His Peace

How We met

I remember that night like it was yesterday. My friends and I were hanging out on the college balcony talking about all the work we had to get done in our second year of college. I was standing next to my best friend, Amara, eating a snack discussing one of our courses and how we intend to approach it when I felt like someone was watching me. I looked around for a while and didn't see anything out of the usual. Maybe I was just tired, after all, it was almost 7 pm. We continued our discussion, and I felt it again . This time, when I raised my head, I made direct eye contact with him.
'He was standing on the opposite balcony talking with another guy, who I later learned was his best friend. However, his eyes never left mine. I felt like I was in a trance. His eyes held me captive for a while, and I couldn't find it in me to escape, shit I didn't want to escape. I don't know how long I stood there staring at those dark hooded eyes when he eventually broke the spell and looked back at his friend but not before giving a slight smirk, like he knew he had me at that exact moment.

The next night at college one of our lecturers was ill and couldn't make the 5-6pm class so Amara, Lulu, Andria and I decided to take a walk around campus to check out the new First years and to see our favorite first year lecturer, Sir Jaundo. Sir Jaundo was our linguistics lecturer, and he was the best hands down. At this time I had forgotten about dark eyes from the night before so when we reached the first year's classroom and was about to enter Sir Jaundo's class laughing at some crazy shit Andria was saying, I bumped into someone and almost fell. Luckily, the individual had a firm hand around my waist and pulled me to their chest. Damn he smells good, I thought to myself as I steady myself resting my hand on the person's chest. I raised my head to thank whoever it was and came face to face with a really handsome guy. He had a short buzz cut black hair, chiseled face structure, gorgeous golden eyes that lit up with his smile, and did I mention he smells phenomenal.

" Watch it there, baby girl. Are you okay?" He asked as he removed his hand from my waist and rested it on my shoulders.

"Yes, thank you very much." I replied. Something about him made me feel very comfortable. He had the sweetest, friendliest smile.
" I'm Kayden, by the way, May I ask the name of you gorgeous ladies?" Awwww, he is so sweet. I could see the girls blushing next to me. I must say he was very attractive, but he kind of gives off the trusting big brother vibe to me. I turned to my girls and introduced them.

"I'm Zenobia, this is my best friend Amara, this is Lulu and this is Andria." The girls waved at him, and he waved back, but I noticed he had an eye for my girl, Mara, who was acting all shy next to me, which was shocking. Let me tell you something about Amara she is never shy. Out of our group, Amara and I were the only single ones.

"Beautiful names for beautiful women." He mentioned making Mara turn a deeper shade of red because he was staring at her when he made that statement. He then turned to his side and introduced us to his best friend, who I didn't notice was there until he pointed him out. There standing next to Dave was the most handsome guy I have ever seen. He was about 5'8", white, dressed in black jeans, a black shirt, covered in a black hoodie and a cap. He had the most captivating eyes, which at the moment looked grey with a hint of green. His face was dead serious, not a hint of smile, unlike Kayden, and he had this mysterious aura about him. He was studying me like I was a book he needed to pass an exam and surprisingly I wasn't uncomfortable with it.

" Ladies, this is my boy, Marshall. Marshall, the ladies." He politely shook the girls' hand, who, by the way, was looking at him star struck and nodded in acknowledgment to them. Still no smile. Then he turned to me and took my hands. His hand felt rough and soft at the same time. It was firm and warm and sent shivers down my spine. I stared at our connected hands, wondering what the fudge just happened, then slowly raised my head to meet his piercing gaze. His eyes seem to be an intense ice blue color holding me captive again just like the night before.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Zenobia. You have a powerful name. " I snapped out of my trance on hearing his voice, and damn did he have a sexy voice.

"Thank you. My parents wanted something unique." He just nodded and slowly let my hand go, but he kept eye contact. I guess he went back to studying me.

Turning away from him, I looked at Kayden, " Thank you again it was nice meeting you. We're heading to see Sir Jaundo. See you guys around." And with that, I walked off. I wasn't the type to be rude but I hated interacting with people, I always have a resting bitch face, and I like small circles. I am brutally honest and as Amara would say I have no heart. Which isn't true, I love deeply and I realised that when you love deeply you hurt more so I am very particular with who is around me and who has access to me. These girls have seen me through it all. That is why the version of me you see around them is not the version you see anywhere else. I love these girls.

I didn't even notice the girls weren't with me until I reached Sir Jaundo's desk. I turned to see them still talking with Dave while Marshall was just standing there with his hands in his pockets staring at me again. At this time his stares are making me nervous. Nervous in the sense that it seems like he can see my inner thoughts. I did what I would usually do to get people away from me. Act like an ass. So I looked him dead in the eye and flipped him the middle finger 🖕 and just as I was about to look away I saw a slight lift of his lips which he covered quickly by biting his lips. Hot damn.

After a while the girls joined me and Mara had a huge smile on her face. I guess her and Kayden are hitting it off. We chatted with Sir Jaundo and head back to our side of the campus for our classes. The rest of the night was uneventful really just filled with classes and the girls teasing Mara about Kayden and giving me weird looks.

Class over early and Lulu and Andria's husband's invited us to a dance around the block. I refused but Mara went with them. I took out my head phones and went to the back of the college building and sat on the fire escape steps. It was so breezy out here and peaceful.

I closed my eyes, listening to some music, enjoying the quiet when I felt a presence behind me. I slowly turned around to see Marshall there looking at me again with those intense eyes that seem to look hazel. Like what's up with his eye colours?

"Hi. May I help you with something? " I asked but my tone was not friendly at all. I mean I wasn't trying to be rude or anything but at this point I just wanted my peace.
He just shrug and sat on the treadersji above me, taking out his headphones, a note pad and pen. I guess he is also here for the peace. I turned back around and closed my eyes again completely shutting out the world, waiting for Mara to call me so I can get her from the dance.

After about two hours my phone rang. Mara was ready. So I got up from the steps, grabbed my bag and started to make my way downstairs.

"Good night Zenobia." I quickly turned around in shock and accidentally missed a step which in turn sent me tumbling. Marshall quickly got up and grabbed me by my waist pulling me to him. I totally forgot he was still there. My heart was racing, that would've been a terrible fall.

I looked at him. He was starring at me again. Being this close to him made me feel some kind of way. Remember that shiver I felt when he held my hands? Well it's back ten folds. My body felt hot and I swear my brain stopped working for a second or two. My heart was still racing but for an entirely different reason. What the hell is wrong with me? I slowly stepped out of his arms and thanked him.

"Thank you for that." I said and he just shrug but still kept his eyes on me. I took a deep breath and continued my journey down the stairs. I didn't have to look back to know that he was staring at me. I round the corner and went to my car. Holy fudge that was intense! I took another deep breath and drove off to pick up Mara.