by L A Cotton
After finishing my sub, I pushed the plate to one side and said, "So is Dead Man's Cove around here? Elena mentioned a party."
Jackson coughed, slamming his curled fist against his chest. "Ye- yeah. Not far from here." He stuttered, whipping his cap off and dragging a hand through his hair. "It's usually a bust though. Probably a waste of time making the trip, especially with the forecast."
My stomach dipped. "Oh. So you're not going? I thought it was some kind of freshman thing?"
He glanced round the hut again. "Nah, I doubt it."
Jackson didn't say anything else on the matter, and I didn't ask.
As he paid the check and said goodbye to Otis, the sinking feeling in my stomach didn't leave. Something had changed between us and I didn't know what. Or why.
"I have a couple of things to take care of in town, so I'll drop you back at Campus?"
"Sure.
Jackson's voice seemed cold. It was as if the person I'd arrived with was gone. I was so confused. He'd pushed for coffee, not me, but now it was like he couldn't wait to get rid of me.
We drove back in stifling silence. A couple of times Jackson cursed under his breath, once when a rabbit ran out across the road and the other when a car passed us on the other side of the road. I kept my head turned to the window, watching dusk fall over the forest, making it seem even more alien.
Before I knew it, the car ground to a halt outside the front entrance of the campus. The main buildings were a good five minute walk, McGinley at least another ten. Tiny drops of rain hit the windscreen and trickled down into oblivion. Perfect, what a shitty end to a shitty date. Coffee, I mean coffee. I pulled my hood up and reached for the door handle. "Thanks for the shake. See you in class."
I didn't want to look back in fear of my face betraying me. So I ducked out of the car in a hurry.
"Ana, wait." Jackson's voice called. I turned to find the passenger window rolled down. "Thanks for coming. See you in class."
I nodded and watched as he reversed out of the road, spun the car around and sped off into the distance.
There was definitely something up with this place.
