Gaze

One.

"Reagan. Reagan! Reagan!"

"What do you want?" What was it this time? I never understood Jessica. After turning, I came face to face with no other than Jessica Martin. "I'm kind of busy right now," I said with annoyance, motioning to the two cups of coffee I had yet to deliver to a couple sitting in the far corner of the coffee shop. It was packed, as it always is on Saturdays what with people catching up and all.

The fall decorations were newly set up with brown and red leaves hanging from the doors and taped to the walls. Turkeys made from sticks and feathers sat on the tables as center pieces. It was almost Thanksgiving, a time of love and friendship. And then next was Christmas, my ultimate favorite time of year.

"Table two is waiting on their caramel lattes. It's been ten minutes." The frustration in Jess's eyes was evident as she turned on her heel to fulfill the request that I could not do. Everyday this shop got busier and busier, and I was beginning to grow tired of it. This job was no longer worth the minimum wage I earned for as many hours as I worked. I didn't understand how Jess did it. She was the star waitress and star barista and I was the complete opposite. My manager called me lazy. I prefer to call it relaxed.

Jessica hurried the caramel lattes over to the table I missed and they shot her a grateful smile. At least they weren't upset. Maybe I'd still get a good tip. Maybe.

After turning around as she walked back towards where I was standing, she shot me a glare. If looks could kill, I'd be long gone.

After our shifts ended, Jess and I started our walk back home. While we were older than sixteen, neither of us had our driver's license. I always teased Jessica about being nineteen and still not having it. Jessica's excuse remained the fact that she had no purpose for it because she claimed her bike was faster and that she didn't have a third car to drive. My excuse was, well, I didn't really want one. My parents called that lazy, too.

"Ray. Do you see that guy over there?" Her whisper halted me in my tracks. As I turned to see exactly who she was talking about, I made eye contact with cobalt blue eyes so intense I had to take another look. I've never seen eyes like that. "Don't stare!" My gaze averted faster than she could say my name. "He's been watching." The tone of her voice made me realize that he wasn't just watching us. He was watching me. But how did she see him so quickly? We just stepped out the door.

Usually, it was a good thing when a guy stared at you. What girl wouldn't want to have an attractive guy checking them out? But the way his stare passed right through me; it unnerved me. I got the feeling he wasn't just taking a look at me. He wasn't just looking. He was watching, in every sense of the word. I suddenly became very self-conscious.

I looked once again. His head tilted slightly as I stared back, amusement briefly flashing through his eyes. I wasn't going to just roll over and succumb to fear. That just wasn't me.

Meanwhile, Jessica grabbed my arm, her fingers feeling like talons as she yanked me across the street and away from the strange man. He easily looked two years older and as Jessica hissed at me to stop staring again, I searched him for any sign of threat or movement to show he would follow us.

We didn't need a stalker. Not right now.

"I'll walk you home." At Jessica's statement, I couldn't keep my eyes from rolling as I stopped in my tracks despite her fingernails digging into my skin. Her porcelain-like face turned to search my eyes incredulously. Freckles danced across the bridge of her nose and tangoed along her cheeks.

"Jessica. I'm not a child. I don't need to be walked home anymore," I insisted. Jessica, while being a year older than myself, always took it upon herself to act as my older sister rather than my best friend. Most of the time it was endearing, but other times, not so much. "I'm perfectly capable of walking home on my own. It's not even that dark. It's only six." I could tell I wasn't convincing her. Even if she agreed to letting me walk home alone, I knew she would just follow me. The expression on her face made it known I didn't have a choice in the matter.