The words that he spoke, though they hurt in a way, still in even a small fraction of a bit made her feel just a teensy bit better. She concentrated on letting her breathing slip slowly back to an even rhythm and though there were still tears on her face, she turned to look at him. "Why?" she asked him. Why are you interested in me? I don't get it. I just... You're... you. You're Trip Banks and you could have any girl in the universe and you're giving me a ride home? I just... I feel like I'm going to wake up any second and I'll be back in ninth grade, staring at the back of your head in English..." Which was so much more than she'd wanted to say and if her face hadn't already been red from the tears, it certainly would be from the embarrassment she felt upon uttering those things.
"Yeah, I'm Trip Banks... I'm just a guy, Haylee. As highly as I like to view myself and my relevance in the world, still just a guy... now, granted a ridiculously good looking guy with the ability to read people's minds and... keep unlocked doors from opening..." he admitted, only looking slightly sheepish about that one. "This isn't the ninth grade, Haylee... maybe I didn't see you back then... but, I see you now."
Haylee glanced at the door that wouldn't budge for her and then back at Trip. So he could do that too? Hear her thoughts and keep things from opening when they were unlocked. She wasn't sure just how much he could do, but she was sure that Trip was crazy good looking and despite everything, today he'd been sweet to her. "And what do you see when you see me?" she asked.
"I see a sweet, pretty, slightly insecure girl that is far too hard on herself who should be a lot kinder to herself." he responded, reaching out a hand to tuck a strand of soft blonde hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry that I riffled through your head without asking, it won't happen again... I try not to make a habit of poking around in my friend's minds uninvited." he continued, letting the back of his fingers trail over the line of her cheekbones. "Think you can forgive me my trespasses and go inside with me and have a burger and give me a chance to get to know you better without the whole thought reading thing, just the stuff you want me to know... and maybe you could get to know me as more than that guy you sat behind in class... who knows, you may find I'm a complete moron and wonder why you ever thought I was remotely cool..." he smirked. "As if..." he added with a small chuckle. "What say you?"
She couldn't help the rise of goosebumps and the heat that filled her face when his fingertips brushed her hair back and his hand trailed across her cheekbone. The littlest touch seemed to have lit up a fire within Haylee that she never knew even existed. The smile that moved over her face even after he'd pulled his hand away again seemed to brighten her up, despite the traces of tears on her skin. Wiping her face, she shook her head a little. "I'm not going to change my mind." she told him. "At least not about you, but I think I can handle a burger. If you're actually going to let me out of the car this time..."