Pretty, Punk Cherry

5 ⭑ You call that nice?

"Every Sunday's getting more bleak
A fresh poison each week. We were born sick, you heard them say it."
♫ Take me to Church by Hozier.

✰ ✰ ✰

"Get in."

"Jesus Christ!" I screamed, jumping out of my skin and rattling my bones when I heard a familiar voice behind me. My stomach felt like I'd just gone down a rollercoaster that was raised a million feet in the air and my heartbeat was thumping in my ears as loud as humanly possible.

But it was all for nothing because I yanked the headphones from my ears and turned around to see no one other than Harlow behind me in his car, waiting for me to get inside, yet again.

I held my hand to my chest, "God, would you stop that?! You scared the crap out of me, I didn't even hear you! You need a-cat bell or something! At least warn a girl!"

Harlow lowered his sunglasses down to his nose, his teardrop tattoo just peaking at me, "First of all, you're wearing headphones. Secondly, I made my presence known with my two ton car painted with dicks & boobs, dummy. I didn't need a warning. Now, hurry up. I don't have all day."

For someone so grumpy, he sure was full of sass.

I exhaled, gathering my wits and adjusting the books in my arms, "Um, no, no thanks, I'll walk."

There were a lot of decisions I wasn't sure about in my life, but there was one thing I knew for certain: I was not getting in a car with him alone, ever again.

After that morning and his terrifying driving habits, I didn't wanna get in the car and risk dying from his lack of foot control on the gas.

Not to mention, the last time we were in the car alone together, I was almost sure he threatened my life.

Yeah, that whole nonsense, scared the crap outta me, and I wasn't stupid despite what he thought.

I mean, for the love of god, he knew my real name. I'd never once uttered it in front of him.

I didn't know how on earth he could've known that. I told everyone, everyone, that my name was Cherry because it was the name that I preferred to use.

I didn't like Alice, or Ally, or Lee, or... Lice - the point was, it was weird, he was weird, and my fear won out.

So, I politely declined.

"Oh my god, just-get in the car, Cherry!" Harlow said through gritted teeth, glancing once at the road like someone was gonna come around and snatch me, "For fucks sake."

I stopped walking again, turning to face him a little with a stank look, "My house is ten minutes away, I'm just fine walking. Besides, you don't even like me, why would you wanna give me a ride?"