Remember me

Chapter 11

Mia

In one of the least graceful moments of my life, I trip over a pothole and roll head over heels into the dirt, skinning my knees in the process.

So much for my self defense moves.

"What the hell. Mia!"

I hear the vehicle door slam and look up to see not a masked murderer, but Nick.

As I'm laying here in the dirt I'm really not sure which one is worse, to be honest.

"Are you ok?" His eyes are full of panic. "Mia! Look at me, are you hurt? Can you walk?"

I realize my eyes are squeezed shut trying to erase the mortification. I open them and sit up, "Nick?"

He's leaned over me, our faces inches a part. For a moment I'm shocked silent at the sight of him. As soon as I come to my senses, I smack him in the chest. "You scared the crap out of me! I thought you were a murderer!"

He leans back on his heels, "A murderer? he deadpans.

I stand up, brushing my dress off when he starts laughing. "Mia, you think someone is trying to murder you and your response is to do gymnastics in the dirt?"

"I tripped you jerk!" I smack him on the chest again and he laughs harder at my angry scowl. Eventually I give in and start laughing too.

"Wow I am so embarrassing" I state, smiling at him. It's been a long time since I've seen Nick laugh. His laughter dies down and he replies with a smile, "get in." He nods toward a truck.

I glance over at the rusted Chevy. "Where are you taking me?"

He rolls his eyes, "somewhere to murder you."

I narrow my eyes at him and he sighs,"I'll give you a ride home, Mia" he clarifies, offering his hand to pull me up.

I grin as I walk towards his passenger side door. "Thank you."

I open the door and slide onto the vinyl seat with a shiver. The combination of my damp dress from Liams bubble machine and the rush of adrenaline has me freezing. I'm trying to roll up the truck window when Nick  slides into his own seat. Looking over at my he says "Its stuck."

"What?" I reply, confused.

"The window, it doesn't roll up" he says as he reaches into the back seat. He hands me a jacket. "Here, put this on."

I take the jacket and slip it on. "Thank you" I reply, suddenly feeling shy. I twirl a loose string around my finger while glancing at him out of the corner of my eye. His eyes are on the road and he doesn't seem to notice so I turn to face him, taking him in.

His profile has changed but it's still the same too. The same slope of his nose. The same long lashes. Except instead of softness he's all sharp edges now.

"What?" He says, jarring me from my thoughts.

"Huh?" I say stupidly.

"You're staring."

"Oh. Sorry." I say, not really sorry at all. I just keep looking at him.

The corner of his mouth ticks up, "So why were you out walking alone in the dark anyway?"

I look down at the loose sweater string I'm still winding and unwinding around my finger. "Cole left me at a party. I don't live far so I figured I'd walk home."

He turns his head sharply towards me, "He left you without a ride?"

I shrug. "I told him I'd find one, but walking just seemed easier tonight."

His knuckles turn white on the steering wheel but he stays silent for a moment. Finally he asks, "Why are you with him?"

"What do you mean?" I reply.

"Why are you with someone like him?" His jaw flexes. "He doesn't seem like your type."

"So You know my type?" I roll my eyes. "Does that mean you're admitting you know me?" I snap.

He pauses for a second before saying "Maybe. I guess." He shakes his head, "Maybe I don't know you really at all," he adds quietly.

I look at him, "You used to."

He shifts the truck into park. Were in front of my house. Briefly I wonder how he knows where I live, but frankly I'm too frustrated to ask.

He leans his head back against the headrest and looks over at me.
"Listen" he says, "if that jerk leaves you again, you can.. call me. Don't walk home alone in the dark." He smirks, "there could be a murderer."

I roll my eyes at his joke. "I don't have your number. And I thought we weren't friends?" I say trying to narrow my eyes at him. It doesn't
last and instead Im grinning at him like an idiot. Get a grip Mia.

He scowls at me and grabs my phone from my lap and calls his number. "Now you do." He hands me back my phone, his hand brushing mine. I stare down at it for a beat and then clear my throat nervously, "Ok, well, thanks for the ride." I look up and realize that now he's the one staring at me.

"No problem" he says, keeping his gaze locked on mine.

For some reason his attention makes me panic and I turn to open my door, stepping out of the truck quickly.

"Wait!" He says and I turn back, one foot out of the truck and one foot still in.

"Where the hell are your shoes?"

I glance down.
Oh.
How did I not even notice?

"I must of dropped them when I fell" I reply, feeling like an idiot. I shrug, "No big deal... Anyway" I say, climbing out of the truck and shutting the door. "Thanks again." I hurry up my drive to the door, embarrassed.

Once I have unlocked my front door I gather up the courage to look back and wave but he's already gone.

..

Thankfully Marilee isn't awake waiting to give me the third degree when I come in, so I go straight to my room and plop on my bed. I realize I'm still damp so I jump back up to take off my dress when I notice I'm still wearing his jacket.

I look down at it and inspect it closer. It's black, faded, with a hole in the cuff. I put my thumb through the hole and bring it up to my nose. It's so familiar, yet at the same time different. Just like everything else about Nick, it seems.

I hear my phone ding and I pick it up off my bed. I expect it to be Cole but its from an unsaved number. I open the message and see a picture. It's my wedges.

I chuckle. He went back for my shoes! I text him back a thank you and add his number to my contacts, smiling.