TROUBLE

Chapter 60 "She's all I can see"

 

(Aubri’s POV)

I groaned as I looked out the glass doors of Topman, watching the heavy rain splashing against the sidewalk. Of all days to walk to work, I chose the day that I paid no attention to the weather. Just to add to everything it was already dark out.

“Headed out, Summer?” Jenni asked from behind me.

I turned around and nodded, “Yeah, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Okay, have a good night!” She blew me a kiss and I waved goodbye, ignoring Nick’s unnecessary glares, as I walked out into the rain. I flipped my collar up, even though I probably looked like a huge douche, and walked quickly down the street. It wasn’t completely empty out there, which made it a little less scary than it usually was, but I still walked quickly through the rain.

When I was about two blocks from home, I saw a man standing under a streetlight with a wet, old fashion map. He was looking up and down the street then back at his map like he was lost. I felt bad for him, I really did, but I was just trying to get home. Right as I was walking past him though, I heard the dreaded “Hey miss?” that told me I was caught.

I turned to face him, my hair sticking to my neck and forehead. “Yes?”

“Um, can you help me? I’m lost…” I sighed quietly before walking over to him. “I’m looking for a street,” He fished around in his pockets before handing me a white piece of paper with a street name written on it. “I’m here from Ireland, visiting my brother.” My annoyance to the fact that I had to help him melted away when Niall’s face popped into my head, causing me to smile a little.

“I know someone from Ireland.”

“That’s cool.” He commented sincerely. I looked up at him with a small smile..

“You’re actually not far from where you want to go.” I moved a little closer to him to show him where he was on his map. “You just have to go up this street you’re on now for about…three blocks. Then you turn left at the deer sign—”

“Deer sign? In the city?”

I laughed, “Oh, don’t get me started! Every time I see it I just get so annoyed. There’s not even a tree around it—let alone a deer!” He laughed with me and I noticed just how close he was.. His face looked like a freckle bomb exploded all over it and his brown hair was flat against his forehead. He was attractive…and he seems to be normal. But it really wouldn’t kill him to move a couple inches away from me.

“You’re gorgeous.” He finally said, a smile spreading across his face. My stomach fluttered at the compliment. “Sorry if that was creepy…I just thought I’d tell you.” I smiled shyly.

“Thanks.” I mumbled before looking back at his map. “So, left at the deer sign, then this house you’re looking for should be somewhere on the block you turned onto.” He nodded as he folded his map up, still uncomfortable close to me as he stared into my eyes. Time to go… “Okay—”

“Wait!” He called before I could move away. “Um…do you live around here?”

“No.” I said a little too quickly. There wasn’t really a reason for me to do that; this guy was normal enough for me to say if I lived in the area or not. But it’s too late now.

He shook his head, “I’m not going to creep on you, love. I just…I want to know you better, that’s all.” Is he flirting with me? Am I being flirted with? When was the last time someone flirted with me?! I can’t even remember, but it’s been long enough for my stomach to be doing stupid flattered backflips.