Mesmerized

area. 
    Quickly, he added, "It's okay. He's a jerk and probably deserved it." 
    Lily's mind raced for an explanation. "It was just a self-defense move. My dad wanted to make sure I could protect myself." 
    After a brief silence, Jake said, "Your father is a wise man. Do you want me to walk you to your room?"
    "No, thank you for asking. I just want to stay out here a little longer."
    "I'd feel better knowing you were safely back in your room. I can sit here with you if you want?"
    Lily was surprised he was being so friendly and not acting like an idiot like most boys did. She did feel safer and calmer with him there. Without thinking, she nodded her head. 
    He sat down beside her and caught a whiff of her sweet vanilla scent.
    "I don't even know your name," Lily said shyly.
    "Jake O'Connor." He gave her a lopsided grin and her heart felt like it was going to explode. 
    "I'm Lily."
    "I know. You’re the talk of the school. I've never seen a new student get so much attention before." 
    "I don't like attention." Picking up a blade of grass, she absently started pulling it apart nervously. This was the longest conversation she'd had with a boy in a long time. She usually cut them off quickly—afraid of leading them on. She should leave, but she couldn't convince her body to listen to her mind. 
    "Where did you move here from? I know this is going to sound like a corny pick up line, and I promise it's not.” He paused. “Have we met before? I'm sure I would have remembered. But, I just can't shake the feeling that I’ve seen you before."
    "Have you ever been to Texas?" Lily asked with a hint of curiosity in her voice.
    "No, I haven't.” He shrugged. At least not in the last fifty years or so. “Maybe it was someone that looked like you."
    She doubted that, but said, “Maybe.” After a moment, Lily stood up and brushed the leaves from her skirt. "I think I'm ready to go in now. Thank you for staying with me. Can you do me a favor and make sure Ben is okay? I hope I didn't hurt him too badly."
    "I'm sure he's fine. He’s a big boy, but I'll check on him if it will make you feel better."
    “It would.”
    They walked in silence to her building. Lily had to fight the urge to wrap her arms around him. She desperately wanted to feel his lips on hers. Where was this coming from?
    At the door to her building, Jake turned to Lily. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words wouldn’t come.
    Lily leaned in with a desperate need to kiss him, to feel him. 
    Jake raised his hands to touch her arms and he leaned forward. 
    "Thank you for walking me back!" Lily quickly ran inside before anything else happened. 
     

Chapter Four
     
     
     
    That night, Jake lay in bed tossing and turning. He saw Lily’s face every time he closed his eyes. There was something about her, something not quite normal…he couldn’t put his finger on it. When he finally did fall asleep, he dreamed of her. Dressed in that beautiful white dress again, she came up to him, and put her arm around his neck tousling his hair. He was so close to her that he could feel her breath on his lips. She giggled, turned, and ran away. 
    Jake woke up in a sweat. Sitting up in bed, he ran his hand through his hair. What was happening to him? Why did he keep dreaming of her? He looked over to make sure his roommate, Matt, was still sleeping. He was. Throwing on his sweats, Jake decided to go for another run. Hopefully, the fresh air would clear his head. 
    ***
    Lily’s cell phone rang before breakfast. “Hey Mom,” she answered.
    “How are things going?”
    “Just like always.” 
    Her mother sighed. “How bad?”
    Thinking of Ben, she replied, “Nothing I can’t handle…yet.”
    “You have to be careful, Lily. We’re running out of options.”
    Lily wanted to say, you should have thought about that before you had kids , but she refrained. “I have to get to class, Mom.”
    “Okay. Hey, listen, your dad and I want to visit for Thanksgiving.”
    “Fine. I gotta go.” Lily hung up the phone and picked up her books.
    “Everything okay?” Hannah asked, zipping up her jacket.
    “Yeah. My parents want to come for Thanksgiving.”
    “Isn’t that good?”
    “I guess. Let’s go.”
    Lily and Hannah walked out of the dorm. It was overcast with grey clouds. Lily wondered if it would rain. Thunder rumbled in the distance answering her question. 
    Once inside the dining hall, four different boys tried to give her their spot in the line. She