The loud ring finally resonates in my ear, and I jump up, slinging my backpack on and running to the parking lot. I unlock my car, throw my backpack into the backseat, and sit down in the driver's seat.
I start to enter the number in my phone when I hear a knock at the window. I jump in my seat and turn to see Isaac smiling. I lock my phone and put it in my pocket, crumpling the note and throwing in the cupholder. What am I doing? Throwing away my relationship over some girl who probably just wants to invite me over and kill me?
Heard she killed her parents in 'self defense' when she was 14. That's why she lives alone now. Just another orphan out of the system.
I unlock the passenger door, and Isaac slides in, kissing me and plugging his phone into the aux cord. His hype playlist starts blaring in my car's tinny speakers, and I look over at him in confusion. He leans to my ear and whispers for me to go to the field.
"You can't walk? It's right over there?" I ask, already putting it into reverse and looking behind me. He doesn't answer, but he probably can't hear me over 2008 rap hits blaring. I drive him to the field and he motions for me to park behind the bleachers where there's more shade, so that "my car won't get as hot".
"Isaac, I know what you're trying to do. I'm tired, and I wanna go home." I tell him while he leans over the center console.
"Come on, Cora. It's the first practice of the season! Gotta have my girl cheering me on!" He whispers into my ear, while putting his hand up my shirt.
"Isaac, I have a lot of stuff to do right now. I'll come to your practice tomorrow."
He responds by putting his hands in my hair and kissing me. I lean into it because that's what I'm supposed to do, but I can't stop thinking about what I would look like with dark lipstick smeared on my face. With long hair to pull while I kiss her in the backseat of my beat-up Ford Focus.
I hear a loud knocking sound and movement of the car, and look in the rear view mirror to see Isaac's friends yelling and making gross gestures.
I hide my face while pushing Isaac out of the car.
"See you later, Cora! Love you!" He helps as he runs to the field. I compose myself and plug in my phone to the aux. My house is only a few minutes away, but driving in silence is boring.
I start to backup before seeing a mop of black hair behind my car. I hit the brakes hard and Ambrosia runs up and hops into the passenger seat. I stare at her- bewildered. She runs her tongue over her teeth and gestures for me to start driving.
"Dedicated jock girlfriend, huh? Drive him to the field? Cheer him on in the stands? Make out under the bleachers during half-time?" She asks, her Docs up on my dash. I stay quiet, and she laughs.
"I would say I'm joking, but considering the state of your hair, I don't think I am. Take a left up here." I know she's looking at me when she says it. I follow her directions until we arrive at a set of apartments not too far from my house. I pull into a parking spot and look over at her. She's staring at me with a smirk that just screams 'Break up with him. You know I'm what you need.'
"Well? Come along." She says as she opens the passenger door and steps out into the parking lot. I take my keys out and lock my car, following her up the stairs until we reach a door. She opens it and grabs my hand, leading me in. I heard that she kills rodents for the thrill, but I ignore it as I walk into her apartment, letting her drag me into her bedroom.
We sit down on her queen sized bed that nearly takes up the whole room, and she opens the window and lights a cigarette. I look at her expectantly, and she looks me in the eye as she blows smoke rings into the air.
"You wouldn't have let me drag you in here unless you wanted something. Spill it, Cora. Want me to kiss you until your jaw is sore? Bite you 'til you need stitches? Kill your boyfriend?" I jump back at the last one. Not because I'm scared. But because I'm not.
She laughs, "I'm joking, Cora. I just wanted to talk to you." I exhale and relax my posture.
"What did you wanna talk about? I mean we barely know each other, and I nearly hit you with my car, and you left me that note with your number, and-" I'm cut off by her tattooed finger on my lips. All I can think about is darting out my tongue and licking it. It would taste like smoke. Sour and dry.
"I just wanna talk. And don't hit me with that 'We barely know each other' talk. You know everything about me." She breathes in her cigarette smoke again.
"What do you mean? We've never talked before today."
"The rumors, Cora" She pauses. "Now come on, let's talk about your boyfriend."
"What about him?"
"He's going to propose this week. I know you. You won't say no." She explains, monotone until a hint of a flirty disposition comes out. I widen my eyes and open my mouth.
"What? What are you talking about? You're crazy! And you don't know me!" I yell, getting off her bed, and grabbing my keys. She holds my hand and drags me back to her.
"If I'm so crazy, why'd you drive here? Why'd you follow me in? Why are you sitting on my bed, nearly on top of me, breathing like a dog in the heat?" Her nails are pressing into my wrist. Enough to break skin. I hold my breath.
I sit back down, and thoughts rush through my head. She lets go of my wrist. Why did I come here?
"Why are you saying this stuff?" I ask, rubbing the nail marks on my hand.
"I had a dream about it last night."
"So?" I say, rolling my eyes so far back I could see my brain. She looks through my eyes, and then gestures for me to follow her.
We arrive at a wall covered with red string and newspaper clippings.
"I'm not a serial killer." She reassures me after seeing my eyes widen. I furrow my brows and stare at her.
"It's all part of the premonition business, my dear Cora. I always know what's gonna happen here. That car accident at the end of summer with the old woman? I knew two weeks before. I tried to let her know, but it's a big city. I couldn't find her before it happened." She explains, pointing to a cut out journal entry dated August 1st and a newspaper article about an elderly woman driving into oncoming traffic dated August 18th.
"That doesn't really mean anything. People dream about car accidents all the time." I tell her, glancing at all the other papers on the board.
"So Cora, what's it gonna be? Wanna be in a loveless marriage before your life even begins, or stay here with me?" She asks, walking closer towards me. All thoughts of Isaac leave my mind as I feel her breath on my skin.
"It wouldn't be loveless. I love him. He's my boyfriend. If he does ask me to marry him, of course I would say yes because I love him." I ask, my voice quivering.
"No you don't." She says into my neck.
