I'm Here

Chapter One: Hello?

My feet splash against the wet grass as I run for my life, who am I running from? Funny, I don't even know. All I know is this creep has been following me for blocks, call me crazy, but there is no way in hell I am going home with this guy on my tail. Trust me when I say that's the last thing I need. The dark rainy park isn't helping my situation either, note to self: never go to the park at night. When it rains..

My lungs are on fire and my side is killing me, I guess that's what I get for skipping leg day. I take a quick glance back and notice he is running after me, what do I do? I can't bring him home; I can't put anyone I love in danger again. What if it's him? I thought he was dead, or so I can hope.

My thoughts are racing and consuming me until I hit something hard, it felt like I got hit by a wall. As I'm trampling to the ground all I can think is he's going to get me again, he's going to kill me, until a soft masculine voice asks, "Are you okay?". I notice myself on top of a man in a suit now soaked in wet mud. "Miss?" he asks again. I snap back into reality with fear consuming my light green eyes, he reads me and looks around quickly. I tried to answer his question, but I could barely even move. "Miss it's okay, you're safe now. Are you hurt" I managed enough courage to shake my head side to side. His striking blue eyes rake over my trembling body, then he notices I'm still on top of him. The man's eyes grew wide, and he asked me," can you stand?" he helps me stand slowly with his hands on my hips, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Your cold, here take this." He takes off his still covered in mud suit jacket and wraps it around my soaked t-shirt. "Can I call you a cab?" I don't know this man; he could be my worst fear. Then again, I am so tired and all I want is to go home and cuddle with me myself and I and pass out. "Sure" He seems surprised by my answer, not expecting me to speak. I finally appreciate the handsome features of my hero he is tall, with black hair that has soft wet curls on his forehead. Her skin is tannish, Italian or he just loves the beach. He is slim but still is built with a muscled figure. " The cab is here 'mam" already? How long have I been staring at him? He takes my hand and leads me towards the road, he opens the cab door and tells the driver to wait a second, and hands him a large wad of cash. How rich is this guy? He turns towards me and says, "here's your ride." I gave him his coat, and oddly enough for the first time he seemed more nervous than me, so I answered, "you didn't have to pay, I have money".

His mouth curves up and he sticks out his hand "James." I stare at his hand then quickly shake it "Stephanie." his eyes seem to sparkle at my revelation. "Well Stephanie gets home safe, and don't worry about the money, I'd rather put it to good use than none." He started walking backwards with a smile on his face, eyes locked onto hers. "Hey lady, you are getting in or what?!" the cab driver yells. She then steps into the cab, gives the driver her address and heads home thinking about his blue eyes, thinking about his hand in mine. It freaks me out that I'm this compelled to a guy I have not even known for 30 minutes. especially with my past, love is fake, it's not real, love is for movies and books, and if love was real, it was not made for me.