Caitlin looked up into a man's smiling face, he had kind brown eyes and walnut colored hair. She also noticed he looked kinda young, maybe around twenty-five, and was actually kind of cute. Not that it mattered, he was way too old for her. There didn't seem to be anything about him that really stood out though, and he didn't give off any bad vibes.
She took a small step towards the truck as he gave her an even more dazzling smile. Maybe he was just lost and extremely relieved to see someone he could ask for help or something. She would hear him out, besides, you shouldn't judge someone in the first ten seconds.
"Hey sweetheart, where you headed?" He asked keeping the smile plastered on his face. She couldn't help but noticed how it made his eyes twinkle.
"Oh uhh," she hesitated, a little unsure of what she should answer, "I'm just walking home from school," she replied deciding it was a harmless enough response.
"Walking home? Why? Did you miss your bus or your parents forget to pick you up or something?"
"No, I just like to walk sometimes,"
Caitlin said, thinking it a bit odd he was asking all these questions. But maybe he was just trying to make polite conversation.
"Even in the rain?" He asked raising his eyebrows questioningly at her and pointing upwards.
"Well no, not usually in the rain. I had really thought it would hold off, but it's not a long walk anyhow," as she answered she shifted her backpack to her other shoulder, once again thinking about her poor textbooks. She cringed a little as the movement made cold raindrops slip down her neck, before disappearing under her shirt, and making their way slowly down her back. He must have noticed because he gave her a look of sympathy before continuing the conversation.
"If you want to, you can hop in my truck and I'll give you a ride the rest of the way. This rain isn't letting up, and you said it's not far right?" He offered innocently, with a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders.
"Oh that's okay I wouldn't wanna get your seats wet, but that's really nice of you."
"Honey, did you not look at my truck? A little water on my seats ain't gonna hurt a thing, I promise."
Caitlin bit her lip, glanced down the side of the truck, and back up. She once again looked at the faded and chipped red paint, busted headlight, even seeing a decent sized dent in the side. He was right, there wasn't much that could do more damage to this poor truck. Maybe getting a ride wouldn't be so bad, she definitely should've taken Megan up on her offer. Besides, she was completely soaked, and after standing here talking to him, even her shoes and socks were soaked. There was nothing that sucked more, than squishy shoes.
She shifted from foot to foot about to agree to the ride, but just as she opened her mouth to voice her agreement to him, she stopped. Caitlin considered for a moment, why he turned around in the middle of where ever he was going. Was it all just to offer her a ride? He didn't even know her, and she was sure she didn't know him. Something clicked in her head, and her mind was made up.
"That's okay, it's really not much further to my house, but thanks a bunch for offering anyway. It was really nice of you." Caitlin finally replied as she took a decent sized step away from the truck.
The man gave her a funny look before speaking again. "Come on hun, it's just a ride. I'm just trying to get you out of the rain. I'd hate for you to catch a cold and I'm sure your freezing. It's nice and warm in here with the heater going."
"No. I'm fine, really."
"Ah come on. Look I've even got a towel you can dry off with. Just let me give you a ride sweetheart."
"I've gotta be heading on home now before my parents start to worry if they're not already. They're sitting at home waiting on me," she took another big step back, getting a bit nervous at his strange insistence.
Caitlin had an idea and pulled her phone from her pocket, "Oh look, that's my mom now. Well, bye," she turned away pretending to answer her call and began walking down the road towards her house.
She heard the truck start back down the road. Then heard it slow, followed by the low squeal of brakes, and the slight crunch of gravel. Caitlin threw a look back over her shoulder and saw the truck had pulled into another driveway and was now just sitting there. After a few more nervous looks back and seeing it was still there, she picked up her pace.
Once again she heard the truck move and started to relax, until she heard it getting louder instead of quieter. The truck was definitely coming back in her direction. Her body filled with fear from the tips of her cold, soggy, toes, to the top of her dripping wet head. Then just as quickly, that fear was replaced with pure adrenaline. It shot through her body like a lightning bolt, and with it, determination consumed her. One last look over her shoulder confirmed, he was indeed following her. She hastily shoved both arms through her book bag straps and took off running.