Somehow his reaction made me feel accomplished even though I tried to hide the triumph that jumped on my face.
"Common, Jade. Let me take you home. I don't think it's safe for you to walk on your own."
He's probably right. I don't want to encounter that strange man again. Freakish accidents tend to happen when he's around.
A ripple of fright shuddered all over me. I hope that's not the reason why he's back.
I met James's caramel eyes and nodded, shifting my heavy backpack that slung loosely over on my shoulder.
"Do you even know where I live?" I asked.
"Don't be ridiculous, we went to the same daycare together. I practically knew you since you're still in your diapers. You're part of my very first memories."
Okay, that's too intimate. I only asked if he knew where I live, and he blurted out my whole life.
Red cheeks, I don't really want to be reminded of my diaper days. "Alright, alright. I was just making sure.
"You think I'm a jerk, don't you?" He flashed me one of his cruelly devastating grins that would have worked if I was a one of those girls attracted to him.
Dead panned. I dared not answer his question.
Him making fun of my anxiety earlier at school today still rang fresh in my mind.
"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I said earlier. I said something to break the tension in the class. People were looking at you awkward, running out of the class like a crazy girl. You don't want that kind of attention on you, Jade."
I loosened an exhale. "It's fine, I didn't hear what you said anyway."
He expelled a breath of relief.
A ginger smile caressed my lips. "Thank you for saving me ass out there. I almost got ran over."
"Yeah, that was wicked. I was calling out to you, but you seemed out of it. So, I went ahead and ran after you. People were watching and gasping as you walk down the street without looking, but no one was going to do anything about it. They were just going to watch you get hit."
He sucked a heaving breath, even his story telling skill is impressive. James sounded so excited, there's always plenty of emotions build up on how he spoke.
He's a pretty animated guy, I should say. He made it sound like a scene from a movie or something.
"What were you, thinking?" He asked.
I shrugged loosely, my thought circled back to the strange man as I remained hypnotized by him, drawn to him for some unknown reason.
"It's hard to explain. I thought I saw someone standing on the side of the road. I guess, I was trying to get to him."
"Who?"
"I don't know. I don't know his name, I've only seen him once before."
"Oh, I see." Murmured James with presumption and I dared not reasoned to change his mind or tell him more.