A Little Heat

Chapter 2

I wanted to just ignore him and totally forget he existed, but Lizzy had already called the city's police and the campus police. I've never been confrontational and or too worried about my safety. Maybe that's why I told Lizzy I was going on a drive and would keep my doors locked at all times, leaving before she even had time to respond.

I don't like cops. Or, rather, I love how they put themselves in danger to protect others, but their appearance reminds me of my parents.  For fear of bringing up more emotions and making the creepy-guy-peering-through-our-windows situation even more stressful, I thought that leaving the house was the best bet.

Obviously, I was wrong.

Now, I'm at some bar in the neighboring town, totally afraid of the sticky top. The bartender didn't even bothering checking my ID. I probably walked in with the same stressed out look as many of his patrons. I sat down and checked my phone while he was getting my drink: several missed calls, twenty some texts from Lizzy, and a text from an officer asking to meet up so that I can get questioned.

"Something interesting?" I looked up. The bartender was pushing my drink towards me. He had perfect teeth in that smile that almost reached his eyes. A look of amusement lit of his grey eyes... probably because he just caught me giving his face a once over.

"Hm? Oh. Yeah." Bright splashes of red were surely on my cheeks by now. "Just some roommate drama."

"That's why I take up extra shifts," he leaned on the counter and got down to eye level, "My roommates drive me insane."

"There's no point for me doing that. I've lived with my roommate for the last nine years. There's no escaping." We both started laughing and carrying the conversation easily. I switched my drink to club soda and lemon a couple hours ago. My body was aching for bed now. With my eyes half shut, I tried to say my goodbyes to this wonderful stranger (whose name turned out to be Tristan) and make way for the door to leave.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, no. I can't let you drive right now. You'll fall asleep at the wheel. Just stay right here and I'll drive you." He blocks me from the door with his hands up, having about six inches on my height and a lean build. So, I did the natural thing and stood in the threshold with my head against the wall.

"Okay, okay, I'm ready let's go." I open my eyes quickly to confirm that it is Tristan pushing me towards a car. We walk together slowly and in silence. He walked on my left side with one hand holding my right hip and the other hand holding my forearm as an attempt to guide me with as little work from me as possible. I remember hearing the door open, feeling my seat belt being put on, and telling him my address before closing my eyes.

"Hey, hey, no," I felt a shoving on my shoulder. "No drunk girls allowed to sleep in the car," Tristan sounded concerned. "What if you wake up puking in my car?"

"I promise I won't do that," I mumble into the window. "And I'm tired, my buzz wore off a couple of hours ago."

"But who's going to keep me awake?" Tristan whined and stuck out his bottom lip.

"You'll be fine. Just turn the radio on."