Killing Me Softly

Three

As soon as AP English Lit was over, Grayson took off for the door. I wasn’t surprised that he fled but it still stung. I wasn’t asking to be his best friend but the least he could’ve done was say hello to me or a “how are you doing?” would've sufficed. Anything but his actual reaction.

I sat outside with my friends for lunch at our usual table under the giant oak tree behind the cafeteria. Sydney was talking about her vacation to Australia over the summer. Everyone oohed and awed as she spoke.

Jordan nudged me with his shoulder. “You alright?” he asked.

No one else seemed to notice that I wasn’t paying attention to a word Sydney was saying. I had already heard everything that she had done as soon as she came home from her trip. I was just lost in thought from my earlier encounter with Grayson.

“I’m fine.”

“Bored?” he pressed on.

I shook my head. “I was just thinking about how hard AP Lit is going to be.”

Jordan nodded in understanding.

Aside from Sydney, I would have to say Jordan came in second for my best friend. Out of everyone in our friend group, I had known Jordan the longest. We knew each other since middle school but he didn’t start hanging out with us until last year.

“Mrs. Alvarez can be a bit harsh,” he said.

“Yeah, that’s why I’m worried.”

“You’ll make it through.” He ruffled my hair.

I quickly pulled away. “Thanks,” I muttered.

“Jules, is that the guy you ran into earlier?” Sydney asked, nodding to her left.

I looked up to see Grayson walking up the path with someone. The entire time his friend was talking to him, he was staring at me. 

“Mmmh. I would love to eat him for breakfast,” Nicole says. 

I look away from him just in time to see Ivy scrunch up her nose and say, “You're gross, Niki."

“What, I just think he’s cute is all.”

Ivy rolls her eyes. “Yeah, but you don’t have to objectify him.”

“Why not? He can’t hear me.”

I listened to them bicker at one another. Keeping my head down, I was trying to avoid Grayson's gaze but it didn't matter; I felt still felt it. His stare sent chills down my back. I couldn't help myself, I looked up and our gazes lock. 

I'm pulled back to the very first moment I met him. The minutes just before Grayson arrived in time. I start to feel claustrophobic just thinking about that night. I pulled on my scarf to help me breath.

 “His friend is cute too." I hear Nicole say. 

I'm at the table with my friends once again. 

“They’re alright,” Jordan replies.

“Just alright? Look at that gorgeousness! How can you tell me that’s just alright?”

Jordan shrugs. 

“Can you guys just be quiet about it. I don’t want them coming over here,” I say, quietly. 

“Why would they come over here? Do you know one of them?” Nicole asks, excited. She's literally bouncing in her seat. 

“No. Now please be quiet.”

“Someone’s grouchy today,” Nicole quips, but she finally shuts up about it.

When I look up, Grayson and his friend have already disappeared. I breathe a sigh of relief. Sydney looks at me weirdly and I get the feeling she's going to ask me about it later when I ride home with her.

For the rest of lunch, I stay quiet. Nicole and Sydney did most of the talking while Jordan and Ivy would occasionally say something. The bell rings, signaling the end of lunch. I quickly gather all the trash, toss into the garbage bin and rush off to my next class. 

I had art right after lunch which was perfect for me. I walk into the classroom and immediately take a seat in the back. I pulled my phone out, hiding it in my lap underneath the desk. Mindlessly, i'm scrolling through social media, unaware of who was coming in and out of the classroom. 

It wasn’t until the teacher began to pass out the syllabus that I realized Grayson’s friend was in this class. He was sitting in the front, closer to the teachers desk. I silently prayed that he didn't notice me. I highly doubt Grayson mentioned me to him since he was so keen on ignoring me earlier today.

Ms. Love took roll call, each person saying a brief "here" or "present". 

And then it happened. His name was called. 

"Jensen Mitchell." 

In that moment, I realize the two are related. Cousins, maybe?

"Juliette Moreno," Ms. Love calls out. 

Jensen glances at me but then turned his attention back to the syllabus. 

"Here," I say. 

Jensen doesn't look at me again. 

Art class went faster than I expected, and the only thing left for the day was History. There was no sign of Grayson anywhere in that class and immediately I felt relieved. I don’t think I could handle him again today. 

History dragged but I survived. I didn’t have much homework since it was only the first day of school, so I only took out the two books that I actually needed.

Sydney told me she would meet me outside in the parking lot. I was riding home with her and Amy today. I made my way out the front entrance and dug around in my backpack looking for my math book. If anything, that was the most important book that I needed for my homework.

I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going so of course I ran into someone - again - making my backpack fall to the floor and a few papers fall out. Of all the people I had to run into, it was Jensen with Grayson alongside of him.

“My bad. Here let me help,” Jensen says, stooping down to pick up the scattered papers.

 “It’s okay. I got it. Thank you.”

Jensen ignores me and picks up all the papers. “You’re in my art class,” he says, handing the papers to me.

I smile. “Uh, yeah I think so.”

He smiled brightly. He was much friendlier than Grayson who just stood there, staring at us with a frown on his face.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Jensen says. 

“Yeah, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I walk past Grayson without any acknowledgement. I doubt he cared but it was nice to give him a taste of his own medicine.      

The day was long but I survived and as soon as I got home, I rewarded myself with a nap. I was planning on taking a twenty-minute nap since I still had homework to do. Both Paul and Elizabeth weren’t home which meant I was going to get to have a peaceful nap. I was out the minute my eyes fluttered closed.

At first, I dreamed of a man. His face wasn’t clear, I couldn’t make out much features but from what I could see, it was definitely a man. His image was like an abstract painting. I could see the shapes, but I couldn’t see anything clearly. He had dark brown hair and dark brown eyes from what I could make out. There was nothing else but his face until slowly the background started to turn to a dark shade of crimson. His face began to change. His eyes were the very first to change from brown to amber. Then his face took form of a wolf. He snarled at me and snapped his teeth. 

I jolted awake, panting.

What. The. Hell. 

I glance at my phone, noticing that I had only been asleep for fifteen minutes. I lay back down, close my eyes and try to fall back asleep. But it's no use. I can't get the haunting, amber colored eyes out of my head.