I climb inside and yank the seatbelt over my shoulder

Will slides in beside me and closes the door. The SUV is bigger than my Ford but it can't hold us both. The space shrinks as Will's presence fills the entire front area. I press the window button, but nothing happens.

It's locked.

The scent of black roses fills the car as the scrawled words crowd my memory.

Every Breath You Take

"Do you mind?" My breath hitches, as it becomes harder to take in air.

"You're hot?" Will asks, with a glance over. The window beside me slides open a crack.

"More."

It slides down another inch.

"All the way."

Only with my head out do I breathe normally again.

He turns in his seat to look at me, his eyebrows raised as the seconds tick by. Finally, his gaze slides down to check my seatbelt, and he backs the SUV out and maneuvers onto the road.

"Your aunt gave you my address?" I force myself to ask.

With the car in motion, a stream of cool air blows through the window. I try to relax, but I can't. I'm too aware of him and his hand's proximity to my leg. He rests it on the gearshift and keeps it there, driving with the other on the steering wheel.

Will turns his head. "Do you get carsick?"

"No. How do you know where to go?"

"Everyone knows where you live." He says the words so casually. Still it makes me sick to believe they're true.

He glances my way. "I'm surprised your sister didn't call you."

"Cassie never uses her phone at work. She's always misplacing it."

I want to blame Cassie, but maybe this is all the fault of his Aunt Jenny. It's a kind gesture to keep me from getting soaked in a storm, but in reality, I'd rather get soaked than take a ride from a stranger.

I glance over at him. The casual slouch to his shoulders reassures me. As does his focus on the road and not me. The tension in my chest loosens as I release the breath locked there. "I'm sorry they made you do this," I finally say when the silence stretches too long.

He smiles in a confused way as if he doesn't get what I mean. "Leila, you live five minutes from me."

The car fills with the sound of the humming engine and the wind streaming through the window. "How was your first day?" he asks, after another couple of minutes of neither of us speaking. "Nick said he and Hilary talked to you."

"They're nice," I say the words, as I think the exact opposite.

Will laughs. "No, they're not. But they're popular, and that has some perks."

He turns onto my street and drives up in front of my house, parking behind my Ford. He leaves the engine on but surprises me by grabbing my bag from the trunk and carrying it to the front door.

"Thanks. You can leave it there." I point under the mailbox against the brick wall.

Across the road, the curtain moves. For a fraction of a second, the face of my nosy neighbor, Mr. Patros, appears.

"I'm sorry," I say when I realize Will's lingering as if expecting something more from me. "I can't believe they made you drive me."

"They didn't make me do it. I wanted to."

He studies me, his dark, thoughtful eyes resting on my face as if he's piecing something together. "First days are tough. Tomorrow I can introduce you to some more friends, outside of the Hilary and Nick group, that is."

More people... a shiver runs across my spine. Great. "I'd like that," I mumble.

He smiles as if my words please him. "Alright then, I'll see you at school tomorrow."

"Wait," I say, stopping him as he reaches the steps. I have to know the answer to this. "This morning...why...how did you know..."

He pauses, his brow furrowing before his face clears as he realizes what I'm asking.

"My sister Rita has panic attacks. I recognize the signs. Is it the crowds, or the noise?" he asks, without coming closer.

"Crowds."

He nods his head as he takes in my words. "That's the same with Rita. I learned from her that if you catch it early enough, you can stop it before it takes over. Do you have a strategy if it happens again?"

Hide until the coast is clear. Then go home.

I don't say the words that pop into my head, instead, I say what's expected. "I'll be fine now that I know what Everest is like."

He takes a few steps down and says over his shoulder, "Well, I'm around, so come find me if you need me."

[Author's Note:

Let me know what you think so far.

Pacing?

Characters?

I hope you are enjoying the story. It's just getting started.]