I felt someone shake my shoulder lightly, my eyes fluttered open and I felt a bit disoriented. I looked around rubbing the blur from my eyes. When my vision cleared I saw the cafeteria come into view and I put my head in my hands rubbing my eyes some more. I had gone to Kyle's practice for an hour then had to go to a few more classes then went to Kyle's 7 pm game. I came to the cafe afterward to try and get some studying done and scarf down some dinner but I must have fallen asleep at some point. His game had gone late today so I didn't get here until 10 o'clock and from what I remember the cafe closed at midnight, so I have no idea how long I have been asleep for. I looked at my plate in front of me still pretty full and now cold, unhappy that I didn't get a lot of food in today.
Someone's hand landed on my shoulder again and it shook me out of my thoughts. I looked up to see the Grayson's familiar face. He was looking down at me, his eyebrows knit together with concern.
"Hey, sorry to wake you but were closing up for the night." He spoke softly, his hand now resting on my back. I sat up, fully awake now and began getting my things together quickly realizing he probably couldn't leave until I was out of here.
"Oh, I'm so sorry." I began to gather all my belongings together but in my rush, a few of my things fell to the floor. "I didn't realize how late it had gotten," I apologized again.
"It's okay." He bent down and picked up some of the items I dropped "It happens more than you think." He handed my books back to me and I shoved them into my backpack quickly.
"Thanks." I shoved my remaining items in my bag, grabbed my laptop and stood up. I wobbled a little on my feet feeling a head rush coming.
"Whoah whoah whoah." He came over to steady me "You don't need to rush." He helped me sit back down in the booth. "Relax, you obviously need a few minutes to wake up some more." He took a seat across from me.
"I'm-"
"Don't say sorry." He held up his hand. "You don't need to apologize for anything."
"Well you can't leave until I leave so, of course, I am going to feel bad, you have probably been working all day and now you have to wait for me-"
"Stop. It's really okay. I don't have anywhere to be and I would rather make sure you were okay before you got into your car and drove."
I smiled at him "Well lucky for me I don't have a car so you don't need to worry about taking out any pedestrians on my way home." I chuckled.
"Good to know." He laughed. "So... how are you getting back then?"
"I'm just gonna grab the shuttle."
"Uhm." He hesitated "The last shuttle was at 12."
My eyes widened and I checked my phone quickly almost dropping it.
12:30 AM.
"Oh man!" I pressed my hand to my forehead annoyed with myself " I completely forgot they stopped running at 12."
"Well, I could give you a ride home." He spoke hesitantly but assured.
"No, no that's okay you have already done enough for me today." I smiled at him and brought up Kyle's contact on my phone.
"It really isn't a problem I don't mind."
"It's okay, Kyle will pick me up." I shot a quick text to Ky. "Thank you for the offer though."
He nodded curtly. We sat there awkwardly neither of us saying anything. A few minutes passed and I checked my phone to see if Kyle had gotten back to me but was disappointed when all I saw was a facebook update that someone posted to their story. I sighed and put my phone back in my lap.
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah!" I smiled at him "He should be here any second so I am going to go wait downstairs." I gathered my things again and stood up.
"Oh." He stood up from the booth quickly. "Okay yeah, no problem."
"Alright well... have a good night then." I held my hand up in a small wave walked out of the cafeteria.
Kyle lived in the same complex of apartment buildings as I did so it should have only taken him about 10 minutes to get here and he never usually ignored my texts. I checked my phone again and saw no replies from him. When I got outside I dialed in his number. It rang and rang but there was no answer. I tried a second time but again no answer. I called one more time and I finally heard him pick up.
"Hello?" His voice sounded groggy as if he had just woken up.
"Ky? Is there any way you can come pick me up?"
"What?" He sounded more awake now. "Where are you?"
"I'm at the cafe, I had to study-"
"The cafe?" He interrupted me. "Why were you there so late?"
"I had to study for ecology." He knew how bad I was at that class and how often I missed.
"Yeah, study..." He mumbled almost so soft I couldn't hear him. "Yeah, Sky I can't I'm sorry I'm... busy." He said shortly.
"What? Doing what?" I babbled confused. He had sounded like he was sleeping what could he possibly be doing at this hour. I know he wasn't partying, they lost their game tonight and he never parties, let alone goes out anywhere after the game if they lose. He usually just goes home and sleeps.
"Just doing stuff Sky sorry I can't give you a ride home." I heard my phone beep signaling he had hung up.
I looked down at my phone a little more than shocked. Ky had never done that to me before, usually, he would have dropped everything to come to get me. Lately though, he has been acting a little weird and I'm not sure why or if I had done something to upset him. I decided I would talk to him about it tomorrow.
I debated my options trying not to walk home in the 30-degree weather. I could call Steph but she is probably already sleeping and has early classes tomorrow so I don't want her to wake up. I couldn't think of anyone else to call so I put my phone back in my pocket, pulled my hood over my head and began my 10-minute walk back to my apartment.
I had been walking for about 5 minutes when I heard a car pull up behind me. A few cars had passed me but I heard this one lingering behind me. I began walking a bit faster but could hear the car following as I went.
"Hey!" Someone yelled from the car.
I froze and turned around cautiously. My body relaxed slightly when I saw who was driving the car. I smiled and tossed my hands in the air.
"You know, It's really starting to feel like your stalking me. " I spoke. It was Grayson, he was leaning against the top of his car now, his arms folded together.
