Playing the Field

Stalker

I gulp and try to work past the dryness in my throat, "Thanks." I say, taking back my keys.

I fumble with them, trying to get ahold of my house key while balancing all the leftover food.

"Would you like some help?"

I do my best to not blush, "Yeah, sure." He takes the food and I wonder why I didn't just set it on the floor to begin with. Either way, my brain isn't working the way it should be. I steady my hands and will the key into the lock.

I throw the door open with a deep breath and turn back to the handsome stranger, "You've been really sweet, thank you."

He smiles and I couldn't resist the urge to not smile back, "No big deal, we have to help each other every now and then."

He hands me the food and turns to leave with his garbage. I stare at his back before saying, "Hey, earlier in that diner, thank you for the desert."

"You don't have to thank me for every little thing, Avery."

I frown, "How do you know my name?"

"I watch ESPN," he laughs. "And you're kinda big talk on campus."

"You go to Auburn?" I ask, surprised.

He nods, "You bet."

"But you look so old!" I couldn't stop the words as I stared at him. He couldn't be older than twenty four but it shocked me that he'd be in college; I would assume he's graduated already.

"I'm twenty two and went from high school straight into the military. I finished my deployment and decided to work on getting a degree."

I shift my weight to my other foot, "You didn't have to tell me all that,"

"I know, but we're neighbors, may as well tell the truth."

"What's your name?"

"Magot Landon, at your service," he took my free hand and placed a small kiss on my knuckles.

"That was the lamest shit I've ever seen," Drill said, crawling out of the shadows.

I jump back and ignore my scarlet cheeks, "You're back early,"

He looks between Landon and I, "Party was weak. They didn't even have cocaine. So what's going on here?"

"Just taking out some trash and making friendly conversation," Landon said.

Drill crossed his arms and stares up at Landon, who's two inches taller, "So you're stalking her?"

Landon laughs, "What makes you say that?"

"Well, let's see, you live right next door, you happen to be at the same diner, and you order her her favorite desert. Stalker!" Drill pokes Landon's chest.

Landon swats away Drills hand, "I got this place for a great deal, its close to campus and a decent size. I went to the diner for a cup of coffee and I see Avery there and thought I'd be nice. I remembered seeing her on ESPN and she was talking about strawberries."

"Perfectly crafted response. The kind of response that sounds like a stalker spent a lot of time thinking about." Drill stood in front of me.

"I'm not a stalker. For instance, I have no idea who you are." Landon smirks and shoves a hand in his pocket.

Drill's posture relaxes, "Dude I'm just being an ass. Avery thinks you're cute. Get her number, she's single. Just let me tell you now, don't let that little southern sweetheart thing blind you; she's mean as hell."