Diner Girl

Chapter 3

I was late. I missed the bus and I forgot my umbrella. I was in such a hurry to get ready that I forgot that it was raining outside and I didn't have the time to return to my room to get it. What a day I chose to ignore my alarm. I pulled my hoody over my head and continued making my way down the sidewalk towards the College. Something in the back my mind told me to look over my shoulder, but it was too late as a car drove through a puddle of water next to the sidewalk and I was right in the middle of it.

I was soaked from head to toe, my hoody was completely wet, it was almost worthless to keep on wearing it. "You asshole!!" I yelled at the driver not that it helped anyway. I then noticed a Mercedes G-wagon pulling up to the sidewalk, I was even more surprised when the driver rolled down their window. Duncan?

"Need a ride?" He asked. Any other day I would've rejected his offer, but not today. I made my way around the car, opened the door and got into the passenger side. "You okay?" He asked putting the car in gear and driving off. "I'm fine, just wet and cold." I replied pulling the sun visor down so I could look at my reflection in the mirror. I drew my fingers through my wet locks of light brown hair.

My body tensed when he reached over on touched my arm while he kept his eyes on the road. "You are freezing." He then reached over and turned up the heater. "That stupid asshole did it on purpose." I mumbled shutting the visor and then reached for the end of my hoody and pulled it off over my head. My body shivered at the sudden cold. I decided to wear a t-shirt underneath my hoody. I dropped the jacket on the floor and tried to dry my shirt with the heat of the heater.

"I've got an extra jacket in the back." He said motioning towards his sports bag resting on the backseat. "I'm fine. I got an extra jacket in my locker." I told him. "Zoey, you are freezing and your lips are turning a shade of blue." On instinct, I touched my lips. I then looked at him as he started to take off his white signature jacket. He always wore this jacket whenever it was cold or when we have rainy weather. "Here." He said holding the jacket out to me.

I struggled to peel my eyes away from his muscular arm as he held out the jacket to me. He too decided to wear only a shirt underneath his jacket and the shirt was straining against his upper arm and chest. I accepted his jacket from him and noticed at the same time his huge expensive black watch on his wrist.

I finally got my eyes back on the road as I slipped on his jacket. It was still warm when I put it on. I hummed in ecstasy. "Feeling better?" He asked. "Much." I replied. I never knew that a man can smell this good, his cologne wasn't strong and overpowering that it was suffocating me. It was smooth but spicy, a good spicy.

I almost thought I caught him smiling as the side of his lips twitched, but I was wrong. "Why were you walking?" He asked. "I missed the bus." I answered. His reply was a nod. "You don't stay on Campus?" I asked. "No." His answer was short and almost hostile like he didn't want to talk about it. I kept my mouth shut and looked out the window until we arrived at the College. He found parking close to the entrance, but by now it stopped raining. "Thanks for the ride." I told him unzipping the jacket to hand it back to him but he held up his hand. "Keep it for today. You need it more than I do." I wanted to object but he was already out of the car.

I decided to get out as well and then noticed how big the jacket was for me. The sleeves ran past my hands, the end was hanging just underneath my butt. I almost looked like a child in this thing. Was Duncan really that big and tall to me? I started to make my way towards the entrance when I heard him calling my name. I turned and found him dressed in another jacket, his football jacket (they got when they enrolled) and he was carrying books underneath his arm.

"There is still time to kill, let me buy you a coffee." He insisted. My mind was still looking for an answer when he suddenly pulled me along with him. I then found my feet and followed him towards the cafeteria. I stood next to him as he ordered two large coffees, my eyes were focused on their freshly baked Bagels filled with ham and cheese. I almost thought I was drooling when I heard him ask for two bagels. I looked at him who was paying for our food and drinks. I was reaching for my wallet to pay him back when he stopped me. "You can pay for next time." He said handing me a coffee and a bagel.

"If you are doing this because you feel obligated or sorry for me, don't. I can take care of myself and if it is about yesterday..." He stopped me from talking. "It's just a friendly gesture not because I pity you." He said before walking away making me feel like a total ass. I silently thanked him for the coffee and bagel before I started to make my way towards my class.

As I neared my seat I noticed that I had a visitor. The guy looked up and smiled at me. "Morning, Zoey." He greeted. He was the guy from last night. "You know my name but I don't know yours." I told him. "It's Xander." He answered with a sincere smile. He was completely the opposite of Duncan. You always caught him smiling not like Duncan who kept his smile hidden. Sometimes I wonder what it would take to make him smile.

"Don't you already have a seat?" I decided to sit down next to him. "Yeah I do and I'm basically done with the girls who decided to sit behind me and don't know when to stop asking me out." He said making me smile. I unwrapped my bagel and took a bite from it. "From when does a guy complain by having a girl ask him out?" I asked before taking another bite.

"That's Freddie's style, not mine." He answered. I thought he was going to say, Duncan. Because he was one hell of a chick magnet. I can try to deny it, but Duncan was everything but a pretty boy. He was rugged and handsome. Chisseled jaw, full lips that were always turned up in a scowl, dark deep eyes and then his medium short hair pushed back not only made him irresistible but mysterious.

My tummy turned at the thought of me being attracted to him. He looked like trouble and smelled like heartbreak. Good-looking men not only don't know how to commit, but they always have more than one girl. And I wasn't up for that.