With every step that I took towards the parking lot, I could feel my heart beating faster. A lump formed in my throat as I continued walking slowly. I could see her by my car with her cropped blonde hair and green eyes. Lacy Shurvolt. She was the most popular girl back then but I thought I'd never have to see her again after graduating High School. I thought that was all behind me.

'Hey, Ginger Girl, maybe you should dye your hair so someone will actually think you're cute someday?"

I squeezed my eyes shut at the memory of her shrill voice in my head. I clutched my books tighter to my chest as I opened my eyes again and saw her jump up and sit on the hood of my car, staring me down with a vindictive smirk on her lips.

She must have transferred here this semester because I haven't seen her since graduation day.

"I thought this was your car, Ginger Girl." Her voice sent my heart speeding into the start of a panic attack. My lip quivered as my fear took a strong hold of me. I squeezed my eyes shut again and clutched my books even tighter.

"Still don't have a voice, huh?" She giggled at her own joke as I opened my eyes only to look down at the ground, avoiding her gaze, and trying to get my breathing under control.

"Why don't you come with me to a party! Some of our old friends are in town and I'm sure they would LOVE to see you!" She said in an amused tone. I glanced up to see that smirk still planted perfectly on her face. She always did enjoy watching me squirm. I felt my breathing pick up again. I knew I would start hyperventilating soon. I shut my eyes again and shook my head at her. I tried walking past her to get to the door of my car but she caught my upper arm in her hand and yanked me toward her.

"Oh, come now, Ginger! I know you don't have any plans and I just transferred here, don't you want to catch up?" She asked, tightening her grip on my arm. If she clutched it any harder, it would leave a bruise.

"Why not? I'm sure everyone would LOVE to see how much you've changed...or rather not changed at all. I noticed you never did sue your hair to a nicer color, did you?" She added while her smirk deepened. When I didn't respond, she continued.

"You should really try blonde, or even a mouse grey would look better than that hideous red you've got going on. I always did try to give you advice but you just never listened, did you?" I looked away from her trying to take my body away from her as much as I could with her holding so tightly to my arm.

"Uhg, come on, let's go, Ginger!" She pulled my arm harder, trying to pull me away from my car.

No, no, no! Not again!

I felt the tears welling up in my eyes as flashbacks ran through my mind of all the times she pulled my hair to bring me to the bathroom to "wash the ginger out". I tried digging my heals into the ground but I wasn't very strong and she knew that. She pulled harder, making me trip a bit as I tried to resist as much as I could.

"Excuse me, but I believe the girl doesn't want to go with you." A man's voice came from behind me. I turned to look where it came from and my eyes met his Hazel ones. He had dark brown hair that was ruffled slightly from the wind and he wore a black suit with a green tie. He towered over my small frame with his six foot figure. But the thing that captured me the most were his lips and how they were curved into a perfect smile. My eyes widened at him in surprise.

Where did he come from?

"I don't believe this involves you." Lacy's harsh tone seemed to not affect him in the least as his smile stayed in place, not moving the tiniest bit. Lacy's grip on my arm still hadn't loosened. If anything, it had gotten worse.

It's definitely going to bruise.

"Yes, well, you're right about that. However, I can't sit by and watch an innocent girl be manipulated like this." He replied nonchalantly. Lacy let out a low growl but then let go of my arm and shoved me toward him. I stumbled and almost fell, but he caught me gently by my arms and helped me stand up.

"Have her then, she's not anything special. Mark my words, Ginger Girl, he won't stick around long. He'll leave, just like everyone else does." She replied harshly and then walked away with her red heels digging into the gravel as she left.

"Are you alright?" He asked, looking down at me. I found myself blushing at how handsome he was. I turned my head to the ground and nodded quickly.

"Not much of a talker, huh?" He asked and I shook my head. He let out a small chuckle and then ruffled my hair with his large hand. I startled slightly from the action. When he pulled his hand back I looked up at him.

"What was with that girl anyways?" He asked and I shrugged in response. I thought I was rid of the bullies in my life but I should have known I would see one of them again eventually.

"So where are you off to?" He asked, tilting his head slightly. I stared at him for a moment, unsure of whether to answer or not. I didn't like to talk unless absolutely necessary.

"Oh, right, you don't like to talk, sorry about that...do you ever talk?" He asked, looking at me curiously. I paused for a moment and then nodded.

"Well, I'd love to hear your voice. Im sure it's beautiful." He commented, his smile widening slightly. I felt a blush cover my cheeks as I took a step back. No one had ever taken an interest in me like this except Crystal and Bridget, my best friends that I met when I started college. Aside from them, I didn't really associate with anyone else.

"How about this, I ask you a question and if you don't want to answer, you just shake your head and I'll move onto a different one?" He asked, seeming amused.

He wants to play a game? How odd.

I furrowed my eyebrows at him and pulled my lips into a tight line. After a moment, I sighed and nodded.

