The campus looms in the distance, and as grumpy as I am right now, I still have to go to class, turn on my phone, and deal with whatever craziness life has in store for me this morning.
ELIZABETH
Later
My backpack feels heavierthan usual as I move quickly toward the exit.
Perhaps it’s because I’m tired.
I almost fell asleep a couple of times in class this morning.
A snack will replenish my energy before I return to campus, so I’m anxious to get out, dash to a nearby food place, and grab something to eat.
A sea of people sprawls out in front of me when I finally reach the exit, my hand latched onto my backpack.
I cut my way through them, looking down, sunk in thought, when I suddenly bump into someone, and my eyes fly up.
The man excuses himself, and then my gaze zips across the lawn. A man sits behind the wheel in a dark car and glances at me a few times.
I stop and study him.
Is this fucking Keith again?
A few moments pass before I set myself in motion and make a beeline for his car.
He seemingly talks to someone on the phone––his lips move––and looks at me with intent, appearing to wrap up his conversation.
With large strides I round the front of his car and stop by his door. The window rolls down after my firm knock.
“Liz?” he asks as if he hasn’t noticed me before. “What are you doing?”
A smile clings to his lips. His knowing grin rubs me the wrong way.
“Are you stalking me?” I shoot at him.
“What?”
He acts surprised, but I can see through his game.
“Have you been stalking me?” I raise my voice.
“What are you talking about?” he mumbles.
His unnerving smile irritates me to no end. I straighten and cross my arms over my chest.
“Why are you stalking me?”
“I am not stalking you,” he says, not losing his good disposition. “Why would I do something like that?”
I shrug.
“I don’t know. You tell me.”
He holds my gaze for a few seconds as if weighing whether to come clean and then shifts in his seat with the clear intention of getting out of his car.
I zip my hand to his door.
“Stay inside, please. I need an answer from you.”