holden in Sabrina a year later. It wasn’t until 1961 that she played Holly Golightly along with George Peppard in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”

“Wow you’re like a walking trivia game and I thought George Peppard only played Hannibal in the A-Team.”

“No he got his start long before that. You should watch Breakfast at Tiffany’s with your girlfriend she’ll love it.”

“Ok I just might do that. Now next question if you dated what would you look for in a guy?”

Hannah looked around the room as if she was searching for an answer. Zach had no clue what she was thinking about.

“Well I suppose it would be kindness. I would want someone who cared about people and went out of their way to reach out to help someone in need; no matter what their place in society was. I don’t know I guess that sounds stupid.”

“No not at all it’s nice.”

Hannah blushed as she began to study the floor, “Thanks I know how lame I must sound.”

“You are not lame at all, you are refreshing and honest. Honest is always nice.”

“Ok next questions?”

“Describe what your perfect man would look like.”

Zach sat on the other side of the couch and watched her eyes flutter closed and speak as soft an angel’s wing. He could hear the love in her words and see the enchanted expression on her face. As Hannah spoke she saw visions of her dream and wondered if it was Nick. If it was how could she possibly know him so well Hannah didn’t have to think about that question that one face immediately came to mind, “He would be tall, sandy brown hair, slim build but muscular without being bulky, and beautiful electric blue eyes, like Mel Gibson only brighter somehow. He would be kind and gentle yet strong and always the rock that grounded me keeping me focused when I faltered or lost faith in the world.”

“You’ve given that question a lot of thought.”

Hannah opened her eyes at the sound of Zach’s voice. She had almost forgotten he was here.

“No not really but I have had this dream of the perfect man in my head since I was like eight.”

“That’s a long time to have the same dream and you’ve never met anyone who comes close to the dream?”

“Yes and no. I have had his dream since my dad died. My friend Maddie says I made him up to help me deal with the loss of my dad. And no one has ever come close to my dream man. I don’t know I guess maybe I am crazy.”

“No not at all, we all deal with pain in different ways.”

“Ok what would your idea of a perfect date be?”

Hannah had given that one a lot of thought, “A nice dinner with candle light and a walk along the beach with a nice breeze blowing and the perfect guy holding my hand. We would sit on a blanket and talk all night and watch the sunrise.”

“Nice I actually did that once. Ok next question what’s your favorite food?”

“Peanut butter.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, I love it on toast, warmed with apples, on hot cornbread or just by itself.”

“Man that’s weird.”

“Why is that weird?”

“I just figured you would be a champagne and caviar kind of girl.”

“Well you should never judge a book by its cover.”

“Point taken, sorry.”

“No problem.”

“Ok last question and it is actually a two part question. First if you had a theme song what would it be? Second if the world gave you a theme song what would it be?”

“Wow I don’t know I suppose if I gave myself a theme song it would be Vanilla Twilight by Owl City. No if the world was looking at me and judging me it would be, Broken by Lifehouse.”

“I haven’t heard the song Vanilla Twilight but I will definitely be checking it out and I for one do not see you as Broken just a little lost.”

“Thanks but you have no idea.”

“Ok well thank you so much for taking part in my survey. I hope to see you around.”

Hannah grinned, “I seriously doubt that.”

“No really I think you’re really nice and you remind me a lot of my girlfriend Beth.”

“Really, your girlfriend is delusional and refrains from interacting with the general public or anyone outside of her apartment?”

Zach shook his head, “No but you are genuine and one day you’ll meet the right person who will sweep you off your feet.”

“I hope your right but I highly doubt it.”

“”Trust me if it’s meant to be it’ll happen.”

Hannah smiled as she walked Zach to the door, “Thanks I hope your right.”

“It was really nice to meet you Peyton and here is my business card if you ever need any help with computer programs, surveillance, security or just a friend.”

Hannah took the business card knowing she would never use it but she hated to be rude.

“Thank you Zach. I am afraid I have to go now, my date is waiting.”

Zach looked at her with shock on his face, “Date?”

She giggled at his face, “Yeah, me, candles, wine, soft music, a nice relaxing bath and a book.”

Zach laughed, “Ok sorry I interrupted have fun with that.”

“I intend to. Have a nice night.”

“You too and thanks again for helping me out.”

“No problem.”

Hannah closed the door as he turned and walked down the hall. She locked the door and headed to her bath. She