Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Micheala was older than Oliver and I, she was closer to thirty and this was her full-time job. She was a nurturing type, one of the ones that always assures you you can do what you set your mind to.

"I'll work with you on it, you're a good guard Juls, and you'll do well teaching other people. I keep telling you to go do your instructor's course so you can teach the teens that come through lifeguarding."

"I like teaching the little ones though." I mumble.

"They're cute, no question. But you'd really shine with this, I think you're ready." She assures me and I sigh.

"Alright." I shrug. I had to stop being afraid of everything all the time.

"Great, head home and get some rest. See you the next time you're in." She smiles and I nod, taking my bag and heading out of the pool. I wave to Oliver who walks the opposite direction and start my walk back.

I've never walked home at night like this, but it was well-lit and I was surrounded by students. I pull my headphones out of my pocket and put them in my ears, turning on some music. Just to walk to something, I know it's not good to walk at night with music, but I really need it right now.

I start my walk down the sidewalk and back to the house. I'm a little lost in thought when I hear heavy footsteps on the pavement behind me. Chills run up my spine and when the person is close enough I make my move.

I whipped around, feeling him grab my shoulder, that was too unsettling. A male chest in a black t-shirt is at eye-level and I don't think I just swat off his hand and step on his foot, shoving his shoulders back.

"Get off!" I shout and I hear him yell out.

"Fuck Juls!" He yells back and I furrow my eyebrows, coming out of my haze of anger to recognize those green eyes. Even in the dark, I could tell I'd just stomped on Kent of all people.

"Kent?" I ask, feeling my chest heave, pulling my headphones out of my ears. "What the hell was that? Are you trying to scare me?"

He licks his back tooth, looking like I may have actually done a little bit of damage with my foot.

"You shouldn't be walking around at night with your headphones in, it's not safe." He mumbles through his teeth, standing up straight and shaking his head.

"It doesn't really seem like I need any safety tips." I shrug and he sighs.

"You've got one hell of a stomp." He admits, making the decision to walk forward and he places his hand on my shoulder urging me to walk with him. I tense up instantly, feeling his fingertips press through my sweater.

I haven't seen him in ages, other than passing in the hallway. Now he's touching me? I thought he was angry at me. My mouth gets dry from nerves and I work up the nerve to clear my throat.

"W-why are you pushing me?" I ask and he sighs.

"I'm just walking you home." He answers curtly and I roll my eyes. "What are you doing out this late?"

"Who are you, my mom?" I ask, feeling irritated with his tone. "I'm allowed out at night, I don't need an escort-"

"Juls, for fuck sake. Just walk." He says, cutting off my words and I chew the inside of my cheek.

"Well what are you doing out this late?" I ask angrily, feeling pissed with this weird protective aggressiveness. He's acting like my parents picking me up from a party in high school. Disappointed in my behavior and pissed, but worried for me all the same.

"I was out for a run." He shrugs and I roll my eyes. We come to a corner and we have to turn, before I can even move my feet he presses his palm into my shoulder and guides me that way.

"I know the way home, you can stop herding me." I say pointedly. "And you're all sweaty." I mutter and his hand firmly holds my shoulder, securely.

"Where were you going?" He asks a little quieter, softening his tone. He hasn't softened his tone with me for a while.

"I wasn't going anywhere." I sigh, shaking my head. "I was coming home.'

"Coming home." He repeats and I nod, wondering why he seemed so eager to know my timeline.

"Yeah, I work at the Coleman pool." I answer. "I've been there all afternoon, why do you seem so confused?"

"I just had no idea where you worked.' He shrugs. "When you said somewhere on campus I thought you meant the bookstore or something, something a little closer to the house and other students."

"Kent, you know there's students literally everywhere, right?" I ask, seeing our house come up and my heart sinks slightly. He hasn't talked to me this much since I've met him and even if it's aggressive… it's going to end.

"Just because there's students doesn't mean one of them isn't nuts."

"You're the only one that grabbed me." I remind him, still wondering why he had such a firm hold on my shoulder now.

"I was just trying to catch up." He mutters. "I don't like the thought of you walking alone after dark.' I look up to him and furrow my eyebrows, he immediately clears his throat. What did that mean? He was worried for me? "Well, like any girl, you know?"

"I'm tougher than you think I am." I remind him, shrugging out of his grasp. "I seemed to get you off of me.'

"Well, that just took me by surprise." He defends. "You didn't strike me as the toe-stomping type."

"Lucky for you, I'm not the carrying-mace type." I mumble.

"Just my toes paying the price for trying to do the right thing.' He retorts and I narrow my eyes. I shouldn't try my luck with him, but I can't help myself, my thoughts are already swirling around in my head.

"Why would you try to do the right thing when you haven't spoken to me in three days?" I ask quietly, feeling my frustration come back to the surface. "Besides, I made the walk home just fine."

"Fine, sorry for trying to look out for you. Guess I'm just a dick, huh?" He asks sarcastically and I roll my eyes, fully pulling away from him.

"I don't care that you wanted to make sure I got home safe." I shrug. My god, how does he keep roping me into arguments like this. "Whatever." I sigh, shaking my head and trying to stay out of it.