Page 13 of Voices

I make a detour to grab some food first. When I get to the table, Matt is smiling like a loon.

“What the hell are you smiling about?” I ask as I sit down.

“Oh, I was just watching the train wreck of you scaring the shit out of that guy.”

“I didn’t scare him. He didn’t want to talk is all.”

I peek over my shoulder to look at him, but it’s only Noah and Lily at the table now.

Did I scare him?

Shaking my head, I bring my attention back and dig into my food.

“All I’m saying is he looked like you were going to bite his head off or something. I could see his eyes bug out from here.”

“Shut up, Matt,” Ryder says as he steals a roll from my plate.

Asshole.

He thankfully listens, and we finish our lunch with small talk about our upcoming home opener.

Thirty minutes later, Matt heads to his class while Ryder and I head to the gym. I need to run this weird feeling off.

“Was he actually scared or just shocked?” Ryder asks as we walk to the center of the campus where the student athletic Fitness Center is located.

“I’m not really sure, Ry. He looked a bit shocked at first but when I gave him his book, he sort of curled in on himself.”

He doesn’t say anything as we walk to the side entrance. Entering the building, we’re quiet as we turn into the locker room. We quickly swap our jeans and tees for basketball shorts and tanks. In the cardio area, we spot Benji already running on a treadmill. We nod at him as we get on our own treadmills and start a light jog.

“Do you think he’s just shy and didn’t know what to say,” Ryder finally asks.

“I mean, I guess, but he flinched when my arm barely brushed his hoodie. It was like I zapped him or something.”

He shrugs and ups the speed while I’m still trying to wrap my head around what happened.

Nobody has ever reacted like that towards me. I’m friends with half the school and get along with everyone I meet. So why is he so scared of me?

Letting out a defeated breath, I pick up speed to a fast-paced run until my mind quiets and all I can focus on is my breathing.

Chapter Five

Charlie

As soon as the guy turns away from our table, I’m gone. I didn’t even say bye to Lily and Noah. Just grabbed my bag and bolted.

I’m back in my townhouse trying not to have a heart attack. Pacing back and forth, my brain is racing, and I can’t catch my breath.

Why did he have my sketchbook?

Did he look through it?

Did he rip out any of the pages?

Does he like my drawings?

He touched me!

He was so close I could smell his bodywash.

---