SHADOW

Manipulation

The city was busier than usual. Everyone seemed to be making the best of the warm weather today. And today I was no different. I shed my jacket and wore a regular graphic t-shirt and my usual denim jeans, blending in with the public, and enjoying the sun.

I sat on a bench, watching people buzz by and idly listened into their conversations. I guess humans really could have interesting lives.

Today was a rare event, rarely did I ever bask in the sun, but today was different, it felt good against my cool skin. The weather wasn't the only thing that brought me from the shadows. I had "incoincidently" placed myself in the exact spot she happened to frequent when she was on her break. Every day she worked she walked past here. She couldn't pass me up. It was impossible to ignore a person like me.

I had been here for a while now, observing my surroundings, but soon my leisure would have a greater purpose. She should be walking here now.

A few minutes passed before I spotted her. It was obvious she hadn't seen me yet or else she would have probably sprinted in the opposite direction. I shook my head and laughed at the thought.

The brunette looked as beautiful as ever. Her hair was tied in a high ponytail that swayed from side to side with every step she took and her face was free of any makeup. As she approached me I saw the gleam of recognition enter her eyes before the shock settled in.

I saw her tense; she wanted to run, but she knew I had seen her already.

Jayde approached me carefully, a look of silent dread settling on her pixie-like features. "Why're you following me," she frowned when she stopped in front of me.

I looked around for a moment and then pointed to myself. "Me?"

She rolled her eyes, tapping her foot impatiently against the pavement. "Yes, you."

"I'm not following you," I lied easily. "It's a nice day out. I'm enjoying it just like everyone else."

If possible the statement irritated her more because she found no fault in it. I smiled, rising from my seat. We were almost equal height, but the way she cowered in my presence made me seem taller.

I frowned, side stepping her so there was space between us, raising my hands in surrender. "Why're you so afraid of me? I haven't done anything to you."

"I told you...you look unstable," she deadpanned, taking another step away from me as if we weren't already a safe distance apart.

I stayed rooted where I was even though my head was telling me to close the distance.

"Isn't everybody?"

"Not like you."

I bowed my head; that actually hurt a little. The world made me like this, but of course she didn't know that. She probably thought I was a trust fund baby that fucked and ran through anybody that crossed my path which wasn't true at all. My parents were poor and I hate to admit it, but if I hadn't become this I probably would've never broken the cycle.

"I don't even know why I'm wasting my time with you. You used me. You didn't have the decency to just tell me you wanted me for sex, that I would've respected. You said you wanted my mind, fucked and then dropped off the face of the earth. Good-fucking-bye."

She turned on her heels to leave, but I grabbed her slender wrist, pulling her back toward me so swiftly she crashed into my chest.

"Get off me!"

I let go of her immediately, no sign of my usually snide disposition in sight. "I'm sorry. You just can't-"

"Can't? As in I'm not allowed? I can do whatever I want, you're not my girlfriend." She paused looking down and then up again to meet my eyes, a crude smirk tugging at her lips. "or what would you even be considered as? I don't remember a girl having a dick was considered normal."