Chapter 2
The weather continues to get worse on our way to college.
The rain has turned to hailstones making it all we can hear from inside the car as they smash against metal and glass.
Leaves are being blown everywhere along with twigs.
It's much darker than normal with the black clouds overhead hanging low in the sky.
We pull into the car park and leg it to the college building.
Luckily no-one is outside to see us nearly break our necks in our heels.
We get under the huge covered area at the front of the building out of the rain and hail. Cassey makes a beeline straight for the door.
“Fucking hell it's cold come on!” She shouts over the wind as she struggles to hold the door open.
I go to the door but then I get that same feeling from earlier. I stop and look behind me. The air feels charged and heavy. I can barely see more than 10 feet because of the rain pelting down. I can't believe how dark it is. It's only 8pm and yet it looks darker than it should be at midnight.
I hear Cassey shout something from behind me but I barely hear it. The night feels like its closing in on me. I feel power building in the sky and I know exactly where the lighting is going to strike seconds before it does.
The flash lights up the sky and the deep rumble follows almost immediately afterwards. It's then that I see him standing by Cassey's car.
The hooded figure from earlier.
I can't see his face but I can feel his eyes watching me. I can't look away. It's like his gaze has me rooted to the spot.
What does he want?
Curiosity is nagging at me to go up to this guy and see what his problem is but fear keeps me from moving. I feel someone grab my arm and yank me backwards. I turn and see Cassey looking annoyed.
“What are you just standing there for? Come on its bloody freezing and the lightning made me jump!” I let her pull me through the door and once we're inside I feel detached from the energy or whatever that was outside.
Cassey is busy trying to get her hair under control but I just stand there.
I probably look a mess though I don't really care.
My mind is racing. Who is that hooded figure?
Why is he following me? What is the feeling of power that I got?
How did I know when and where the lighting was going to strike?
None of it makes sense. I want to believe that it's all coincidence but there's a persistent feeling telling me not to ignore it.
I snap out of my train of thought when Cassey shouts right in my face.
“Your hair didn't budge! Mines ruined from you making me stand outside whilst you watched the weather and your hair barley flapped in the wind!” She walks around me and runs her fingers through my hair then stares at me dumbstruck.
“You're not even wearing hair spray!” Her hands flop down to her sides. “Well?! What's your secret?”
“I don't have a secret. I honestly thought my hair was a mess until you pointed out it was fine.” I laugh at her exasperated expression. “Anyway, you look great. I think the windswept look suits you.”
She turns and starts walking down the corridor to the main hall. “Whatever Trevor. Let’s go.”
She heads down the corridor and I trail behind her. I can just about hear the music from the dance in the main hall over the sounds of our heels clip clopping on the hard floor.
Should I tell her that the hooded figure was outside and that he probably followed us here?
She took it seriously earlier and I know I can't pass him off as a random passer-by now.
We've spotted him three times in the last couple of days and what if we haven't always noticed him?
He might have been watching us for longer than we've realised.
I start to feel exposed even though it's just me and Cassey in the corridor. Should I tell her now or should I let her enjoy the evening first and tell her in the car on the way home?
A couple walk out the door leading to the hall where the dance is taking place and just a quick glimpse though the door shows the hall is packed with other students dancing.
Cassey grabs the door before it closes and we walk in.
'Rudimental' is booming through the huge speakers either side of the stage where a DJ is set up holding one side of his headphones to his ear.
Through the mass of people, I can just about see a table lining the right hand wall with food and drink on it.
Love hearts and pink and red balloons adorn the ceiling and walls.
The only source of light is from the DJ's disco set up with loads of LED's that fit the romantic Valentines colour scheme.
Cassey shouts to me over the music about grabbing us some drinks and shuffles off into the crowd. I decide not to bother her about the hooded guy until the way home. It's not like anything can happen in a packed hall.
I look around to see if there's anyone I know and spot Nick leaning against the wall the other end of the hall. I quickly look away back towards the direction Cassey went and see her coming back with a plastic cup in each hand.
“This is from the cocktail fountain!” she shouts as she hands me a cup. I take a sip and grimace. I can't tell what it was originally. It's been spiked so much it tastes like perfume. If I end up head first in a ditch at least my puke will smell like 'Chanel'.
We drink up and dance with 'David Guetta' filling the room. Jumping up and down when the beat drops. The hall is packed with people enjoying themselves and I spot Christian heading over. He's tall and handsome with sandy brown hair. Cassey has been flirting with him for months.
Maybe he's finally plucked up the courage to ask her out?
He saunters over with a smile and I notice a slight blush to his cheeks.
“Hey Cass, did you maybe wanna dance?” He asks hopefully.
“I thought you'd never ask.” Cassey says biting her lip.
His grin widens as he pulls her towards him and they're slowly engulfed by the sea of bodies.
I smile to myself at Cassey getting the win after gushing over him for ages. He seems like a genuinely nice guy and I'm happy for her.
I realise my cup is empty and I head over to the drinks table at the side of the hall. I can just about spot Christian amidst the dance floor then turn to refill my cup.
In the corner of eye I glimpse a hooded figure and I startle. Blinking away my tipsy fog, but when my eyes focus there's nothing but college students enjoying themselves.
“Fuck sake.” I mutter to myself as I hold my cup under the cocktail fountain.