"Let me drop you to your camp class today?" Eliot requests in the sweetest voice that he could muster up over the phone.

"You would have to travel in a totally opposite direction just to pick me up. Eliot, why do you want to come all the way back just to pick me up?" I respond, in the hopes to not sound that bitchy while rejecting him.

Who was I kidding though, I still needed a ride. It was better to ride behind him on his motorcycle than travelling in any public transport, which was full of touchy and sweaty people. Additionally, the bus stop nearest to me was about a kilometre away. Even if I do walk and then catch a bus, I had to change to catch another one to reach my destination, as there were no routes that lead to reach that place directly. Then to change the bus, I had to walk between two different stops, for about another half kilometre. So basically, by public transport, it took 20 minutes to reach a place that was literally just 5 minutes away via private transport.

"It's okay, I don't mind leaving 10 minutes ago just to pick you up."

This guy was sometimes too sweet, and hence making me feel guilty to have any doubts in regard to him.

"Okay, then. Fine. Pick me up in half an hour then. Let's grab a bite at McD, that is just across from my centre during the time, till the time my class commences."

"So, like a date?"

I chuckle at his question and then respond ambiguously, "we'll see about that".

He can be really adorable at times. I just do not get the right vibes from him, for some reason. I do not know if that makes sense or not, but I just do not. Maybe I am too paranoid, considering how particular my mother is about letting anyone into your walls easily.

I put my phone down and rush towards the bathroom to have a quick shower, put on my clothes, comb my hair and just leave.

I have never really been much of a makeup creature, whatsoever. The only products I was proficient in applying were mascara, eye-liner, concealer and maybe blusher.

I preferred the "You look really good today" compliment on the days I put on makeup, versus "Are you sick?" comment on the days that I did not.

I rush towards my phone on the bed after I hear my ringtone blast with Miley Cyrus singing, "We clawed, we chained our hearts in vain. We jumped, never asking why..." it is almost certainly Eliot calling to inform me that he is outside, waiting for me.

I check myself out the last time in my bedroom mirror. My naturally straight-shoulder length hair are neatly made up in a high ponytail. I am donning a tight white full-sleeved plain top on my bony structure, highlighting my almost absent 30B-boobs. I am literally tired of looking for clothes since adolescence, which displayed my curves well. I have always been that skinny kid in school, who looks like a 13 year old boy.

I run out of my house with my bag of books and lock the door behind me, while my phone still vibrates in the back pocket of my pair of black jeggings.

Oh, God! I ain't that late. Dude's gotta chill, man.

I walk out of my lane and see him standing across the street, with the helmet in his left hand while setting his jet-black curly hair in the rear-view mirror, while sitting on his motorcycle. He is wearing a black leather jacket which is literally glowing beneath the morning sun. I laugh quietly at his attempt at that 'cool biker look' while covering my mouth.

He notices me through the corner of his eye and turns his head towards me as he watches me approach him, all while putting on his helmet back again.

I give him a casual side hug as I greet him with a "Hi" and wave and climb up on the passenger seat on the bike. The motorcycle wobbles a little while he balances it on his feet to let me get on it.

I can feel my ponytail flying behind me, trying to escape my scalp with the inertia and the cool wind. They are probably getting tangled back there and it would take about an hour to get them right again but fuck it. My hands are grasping the back-support handle tightly, mainly because I do not want to hold onto his torso.

I have always enjoyed two-wheeler rides on the passenger seat, with the wind in my hair and speed so fast that it feels as if I would just slip back from my seat from the moving vehicle on the road. The way this little vehicle cuts the air to make its way through is mind boggling.

As we reach the McD across the street from the institution, he tilts his motorcycle to a thirty-degree angle to let me off without having to jump off in my tight jeggings and ripping them apart. He parks it in the lane beside others and we walk towards the entry gate of McDonalds, and the mannequin of Ronald McDonald, sitting on the bench just outside the gate, with his arms open, invitingly, almost looking like a pervert.

I never noticed till now, how creepy this overly famous mascot clown of a huge multinational fast-food chain looks. I do not really have a phobia of clowns or something, but have we all not seen it, or him, whatever. And somehow, kids adore this white painted man, who looks like those men from the 80s band, Kiss.

Eliot proceeds to go to the clown on the bench and sits on his lap.

"Hey! Are you happy to see me?" He asks the clown while turning towards to face while still sitting on his lap.

"Look he is so happy. Look at his smile" he points at the clown's face to show, while he himself cannot stop laughing at his own joke.

"What are you doing?" I ask him while I giggle, covering my mouth again.

"What am I feeling below me? Um... Whoa whoa whoa broo! We're getting a little TOO ahead of ourselves here!" he says to the lifeless mannequin as he gets up from the lap.

I guffaw out loud this time, hitting his arm as I say "You're a clown yourself. Let us go in now, am in dire need of a juicy bite."

"If you need a juicy bite that urgent, well, here I am. All yours. Have at it." He smirks at me, as he opens his arms.

"Eww! Tacky line," as I laugh out loud again.

The mall was pretty empty this early in the morning. We both stand in the small line to wait for our turn, there were just two people before us.

"What is this?" I point at the fresh flesh wound on his elbow when he takes off his jacket after we walk inside the mall.

"Oh yeah, I was teaching Laura, the one from our old class, to ride my motorcycle. I was sitting behind her, holding the handle from behind. I took my hands back for a second so she could ride on her own, and ladies and gentlemen she hits a pole," my mouth opens up in shock as he continues, "Don't worry, the speed wasn't very high. We were going at about 5 kms per hour. She doesn't know how to accelerate yet. She hurt her knee a little and I hurt my elbow."

