Just a Glance

"No, ooo, ooo," I screamed out.

My eyelids flung open. My eyes scanned around.

I was in my room. My heart thudded in my ears.

I placed my hand on it. It was just a dream.

I quickly sat up and looked at my fingers.

It was just an almost real dream.

I sniffed the air, smelt of sweat.

I took in a deep breath and exhaled.

My eyes bulged as the room door flung open.

My gaze fell on Emile first, then my mom.

"Are you alright?" they asked, almost at the same time.

I swallowed hard and nodded my head.

"I'm... fine." I struggled to respond. My bed creaked as they both sat beside me.

"You screamed out of your sleep and now you are sweating this much and still you say you are fine." Emile questioned.

I twisted my fingers together.

"I'm fine, Emile." I responded again.

"It was just a dream." I uttered.

"Emile." Mom called out.

"Yes, mother." Emile replied.

"Can you just excuse us for a minute." Mom said.

"Sure, mother." Emile replied and stood up from the bed.

"I would be in my room preparing for campus." she voiced out before walking out of the room.

My brows drew together. Campus? So early?

I shifted my gaze at the wall clock.

My breath hitched. 6:03am. My window curtains and the white led light didn’t make me realize it was already morning.

"You look unsettled so early, Clara. This is not about the dream." Mother said, bringing me out of my thoughts.

"I have a test, mother. By 7:49am." I voiced out.

She shrugged. "There’s still enough time for you to prepare." she said.

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

"That’s by the way; Emile told me about your mood yesterday. What happened?" she asked, her voice smooth and softened.

I shut my eyelids and snapped it open almost immediately.

"Nothing, mother. I just chose to be that way." I responded.

"You are hiding something from me, Clara." she said.

I blinked my eyelids repeatedly.

"No, mother. I just chose to be." I repeated.

"Alright then, get up and get ready for campus so you don’t miss your test, darling." Mother said, her face flashed a warm smile.

"Alright mum." I said, forcing a smile.

The dream kept replaying in my head as mother rode us to campus.

Emile sat beside mother while I sat at the back seat.

James’s dangerous words couldn’t just leave my mind.

I wished I hadn’t gotten angry over Ethan’s words.

I wished I hadn’t said those words to James Hunter.

I jerked as I suddenly felt a tap on my lap.

I raised my head. It was Emile.

"Time to leave." She said, her lips curled up to a smile.

I exhaled, clutched my handbag and hopped out of my mother’s car.

I flung the handbag over my shoulder after shutting the door of the car.

"Bye. Bye." Emile said, waving her hand.

"Bye." I said, waving back at her.

"Have a nice day, sweetie." Mother said.

"I will, mother." I replied, forcing a smile for the second time.

My gaze stuck to the car until I couldn’t see it again.

I took in a quick breath before walking into the campus gate.

My gaze ran around. There was no sign of him or his gang.

Just normal students going on with their lives.

My head ticked as screams and shouts suddenly erupted.

I needed no one to tell me it was James Hunter.

He was the only one that attracted screams from most students.

"He’s here!" "His car is always next!" One of the lady walking past me uttered.

Another lady gasped. "Ooh my God, he’s so handsome, I wish he belonged to me." She said, desire glowing all over her face.

"You can’t even own him girl. Only a strong and hard hearted lady like me could take him, girl." Another lady said.

I scoffed. What sort of ladies were this?

I have heard enough of this. I covered my ears with my hands and began walking towards the hallway.

"I wasn't going to look back." I muttered to myself.

My hands hurt. I dropped it for a minute.

"Wait, he’s wearing the shoe." One guy said, his eyes widened.

My brows drew together. What's so special about a shoe.

"Just a glance." I muttered to myself.

I looked back but I was damn unlucky.

My gaze met with his eyes. It bored a hole into mine and his cheeks curled up to that smile.

The same style of smile in the dream. I quickly looked away.

My heart sank. He was haunting me!

My phone beeped. I opened my handbag, brought the phone out and it put on the screen.

"Shit!" I voiced out. The time ticked, 7:40am already and I still hadn't found the group I was for the Chemistry test.

My legs ached as I hurried towards the hallway, daring not to look back again.

Time sped and I was finally done with the test.

"Clara."

My ears rang at Ivy's voice.

I turned. Ivy was walking toward me fast.

"How was your test?" she asked.

"Fine?" I responded.

"Ethan said he wants to join us while going home today." She mouthed.

My stomach twisted.

"No." The word came out sharp.

Ivy frowned. "No?"

"I'm going home alone." I said. "I have work to do." I said.

I walked away before Ivy could talk.

The sun was hot. My hand bag felt slack.

And my eyes kept checking for black cars.

My heart skipped a beat immediately my gaze landed on a familiar car.

Parked by the roadside. Engine off. Tinted windows.

My legs froze. The driver's door opened with a click.

I was right! James Hunter stepped out, in black.

He wasn't with his gang of guys this time.

Leaning against the door, arms crossed.

His jaw was tight and his eyes... his eyes were fixed on his phone.

My throat went dry.

I forced myself to walk past him. Head high. "Don't look." I muttered to myself.

"Hiya." He said, his voice sharp like that of the dream.

My throat bobbed as I continued walking.

"Can we talk for a minute?" He voiced out.

I stopped. My heart hammered.

But I still didn't turn around.

"Never seen a girl as brave as you." He voiced out.