“Um, thank you,” I managed with a quiver to my voice.

Did that really just happen?

I could still feel the grip of fingers wrapping around my ankle but, leaning over, of course nothing was there. I felt baffled, disoriented really, and I tried to turn my thoughts away from the very real fact that I could have just been killed.

“Did you see…?” I started to ask, but the rest of my words stuck in my throat.

He looked at me closely. From the concerned look plastered across his face I couldn’t be sure. “Did I see what?”

Suddenly, I couldn’t remember and then I realized Garreth was asking me something.

“Um, nothing,” I answered.

“I was hoping to see you at lunch but I had to fill out a ton of forms in the office.”

I stared back at him, not saying anything in response, realizing I probably looked dumbfounded. Again.

“How’s tomorrow?” he asked.

“Tomorrow?”

“For lunch?”

“Weren’t you just talking to Brynn?” I looked across the parking lot where the two of them had been just minutes ago but she was nowhere to be seen.

Garreth paused. “For a moment.” The disappointment I projected must have been easy to read because he leaned closer. “I think she’s extremely ostentatious, how about you?”

I was beginning to realize that when I looked into his eyes I had trouble concentrating.

“Do you like ostentatious girls?” I asked hesitantly.

He smiled. “Not one bit. May I give you a ride home?”

My eyes detected Claire at Ryan’s car across the parking lot. “Um, thanks, but I sort of need to take the bus today.” After almost falling into their path, it would be a struggle to take one home. I found myself nearly taking him up on his offer, but I couldn’t, no matter how inviting it was. “My mom’s expecting me at the bus stop.”