“It’s okay,” she called back through the door, “I think I’m just going to get some more sleep, ‘kay?”
“Where’s my keys?” he asked.
“You’re leaving?” Clarissa asked and sat up in bed.
“Yeah, I have to be at class in a few hours and I still have to type a paper,” Skull said.
“Wanna use my laptop?” Clarissa asked.
“No, I’m okay now, I’ll see you later, all right?” he called out.
“Goodnight,” Clarissa frowned into her pillow, “Your keys are under the sofa,”
“Night, Bookworm,” he said and paused, “Thank you.”
“Not a problem,” Clarissa answered, although she wasn’t sure if she were telling the truth or not.
Clarissa wasn’t sure how she felt. She was too tired to think about it, but her mind wouldn’t shut up. She had witnessed Skull beating the crap out of
some guy in the alley way and tonight he had admitted to being in a fight again, but yet she still wanted him around. She had wanted to ask him to stay longer, to crawl into bed with her just so she could feel his strong arms around her and listen to his heartbeat as they drifted off to sleep. Once she heard Skull’s bike pull out of the parking lot Clarissa went to lock the door before returning to her bed alone.
Chapter Six
Clarissa locked the door to the coffee shop and pushed nine on her speed dial. It rang twice before her phone dropped the call.
“Damn it!” she swore.
Clarissa wasn’t sure if it was the funky weather or if her phone was dying. She silently prayed it wasn’t her phone, because if it kicked the bucket she couldn’t afford a new one. After making a mental note to herself to stop by her provider’s store, she tried again.
“Good Evening, where to?” the dispatcher answered.
“Yes, I need to go to...” Clarissa began, but her the words became caught in the back of her throat when she heard a motorcycle in the distance. She wasn’t an expert on the sounds individual motorcycles made, but Clarissa instinctively knew it was Skull. She ended the call and reached for the shop key, because the night before she had made up her mind that she was done with Skull. She had to be. He was going to drag her into his world and everything she was dreaming of would dissolve.
The bike pulled up to the curb and stopped. Clarissa swallowed hard and took a deep breath.
“At least he’s wearing his helmet,” she thought to herself.
“Hey, Bookworm,” Skull grinned, “Wanna a ride home?”
“No thanks, I’m fine,” Clarissa said, taking a step back.
Skull arched a brow and cut the engine, “Everything okay?”
“Yea, everything’s fine,” Clarissa lied, “Just waiting on my taxi. I already called them and all.”
“Well, call them back and say you changed your mind,” Skull chuckled.
“That would be rude,” Clarissa said, looking down at her feet.
“They’re probably used to it,” Skull said.
“Just because the rest of the world is rude doesn’t mean I have to be as well,” Clarissa said and crossed her arms.
“You know being nice defeats the purpose if it only makes you miserable,” Skull laughed.
“So you’re saying I’m too nice?” she asked.
“Yea,” Skull nodded.