Rapture

5

The weekend went by fast. I helped my mom in the garden all day Saturday and Sunday I visited my dad. My wrist was healing nicely, the bruising now yellowish. My mobility  is pretty good considering I was barely able to move it two days ago. The pain is manageable with topical gel and pain killers, if it gets really bad.

It's now Monday morning and I am currently throwing my hockey bag into the trunk of the convertible. Hockey try-outs are at the end of the day so I can leave and never come back if something goes wrong and not have to worry about getting to class. The drive to school is blur that I barely remember. I don't know why I am nervous.

I get to school late because I decided I needed to eat two bagels and make my lunch 10 minutes before I had to leave.

I pull into the parking lot and find a spot in the very back, farthest away from the school since the lot is so packed. As I am pulling into the spot I come into the view of a large gathering of students near the tree line. I park, grab my bag and head over to the yelling/cheering.

I get to the group but can't see anything, so I push my way through to the front, my curiosity getting the best of me. I get to the front and I almost laugh at what I see.

Two guys arm wrestling on a metal box.

The first guy that's facing me has a large build and the lightest blue eyes I've ever seen. I'm just going to call him Blondie. The second guy has his back facing me. He has a slender frame and dark hair.

If I saw these two side by side and you asked me who I'd think win an arm wrestling battle? I'd definitely say the first guy. He just looks way more muscular and looks like he has more power behind him. But now looking at the two going at it, it looks pretty even. I would even go as far as to say the dark haired guy is winning.

I inch closer to get a better look without even noticing myself break away from the group. What I do notice is dark haired boy's hands. Big. Their very.. large with slender fingers, which are adorned with two rings. I stare openly at his arms in amazement. His veins protruding and his tendons straining to keep up.

Not even ten seconds after moving towards them dark haired boy flexes.. well everything and slams the light eyed guy's arm down on the rusty metal box.

Everyone erupts in cheers and a couple boos around me. I even see people passing around money. People really bet on this?

The two boys get up and Blondie looks pissed. Did he bet on himself, why is he so mad?

He kicks the metal box aside and raises his fist in the air. His arm comes down fast, hitting the other boy square in the face.

His head snaps to the side and he turns around, now facing me. His head is down as he touches his fingers to his bloody lips.

He then lifts his face now staring directly at me. He does a once over of me and smiles.

He has one of those smiles that make you smile. Like Andrew Garfield or Dev Patel's smiles.

His teeth are bloody and he looks absolutely feral. He looks alive and it's giving me the same feeling. That one smile was so electrifying I'm nervous for what more of him could do to me.

He then winks at me and my body goes hot.

He then turns around and launches himself at Blondie. The crowds cheering finally filters into my ears again and I come back to my senses.

"What the fuck." I mumble.

I turn and push my way back through the crowd not wanting to deal with being caught at a school fight. The real reason which I won't admit to myself is that I needed to get away from that boy. He's a magnet and he knows it. I can't be near-
I take a deep breath.
You're trying to live Kira and he looks like he's gonna kill you. I think to myself.
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After the fight I headed to second period because I missed my entire first class. It goes by fairly quickly because I was still amped up from the fight. By the time lunch rolls around I've calmed down.

Since I brought my lunch from home I don't need to go to the cafeteria. I haven't been in their since my first day because I usually pack my own lunch. But I go today because I've been craving the chocolate chip cookies I got on my first day.

I wait in line to grab my cookie when I hear some girls pointing at me.
I look behind me to see if their pointing at someone else out but it's clearly me.
I frown and look away focusing on my phone screen.
I finally enter the cafeteria and grab my cookie and leave to pay.
As I'm paying I hear the same girls around the corner more clearly now.
"Yea, she literally took her dress off and she had this huge ass scar on her leg. Nobody's ever even heard of her and she was acting like she was hot shit at the party. Did you see her playing beer pong.."
I tune out the rest as I stuff my cookie in my bag.
Not wanting to get into it with a bunch of judgmental girls I head away from them farther into the cafeteria.

As I do I start to notice more eyes on me. My head is starting to pound as I find a seat near the windows.
I take out my lunch but don't est anything as my stomach feels like it's doing flips.

I start thinking about what those girls were saying. That I was trying to one up them? I also hate when people act like they belong somewhere. Is that what I'm doing?

My heart starts racing faster as I stare out the window.

I'm blowing up my fresh start already.

My leg starts bouncing up and down now.

I shouldn't have shown anyone my scar.

Tears start forming in my eyes.

I'm so fucking stupid.

"Lucia?"

My eyes snap back in front of me.

Standing there is Jason Rai.

I clear my throat and give a small smile.

"Jason Rai, you remember."

He goes to sit down in front on me.

"Uh, of course. How could I forget my new pong partner. I wasn't that drunk. I think.."

I laugh and his concerned expression.

"Anyways," he says. "I do vividly remember you telling me I was your first friend here. And that is a lot of pressure. I can't just leave you to mope in a corner of the cafeteria by yourself. I would be a shit friend."

"You don't have to take pity on me Rai. I am capable of not moping in a corner if I don't want to."

He waved me off as if offended.

"No. I won't let you. It seems like you do a lots of moping and hiding. Which is why I haven't seen you for two months. That brings me to my invite. You. Me. My house. I can introduce you to my girl Kelsey she's cool. I think you'd like her."

I try to suppress a smile and the urge to tell him he's already said that before.

But instead I say.  "That sounds lovely. Here I'll give you my number so you can text me what time I should come."

"Amazing. It's gonna be so fun."

After I put in my number in his phone his eyes bulge at his screen.

"Shit I'm late for a hockey meeting." He says.

"I thought you said hockey doesn't start until two weeks from now." I say back.

He looks back up to me.

"Yea, but Ollie and I are setting up tryouts after school so we have to meet with coach to figure out what we're gonna do."

"Oh, cool." I avoid eye contact, suddenly nervous.

He puts his phone away and gets up.

"See you tonight Lucia!" I try not to grimace at the use of my middle name. Why did I even have to change it? As if they would recognize me anyways.

What's the worst thing they could find out if they do?