Chapter Three

Claire Her chest felt as if it would explode any minute. The look on Axel's face, the way his masculine jaw went slack—everything about talking back to him made Claire's heart race. She couldn’t let this boy dictate her life any longer. Even if standing up to him made her legs wobble. Claire made her way toward the coffee shop, since her class let out early, to grab a coffee before heading back for her Psychology 101 class. "Hey! Quiet Girl! Wait up!" Claire stopped and glanced over her shoulder at Cat running toward her, waving her hand in the air like a lunatic. She stopped, placed her palm on Claire's shoulder, and bent down to catch her breath. "Whew," she said, brushing back her hair. "That was … amazing! I totally pegged you wrong. One wrong look and you snap. So, tell me you know Mr. Super Hottie back there." Claire smirked but continued toward the coffee shop, holding the straps of her bags against her shoulders. "Oh, I know him. We went to school together, and he is a jackass. Don't waste your time." Cat snorted. "Totally not my type. I meant for you. The way he looked at you when you snapped at him. I thought he'd rip your clothes off right then and there." Claire stopped and glared at her. "Axel doesn't like me, Cat. He bullied me all through high school. I would never stoop that low." Cat smirked. "I think he begs to differ. He totally wants you. I could sense it in that heated glare he gave you." Claire didn't argue with her because Cat had no idea the torment he put her though. The mean things he said, the way he chastised everything she did in class. "Anyway, where are we going?" she asked. "I'm heading to the coffee shop to grab a coffee, and then to get ready for my psychology class. What about you?" "Going to the coffee shop with you. We're gonna be friends." Claire didn't dare argue because she needed friends. It was a welcome change for her. The coffee shop was located inside their library and had small bistro type tables sat around huge glass windows. It felt very adultish and made Claire excited to be there. They bought a couple of coffees, and Claire noticed a Help Wanted sign in the window. She grabbed it and walked back to the counter. The guy behind it sighed in relief when she slid it across the counter. "Are you still hiring?" He grabbed an application from underneath the register and gestured toward it. "Fill this out. The manager will be in later and will call you to schedule an interview, but we definitely need more help around here. Plus, you get a discount on coffee." Who could deny discounted coffee? Claire walked over to the bistro table and filled it out while Cat played on her phone. Claire handed it back to the barista, and they both walked back toward the arts building. "What's your major?" Cat asked, slurping the last bit of whipped cream from her coffee. Claire shrugged. "Not really sure yet. I've never really known what I want to do. I always feel out of place." Cat nodded. "It's only taken me two years to figure out. So don't rush. That's what college is for. You're here to figure out your future." Claire liked the idea of taking classes until she found one she liked. No rush. No time limit. It sounded too good to be true. They made it back to the building, and Cat stood on the sidewalk. "I don't have a class until tomorrow. Give me your phone so I can put in my number. We need to grab dinner at the dining hall together." They exchanged numbers, and Claire turned to start up the stairs when she bumped into someone, sending her back onto her butt and palms. "Crap. I'm so sorry. Let me help you." Claire took the hand of the stranger staring down at her, his big brown eyes kind, and his smile lopsided. His blondish hair was short on the sides and longer on the top, making his jawline crisp and sharp. He pulled her up effortlessly, while picking up her backpack and handing it to her. "Are you okay?" he asked. Claire dusted off her pants. "I'm fine. Good thing I finished my coffee back at the shop, or that would have been an embarrassing stain." He smirked. "I'm Tegan." "Claire." "Nice to meet you, Claire. Are you a freshman?' She chuckled. "How'd you know?" He shrugged, running his hands into his hair. "I just haven't seen you around before. I'm on my third year." "You're almost finished. On the homestretch." Tegan smiled, his dark eyes watching Claire until she squirmed uncomfortably. "I better get going—" she said, taking one-step up. "Wait," he said, digging something out of his pocket. He pulled out a pen and scribbled down something. "Here's my number. There is a party tomorrow night, and everyone is invited. Text me, and I'll give you the address." Claire felt giddy at being invited to a party by a guy. She'd spent most of high school ostracized because Axel ruled the popularity meter at their school. Because he didn't like her, no one else did either. But not now. He didn't know these people, and he couldn’t manipulate them. Claire had a chance of having friends and fitting in somewhere. "Sure thing. I'll give you a text." Tegan jogged off toward the sidewalk while Claire stared down at the card, catching the feeling that someone was watching her. She shoved it into her jeans pocket and glanced over to her right. Axel stood yards from her, staring a hole into the side of her head. Even from the distance, he looked like a Greek God, and she hated it—she hated him. What was up with his sudden stalkerish behavior? He had the nerve to speak to her as if he hadn't tormented her for the last four years. Ballsy, he was. Claire turned around, ignoring that he never moved from his spot, and walked into the building. Good riddance, Axel Davers. Your bullying no longer has a hold on Claire Summers. *** Claire made it through her first day of classes without sinking and walked toward the coffee shop to introduce herself to the manager. She hadn't called yet, but Claire wanted to make a good impression. The line had dwindled in the afternoon, but a few students sat around the tables studying and chatting over late afternoon coffee. A short woman with a stylish black bob and an apron stood behind the counter. The wrinkles around her eyes told Claire she was older than she looked. "What can I get you?" she asked. Claire glanced down at her nametag. "Hi, Sydney. I'm Claire Summers. I came by this morning and filled out an application. I'm interested in working here." Sydney reached over to a stack of papers and pulled out Claire's sheet. She glanced at Claire and then back at the paper. "You're hired." Claire laughed. "Seriously?" "Yeah," she said, wiping her hands on the black apron around her waist. "You're the only one out of the twenty that have applied to come by and introduce themselves. You filled out everything and gave me your schedule on the back. Come by tomorrow morning before your ten am class, and I'll show you the ropes. Your first shift will be tomorrow afternoon." Claire held in her squeal and stuck her hand out for her to shake it. "Thank you so much! I swear you won't regret it." Sydney smirked. "I know I won’t. See you tomorrow." Claire nearly skipped to her car in the parking lot. Other than her high school bully showing up and ruining the day, she felt on top of the world. She couldn't wait to call her dad and tell him the news. She pulled out of the parking lot and sped toward her apartment a mile away from campus. The sun sat lower in the distance over the slew of trees on each side of the road. Claire didn't get creeped out easily, but something felt off in the pit of her stomach. She only had a few seconds to go, so she gripped her palms around the steering wheel and kept forward. That's when she noticed something on the side of the road. Claire's gaze traveled toward the blur of black, and the speed it gave off rivaled a cheetah, but she couldn’t make out much more. The shadow of the trees covered it enough that she couldn’t make out exactly what it was, only that it darted into the tree line and disappeared from her sight as quick as it had arrived. Claire swallowed the lump growing in her throat, and she nervously chuckled at herself. Shadows always played with her mind. Ever since she was little and would run around in their yard. She always felt like someone watched her when she was younger. Now those shadows of her childhood merely danced in the setting sun, and Claire's imagination toyed with her. Claire was too old to believe in monsters. Those days ended a long time ago.