"No." He shook his head "You see if I was stalking you, you would never know. I would have just stayed at a distance and observed... watching closely." He nodded agreeing with what he had said. "You would have never seen me."
He spoke so matter of factly I couldn't help but laugh. "You know? Oddly that doesn't make me feel any better." I shivered from the cold and wrapped my arms tighter around me.
He let out a short laugh, getting out of the car and coming over to the passenger's side.
"C'mon" He walked over to the passenger side and opened the door. I felt a wave of heat pouring out of the car and almost melted right there on the sidewalk. "I'll give you a ride."
I contemplated for a second, I mean he really was a stranger to me despite seeing him almost 5 times in one day. But all I could think about was the heat still pouring out from the car and it was starting to cloud my judgment. A cold breeze began to blow and I finally couldn't take it anymore. I pushed aside the rest of my judgment and all but jumped into the passenger's seat. He laughed again and closed the door for me. I rubbed my hands together in front of the heating vents trying to thaw out.
He hopped into the driver's side and turned the heat up. I melted even further into the seat feeling the heat pour out at twice the speed now.
"Thank you." I relaxed as more of the frost came off my body. I put my now warm hands on my face trying to melt the cold in my red cheeks.
"No problem, I'm guessing since you already walked passed the dorm halls you live in the apartments?" I nodded and continued to warm myself as if I was by a fireplace. He laughed putting the car into drive and began heading toward the apartments.
"What were you doing there tonight so late tonight anyway?"
"Studying." I gestured to my backpack on the floor by my feet.
"Oh? What for?"
"Ecology."
"Oh right." He nodded remembering our conversation from this morning and I hoped he didn't continue his questioning about why I hadn't gone to class. "Well, I aced that class and still have all my study guides. If you want I can give them to you and help you study?" I was glad he didn't bring up any of his questions form this morning on why I didn't go to class.
"Really?" I looked at him amazed. "Oh my gosh, that would be great! Are you sure?"
"Yeah, it's not a problem. I'll give them to you tomorrow."
"Thank you so much!" I was genuinely excited and grateful to him. It would be so great to have a guide to go off of rather than just trying to read the textbook. I had never been one to just read something and learn it like that. We drove in silence for a few minutes and I relaxed more now my body returning to a normal temperature.
We were almost back now. The drive to the apartments was only about 10 minutes but the walk was almost 20.
"Why were you walking anyway?" He spoke breaking the silence.
"Well flying wasn't an option, so I settled." I smiled and he laughed as he turned onto another street.
"Really though why were you walking?" He spoke more seriously now. "I thought your boyfriend was coming to get you?"
"Uhm yeah, turns out he was busy." I looked down and fumbled with my fingers nervously.
He scoffed but didn't say anything.
"What?" I asked him confused.
"Nothing..." He trailed off.
e were both silent after that and all that was heard was the sounds from the vent as the heat continued to pour out, enveloping me like a blanket. We were almost back now. The drive to the apartments was about 10 minutes but the walk would have been almost 20.
We pulled into the parking lot of the apartments a few minutes later
"Which building is yours?"
"Cromley." I pointed to the building on the left in the middle of two other buildings. "Third-floor middle window." The apartments had three four floors in total and they all had big windows that showed into everyone's living room area. He pulled into a spot right in front of my building.
"Oh, I'm right across from you in Howell same room too." He pointed behind us to his building and I turned to look. He was pointing to the exact same room and floor, just directly across from mine in a different building.
"Oh cool so we're kind of neighbors," I smiled.
He laughed and nodded. "Yeah, I guess so, hey if you ever need to borrow something just come over." He paused "That's what neighbors say to each other right?"
I laughed shaking my head. "I guess... maybe back in the day." I laughed a little more. I made no move to get out I didn't want to leave the car and face the cold, but I knew I had to, and I also just wanted to go to sleep.
"Thank you so much again, and not just for the ride but for everything today." I looked at him and something in my emotions shifted. I didn't know what it was but I did know he was one of the nicest people I had met in a long time and I wanted to stay here and keep talking to him.
"No problem." He smiled at me. "I will drop those study guides off tomorrow for you." He turned off the car and the doors unlocked.
"Oh, great thank you! Here," I took out my phone "Let me give you my number so you can make sure I am here when you stop by." Truthfully, I just wanted his number. I don't know why but I just felt so comfortable around him.
We exited the car and I made my way to the door, pausing to look back to see if he was inside and saw him already looking back at me. I waved to him and he smiled, waving back. I walked in and headed up the stairs to my room. I stayed as quiet as I could as I moved around, getting ready for bed. Luckily Steph and I had separate rooms, so I wouldn't disturb her too much as I shuffled around. I was thankful I didn't have class until 11 o'clock tomorrow. I didn't get any downtime today and was happy to be able to get a little extra sleep in the morning.
I was ready for bed quickly and smiled as I drifted to sleep thinking about getting to see Grayson tomorrow. I don't know what it was about him, but I just felt comfortable around him.
I was almost asleep when I felt my phone buzzed.
"Come to my practice tomorrow please?" It was Kyle. " it's at 8 am."
I groaned and squeezed my eyes shut unhappy that I wouldn't be able to get the sleep I wanted. I knew I should say no because of how he acted tonight but I decided it wasn't worth a fight I wouldn't win. It would also give me the chance to talk to him about what happened tonight.
"Sure I'll be there." I texted back quickly.
So much for sleeping in.
