The Love of My Bully

Part of her wondered if he was stalking her. That couldn’t be possible. Two people who hated each other didn’t suddenly find a reason to be everywhere that other person was. Even when she hung out with Sean at the park, or went walking in the woods, Drake was there, either alone or with friends. The same at her new workplace. She’d gotten a brand-new job at the mall in a clothing store. It wasn’t the most ideal place to work, but she didn’t mind serving customers and stocking shelves. Every now and then a customer would ask her opinion on an item and she hated that. Fashion wasn’t her forte but she did her best. That was all she did throughout her life, her best.

So by the second week of being completely aware of Drake, she’d had enough. Finishing off her burger, she threw the leftovers of her shake in the trash as she was full and stormed over to his table at the food court.

“What the hell is your problem?” she asked.

“My problem?” He leaned back in his chair, looking like he owned the place. Knowing her luck, he probably did. His parents owned most of the town and it was why he got away with everything, which only served to piss her off.

“Why are you always around?”

“I hate to break it to you, sweetheart, I live here.”

“You live in the mall?”

He chuckled. “You know I don’t. You’ve seen my house, you know where I live.”

“Why are you here?” she asked. There was no way he was going to get smart with her. She would’ve noticed him a lot sooner than now if he was always hanging around with her. That wasn’t the case! She wasn’t imagining this. Drake appeared every-freaking-where, and she was done with it.

He looked around. “Last time I checked, this is a free country. I can sit and eat lunch wherever I want.”

“And you just happen to pick one of the spots near where I work.”

“Well, well, well, Pru. I’d say you were becoming a little … paranoid.”

“Cut the crap, Drake. You and I both know that we rarely see each other during the summer.”

“So you noticed that?”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m not doing this with you.” She was about to walk away but he grabbed her arm, stopping her from moving.

“Don’t go.”

“Let go of my arm or I’ll scream.”

“Scream and you’ll notify the cops. They kind of know who I am and it won’t end well for you.”

“For me, even though I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“All the security cameras around will see you approaching me. I’m just an innocent stranger.”

She scoffed. “Innocent? There’s nothing innocent about you.”

“Yet, as I sit here minding my own business, you’re the one who has come to interrupt my peace and tranquility.”

She stared at him. He looked so smug as if he had won this round, and he had. “You knew I’d come here.”

“I knew you couldn’t resist confrontation.”

“You haven’t gotten your kicks out of me this year. What? You hate how I’ve let everything go? Is that it?”

He smiled. “If I don’t bother you, why are you here?”

Glaring at him, she wanted to walk away, but instead, she found herself sitting down, opposite him.

“Well, well, well, do you want to dabble in the dark, Pru? Is that what this is about?”

She didn’t say anything, watching him instead. She tried to read what his intentions were and yet, she came up with nothing. There was no way to understand what he was doing and she was just wasting time. “I’ve got to go.”

“Then go.”

She stood up but his words made her sit back down again.

He laughed. “Always so undecided.”

“I don’t get you.”

“What’s there to get?” He sat up. “Am I so confusing to you?”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“You’re infuriating.”

She stood up.

“You know, I’m going to be spending a lot more time around town.”

She looked at him, waiting for him to elaborate. Again, he refused.

She lowered herself down into her seat. She had time.

“You certainly know when to be a good girl, don’t you?” he asked.

“Get to the point.”

“I think you’re becoming obsessed with me.”

She burst out laughing. “That’s what you think this is? You think this is obsession?”

“You don’t think it is?”

“No, I know it’s not obsession.”

“You’ve thought about our kisses?”

Prudence looked at his lips and hated herself for being so weak. “No.”

“I had no idea you could be a little liar.”

“I don’t think about your kisses or about anything when it comes to you. Leave me alone, Drake. I don’t like you stalking me.” She got up out of her seat and without looking back, made her way back to work. She tried to ignore everything he’d said and what he believed. She didn’t have a crush on him, not even a tiny one.

The kiss they shared—it meant nothing because it wasn’t a real kiss. Not to her, at least. He’d put her in a position where she’d had no choice but to kiss him. It didn’t matter to her if it was her first or last kiss she ever shared. It wasn’t exactly memorable.