"You really shouldn't have come with me," Marissa repeated as she gave Bernard an affronted look.

"I wanted to," Bernard said cheerfully, continuing his whistling of a tune unknown to Marissa. The sound was starting to grate on her ears, especially since he seemed to be enjoying himself while she struggled with the commonest of tasks, breathing, because he was so close to her.

"How can he just sit there calm, cool, and collected when I am on fire here?" She thought as she glanced at him, and their eyes met, debunking the belief she had that he wasn't looking at her. He smiled at her.

"You don't need to...