Do you ever get that feeling like you're being watched?
It's previously happened to me three times.
That one time with Falcon, and then that Fury dude, and Strucker's goons.
I couldn't help but glance over my shoulder from time to time.
It's been happening for the last two weeks.
Someone would say that I'm being paranoid, but my hunches are usually right.
I wish Clara was still around to pick me up from school. Unfortunately, she wanted an apartment near her internship.
The 'Don't Walk' signal blinked as I slowed to a stop. I felt my phone vibrate in my hand as I swiped it open.
'Be safe walking home! Cole and I are going out tonight. Don't wait up for us! Love you!'
Texting them a quick message to be safe, I slipped my phone back in my pocket.
Seeing the signal switch, I started to walk along with the sea of people.
Feeling a rough shoulder bump into me, I fell back with a thud. My hands stung when they slid on the concrete.
Are you kidding me?
The tall man on his phone just kept walking on, not bothering with my sharp glare on his back.
The people around parted like the red sea.
A hand stuck out in my face.
Looking up, a woman offered her hand to me. She had a jagged scar over her left eye. Her eyes gleamed blue for a moment, but maybe I was just imagining things.
Something seemed familiar about her as I took her hand and got up off the floor.
I feel like I've seen her before.
Before I can thank her, she went off the opposite way.
Should I go after her and ask her?
A loud honk cut off my train of thought.
"Get off the road unless ya wanna get hit!" Yelled a man in a taxi, hitting the horn again.
With an annoyed sigh, I continued my journey home.
As the week went on, I saw her every time I walked home.
Walking the opposite direction or sitting on a bench.
Maybe it's because she is off her job at the time? Just a coincidence?
"Ophelia!" I almost shrieked in surprise. I looked at Mrs. Paulson. She had a concerned look on her face. "Are you alright? We've been waiting for you to say your line."
Looking at my feet in embarrassment, I nodded my head.
Hearing her sigh, she wanted to reset the scene.
I must pay attention.
"You okay, princess? You seem out of it today."
"I'm fine. Just got a lot on my mind," I answered with a shrug.
"Well, I can always help ease your mind," he suggested with a wink.
My lip curled in disgust as I walked away to where I was supposed to stand, waiting for the cue to start the scene.
I sat at my desk, tapping my pencil on my math homework.
I was home alone again today. I've noticed that Cole and Phoebe have been going out a lot more lately.
Sighing in frustration, I got off my chair.
I'm pretty sure I won't be using linear algebra in the future.
My phone suddenly rang.
Seeing Phoebe's name, I swiped to answer, "Hey Phoebe!"
"Hey sweetie. I need a tiny favor if you're not busy."
Looking back at my homework, I answered, "Nope. What's up?"
"I forgot to give back a cookbook that I borrowed from a friend. Can you return it for me?"
"Yeah sure."
"Great! She actually lives right down the hall from us." I heard her rummage through papers as she gave me the apartment number. "Thanks and can you also tell May thank you for me? I left the cookbook on the countertop. I'll talk to you later, sweetie."
Before I can reply, she hung up.
Seeing the cookbook on the counter, I grabbed my key and headed down the hall.
Knocking on the door, I waited.
The door swung open revealing a brunette woman who adjusted her glasses and flashed me a smile.
"Hi! Are you May?"
She nodded her head, "How can I help you?"
I gave her the book, "My… umm Phoebe forgot to give your cookbook back so she asked me to."
"Oh! I was wondering where this went," she laughed as she perched her glasses on her nose, looking over the book. "Did she use that meatloaf recipe I told her about?"
"Yeah, she did. She took some notes from it so she can make it again."
"Aha! I knew she would like it. She seems like the type of gal that likes the comforts of food. I r-"
"Hey May? Have you seen m-," a familiar voice called.
May swiveled around and I saw the familiar tousled brown locks.
"Lia?" His face morphed into shock as he appeared next to May.
My jaw dropped slightly before a small smile replaced it, "Hey Peter."
"What are you doing here?"
"I was just returning a cookbook that Phoebe borrowed. She's out of town for some rendezvous with Cole and it slipped her mind."
"Wait! You're Ophelia?" May asked, pointing a finger at me and then looking at Peter. His cheeks became rosy as he tried to respond.
She took my hand in hers and shook it, "I'm Peter's aunt, May. It's so nice to finally meet you. I've heard wonderful things about you."
"I hope so. You know Phoebe. She loves to overindulge." We both giggled.
"That is so true, but I wasn't talking about her. I was talking about Pe-"
"Okay!" Peter chimed in. He glanced at May with a look.
"Oh! Well, it was lovely to meet you, Ophelia. Feel free to come on by for dinner some time." She waved as she went back into the apartment. Peter leaned against the door frame with a look of relief.
"Your aunt seems really cool."
"Yeah. She's great! So um I didn't know that you.. lived here."
"I didn't know you did either. I live just down the hall."
"That's great! We should walk to school together. I m-mean if you want to." He scratched the back of his neck.
I nodded, "I'd like that."
"Great." He gave me a smile.
Peter has a nice smile. That thought alone made my cheeks flush.
"I should go. I still have to finish homework and call Phoebe back. So, I'll see you in the morning?"
"Definitely."