Over the Edge

I walk across the stained, off-white floor of the mall, my eyes up and always scanning the people around me. My eyes landed on a certain dark haired, blue eyed boy with tattoos and a leather jacket, even in the gross heat of the unairconditioned part of the building. When our eyes locked, a smirk grew on his frustratingly handsome face and he began walking towards me and the girl to my side.

"Ugh, is that who I think it is?" Larissa, my best friend, groaned.

"If you think it's Roman Peterson, the infamous handsome bad boy, you'd be correct," I answered, still staring at Roman.

"You mean Roman Peterson, the biggest red flag of all red flags who tries to cover his red flagness in a cheap leather jacket," Larissa muttered as he walked up to us.

"Hello ladies," Roman's glanced over at Larissa, but kept his attention on me.

"Hello Roman," I said coolly. "Funny how we ran into each other. what are you up to?"

I heard Larissa's sigh. I knew she was annoyed that I was trying to carry on a conversation with him. I didn't care. I needed a bit of excitement in my life, and I knew he could give it to me. People said he was dangerous, but I wanted to see for myself if the rumors were true. I enjoyed living on the edge, I just hoped Roman didn't push me over it.

"Not much, just had something i needed to deal with real quick," His eyes dared me to ask more, his face written with relaxed amusement.

"Riley, let's go, I want to get to the sale before they run out of my size," Larissa tugged on my hand, pulling me away from Roman. I tossed him a small wave and a smile before letting myself be taken away by Larissa.

"You dummy," she shook her head. "You need to stay away from him."

"Why? You don't really believe all those rumors right? they're just rumors."

"It's not just the rumors. I have a bad feeling about him. I get a pit in my stomach every time he comes around. I get anxious. And don't you dare say it's love, I feel sick, like a rabbit caught in a snare when he's near."

I said nothing and pondered her words. She usually had a really good judge of character. I knew deep down that I should listen to her, but my rebellious side wanted to find out for myself.

------

I was curled up in my soft blue blanket with a bowl of ice cream in my hands and a movie in front of me when I felt the faint vibrate of my phone. I reached over and grabbed it. I had a text from an unknown number.

hey

I paused before typing back, who is this?

Roman

I grinned, then caught myself. How did he get my number? I couldn't remember ever giving it to him.

how did you get my number?

I have my ways.

i wasn't sure how to respond to that. I was honestly a bit creeped out. Before i could think about it anymore, he texted again.

Want to go out with me? tomorrow night.

My eyes widened and my eyebrows shot up. He just asked me out. I leapt out of my seat, bowl of ice cream in one hand, my phone clutched in the other.

"Lari! You'll never guess!" I blurted out as I rushed towards her room, my feet slipping across the hardwood floor. I gave a brief knock on the door before bursting in, a mom style entrance.

"What? What happened?" she bolted out of her bed.

"Roman just asked me out!" i said breathlessly.