ai

he way his masculine jaw went slack-everything about talking back to him mad

up to him made

ce her class let out early, to grab a coffee be

et Girl!

ped, placed her palm on Claire's shoulder, and bent down to catch her breath. "Whew," she said, brushing back her hair. "Th

straps of her bags against her shoulders. "Oh, I know him. We wen

he way he looked at you when you snapped at him. I th

sn't like me, Cat. He bullied me all throug

r. He totally wants you. I could sense

e put her though. The mean things he said, the way he chastised ev

ab a coffee, and then to get ready fo

shop with you. We'r

rary and had small bistro type tables sat around huge glass windows. It felt very adultish and made Claire excited to be there. Th

ief when she slid it across the

l this out. The manager will be in later and will call you to schedule an interview

eny discoun

Claire handed it back to the barista, and they both walked back toward the arts building

t. I've never really known what I wa

igure out. So don't rush. That's what college

good to be true. They made it back to the building, and Cat stood on the sidewalk. "I don't have a class until

stairs when she bumped into someone, sending her back onto

wn eyes kind, and his smile lopsided. His blondish hair was short on

picking up her backpack and handing

thing I finished my coffee back at the shop,

ed. "I'm

air

ou, Claire. Are

ed. "How'd

his hair. "I just haven't seen you a

finished. On th

until she squirmed uncomfortably. "I bette

and scribbled down something. "Here's my number. There is a party tomorr

ost of high school ostracized because Axel ruled the popularity meter

manipulate them. Claire had a chance of having friends and

the card, catching the feeling that someone was watching her. S

side of her head. Even from the distance, he looked

s if he hadn't tormented her for the last four years. Ballsy, he was. Claire turned

Your bullying no longer ha

*

walked toward the coffee shop to introduce herself to the manager.

chatting over late afternoon coffee. A short woman with a stylish black bob and an apron sto

get you?"

m Claire Summers. I came by this morning and filled

pulled out Claire's sheet. She glanced at Cla

ughed. "S

ve applied to come by and introduce themselves. You filled out everything and gave me your schedule on the back. Come

hand out for her to shake it. "Thank y

I know I won't. S

high school bully showing up and ruining the day, she felt on top of

e over the slew of trees on each side of the road. Claire didn't get creeped out easily, but something felt off in the pi

re's gaze traveled toward the blur of black, and the speed it g

ke out exactly what it was, only that it darted into the tree

usly chuckled at herself. Shadows always played with her mind.

her childhood merely danced in the setting sun, and Claire's imagination toyed wit