Say You Want Me

Chapter Three

              "Audrey, are you alright?”

Richard faced me, expressing his concern with a patient, waiting smile. I gave him a quick nod to reassure him.

            “Actually, I wouldn’t mind a little help. Do you know where Campbell’s room is at?”

            “Sure, I have Chemistry there too."

He took me by the arm and ran down the hall. People were scattering everywhere, trying to avoid bumping into him, and giving me looks of bewilderment. We arrived in class exactly two minutes before the bell would toll.

            “Richard, you can let go now…” I gently pushed his hand away from my arm. I had already brought enough attention to myself with Richard’s hallway stunt and I didn’t want any more of it.

            “Oh, my bad! I’m sorr--” He put his arm at his side.

            “Young lady, you and Richard should be in your seats by now, unless you want detentions.” A stoic woman in a lab coat was standing in front of the white board, her lips pursed in an angry line. After the rest of the students arrived, she went over the syllabus for her class curriculum.

            “Hey there, Rich Guy! What's up?” A guy with the greenest eyes I had ever seen settled himself next to Richard and did the “man shake” with him.

            “Same old, same old, home boy.”

Green Eyes leaned in to examine me, his stare probing every visible part of me. 

            “This the new girl, Rich?”

            “Yeah, my new little new friend Audrey. Audrey, this is the home boy,Christian.”

Christian turned away from Richard to direct his attention to me.

             “It’s going to be a real pleasure getting to know you.”