Before You

Chapter 11

          Jett's right hand passes over my shoulder and slams into the door behind me. I'm completely taken by surprise. My body jolts and I run a few feet away in the opposite direction. I look at Jett to see what his next move is.

          "What are you doing?" I scream at him.

          Jett shakes his right hand as if to get something off of it and looks back at me. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. There was a huge spider right behind you. I was trying not to freak you out. That's why I told you not to move".

          That's definitely not the answer I thought I was going to get. What is wrong with me? I didn't know what he was going to do, but I didn't stop him when he leaned towards me. Why didn't I stop him? It doesn't matter. That won't happen again. My mind has not been working right today. Jett said a few things that caught me off guard and I couldn't speak or even move. This trip is over. I need to clear my head and get focused again.

          "Okay, I think that's enough for today. I got the photos I needed. Did you get everything you need?" I say quickly.

          "Yeah, I think I'm good to go." Jett replies.

          "Okay, I think we should get going. It's already after lunch. I can't believe we've been out here this long" I say. We both start walking back towards my car.

          "Yeah, it's easy to lose track of time. I usually spend hours out here when I come. It's peaceful" Jett says quietly.

          We reach the car and pack our camera bags in the trunk. I start the car and head back in the direction we entered. I take one last look before trees surround us on our way out.

          "You can come back if you'd like to. It seems like you're really fond of this place," Jett says.

          "Um, no. I'm good. I won't be coming back here" I say sharply.

          Jett shrugs his shoulders and looks out his window. Mission accomplished. Once again he knows where his place is. A place that's not close to me. I glance over at him and see that he's still looking out of the window. He almost seems bothered by what I said. I feel a tinge of guilt in my stomach.

          My cell phone rings and brings me out of my thoughts. I look down at the phone number. It's my mother. I don't want to answer, especially with Jett in the car, but I don't have much of a choice. There's no telling when she'll decide to call me back. I try not to think too much about it and just answer the phone.

          "Hello?" I say quietly.

          "Evy? I was just calling to see how you're doing. Where are you? It sounds like you're driving" my mother says.

          "Yes, I'm driving back to Atlanta. I had to leave the city and take some photographs for one of my classes. Is everything okay?" I say.

          "Yes, everything is fine. Brad and I are going to see a movie later, so I thought I'd call you while I wait on him to get here. Have you been grocery shopping yet? What did you get?" my mother says curiously.

          "Yes, I've been shopping. I got some pop tarts and frozen pizzas. I know it's not the best, but I'm not going to be home that often" I say, hoping she'll drop the subject.

          "Well, I guess I better go. I need to get dressed before Brad gets here. I just had a few minutes to spare. I-I love you Evy," she says.

          "Um, yeah. I love you too" I reply, and hang the phone up.

          I look over at Jett and find him staring at me. I hope he wasn't listening to that entire conversation. Then again, there's nowhere for him to go so he probably was.

          "What?" I say sharply.

          "Nothing. I couldn't help but eavesdrop. You went shopping and got pop tarts and frozen pizza? How do you even survive on that stuff?" Jett says.

          "I'm in college. That's what all college students eat. Besides, I'm going to be busy and rarely home. I don't have time to cook a homemade meal everyday. It's fine, no big deal. Blueberry pop tarts are amazing," I say, trying to be convincing.

          "Well, it still takes more than pop tarts and frozen pizza to survive" Jett says. "I know of some pretty good places around Atlanta, if you'd like to have dinner sometime".

          "What?" I say loudly. My eyes go wide and I look over at Jett while laughing out loud. "I haven't been the nicest person to you. I know I've been pretty harsh. I've made it clear that I really don't even want to be around you, and you're asking me out to dinner?"

          "Yes, you have been harsh and overall rude to me. Then again, I know it's because you're independent and probably have daddy issues. I'm not asking as a date, just as friends. Everyone has to eat," he says plainly.

          I feel a sting in my throat and start to feel a little nauseous. I glance from Jett back to the road in front of me. Daddy issues? Why does he think he knows me enough to make an assumption like that? He has no idea what kind of issues I may or may not have. I decide to not respond. Whatever comes out of my mouth right now would be more than harsh. I'm almost back to my apartment. Then I'll finally have some space.

          "Listen, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I was just trying to be nice. I don't know if you have daddy issues or not. That was just my way of hitting you back with something. I don't understand why you're so rude to me. I haven't done anything wrong to you. I know you said you have issues with men, but... are you always like this? I mean, are you ever just nice?" Jett says.

          I pull into the apartment parking lot and look over at Jett. "I get that I'm not easy to be around. I am nice, at least to my closest friends. I don't know you and I don't need you as a distraction. There are things I'm trying to accomplish and I don't want or need anything or anyone getting in the way of that".

          "I'm not trying to get in your way. Seriously, I'm just trying to be a friend. I'm assuming you don't have any other friends in the city, right?" Jett says.

          I look down at the floorboard of my car. Why does that realization make me so uncomfortable?

          "Okay then. I'm a nice guy. You've seen that today and in class. Let's just be friends okay?" he says.

          Something in me shifts and it takes me a few minutes to respond. "Okay...friends". I feel like a weight has been lifted, just by saying those words. I've been trying so hard to keep this boy at a distance, thinking that he could be out to get me. I can still accomplish what I need to and be friends with him. It's harmless. He's literally just a friend.

          "Good" Jett says with a smile.

          I search his face for any ill intentions, but I see none. He's about to speak when his phone rings. He looks at the screen and presses a button.

          "Are you going to answer that?" I say.

          "No, it's not important" he says. His phone rings once more and again, he presses the silence button.

          "It sure seems important, if the same person is calling back," I say plainly.

          "Well, I better get going. I'll see you Monday in class. I had a great time today, friend" Jett says with a smirk.

          "Yeah, see you in class, friend" I say with a short laugh.

          We each grab our camera gear and part ways. I head towards my apartment, not wanting to look back at Jett. Once inside my apartment, I put my things away and sit on my couch. It's so quiet. I've been doing everything I should be doing. I've been going to class and I found a job. Other than that, I've been sitting here in this apartment. It's time to get out and do something. I take a shower and get dressed, while taking my time. I stop by the kitchen counter and grab my car keys. Let's see what Atlanta has to offer.