I'm still unsure about the title, but it'll be hard to really decide on one until we get into the story...Hope you like it!
Nutty
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"Can I help you?" I spat, spinning around to face my follower. I was walking home after drama class, and in November the sun set so early it was already dark. I peered into the darkness, looking for a moving shadow, a flicker of light, something to give away the creep who decided to follow me home. I stood there, clutching my bag to my chest. I knew there was someone there. I had heard footsteps, and I had felt breath on my neck. I squinted into the shadowy street for another moment before continuing my walk.
My legs, feeling a bit wobbly in the knees, involuntarily lengthened their strides, until I felt like I was doing lunges. I stopped at a light, waiting for the walk signal to flash. Standing there, a streetlight shining down on my head, I felt naked. Naked and cold, and suddenly afraid. I pushed the button. I pushed the button again. Still, the light didn't change. "C'mon, c'mon," I muttered, repeatedly slamming my fist over the damned button. I heard a footfall behind me. I held my breath, my hand frozen over the button. Slowly, I turned my head so I could see over my shoulder. I saw a pair of tennis shoes, ratty jeans, an over sized hoodie, and short silver hair hanging in front of a shadowed face. I shuddered, not wanting to be around such a tall, mysterious, intimidating figure. I turned and walked down a side street. There was more than one way to get to my two room apartment. More than one way to get home.
I smiled, thinking about how my mother used to call small things "cozy", when me and Cody just called them "cramped" or "tight" or "uncomfortable". I had never appreciated my mother's optimism while she was sill alive, and I know regretted not giving in to her good moods and joining in on her laughter. My smile faltered,and I felt my eyes start to tear up. It's just the wind. It's just the wind. I blinked my eyes furiously and wiped my nose on the sleeve of my sweatshirt. It needed washing anyway. I turned a corner and nearly ran into someone, muttering an hasty apology while skirting around their tall frame. "Hey," a deep, creamy, warm, concerned voice said. I could almost hear it reciting Shakespeare passionately, hear it singing songs as loudly as it could, hear it whispering love into some one's hair.
I shook myself out of my dreams as he grabbed my elbow, his hands cold but gentle. "Are you ok?" He asked, and now I could see his eyes. Not his face, not the strong jaw I knew was there, or the straight nose, or the soft mouth. I stared at his eyes, trying to keep my thought under control. He had light grey eyes, like the sky after it snowed. His eyes crinkled in a smile. "Thanks," he said, his voice light now. I jumped slightly. Had I really said that out loud? Had I really done something so stupid and unaware as to actually get lost in my own head?
I wrenched my arm from his icy fingers and shoved past him, determined not to see him ever again. "Sorry?" he called after me uncertainty as I stormed down the sidewalk. I would not be distracted by some ridiculous man on the street when I had school to worry about. With drama, photography, writing, my friends and my band, I didn't have time for anything else. And even if I did, it's not like I needed yet another thing squeezing time out of my already busy life.
I laughed at what you said about my hook, how she was spitting XD However, the whole "clutching" thing is kind of what I was going for. Like, she was tense and a bit scared, and that word seemed to work best for what I had in my head. And thank you all again for the compliments, this is the first thing I've written in a while.
