You Can't Scare Me, I See You

Chapter 1: Michael

I remember the day we met like it was yesterday.

I was 21, he said he was 23. I was walking home in a particularly nasty snow storm, bundled up like a marshmallow against the violent oppressive, angry wind and ice whipping me into submission.

I was looking for some place to hunker down until the wind died down, and rebuking the existence of this white curse I was currently enduring, when the big black truck pulled up next to me and the window on the passenger's side slowly rolled down.

"Do you need a ride?" a deep, angelic baritone asked me from the driver's side inquired.

Normally, I would just politely refuse and go about my business. I don't care very much for strangers speaking to me, and I certainly didn't make a habit of getting into vehicles with them, but his deep blue eyes captivated me. Our eyes met across the truck and I swear I felt electricity coursing through my body. Before I fully comprehended what I was doing, I was nodding like an i***t and sitting in his truck next to him.

"What's your name?" he asked softly, like the answer meant everything to him. Those dark blue depths held me prisoner. I swore I could feel him searching my soul.

"Ummm, I'm Marissa." I mumbled as I looked down nervously, desperate for air to re-enter my lungs. "What's your name?"

"You looked like you would freeze to death out there. I couldn't just leave you there," He said in a voice that was almost reprimanding, "I'm Michael, It's lovely to meet you Marissa."

I just about swooned as he offered his hand for me to shake. I noticed dark blue patterns peeking out of the sleeve of his jacket and wondered how far up his arm they went as drool pooled in my mouth. I shook my head slightly as I put my hand in his much larger one, and he kissed it gently.

"So," he said casually, dropping my hand and running his hand through his thick, blonde curls. I watched him in complete awe. This had to be the most beautiful man in creation.

"Sooo..." I repeated back to him, swallowing the rough lump that formed in my throat awkwardly.

"Where am I dropping you off?" he asked, the right side of his perfect lips curving up into a sexy half-smile.

Having some semblance of a brain for the first time so far in this interaction, I told him to drop me off at the front gates of my apartment complex.

"So, you work at the hospital, huh?" he asked, vaguely gesturing to my scrub-pants as he steered with one hand.

"No, The nursing home a little ways down the road. I'm a nurse's assistant." I answered politely, watching as his headlights lit up the storm in front of us as he navigated the empty street. It looked like we were in a snowglobe, but one that was being violently shaken.

"That's cute," he said, "I'm a criminal defense attorney for my dad's firm, Anaharra and Son."

"Impressive." I replied, careful not to get trapped in his beauty again, "That's in the same plaza as the nursing home I work for."

"I'm surprised I haven't seen you before now," he replied while thoughtfully chewing on the fingers of one hand and driving with the other, "Do you always walk?"

"No, my car broke down about a month ago. I don't have money for a new transmission. So, I'm walking until I get it saved up."

"Oh, well that's not good," he said softly sliding his eyes to me, "A beautiful girl like you shouldn't be walking alone, especially at night. You could get abducted by some weirdo pervert or something."

A giggle broke free before I could stifle it. "I guess you have a point," in a moment of rare confidence, I turned to him, finally reestablishing eye contact and asked, "That's not happening now, is it?" doing my best to keep my tone light and teasing. It sounded flirtatious even to my own ears, especially when I c****d up my eyebrow and gave him a teasing half smile.

A little bit of color crept up into his cheeks as he laughed, still chewing on his finger nails.

"No, I'm not some weirdo abducting you." he chuckled. My God, the sound was devastatingly beautiful.

"You didn't say you weren't a pervert though." I pointe out doing my best to stifle a laugh.

"No, I didn't." He giggled, turning a little to wink at me playfully, causing my heart to almost leap from my chest and into his hands.

"There's a new burger joint on the way to your house that's pretty good. Have you tried it yet?" He asked, glancing toward me and making me blush.

"No, I haven't," I replied shyly, knowing damn well I only had about $3 in my bank account until next pay check. Is this absolute Adonnis asking me on a date or just making conversation? I wondered, almost frantically searching his face for answers.

"Well, I haven't eaten yet," He stated casually, "I was working a bit later on a case. Are you hungry too?"

"Yeah, actually i am." I replied shyly, my stomach rumbling loudly to punctuate my sentence. Ofcourse he's not f*****g asking me out. I thought bitterly, he's just hungry. "I don't have much money though, I can just eat when I get home. feel free to get yourself something though." I said, embarrassment heating my face as I tried to smile reassuringly.

"Don't worry, Marissa." He said, smiling softly at me, "I'll take care of you, Pretty girls like you don't need to buy their own dinners."

He reached across the truck to gently squeeze my hand and tenderly run his fingers over my knuckles before releasing it gently.

I stared at him in pure awe. My heart thrust into overdrive, hammering relentlessly against my chest. I couldn't speak. Between the beauty and the kindness of this angel, I was swept away. Things as wonderful as this didn't happen to girls like me.

---

He went through the drive-through, ordering us burgers, fries and milkshakes.

I'm ashamed to admit I inhaled mine in a most un-ladylike manner. I hadn't eaten all day, and I was famished.

He didn't seem to notice as we sat in his truck, the heat on, eating our food and talking like old friends. We shared our hopes, dreams, fears and insecurities. I was absolutely, irrevocably captivated by his every syllable.

Not only was he the most beautiful human I had ever laid eyes on, he was also charming, thoughtful and intelligent. It was like he was created especially for me.

He seemed to hang on to my every word and seemed equally as captivated by me. No one had ever looked at me like he did. He stared at me like I was something precious he needed to protect.

Three hours slipped by without us really noticing. WE exchanged numbers and he dropped me off at the front office of my apartment complex.

I felt like I was floating on air as I walked up the stairs of my porch. I had the biggest, dumbest grin on my face as I walked in my door and flopped down on my couch.

Skye, my white Persian menace came galloping up to me, yowling angrily. I kissed her cute kitty head as she greeted me indignantly, going to sit in front of her food-bowl.

I laughed as I stripped out of my winter gear, talking to her softly, reassuring her I would feed her in just a moment.

I filled her bowl and flopped down in my bed, yawning as I struggled to plug in my phone. I was just about to drift off when it buzzed on the night stand. It was him telling me goodnight and that he would pick me up for my next shift. I replied quickly and fell asleep with the biggest smile on my face.

And so the fairytale, that quickly became a horror story began.