Forgive Me

Chapter 1: Are you watching me?

Adriana's POV

Another typical morning at work making my rounds. I check vitals and prepare meds for each of my patients. I've worked as a nurse for about a year and a half now. It's my number one passion. Helping people had been my dream since I was a little girl. Now I'm 24 and I'm living out that dream. Sure, I see some gruesome stuff working in a hospital, but if it means I'm saving lives, I can deal with it. You have to be brave in that sense, putting others before yourself. I work long, tiring days with a shitty paycheck at the end of the month. It's all worth it to me when I see a family hugging each other tightly because of something I helped do.  The ER is where I feel most passionate and alive. Something about seeing the life come back to a person is thrilling to me, and being part of the reason is even more special.

It's a rather slow day, completely normal for a Tuesday. I grab a bag of chips from the nearest vending machine in the cafeteria. My eyes scan the room for a table when I see a coworker of mine waving me over.

"Chips? Really Adriana?" Marissa gives me a look and laughs to herself.

"We can't all be health experts like you" I tease "besides, I'm done in 2 hours. I'll stop somewhere on my way home." I ease her fake concern over my health.

About 20 minutes later, we say our goodbyes. I hop in the elevator that takes me up to my assigned floor.

"There you are!" my best friend, Chloe, pulls me over to her. "I've been searching high and low for you! Didn't you get any of my calls?" she whisper shouts.

"Chloe...calm down and tell me what's going on."  At this point, the nurse's station are all eyeing us up.

"He's here again."  

My heart practically beats it's way out of my chest when the words escape her lips. Chloe nods her head in the direction towards the stairwell. She wasn't lying. There he is. The same guy that has been showing up here every day for the past week. He wears sunglasses, a gray trucker hat, a black hoodie, ripped denim jeans, and white sneakers.  Always the same outfit style, just different clothes. Mysterious is an understatement for this guy.

I've never tried asking him what he wants. I suppose I'm feeling bold today because that's exactly what I do. Before I realize where my feet have taken me, I'm standing in front of him. I'd say there's about 3 feet between us. He doesn't say a word. What is it with this dude? Would it kill him to explain why he's basically stalking me?  Adriana, control yourself.   This is no time to get sassy. Taking a deep breath, I decide to speak up.

"Are you watching me?" I blurt out, unsure of what else to say. No answer. "Did you hear me?" I look him up and down.  I begin to feel frustrated, all the events of this past week getting to me. "Listen, I really don't appreciate you stalking me...or whatever it is that you're doing." Still nothing. He won't even look at me. I guess the ground is more appealing than me. "Whatever. If you won't tell me who the hell you are then that's your problem. Please just leave and don't come back. Thank you very much." I turn to leave, my long ponytail swooshing.

"You've got a hell of a mouth, you know that?" he says with a hint of sarcasm. Finally. His voice is much softer than I expected. I turn back around to face him. I cross my arms.

"So you can speak? I was starting to worry there for a second," I counter back. "You gonna tell me what I wanna know? Or do you enjoy watching my head spin?" I give him an attitude.  Yeah, I know I should treat a complete stranger better but this guy is really pissing me off.

"Not here," he answers simply, leaning his back against the wall.

"If you think I'm going anywhere with you, you've got another thing coming"

"It's funny that you think you have a choice, babe." 

I want to smack that smug look right off his face.  Who talks to a woman that way?  Apparently this jerk.

"Don't ever call me that again. Just stay away from me," I go about walking away again.

"Guess you'll never know why I've been following you.   I know I couldn't stand that, but you do whatever you want." It's almost like he's teasing me. Is he? Could he be playing me? Why would he even do that? I'm a nurse. My life is nothing special. I live alone in my New York City apartment. I don't lead an exciting life at all. What makes me an interesting target for him?

"Is everything okay over here?" Chloe breaks me out of my thoughts as she lays a hand on my shoulder.

"I'm fine," I look down "we're finished here." Before I know it, he's gone. The mystery guy disappeared. I couldn't even tell you his eye color, he never removed the shades.  I know nothing more about him than before I talked to him.  Well nothing except that he's an asshole, a real piece of work.

END NOTES:
Hey guys.How did we enjoy this first chapter?  Anything I should work on?   I know my writing skills aren't amazing but I'm planning on getting better. Please rate and comment :) I'd love some opinions! Thank you!