My head snaps up, eyes landing on Vanessa standing in the doorway of one of the classrooms. My hands fly to my chest, feeling the rapid beat of my heart underneath my palm.
“You scared me,” I exhale on a laugh.
“Sorry.” Vanessa smiles kindly. She comes inside, leaving the door open behind her. “I was just doing my rounds before closing.”
“Is it already that late?” I pull out my phone, and sure enough, it’s already past eight in the evening. “Sorry, I’ll be out of here soon. I was just proofing a few essays for kids and forgot about the time. I promised them I’d leave the essays with you so they can pick them up, since I won’t be back here until next week.”
Finishing the last paragraph, I collect my things as Vanessa goes around the room doing her thing. Blairwood’s Bright Haven is smaller than the one I attended in New York, so they don’t keep it open twenty-four seven, but there is an emergency contact, and one of the staff is always on call in case something happens.
“Busy week?” Vanessa asks, putting some books on shelves where they belong.
I sigh, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “Yeah, this semester is kicking my ass.”
Vanessa’s hand falls on my shoulder, giving me an affectionate squeeze. “If it’s too much, you know you can take a break. The kids will understand.”
Before she even finishes I’m already shaking my head. “It’s not that. I love coming here. Working with these kids is what keeps me sane. They have so much potential.”
Besides, being here brings me peace like no other place can since it’s a reminder of home. I’ve spent countless hours in a community center like this one. Hanging out with kids my age who were in similar situations, asking for help or helping. This place holds so many memories for me, and there is no way I’ll give up on it.
“They certainly do.”
We chat for a little while longer about the center and kids as she finishes. Together we go to the front where her things are already waiting for her.
“I corrected these. Can you make sure the kids grab them when they come?”
Vanessa picks up the papers, giving them a curious once-over. She chuckles.
“What?”
“Post-it notes?”
I can feel my cheeks flush. “I want them to know their work is appreciated or give motivation when it’s necessary.”
I’m not sure what kind of teachers they have—maybe they’re excellent, maybe they suck. Whichever it is, I want them to know that there is at least one person out there who sees them, sees the work they’re putting in, sees how far they’ve come and wants them to do better next time. One person who believes in them and cheers them on.
“You’ll make a great teacher one day, Yasmin.”
I return her kind smile. “I hope so.”
Vanessa puts the papers in her desk drawer, locking it once she’s finished. “Ready?”
I nod my agreement, pulling the zipper on my jacket. Vanessa turns off the light, and together we go outside into the cold night.
“You need a ride?” Vanessa asks, looking through her purse for keys.
“Nah, I’m good. Thanks.” I tip my head toward my car. “See you next week!”
“Next week.”
Rubbing my hands to keep them warm, I quickly walk to my car. Sliding the key in, I unlock it and open the door. Since I’ve been here the whole afternoon, the inside of the car is almost as freezing as the outside.
I put the key in the ignition and turn it to start the car.
Nothing.
“What now?” I frown, looking down at the console like it’ll tell me what’s wrong. I try again, but the result is the same. “You have to be shitting me.”
I give it another try—shaking the damned thing for good measure—but there is nothing. No reaction. No sound. Nada. No response whatsoever.
“Dammit!” Pounding my fist against the steering wheel, I lean my head down. “Just what I needed.”
Sighing, I slide the phone out of my pocket and go through my contacts as I weigh my options. I could call Vanessa, she just left a little while ago which means she can’t be that far, but she lives in a different direction from campus, and I don’t want to ask her to go out of her way for me. I could always go back to campus on foot, but that will take forever. I seriously don’t have time for that nor the desire to freeze to death.
Nibbling at my lip, I stop at the contact, the only logical choice. I don’t like doing it, I hate depending on others, but it’s not like I have many options. Letting my lip pop out, I press call, and wait. Callie picks up after a few rings, laughing.
“Hey, Cals.”
“Hey, stop it!” she yells, followed by more laughter.
Confused, I look around.
“Umm… Okay?” I frown. This is obviously a bad time. I guess walking it is.
“No, not you,” she squeals, and I can hear Hayden mutter something in the background. “Hayden!”
I cringe at her high-pitched voice. “Did I catch you in a bad moment? I seriously don’t need to hear you having sex. Have mercy on my poor lonesome self.”
I don’t even want to think about when the last time was that I had sex. When you’re trying to graduate college early while at the same time juggling work and volunteering, partying and sex are definitely not on the top of your to-do list.
“We’re not having sex. Hayden, will you stop tickling me?” She inhales a deep breath as if collecting herself. “Hey, Yas, what’s up?”
“It’s seriously okay. You don’t have to…”
“Yas.” There is a note of warning in her tone that makes me pause.
I close my eyes and murmur into the speaker. “Do you think you could pick me up?”
“What happened?” Callie asks immediately, the worry in her voice clear.
“I’m fine,” I rush to reassure her. “Just my stupid car decided to die on me. I was tutoring at Bright Haven. You know I wouldn’t…”
“Stop it,” she interrupts me mid-sentence. “We’ll be there. Wait in the car, you hear me?”
“Thanks, Callie,” I say quietly as relief spreads through me.
“Anytime. I’m serious, Yas. Wait in the car. We’ll be there in no time,” she repeats, before disconnecting the call.
The car’s headlights blind me as it pulls to a stop behind me. Grabbing my things from the passenger seat, I open the door and get out, only to stop in my tracks.
“You’ve gotta be shitting me.”
The familiar black BMW is parked behind my piece of shit car. There are a dozen possible scenarios as to why Hayden and Callie would take Nixon’s car to come and pick me up—maybe Zane took Hayden’s truck, or Nixon’s car was the easiest to access—but for some reason, I don’t believe any of them are true.
Nope, Nixon is the one sitting inside that car, waiting for me. I just know it.
The driver’s door opens, and Nixon gets out, that smirk of his firmly plastered on his lips. He leans against the door and cocks an eyebrow at me. “You coming or what?”
Since I’ve been freezing while waiting for him for the past twenty minutes I should jump inside and relish the warmth, but my body doesn’t move.