Road to Evergreen | #Wattys2016

t e n

The car ride is filled with silence. Each now and then, I feel his heavy eyes on me. I fight the urge to glance at him because if I do, I know I will keep staring. This is the second time I get into his car and after last night, I thought I might never do that again. But here I am, in his car, with a person who seems to know more about me than I do. I would lie if I said it doesn't freak me out but somehow it's soothing. I have a feeling that I can trust him but I shouldn't. I need to stay away from him. He's nothing but trouble.

Adam parks the car and turns the ignition off. As he opens his car door to leave, I arch my eyebrow and reach out my hand, "keys!"

He sighs and hands them to me.

"Thank you," I smile because I win. Finally.

I get out of the car and head to class.

Without meaning too, I steal a look at Adam. He is walking behind me, lost in thought. I wonder what goes through his mind. He looks sad, and my heart aches for him. As he looks up, I whip my head around and walk faster.

My eyes dart out searching for Megan, as I enter the class. No one is seated, so I assume that the Professor is late. Thank God for that.

From a distance, Megan waves her hand as she addresses me, "Liz, over here."

As I make my way toward her, I embrace myself for a long lecture. As I said before, you don't mess with Megan.

"What the hell happened last night?"  She asks, annoyed.

"I can explain," I state.

"I send Jeremy to get you because I had an emergency and instead, you go in the car with him," she says as she points towards Adam who is standing two rows behind us.

"Just hear me out before you go Megan-gone-wild on me," I say.

I take few seconds to think of an answer because with Megan there's no turning back to anything you say. She crosses her hands and waits for an explanation. So, I tell her. I tell her about everything. About Adam and the store. About the incidents in class and the hallway. About the pick ups of yesterday and today. I don't leave details out except for the creepy parts, because I'm still not sure about them either.

"Well, if you put it that way..." Megan says with enthusiasm. And we both burst into laughter as Professor Nathalie enters the class.

"Good morning class, please approach me and hand in the assigned paper then take your seats. If you don't have it please make your way out of the class, immediately. Thank you," she says as everyone moves toward her.

Megan and I sit in our usual spot and before I know it, Adam is taking a seat next to me.

"Can I help you?" I ask.

"Well, I was wondering if I should ask you to go out with me," he says with such confidence that freaks me out.

Megan nudges me and winks as she overhears our conversation.

"I'm flattered but I'm afraid I have to say no."

He looks up at me and smiles his toxic smile, "I never asked you, I just said that I was wondering if I should."

I jerk my head toward Megan as I blush, so embarrassed. I can't believe he put me in such situation. Who does that? I take slow and deep breaths as Megan speaks, "Hey so, there's a party tonight at some fraternity house. The whole campus is going and I'm pretty sure it will be sick. So, let's go."

I stare at her not sure what to say. Should I go? Today is my day off at work so why not, right? But I've never been with ease toward drunk people and vomit.

"Jeremy will be there," she smirks at me.

Adam shifts uncomfortably in his seat. And at that moment, I say "I'm in," because I'm pretty sure it will drive Adam mad and right now my plan is to have payback.