Cryin' // Aerosmith

The lines won't stop.

"Do I know you? 'Cause you look a lot like my next girlfriend."

I freaking feel sorry for his last girlfriend, which was likely his hand and his reflection in the mirror.

The creep won't leave me alone. I've ignored him for the past five minutes, standing in line to order, but he hasn't gotten the hint. He's tried three different lines on me so far, all of them as dumb as he must be. I haven't turned around, shrugged my shoulders or mumbled a single reply. But he won't.give.up.

"There must be something wrong with my eyes, I can't take them off you."

There's something wrong with him all right.

The first line about my phone number almost made me laugh because it caught me off guard. I always have my guard up but today is a different story. I'm hardly myself. Regardless I successfully held it together thinking that would be that. No reaction, not even a glance, and he would back off, right?

Wrong.

"Is it hot in here or is it just you?"

What is with him? Hasn't he ever heard of the #metoo movement? Sexual harassment is not cool. Although, he's really just making a fool of himself, not exactly harassing me, other than the fact that he won't stop dropping the lines. The guy hasn't discussed any body parts in his come ons so I have to give him that, at least. His voice is deep, smooth, just a little hum in his words. I want to turn around and glare at him, make him nervous enough to stop, but with how over the top he's acting I'm getting the idea that my glaring would just egg him on instead of scare him off. Plus there's a sick part of me that wants to hear what else he might come up with.

I shift my weight to one hip and tilt my head. Its universal body language telling him I'm not interested, but alas the boy is just too clueless to get the hint.

"Are you free tonight or will it cost me?"

That's the one that does it, curiosity completely killed, causing me to turn around and gah-lare at him with every ounce of pissed off I've got. I use all of the anger I brought into the place, thanks to the a-holes in my life, and aim it right at him. My mouth is twisted to the side, the words swirling on my tongue ready to launch right at him.

But then I look into his eyes. He's struck me silent.

I do a quick body check: mouth shut tight, eyelids narrowed, nostrils flaring, arms crossed...all good there. Nothing outwardly points to what's happening internally. Because holy hell. Who is this guy? Tall, at least six feet, scruffy disheveled locks bouncing on top of his head that some girls might think need a cut but I am imagining plunging my fingers into. He's got barbeque sauce on one corner of his mouth and a swatch of grease on the opposite cheek. But those eyes...

Oh my God those eyes...

My control is slipping and I fear that a whimper is eminent. Not an option. I let my mind wander back to just a half hour ago, school, all the assholes and rumors they were spreading like honey for flies. I feel the deep dark reserves of anger, hate, rise back to the surface and let it take over.

Not today, Satan. I won't be tempted by beautiful eyes and left with a broken heart. That is some other idiot's fate, not mine. Let this guy ruin someone else's life.

I let the edge soften the smallest touch. It's the lioness lying in wait, preparing to pounce. But I am once again successful in lulling the poor sap into a false sense of security. I know it the instant his lip curls on one side and the scar/dimple on the other side of his mouth makes an appearance.

It's disarming, that grin. I will my panties to stay dry because just.no.

"What's your name?" I purr the words, the lioness ready to make her appearance.

The guy clears his throat and says, "Nico," sounding like a pre-pubescent boy.

"Next!"

Before I can say a word, I'm up to order. I ask for my usual; fries and a large coke. I'm given the paper cup and turn to go fill it up, thinking I'm done playing with my snack.

Oh, haha. Snack. This guy really is quite a snack. But I'll still eat him alive and spit out the bones.

My drink is full. My fries are up, so I turn to leave. But I run smack into the snack who apparently never bothered to order.

I raise an eyebrow, daring him to try again.

"Sorry, but you owe me a drink."

The eyebrows are both at my hairline. "Why?"

"Because when I looked at you, I dropped mine."

Hmmm...

I nod my head, glance down at my full cup of coke then dump the entire thing over his head.

The room hits pause. All patrons are on mute with eyes on the two of us. This makes my blood boil because I did that. Eyes on me is not acceptable, so I shake my head at the guy with the honey eyes and sticky everything else before marching right out of there. Swinging my keys on one finger like the entire scene was perfectly fine with me I don't even pause a step when I hear one more line from the guy who doesn't take a hint.

"You don't need keys to drive me crazy."

Can this shitty day get any shittier?

Pulling my car out of the lot of the grease burger joint on the other side of town, I sincerely hope not. I needed salt and sugar in the form of fries and soda to get over this crap. And the fact that I dumped my cup of joy on that douche bag's head just pisses me off more. I should have just walked away. Why can't I ever just walk away without making a scene? I'm just not that kind of girl, I guess, the kind who swallows her feelings and then tries to drink them away.

If I was that other kind of girl I might be getting wasted right about now. My mom would kick my ass out if she smelled a thing, not that I would underage drink. It's not worth the calories. Not my poison of choice.

Fries and coke, on the other hand...I'll gladly add the fat to my backside. Diets are overrated anyway. Kale just doesn't give me the feels like fries.

I nosh on a few while I give up and drive home. There is no escaping what's waiting for me there, anyway. I might as well get the horror over with. Pleading my case won't work. My mom works too hard to let me throw away what we have, the little that it is.

I'm not eighteen yet, so I can't drop out of school for another year without her consent. But the second I can, I am so out of this hell-hole, the town can choke on my jet black exhaust.

Yeah, I really need to see a guy about that shit.

here we go... I know these first two parts were just quick glimpses of Nico and April at their first meet up, so I wanted to get this one out a little early! How many of you recognized this part from the epilogue of More Than This?! The chapters will increase in length as the story progresses.

Next update will be Friday! April is up first for part two.

April doesn't cry, (I love the vibe in this Aerosmith song) but she was close just before meeting Nico. Maybe he saved her sanity after all...

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