LAW OF ATTRACTION

CHAPTER 3 : KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR

"Shit!" I mumble to myself as I see the pouring rain. It's already Friday afternoon; the week has gone by faster than I've imagined, and luckily, with no more incidents.

Now, I'm outside of the post office, staring at the torrents of water falling from the dark clouds, so much that the echo on the little canopy in front of the building currently sheltering me doesn't even resemble a flick flack fleck anymore. I keep on waiting for a lull, but it's only getting worse by the minute. So taking my courage in both hands and a big breath, I head in the deluge because I still have a long way to go.

Of course, I don't have an umbrella or a hood; I don't even have a sweater, since this morning the sky has been all clear and blue. And what have I been thinking when I've decided to go get my package with the books I've ordered at the post office after school?! I've thought it would be a great reward after my first hard week of school! If I hadn't, I would have had time to go home before it has started raining. If the line hadn't been that long too, and if the post office workers had hurried up a little! I curse them in my head as I've barely walked a few meters, and the rain is already soaking my clothes, adding to the burden of my schoolbag, my sports bag, and my package. The curses escape from my head to my lips when my bags slide down my arms and everything ends up on the ground. I slowly bend down to pick all my stuff, the drops of rain, along with the tiredness of the week, falling like tons on my shoulders.

That's just when I hear the sound of an engine coming, the unmistakable roar of a motorbike that slows down and stops next to me. The weariness gives way to fright, but both are as heavy and would make running difficult. I already imagine all the worst scenarios: a murderer, a rapist, a serial killer... and the streets are empty, so no one can save me. I fumble to reach my compasses in my bag – in case, it can make a great weapon to defend myself.

"Do you need a ride?"

I finally risk a glance to the side and see a pair of tenebrous eyes appearing slowly from behind the visor of a helmet. I stand up and look behind me to be sure Alex Carter is really talking to me, a reflex I guess.

"Yes, Elena, I was talking to you," he says with an amused look.

"You know my name?" I ask surprised since most people don't remember it, even though they're in my class for years. I'm invisible...

"Yeah, you're not easy to forget!" The glint in the eyes lets me guess the smirk forming behind his helmet.

I don't really know why, but I smile, and I gaze down at the puddles at my feet to try to hide the red tickling my cheeks. Looking down, I suddenly become aware of my appearance. I must look like a drowned rat with my hair soaked and disheveled, and my soaked shirt clinging to my body. While Alex Carter is looking like a god with his legendary black leather jacket gleaming with the rain. Now that he's taking off his helmet, it's even truer. His devious smirk is on display, and his slightly messed hair is looking even better as it's getting wet, a few wet curls falling on his forehead and making him even sexier.

"So, do you want me to drive you home?"

"Oh, no, you don't have to. I'll be ok. I don't want to bother you." I shake my head a little too vigorously.

"Come on! It doesn't bother me and it's pouring down!"

A loud thunderclap roars as if to prove his point.

Shivers run down my spine against the soaked cotton of my shirt, and my heart echoes the thunder as I consider what to do. I really don't like storms; I'm terrified of them. But Alex Carter can be scary too. He's a bad boy, and I don't really know him; the first rule is to never accept a ride from strangers. Yet how to say no to those eyes?! Nevertheless, if my parents know I've gone on a motorcycle with Alex Carter, I'm dead! It's a lot of contradictions, but I add another one because at the same time, I'm soaked, tired and the thunder keeps rumbling. I still have a lot to walk to get home and it would take only a few minutes in motorbike.