We sat in the car as it heated up. I never sat on heated leather seats before, but I liked it. The only thing missing was a massager. I glanced up at Connor as he fiddled with knobs. My eyes were trained on his incredible lips as he lifted the coffee cup to them.

"Are you alright, Elysse?"

"Huh?"

"Are you okay?"

I could feel my cheeks burning. "I'm fine."

I looked down at the ground and shut my eyes. Shit. I could feel his eyes on me. It felt like he was staring into my soul. Oh my God.

"Alright. If you say so."

He pulled out of the lot and onto the snow covered street. A few buses sat at the stops waiting for non-existent people. He whipped his car around the narrow streets until the highway stretched out in front of us. Snow didn't seem to bother him at all. I held onto the door handle watching as the skyscrapers quickly disappeared behind us. It was definitely faster than taking a lumbering bus.

"Snow tires?" I asked nervously.

"Had them put on last week," he said, stepping on the accelerator to beat a yellow light.

"Great," I said, tightening my seat belt.

"I've never wrecked," he smiled broadly at me.

"There's always a first for everything."

He threw his head back against the headrest and laughed. He turned his head toward me and smiled.

"Eyes on the road maybe?"

"Why?"

"I don't know because you're driving?" I said, gripping the arm rest.

"Don't need to see where you've already been."

"Oh Connor, just pay attention!"

"Have fun, Elysse!"

"When it's not a blizzard I will!"

"It's a little bit of snow, not a blizzard."

"You are one crazy man, Connor."

"You have no idea, Elysse."

The silhouette of the mall came into view beyond the bare trees. His sleek, black BMW swung into the nearly empty parking lot. My Volvo sat at the end of the lot; lonely and snow covered.

"Well, Connor, thank you for the ride," I said my shaking fingers releasing the seat belt.

"It was no problem, Elysse." He smiled his burning gaze smoldering into my own.

The sound of my name rolling off his tongue sounded like heaven. I felt my heart speed up a bit, my cheeks flushed again, and my poor stomach started to flip. I tried pulling my hand away but he just tightened his grip.

"I'm glad you got the internship," he said.

"Th-thanks." I smiled.

He released my hand after a few seconds and left me sitting there dazed. I shakily reached out for the door handle and fumbled to pull on it.

"Do you need help?" he asked running his fingers through his hair.

No, but I would love to get my fingers in that hair of yours!

"No, I'm fine." I wrapped my sweaty hand around the handle a second time, and succeeded at opening the door.

I dug through my purse clumsily cursing myself for having absolutely no game with guys. I clicked the automatic unlocker and plopped into my driver's seat. I let my head hit the steering wheel and started the ignition. I jumped at the sound of a honking horn and looked up. Connor's car sat parallel to mine. He motioned with his hand for me to put my window down.

"What? Did I forget something?" I asked.

"Do you have a cell phone?"

"I'm sorry, what?" I asked again.

"A cell phone, do you have one?" Connor asked.

"Yes, of course."

"Let me see it." He held out his hand.

I arched my eyebrows at him in confusion.

"Just let me see your phone. I promise I'm not going to do anything to it."

"Okay." I handed him the phone through the windows.

He took it and quickly typed something onto the keypad and handed it back.

"My number. If you ever want to talk or anything call me." He winked and drove off.

I sat there in stunned silence. I wasn't sure what to think or do. Did that really just happen?

I quickly scrolled through my contacts and found his name right there.

Connor Guy. What a name. What a guy.

While staring at the number it dawned on me that he did not have my number.

ME: Connor, since I have your number

You should have mine. See you tomorrow.

I hit send and tossed the phone onto the passenger seat. As I put the car into gear, about to pull out of the lot, my ringtone started going off. My first thought jumped to Connor, but why would he be calling me?

I scrambled for the phone and checked the caller I.D. Anna.

Geez.

"Hi Anna."

"How did it go?" the excited voice on the other end asked.

"It was fine," I said.

"Just fine?" she inquired.

"Yeah, just fine."

"Fine enough to get the position?"

"What are you? My mom? Yeah, I got it."

I pulled the phone away as her high pitched squeal came through.

"So are there any cute boys?"

"Come on, Anna, I'm not doing this to find a guy. It's educational."

"Oh, so there is."

"No."

"Yes."

"No." I repeated.

"Yes."

"Maybe."

"I knew it! Is he hot?"

"I guess. I don't know," I muttered. "I'll call you back. I'm driving right now."

Before she could say anything else I ended the call. The thought of Connor distracted me enough on my drive home I didn't need Anna beating my ear off.

Everybody always wondered how we became and stayed best friends. Our personalities were so vastly different, but we seemed to mesh well. Her fiery personality and bluntness amazed me. She always had a witty come back and never took shit from anybody. Me on the other hand, well timid fit a lot better. I hated confrontation and being in the spotlight. Maybe that was why we got along so well. I didn't steal her attention.

I heard my phone beep and knew she was upset. Nobody hung up on Anna. I smiled; she always seemed to get mad at me over such small things.

Anna: Elysse, you asshole.

You have blue tooth through

That car of yours. Call me.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the screen.

Me: Dearest Anna,

Later.

I tossed the phone on my passenger seat and buckled the seat belt. Griping the steering wheel tightly I closed my eyes when it started beeping.

"Anna," I muttered to myself.

I picked it up and glanced at the screen.

I new message from

Connor Guy

My heart nearly stopped. I quickly swiped my finger across the screen. I bit my lip as I opened the chat bubble.

Connor: I look forward to seeing you tomorrow. Do you like caramel?

Me: I can hardly contain my excitement. I love caramel. Why?

Connor: Good. No reason. See you in the am.

My smiled to myself and tossed my phone on the seat again. The day had turned out more like a fairy tale.

My house was dark and desolate. Mom had forgotten to turn on the porch light for me again.

"Mom?"

"Office," came a muffled response.

I looked down the small hallway and saw soft light sneaking out from under the office door.

"I'm home mom," I said, opening the door.

"I see," she said with her nose buried in a newspaper.

"No book tonight?" I asked.

"After I read this. Apparently the police found some junkie dead in the middle of downtown this morning."

"Really?" I didn't remember seeing any police hovered around when I went to my interview.

"Yeah, they said it's the third attack in two weeks."

"Wow. That's really scary." I turned and headed toward the kitchen. "I'm eating and going to bed."

"What's really funny," mom continued as I was leaving, "everyone who had been attacked was wearing some sort of red hooded jacket or sweater."

I stopped while walking out the door and remembered the junkie on the bus this morning.

I wonder if it was her.