"Wow! Well, it looks like someone enjoyed their time in spite of the minor accident, huh. I didn't know you offered girls tuitions."

He looks at me with a smirk "Wow! Well, it looks like someone is jealous. Should I stop giving tuitions?"

"Hey, am not jealous. There is this guy in my camp classes, Sawyer. Justin must have told you about him probably. And damn, he is so cute. At first, I thought he was dating someone. But then we talked alone in the class after everyone was gone. That chick everyone kept teasing him with was just a girl he was friends with. He is soooooooo dreamy!" I catch myself exhilarating and blabbering, thinking about that conversation.

"Ooh! Someone's got a huge crush. Hmm. Show me his Instagram profile then. Let me see this McDreamy man myself," says Eliot while raising his McEggie.

"Okay, wait. And I don't have a crush on him, it's just... aaaghh. You'll see," I respond while taking out my good old, yellow coloured Nokia... umm Microsoft Lumia to show Eliot the profile.

@sawyer_laurent

"Earth and me are friends since 18 years B)
Whatever is good for ur soul do that
Be careful, not to harm
Be more cautious not to take any shit ..!!"

He has a private account and I am not following him, yet. I did not have the courage to send him a follow request the very day I meet him. I am not a stalker, of course.

We can till see his display picture, which has the area of about an inch, inside a small circle. It is a side cut of him, with sunglasses on, with a warm Retrica filter, making him look peach coloured.

"He is kind of hot, though. Not gonna lie. His Instagram bio though... umm" Eliot says with my phone in his hands.

He looks at me suggestively with squinty eyes and pursed lips, trying to control his laughter.

"He is going for engineering branch in college, okay. Philosophy ain't really his shit. So, let it go!" I let out a chuckle as I hit push his boney structure again.

"Hey, I didn't say anything. But why are you defending him so much, huh?"

"Cause..." trying to think of a witty reply, that obviously is not something I am good at under pressure, "cause... I don't know. Shut up."

"Ha, am just kidding hon. By the way, some time is still left for your class to start. Let's take a walk inside the mall," he said while putting his arm around my shoulder and practically walking me towards the main mall area with his burger.

"Okay fine, just for a while though," I said as I tighten my muscles up again at his touch.

I start feeling very uncomfortable to walk in a completely empty mall with his skeleton arm around my shoulder, pulling me in each time I try to make some distance. He was strong for a guy of his stature.

He starts walking us to the dark emergency stairs in the corner of the mall. He opens the door and gestures me to come.

"We need to use the stairs as the elevators are not working this early in the morning," he says, while still holding the door that leads to the stairs. "Shall we?"

The stairs area is pretty dimly lit. My heart starts pounding, but I can trust him. Can't I? I know him since Primary School. He was the guy who did not even talk to women much. He has not even had his first kiss. He is literally that guy who quotes and references movies as a basis for much of his conversations. How harmful can someone like that be?

I pass the door slowly, while Eliot also enters and closes the door behind him. I start climbing up the stairs as soon as I step inside the door. He catches my pace and stands in front of me, blocking my way.

"No one's here." He whispers extending his face towards mine, matter-of-factly.

"I can see that," I say, trying to sound confident, regardless of how scared I was.

"I want to kiss you at this moment," he says with entitlement in his voice.

"Ah, I am not very sure about that. I don't know if I want the same right now. Let us talk about this later." I start to walk back.

"I NEED TO KISS you right now. If I don't, I will lose my mind," He demands, still standing there, now emphasising his voice.

I continue to keep my distance slowly inch away towards the exit.

"If you don't kiss me, I will come to your house. I still have our chats," this time, I turn around to look at him.

My heart was pounding like I had just run a mile, my breathing starts to increase, my adrenaline kicks in, the hair on my body stand up. I can officially say that he has now managed to scare me. I do not know what to do.

Just one kiss, right? He will let me go. He will not show the chats to my parents.

Those chats were not something I was very proud of. I had accidentally, in a time of weakness sexted with him about a month ago. I had a fight with my parents regarding college majors, and I had just stopped crying. He had listened to me and consoled me at that time on WhatsApp just before those sexy talks. I regretted doing that just moments after it was done. I did not expect this to bite me in the ass just after a month.

Though luckily enough, no photographs were exchanged, but the chats were enough to disappoint my parents, ruin my reputation in the area and in front of my school friends.

JUST ONE KISS? He will let me go, right? Things would remain a secret with just this one transaction, then fuck it. Close your eyes, and just do it Nikita.

I close my eyes and things went pitch dark. I am trying not to feel anything. I numb myself, then do it, and rush out of the same door that we entered through.

I have set in mind to keep running till I reach my class. My head starts feeling dizzy, my eyes starting to flood up, things are starting to get blurry. But I have to run. I am not safe till I am in the class. My legs keep catching the pace in an auto-pilot mode till I reach the girls' washroom stall inside the camp building in heavy breaths. My anxiety and asthma started working together to have me panting and catching for breath. My vision starts getting blurred and doubled up, whilst tears start trickling down my cheeks.

It was just a kiss, some might say. But at this very moment, I feel helpless, hopeless. I am scared, I feel that I could not save myself. I am feeling violated. Someone made me do something against my will, and I could not do anything about it. I was feeling weak.

I wipe my tears off and wash my face because I was just in time for my class.

I am supposed to act from the moment this door opens. Act like everything is fine.