"Sweet! Ok, first question, what's your name?" He asked as he put his hands in the pockets of his suit. I hesitated before I answered. He made me nervous but not really in a bad way. I just wasn't comfortable talking to anyone, especially strangers.

"Bailey." I whispered. He broke out into a huge grin.

"Bailey...Nice to meet you, Bailey, I'm Ray." He said as he held out his hand. I slowly reached my hand out and he shook it.

"Alright, next question, do you go here?" He asked, motioning to the college buildings around us. I nodded in response.

"Cool, I got my master's degree here but now I go to the law school a few blocks from here. I was just visiting some old professors. So what's your major?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. I watched him for a moment, nervous to talk again.

"Marine Biology." I answered quickly and quietly. He somehow smiled wider again and I found myself entranced by his lips and how they moved. I'd never seen someone smile so much. It was like his mouth was stuck like that.

"Very nice. Ok, next question...will you go on a date with me?" He asked. I felt my heart skip a beat and my eyes widen. He let out a laugh and scratched the back of his neck nervously.

"Sorry, sorry! Too soon, but maybe I can at least get your number?" He asked as he pulled out his phone and handed it to me. I stared at it for a while, considering what I should do.

He did save me from Lacy and he doesn't seem like a bad guy...but...this was a little fast, wasn't it?

I quickly typed in my number before I changed my mind and handed it back to him. He looked at his phone and then slipped it into his pocket again, seeming very happy. I walked away a few steps and began to wave at him, signaling that I was leaving.

"Bye! I'll text you later, ok?!" He called as I reached for my door handle and pulled it open. I looked up at him one more time and nodded to show that I heard him. With his smile still plastered on his face, he waved at me. I got in my silver Ford Taurus and started it up. It was old but it got me from point A to point B. I pulled out of the parking lot and drove back to the dorms and parked. As I got out I saw Bridget sitting on the bench in front of the dorms. I sat across from her, gaining her attention. She looked up at me and gave a big smile. I showed a small one in return.

"Hey, Bails! How were your classes?" She asked.

"Good." I whispered.

"That's good. Do you want to go have dinner together? I'm starving!" She whined. I nodded and stood up as she did the same. We walked together across the street to the restaurant that we usually went to when we didn't eat at the college cafeteria. It was a small pizza place that had amazing cheesy bread. We always ordered the same thing; a medium sausage and mushroom pizza and an order of cheesy bread. As Bridget ordered, I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw that I had a text from an unknown number.

Hey, Bailey, It's Ray! Maybe we can hang out sometime? Not a date... 😅

I smiled at my phone and quickly typed a reply.

Hi, Ray. That would be fine.

I put my phone back in my pocket and noticed that Bridget was staring at me intensely. I furrowed my eyebrows at her, silently asking why she was staring at me.

"Who are you texting? I already called Crystal and asked her to meet us so I know it's not her..." She trailed off. I felt a blush color my cheeks as I looked down at the ground in embarrassment.

"Oh my gosh! It's a boy!" She yelled excitedly and started jumping up and down. I quickly looked up at her and waved my hands back and forth, telling her to calm down. She just laughed at me and then pulled me to sit down at a table.

"Tell me about him! Please!" She begged. I stared at her for a moment and then sighed.

"I met him in the parking lot." I said. She stared at me intently, waiting for me to go on. I gave her a pained look, showing her I didn't want to talk but she just kept staring, obviously determined to get her way. I sighed again in defeat.

"He asked for my number and I gave it to him." I explained. She broke out into a huge grin and I felt my phone buzz in my pocket again. I pulled it out but Bridget quickly snatched it out of my hand. I tried helplessly to grab it from her as she moved swiftly, keeping it out of my reach.

Damn it!

"Awesome! How about this Friday?" She read the text as my cheeks burned. I desperately grabbed for my phone and finally got it. I pulled it close to me as I looked down at the open message. After a moment I finally responded.

Friday is ok.

I pressed send and then waited for a response. My phone buzzed in my hand and I opened the message.

Cool, 😃 I'll pick you up at 3, alright?

I felt my cheeks grow even redder, if that was even possible.

Ok

I sent back. My phone buzzed again and I almost dropped it.

Address? 😜

Jeez, even his emoticons were always smiling. I quickly typed in where my dorm and room was and then sent it. I looked up to see Bridget staring at me with a smirk.

"So you're going on a date with him?" She asked. I shook my head fiercely. Just then, Crystal walked in the door and was looking around for us. I stared intently at Bridget, pleading with my eyes not to tell her. She nodded understandingly. Crystal hated men and I knew if Bridget told Crystal about Ray that I would get an earful and I was not up for it today.

"Hey guys!" Crystal called and waved as she walked up to us. We both smiled at her as she scooted in beside me. I let Bridget and Crystal talk aimlessly about school, work and other random stuff. I was more than happy to sit silently as I got lost in thought.

Ray...what a nice name...