Strikingly Jade Green

Their eyes

The steam slinked away from the mug, dancing over the lenses of her glasses. Snow dotted the pavements outside the cafe, like ballerinas on a stage. The morning sun gleamed down the street, bouncing off the rows of shops.

The door pinged, a tall figure walking gingerly in. She couldn't help but watch them, her eyes lingering on their back. They turned, a jade green cut straight through her core. Their loose flowing half up half down curls bounced with their head tilt. She coughed on her tea, fidgeting with the handle. The cup trembled in her touch as she slowly put it to the table.

The cafe was relatively empty as she finally looked around. Anywhere but to look into their eyes again. Something about them, that green, made her nauseous. Collecting her thoughts in her bag, she shoved meaningless papers, piling the contents. All she had to do was escape, the door right there, right in touch. The cold zip on her jacket met her arm, but she was sweating profusely, what had she seen that had made her so terrified of them? Tugging on her confidence, she stood up. One step. Two step.

She stumbled, not so much and not too far, but it caught their attention. A hand, a cold hand, rested on her shoulder. The sun shone, dancing on their tanned golden skin.

"Are you alright?" a small voice stuttered. The hand quickly retreating.

She nodded silently, she felt paralysed but convinced herself to look at her again. Her subconscious screaming for her to give them another chance.

"I'm alright i think, the floor is so damn wet- hah" she mumbled.

'Well FUCKING done. Task failed successfully' the voice in her head mocked, eating away at her.

They chuckled, "Your right, tried to not break my neck on the way in".

Turning away from them, the coldness radiated from under the oak door, always just out of her reach. They went on with the purchase, but she couldn't help but listen. A gingerbread latte with extra milk and extra syrup. She reached for the handle, her finger tips being met with the frost of the winter outside.

"Y'know i recognise you, like a lot, you don't by any chance study biology or like, science, right?". Her brain froze, trying to process all of the pauses and jumbled words in the sentence.

"Waiting for you to say something, Kori. We did that practical study last week together" She spoke slowly, articulating her reply.

They paused, she counted the imaginary seconds dancing behind that brain of theirs. "Ohhooh.." they dragged the 'h' on, "Sally..? No thats not right.. S sommet right?".

She rolled her eyes, "If you don't know my name that means i didn't introduce myself properly, allow me to. Im Sasha, Sasha Clayton", she held her hand out openly, all her confidence relied on them to return the handshake.

Their eyes followed down her arm, snaking to each fingernail, "A handshake? What are you, a librarian? Lighten up, i'm not your headteacher". They paused, studying their face, "You're being serious?".

She shrugged it off, turning to the door once again. A voice behind her, a hopeful little voice.

"Hey, Hey! Let me walk with you, unless you're going out?", desperation sounding like an alarm.

Desperation was also a little bitch.

"Uh.. sure? Im going to my dorm anyway, chivalry isn't dead after all" She snorted, pulling on the handle, the cold breeze chilling to her bones.