Stubborn

Chapter 4

I wake up to the rumbles of a thunderstorm.

I blink open my eyes and feel a strange feeling that I can't quite explain, like a presence in my head. It's not like a headache, it just feels like someone's reading my mind, similar to that pushing feeling yesterday. Maybe I'm going crazy...

Mum left early again, and I'm not looking forward to walking in this weather, I'll be soaked in minutes.

I force myself to leave the comfort of my warm bed and, with a groan, stumble into the shower. Thick steam fills the bathroom as I wash my hair and lather myself in coconut body wash. The hot water turning my tanned skin pink.

Grabbing a soft white towel, I change into baggy blue jeans and a yellow hoodie. Then, downstairs in the kitchen, I grab a hot mug of coffee and make some toast while searching for an umbrella.

 Eventually, I find an old, crusty umbrella, shrug on my black raincoat, and then brace myself for the cold walk to school.

I can barely see through the rain as I step out of the door and lock it behind me. I walk down the pavement, squinting my eyes when a familiar black truck pulls up beside me. I scoff and roll my eyes. Nope, not today. Not again. I keep on walking and ignore the car as it drives alongside me. 

After five minutes of ignoring it, the car drives onto the pavement, blocking me from walking any further. The window rolls down, and I see Gray's unamused expression glaring at me.

"Get in, you're getting soaked," Gray demands.

"I'm perfectly happy walking, thanks," 

"Are we going to have a repeat of yesterday?" Gray asks patronisingly.

"No, 'cause you're going to move out of my way and stop being a controlling asshole."

"Am I now?"

"Yes," I say through gritted teeth.

"Marcie, get in the car or I'll drag you in here."

I know he'll do it. He's blocking my way, and I'm getting soaked. I sigh in defeat and stomp over to the passenger side. I slam the car door after getting in, causing Gray to raise his eyebrows in amusement.

"Huh, and here I was thinking you'd be grateful for a lift in the rain,"

"Gray, I've made it more than clear I want you to leave me alone. I find your interest in me after a few mere days creepy."

Gray chuckles, "You find me creepy?"

"Yes. Your entire personality screams weird pervert."

Gray bursts out laughing at this. I glare at him, then turn and look out my window, doing my best to ignore him and the tingles that appear whenever he's close to me.

As soon as we reach school, I shoot out of the car, muttering a thank you and run inside the old brick building, grateful that I'm here on time. I check my schedule and then make my way to English lit—the classroom's relatively empty apart from a boy with sandy blonde hair doodling in his book. I shrug and go to sit next to him.

"Hi! I'm Marcie, mind if I sit?" I ask with a smile.

The boy looks up from his book and smiles back, "Elliott, not at all," He responds with a grin.

I slide into the seat and grab my books out of my bag.

"You're new right?" Elliott asks.

"Yup, I moved here on Monday from New York."

"Oh cool, I moved here around this time last year from Los Angeles."

"Do you still miss it?"

"Sometimes, but North Valley isn't bad, and it's nice to get away from the city."