Broken People

6. Maybe

Clara's POV

"But I don't want you to walk home." he said. Who does he think he is.

"I can and I will." I told him. I don't care who is. No one tells me what I can or can't do. I mean we just met.

"It's not safe for you."

"Oh and you are?" I asked him. "We just met. You could be a killer or something."

"Really? Do you think that I am?" he asked hurt.

"We just met. I don't know."

"That's the second time you said that." he said trying to make a point.

"Well, it's true. And don't play cute or be a hero."

"Kya?" he smiled a little.

"That. Don't do that."

"What am I doing?"

"You know full well what you're doing."

"No I don't. Tell me."

"You're opening doors for me. Paying for my food. Telling me I can't walk home because it's not safe. I don't need you." I told him, waving my arms and hands around.

"Well, I'm sorry that my mom raised a gentleman. If you want I can just be mean to you. Ignore you like the other people in your life. I can make fun of you, talk about you behind your back. Is that what you want?" He told me, his dark brown eyes hardened.

"You can if you want." I turned on my toes and started to walk away. But suddenly I felt his strong hands on my hips pulling me around.

"Wait." He whispered, looking down at me. His eyes softened. "Please don't leave. I'm sorry for getting upset at you. This is hard for me also. Talking and hanging out with people, just isn't my thing. I just............" he looked down at the ground.

"Stop." I say, looking up at him. "It's my fault, I shouldn't have argued with you over something simple. I'm sorry."

He looked up at me. This time he had a smile on his lips and his brown eyes were full of humor. "This was the most that you've talked to me. And now I know what gets you mad." he wriggled a eyebrow at me.

"Well, don't do it just to make me mad, because it won't work out for you in the end." I told him, teasing a little. Where did it come from, the world may never know.

"Do you still want me to drive you home?"

"I think I'll just walk. To help clear my head."

He looked at the ground and kicked at the ground. "Yeah."

"Next time, though." His head shot up just as soon as he heard me say that. His eyes got huge like a puppies.

"Next time?"

"Yeah. You have my number and I have yours."

"K. Next time. Well, I'll see you later." he got in his car and poked his head out. "Walk safely, please." he begged me.

"I will, I promise." I smiled at him and walked off. 

I needed to be alone. To be away from him. He made me feel different. I've never spoken to anyone like that. I felt bad for spouting off like that to him, when he was only trying to be nice. But I'm not use to people being nice to me. I'm use to being on my own and no one telling me what to do. I walked home with him on my mind.

He made feel like maybe I can have friends. That I'm not as dark as I thought I was. That my past can't affect my future like I've been letting it do. That I can have friends. My heart felt weird when I saw him get upset because I wouldn't let him drive me home. And my stomach felt all weird when I saw his eyes change the way they did. Maybe, just maybe, I can be friends with him. I looked at my phone and saw his number. I smiled and sighed. Yep, we can be friends. 

I was in a happy mood until I walked in my apartment. It reminded me that I am alone. And that I only have two friends. My aunt and Dr. Grace. I sat down on my couch and didn't bother to open my shades. What good will they do? I glanced at the clock and saw that I have six hours before my shift begins at McDonald's. My phone buzzed letting me know that I have a text.

'Hi. This is Arjun, just making sure that this your number.'

I smiled before replying.

'Yep.'

Maybe I have three friends. My aunt, Dr. Grace and Arjun.

Kya= What