Tεrribly Pεrfεct

Chapter 6: Stealing Thoughts

"How was class?" I cracked, sitting alongside Hannah.

She was busy on her phone as I approached and I could see something was on her mind. I'd just finished my classes for the rest of the day and my purse was full of study guides, so I knew we were probably feeling the same stress today.

"...Oh, you know, just worried about this first test. I think I should drop calc."

"What?" I announced, "How come?"

"I dunno," She sulked, tucking her phone away, "I seriously cannot get the hang of it. Too many numbers and letters mixed together. I thought numbers were for math, what the hell are letters in there for?!"

I laughed gently, observing the sky as we sat. Hannah was so ridiculous sometimes, but she always made me laugh - intentionally or not.

"I can tutor you?" I spoke, knocking her softly. She nodded, possibly implying she'd be interested. But before we could continue our conversation, I looked up to the sky only to see angry ravaging clouds floating before us.

"Wow, that's odd," Hannah whispered, pointing to the storm.

I shivered, the weather was looking strangely creepy, "Maybe just a summer storm."

We both looked at each other with wide eyes, "See you at home? I'm going to run to the commons real quick to get some food first before the storm hits."

"Ok, see you later," I answered, waving her off.

I watched her drift off into the parking lot, disappearing quickly into the fog. It had never been this dark before at 5 o'clock. We both had late classes this day and every time we'd come out the sun would still be shining, but not today.

I grabbed my purse and scooted it further up my shoulder, I would just have to run home today. Before I could take off, droplets of rain began to come down. I winced...how does this keep happening to me? 

I took off in the direction of my apartment, keeping my eyes low and my feet fast. The rain hadn't started too much yet, but it was still enough to keep my hair damp.

"Going somewhere?"

My heart skipped a beat and I stopped, his voice nearly scared the shit out of me as I was running and I probably looked like a deer in headlights as I turned to face the voice.

"You sure do walk fast for such a little girl," Jesse spoke, shooting me a sly grin.

I bit my tongue, why in the world was he talking to me?

"I'm not little...," I muttered, taking him in.

His hair was ruffled and a bit wet from the rain, I could tell he had been standing there awhile. His leg was propped up against the kickstand of his bike and he was leaning up against it like I'd impeded his territory.

"Need a ride?" He spoke low, pointing his cigarette towards his motorcycle.

I stood frozen, almost as if for a brief moment I was invisible. Maybe he was talking to the girl behind me? I turned in anticipation, realizing I was the only person within eye-shot of him.

He kept his gaze on me, everything about him sent my senses into over-drive.

"N-no," I answered, pulling my wet bangs away from my face. Even in the gloom I could feel his eyes burning into me, almost as if he was trying to entice me over.

"Don't be such a lady, Mandie," Jesse chuckled, tilting his head to the side, "Come over here."

My heart dropped, there was no way I could save it now. It had flopped from my chest and was now dead on the ground. Before I could answer, Jesse took a last drag from his cigarette and finally flicked it into the darkness, still awaiting my response.