Scars Don't Heal

Chapter 4 : "We've got to stop meeting like this..."

I'm dreaming,  Keegan thought to herself.

She had just about recovered from her previous encounter and now her heart sped up beating rapidly through her chest at his voice behind her.

She gulped, unusually nervous.

She was normally more straight-forward and blunt with guys like him but the more she pushed him away, the more she had to deal with him. It wasn't just his obnoxious comments but he didn't seem to acknowledge the universal rule for  'personal space'.

She scratched at her arms that irritated and itched moreso when she was nervous. She pulled down on her long-sleeve top further to make sure that they were fully covered. People acted differently when they saw what was underneath. Something totally out of her control, but that didn't stop the revolted and disgusted looks.

Jesse came up from behind her, his face calm and collected unaffected by the long walk. His left cheek was slightly reddened from the incident before. His stormy eyes rooted her into a standstill.

Numerous eyes, glanced down at them from those already seated. The room was fairly warm or at least it felt like that to Keegan.

Jesse closed in on her until she could feel his breath on her cheek.

"We've got to stop meeting like this otherwise people may get some ideas," he whispered to her. She forgot to breathe when he was so close. Her heart dropped at his closeness and she turned away from him. He was mocking her because of the incident before. Trying to get her to react so he could embarrass her again.

What was his deal? Yes she had slapped him, okay maybe that was a bit harsh...actually no he had provoked her on that first day in the cafe without reason. He did deserve that.

He was so adamant on embarrassing her time and time again, throwing out the window all of her ideas and plans for new beginnings.

At that moment, the double doors behind them opened and the professor walked into the lecture theatre.

"To your seats students, no lingering in the doorway,'  he announced passing them to his desk at the front.

Keegan walked quickly towards an empty seat she saw in the second row from the bottom. There was one spare seat left. One spare seat. One! Meaning she wouldn't have him sitting next to her.

She placed her heavy bag down allowing her shoulder some relief as she took her out her notepad and pen.

As she did so, she noticed Jesse take the seat directly in front of her. She rearranged her equipment on the desk in front occupying herself away from his gaze. The lecture room buzzed with conversation whilst people waited for the lecturer to set up his laptop and projector for the lecture.

"Hey,' a deep voice came from her right. She turned to a hand presented in front of her and looked up to see the owner's face. A blonde-haired guy with a kind face smiled back at her.

"Oscar," he said as she placed her slender hand in his and shook it, releasing quickly.

"Keegan," she replied smiling politely at him.

"Nice to meet you, Keegan. You're not local are you?"

"No, I just moved down here. You?"

"Yeah I've lived here all my life. Just a small town not far from here." he explained.

"Nice! I've not had chance to really explore yet but..."

"I could show you around after if you want..." he began to suggest before he was interrupted.