Safe Haven

Monday

Nick.

Who knew this would turn out like this?

I thought about his motives for talking to me. Glancing in the gym mirror, I evaluated myself. I was pretty, I knew that, not to sound conceited. But guys didn't often approach me because I always have "resting bitch face", or so I was told.

Loosen up, Elena!

What's gotten into you today?

Hey, are you mad at me?

I swear, people are overly sensitive when they don't need to be.

Shaking my head, I open up the sticky note and read the writing.

4492876300
-Nick.

For a second I didn't know what to do.

I think about throwing it away. There's a possibility I'll probably never see him again.

But then there's school, and it's probably inevitable I'll bump into him every now and then. Plus, he comes to this gym.

I leave the gym and walk over to the locker room to retrieve my bag.

I stop by a nearby trash can and shake my head. I weigh the pros and cons. Yes Nick, no Nick?

Who am I kidding... I can't afford to have guys in my life right now-- not with Mitchell on my ass, not with school, not with the things I want to do.

I reluctantly toss the scrap of paper away, but it floats on the edge of the bin and somehow lands on the ground.

Sighing, I pick the scrap up and shove it back into my bag. Maybe it wasn't meant for me to ignore him.

I change and walk out of there, still not yet ready to head home.

I reach the parking lot when someone calls for me.

"Hey!"

The voice yells a second time. "Hey! I didn't catch your name."

"Elena." I reply without looking. I knew it was Nick.

"See you at school, Elena."

Nick drives off in a black Lexus, leaving me under the fluorescent lights of the parking lot.

I get into my car and drive off as well, thinking about the turn of events. Maybe he's not the person everybody makes him out to be. Then again, there have been rumors about me before, so am I really how everyone makes me out to be either? Guess not.

Looking at the time next to the dashboard in my car, I realize I'm running a bit late. 8:35. Shit, Mitchell is going to kill me.

I groan, thinking about the shit he's gonna give me when I get home.

I speed out of the parking lot, half panicking. Maybe Mitchell will cut me some slack this time.

**********

My Hunter boots splash in the puddles of the school parking lot as I walk towards the building. Georgetown High-- it looks like a nice prison with its grey brick structure and glass facade.