My head suddenly filled with air. This is getting deep for a first-time confrontation. This isn't even my field of study, Nikki was always 'the one' who could spot all nightly-not-of-human-qualities.

Where is that extirpating girl whenever I need her? Do I have to get a 'peen' to remotely grab her attention?

Standing up; grabbing my books; I quickened my next statement. "Well...Blayke... I should be heading home... long day I have tomorrow." This was totally lied.

Standing up to meet me. He was tall, of course, compared to me - just about everyone had a lengthier torso.

Oh, this is getting trickier by the ever-loving minute. Back away - Back away now. His lips perfect in pursing shape. Whoa! Get this under control. Ugh devil! I wanted to suck them dry.

"Alright, Danni..." his voice sounding of velvety goodness.

Ugh, don't say my name like that. I think he was doing it on purpose.

"I will see you next week and hope that you make it." he smiled as he began to start his walk down - Hades... look at that arse!

I popped a hand to snap myself back. Cranking my neck (a nervous tick I had come to know well) while taken an exaggerated breath; I began down the stairs to reach the bottom as well.

I wanted to walk over to him - there was something inside of me that was screaming; kind of like I needed desperately to be near him or something. But, along with that corrupted voice, came another siren blaring perilous chants. And that last voice, was the one I acknowledged at all costs. It's kept me alive this long.

Shuffling things on the desktop; gathering of his papers; he placed them into his brown messenger bag. Turning his head slightly, catching me inspecting every slick move he effortlessly made.

A crooked and wicked smirk turned up; along with a split-second splash of creamy laced irises before returning to a natural brown! Instantly I knew... he knew... I had found him out!

So, what does any ole girl do when she wants to ease tactfully away from potential harm? She smiles; waves, mouths 'bye,' all the while, walking backwardly and cautiously out the nearest door.

He made no effort in ensuing a chase - which I gave no time to achieve.

Galloping along the empty hallway, quickening the pace with every step of fear, I was to feel stained cement floor, at any given moment.

With air needing an escaped from my heavy chest. I suppressed the other emotion rising, wanting to spill down my fair cheeks, but, I incessantly uninvited it. I stopped in place - the worst resolution to do, when evading a predator.

With an ear rolling over every possibility of sound that could be made, I was aware that no one else was in the building. I was alone. Weird for a school, even for a nigh class.

Suddenly, night class made more sense - well, that's the fudge on my overbaked cupcake.

Freezing in place as my ears perked to hear the creaking of a door, somewhere... behind me... down the hall - but, with several doors on either side of the long hallway, there was no pin-pointing it.

I peeked-a-booed over my left shoulder towards this unsettling clamor. Sighing in relief to have nothing there, nor anyone staring me down.

"Okaayyee... a bit spooky, now..." I murmured hoping to not stir up anyone with ferocity that might be lurking about. Involuntarily my eyes closed to ease the panic attack bubbling under the skin.

"Dan-ni-ty..." suddenly ping-ponged through on the walls.

Eyes flared bright in heated concern. Holy sheats-za! Why is it always at night when things like this happen? Mouth forming a wordless gap.

Oohkay! Must. Be. Going. Now! I flipped a hasty u-ey; viciously speeding legs to an unrealistic gitty-up and practically breaking the wooden doors as I speared through them.

"Alright, I see home! Get there quick as possible!" heavily guffawing as I found myself running.

"Where-are-you-running-off-to?" The disembodied voice had followed, just off my heels. Forcing myself to stop; nailing me to the grass. Why is it when you get scared, you just stop wherever you're at? Even if that is in the middle of the courtyard; of a really blackened night; right before you can get to the safety of your home?

"I vant. Ta suk. Ya blud." hysterical laughter braiding through the thick air; completely startling the crappers out of me; perhaps a little pee?

"You're so easy!" finally said in morphing to a natural and familiar voice.

"Nikki! I swear to Hades! I am going to... kick... your... fuc..." catching a breath in a chortle. "... that's so... not... funny!" I gasped swirling around to meet her smile.

"I saw you and Mista, what is it... Blayke? - getting a little friendly up in the class." Berating hard, as if I had committed the crime of the century.

"So." I shrugged.

"So? What about Riley? Or have you thrown him to the wolves so, that creep-ella can get him some of you?" her hands making there - oh, no you didn't - appearance.

I gathered back some resemblance of myself; after apprehending how I had been left to my own devices.

"Hey! If you had stayed with me, and not had your hand firmly gripped about Ben's tad-pole... you would've realized I was standing face to face with a 'potential.'

She gulfed back a snicker. "Dannity, I think I would've known if 'Blayke' was of any threat."

Purging in horror at her lack of faith in my judgment.

"Are you kidding me? I retorted. "He has night resident written all over his seemingly perfect face!"

Nik shook her head unconvinced. I pondered a moment. Was I mistaken? How else do you explain the uncharacteristic traits that had appeared while within his presence? NO! I WAS RIGHT! My instincts screamed that I was! But I can't convince a stone to be flower. I wasn't going to be capable of changing her own diagnostic opinion. Besides, she'd had more experience than I. I'll just have to find more out for myself. Perhaps then I may be taken seriously.

"Fine... I caved.' ... you're right..." (Lying comes so naturally, it's exceptionally frightening) "...I suppose he was just attempting to be nice." I added, shrugging to complete the fib.

"Uh, no-no." She began. She must have bought the treachery that had left my lips. "... Nice is helping an elderly woman cross the street... Nice, is donating money to charity... That nice, was more, "I want to throw your scorching body across the desk, and make affectionate, and illegal love to you," her hips still portraying a threatening mode.

"Oh, please..." Her supposition made me want to puke, repeatedly. "...get over it." I said turning for the apartment. "... And for the record, Riley and I aren't anything. He's just some guy who got lucky enough to kiss me." I snorted at my own self.

"Oh... my Aphrodite, you gotta thing for him...Blayke...don't you?" she said catching up to me. I giggled out loud deliberately.

"I think you've banged the head-board a little too hard last time with Ben." That was an utter insult if I ever heard one.

"Danni, you best watch it with them older guys. Southern charmers are the worst... He might be cute and all, but he's probably got a little more experience than you do... when it comes to the "love" thing, and ya don't want to be his next conquest."

Trying to be supportive was a little conquest of her own as well. "He's like, maybe, two... three years older than us? Yea, he's ancient." How did she come to that resolve? Look at him! Scumbag is his middle initial, along with the surname, night sucker.

Yes, Nik and I both had our own romances with 'darker' type guys. At least that's what she had confided to me as I... myself, had been still scrubbing my last resilient liaison. It's an exhausting chore to keep that hurt buried down in some deep, locked box inside. Fling the key... Danni! Fling it!

Eyes plastered to the ground, as we walked along the cement path; the wind having no intention of submission; I shielded the attempted past-flash.

"I'll be fine, Nik." that was better than the other arguments I was trying to win with her in my head.

"Alright... if you insist; but if he hurts you boo... he's got to deal with my Shiva-goddess arse." We both smiled at her remark.

"Ok... so, now suddenly you're practicing Hinduism?" I said with a gut-laugh.

"Na... I'm just saying his world will be one hell of a playground for me to ravage in." busting out her great laugh; causing me to launch into my humiliating, snort-like laugh. You know the one where you can't control the sounds that come out.

At least... when trouble is concerned, I have an astounding friend to look after me. Hades knows... I need someone to.

We eventually walked up the two short levels ofbricked stairs to the apartment building. She led the way in, as I quicklyglanced back and went in after