Page 114 of Steeling Her
“Nick!” I hear someone call my name, and I stop in my tracks to see who it is. I’m greeted with the sight of Maya and her minions in a tight crop top showing off her stomach. The blonde-haired girl who I don’t miss; not a single bit. The girl who made Carter miserable and unhappy for so long.
I don’t want anything to do with her, I’ve had enough of the shit she’s pulled on Carter. She’s nothing but your typical bully.
“Stay away from me, Maya.” I reprimand her and continue to my destination. She’s not stopping me from going on this date, not if I have anything to do with it. Carter is the girl I want, not her.
“Can’t we just talk for a moment, baby?” she asks seductively but I’m in no mood for this shit. She knows it, too, because she has to yank me back to her by my arm because I keep walking away from her. She’s making me late for this date—my date. “You’re looking so good, Nick . . .” She licks her lips while her eyes undress me. She looks so desperate.
“I know.” I turn back around and walk away once more with the flowers in my grasp, but she stops me again.
“Who are they for?” she asks while her finger points to the bunch of white flowers in my hold. I smile down at them, remembering the time I visited her in the hospital and she told me that they were her favorite. I looked up the nearest floral shop in the area and drove for an hour there and an hour back for the freshest, most beautiful bunch there was. It was pricey but definitely worth it.
“They’re for my date.” The look of horror on her face sends the smile already on my face even bigger. Oh, that look alone is making me relish in rubbing it even more. She’s not the girl who I’ve chosen to take out on my first date.
“Date?” The shrill cry of her voice meets the surrounding area, gaining people’s attention, and that’s my cue to leave. “Are you fucking kidding me, Nick! Her! You’re taking her on a fucking date! NO!” I spin back to face her, curious as to why she said no. It’s not even her choice. This has nothing to do with her.
“No?” I ask.
“NO! That’s mine! They’re mine too! All of this is mine! MINE! She doesn’t deserve this, any of this! Your first date was supposed to be with me, Nick! Me, not her!” She starts to cry, but I know they’re crocodile tears because there’s an audience crowding around us.
I know this is all for show. This is all just too tiring for me right now, I’m really not interested with her dramatics. I shrug and keep walking, not listening to the wails and screams coming from Maya. I continue into the building to find my date for the evening. I walk over to the elevator to see a sign saying “Out of order,” so I take the stairs, brushing past some awestruck girls in the process. No matter how many times they see me, they still react the same.
I finally reach the fourth floor and see her door in my view. I take another breath to relieve my pounding heart. I fix my hair as I start my way down to get her. I’m so excited to see her right now.
I wonder what she’s wearing?
I guess I’ll find out in a moment.
I knock on the door and pull my shoulders back to make myself look bigger. I wait for it to open and hear a few curses through the door.That doesn’t sound like her voice, I think to myself. Seeing as nobody wants to open the door for me, I knock again and start to pace around the floor outside.
I’m sweating again and it’s really bothering me right now. I need a portable air conditioner right this instant. Just as I turn my back, the door opens and I turn on my heel to face the person who finally decided to let me see her.
“Wow . . .” I gasp at the sight of her.Jesus Christ, she looks amazing. Black skinny jeans and an off-the-shoulder blue pinstripe top with a pair of heels. “Wow . . .” I repeat myself after I’m done ogling her. How’d I get so lucky?
I smile at her and she does the same back to me.
Flowers, give her the flowers, Nick.
I hold the flowers in front of her and she beams at the sight of them, quickly taking them from me. “They’re beautiful, Nick, thank you.” She inhales their sweet scent, and I watch her enjoy that little moment. “My favorite ones too,” she says coyly. Danielle takes them from her with a wink my way and says she’ll put them in a vase in Carter’s room. I watch them exchange looks and Carter goes bright red, blushing like she does when there’s any kind of attention on her.
“You ready?” She nods, waving everyone off as we leave out the door together, walking side my side down towards the commotion in the lobby. It’s peak time for people to head back to their dorms for food, then night life begins.
“You look really pretty,” I compliment her and watch her face heat up and bite down on her lip. I have to look away whenever she does that, it’s too enticing for me to not press her lips against mine. I want to bite down on her lip and make her moan. I want to hear my name leave those lips.
I want to make her want more from me, to take her breath away, and I can’t wait for that moment. That moment where we can share each other’s bodies.
“Thank you. You look really handsome.” She’s always been so shy. That’s what I like most about her; the aura of innocence she exudes, that always has me under her spell. She’s so sweet, so kind, and so caring. From the first day I met her, she’s always been like this.
“Thank you,” I reply as we step down the stairs. I take hold of her hand while she holds onto the rails with the other one. Once she’s safely down the steps, I don’t let go of her hand and neither does she with mine. In fact, her grip tightens around my fingers.
Girls are surrounding the area in groups and cliques; much like high school, but a little bigger. As soon as we make it into their view, the place goes silent. I know it’s making Carter uneasy because her grip tightens even more around my fingers. I make eye contact with a few of them. Their eyes are darting back and forth between me and her, wondering what we’re doing.
I can feel her tense more and more as we make our way towards the double doors. I let go of her hand and place my arm around her shoulders. “It’s alright, I’ve got you, little one,” I tease her with the name I’ve given her.
Those baby-blue doe eyes reach mine when she looks up from under my arm. She cuddles into my body with a small smile on her lips. I push the door open for us, and we see Maya still hanging around.
“Oh no.” Carter sighs beside me. I pull her closer to me as I glare at Maya, warning her to not come near us. She takes it and glares right back, watching Carter like a hawk ready to swoop in for the kill. I open the door for her and help her in, staying by her side once she’s in the passenger seat.
“Look at me, don’t worry about her, or anyone. Tonight’s about you and me, alright? We’re going to have a good night together. I’ve been looking forward to this since the day I asked you out,” I confess to ease her back into focusing on us and tonight. She’s tense, I can see it. Seeing everyone staring at her makes her wonder why they’re staring at her. I know it does.
