| Hailey Pickett |

A huge wave washed over us!

I tried to breath and ended up having a mouth full of salty water! The coughing turned into wheezing and I had completely neglected the body attached to me!

Or  was i the one attached to him?

My face was squished against a hard chest and my legs were entangled with his—i could hear the him taking lungful of breaths.

And then realization hit me.

I was plastered to a stranger.

As he shocked me, I tried to pull back. .peel my body off of his. But his arms didn't let me budge.

"Let go!" I rasped , my hands clawed at his arms.

I could feel water everywhere! Under my clothes! Under my skin! Everywhere!

I couldn't see his face clearly or else I would have punched his face for touching me.

"Let me go!"

And then when I was contemplating a sucker punch, his deep voice burned my ears.

"Who wants to hold on to you, anyways." He managed to splutter in my ear , instantly letting me go. Leaving me all bare to the ruthless cold wind.

Now that did it.

So much for saving lives!

While I laid there like a seal, he got up in one fluid motion. I watched him pulling down his hand over his face, droplets of water hit my face as he gelled back his hair—taking deep breaths. His t-shirt was like a second skin as it pronounced his lean body. And all I could think was. .

No thank you.

No looking my way.

Nothing.

Instead, he gave me his back and went on to walk his merry way.

Angry and embarrassed, I scrambled on to my feet quite unlady like and went after him. My hands clenched in to fists, I tried not to let his tall frame bother me.

Even though I was walking fast, I still couldn't reach him. He was always there steps away!

I sped up.

And his shoulders bunched up under the wet shirt. So he knew I was following him but he was ignoring me deliberately! The anger in me sizzled , not making me take notice of the cold.

"What do you want?" His curt voice suddenly slashed the air and it definitely was somewhat familiar.

"What the—stop right there!!" I yelled suddenly.

Forcing him to stop.

"I freaking saved your butt, asshole! The least you can do is be thankful—"

He turned around at me, the yellow lights hit his face and the rest of the speech died under my tongue.

I widened my eyes.

Ian, the murderer!

I couldn't see his face clearly at school but now I could. The eyebrows were dark and arched , a narrow nose and thin lips. The pale skin luminous under the sudden lightning—

The both of us talked at the same time.

"You. . .," I breathed.

Ian kept looking at me coolly. "Not you again."

I prided myself as being a calm and collected girl but sometimes my mom's genes, she's a southern Californian woman, kicks in when I'm dealing with assholes like this one.

I batted my eyes.

"I'm sorry for not being the. .  reaper!"

I took a dig at his failed attempt.

Ian didn't react.

"Also even if you drowned or got crushed under a train, the world won't ever give a damn. Not now. Not ever. Judging from your clothes , you look well off . . .," I trailed off , "life keeps going with you or without you."

He simply watched me nearing a melt down, having a melt down session.

"What do you know about life?" He said in a cold detached manner.

"I'm here saving your life. That should tell you enough."

He gave a close mouthed smile.

"Just so you know, I wasn't trying to take my life ." He shrugged carelessly.

"I didn't ask." I grumbled , shivering slightly as the wind caught up speed. I was wet and the wind was getting colder each minute and a hot mysterious guy , who may or may not be a murderer, was standing within few feet away from me. Not to mention, I was dead embarrassed for acting like a mad woman.

Who runs after stranger?

Oh yeah. This girl did!

"I was simply enjoying the weather until you came barreling in."

"I did not—,"

"I really don't have time for this." He said suddenly while crossing his arms to protect himself from the biting wind.

I narrowed my eyes.

Ian turned around giving me his back. Again. Why did he always keep giving me his back?

"I can drop you off . You might die of pneumonia on your way back anyways." His voice was getting distant from me with each step he took.

I did some ground calculations.

My top was wet.

My pants were too.

I was about to chatter my teeth from cold and I couldn't just walk back to my home looking like a train wreck and he was right.

I could die from penuomonia.

I glanced at his figure.  . walking away. Going far and off. His tall frame looked small and I had the strange urge to stop him.

It might have been because of my vulnerable state.

"Wait up!"

He didn't wait of course.

Grinding my teeth, I got ready to pounce on him again.

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He flipped his cellphone on.

And then he switched on the flashlight of it while I watched him warily. He was a stranger after all with strange rumors following him around. My eyes were leveling him again. . .Ian was busy getting out his car keys from his pocket. The white light would hit his face , illuminating his face. .elongating his lashes.

The sound of a click snapped me back into reality.

His car , a polished Porsche , was parked nearby so we didn't have to walk much.

I muttered a quick thanks when he opened the door for me and after uttering a prayer to the heavens, I slipped in. . seeing him walk towards the driver's seat.

That made me so freaking nervous for some reason.

I looked away when he slipped inside and I had the impression he was going to drop me off or something but—

"Hold it." He offered his cell to me , it's flash still on.

Confused, I nodded and took his cell.

And then he—he started to peel off his shirt from his body! The cellphone in my hand nearly dropped off!

"What's wrong with you!" My voice was a middle of a yell and a whimper. It came out raspy.

He took it off.

All off!

Revealing his toned body.

Toned and lean with the right cuts—

"I'm trying to change is all." He said softly and he turned around—the cell in my hand trembled as his chest came into full view—his hand moving around the backseat till I heard the rustle of a fabric.

"Relax. I'm not going to do anything you're thinking."

"What-what am i thinking?" I couldn't help but blurt out.

He stopped , leaving the whatever on the backseat alone. His face turned at me , green eyes brightening under the flashlight.

"Is there something you want me to do?" He asked in a low voice , cutting off my oxygen supply.

I had zero experience in the flirt  department, I was a sad noob.

My eyes were peeled opened, I was sure he could see the red blotches on my face as he leaned forward slowly.  . So slowly that I wanted to rush towards him.

And then he snipped the moment.

His eyes went up and down my face,

"You're beautiful but the blue of your eyes. .it reminds me of hell."

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