ˈsü-ə-ˌsīd

-ə-

Four years prior

Xaira fans the thick cloud of smoke that reeked of marijuana as her dark eyes try to adjust in the crowded room of the first floor of the house party. She squeezes through the drunken and inebriated souls who were not cognizant of her presence until her eyes hand on a spot right beside a hooded teen who looked to be out of it.

"You smell like a brewery." She shouts to one of the men passing her by until she's just feet away from the couch. Truth be told she didn't want to show up to the party but had made a promise to one of her classmates that she'd show face for a while, the problem was she had yet to find her and was debating on leaving.

"Hey you!" She plops down on the couch and looks at the teen with the hood over his head, eyes wandering around the sea of people with his hands hidden in the pockets of his hoodie.

"Ketchup boy, right?!" She questions, pulling his hood back so she could get a full look of his face and dark, nearly black curls.

"My name is Niko." He mutters to her, pulling his hood back over his head as he rests it on the back of the couch. Just as he's about to slip his hand back in his pocket Xaira grabs it and holds it in her small hands. Her dark eyes look over the small lacerations before they shift to his brown eyes. He gently tugs at his wrist, trying to free it from her hold only to wince when she tightens her grip.

"It's okay, I have some too." She says giving him a gentle smile as she lets his wrist go just to push her many bracelets back, showing him hers. Some were old and already healed, leaving behind scars while others were still in their healing process, even a few having dried up liquid that's purpose was the travel through her arteries and veins within her being.

Niko stares down at her wrist, mouth slightly ajar as his fingers tug at the end of his sleeve, trying his best to hide his own markings but Xaira grabs his wrist once again. He bites his tongue when she presses her thumb against a fresh one, reopening the wound that was taking days to close. "I have a band-aid so it's not too itchy, can I put it on you?" She looks into his eyes that held pain, nearly similar to her own except he seemed to be fighting back tears the longer the two looked at one another.

Out of respect she looks elsewhere and reaches into the pocket of her black Tapout joggers for an extra large band-aid patch. She often kept a few on her just in case one of her own wounds opened. Niko watches as she aids  his wound, bringing the end of her shirt to her lips moistening it with her  tongue before dabbling it against his skin.

"There! It's waterproof too so you won't have to worry when you wash your hands or even shower." He looks down at the bandage and smiles. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, so why are you sitting here by yourself it's a party shouldn't you be dancing with a cutie?" She inquires tilting her head as she takes in his features. Dark mesmerizing eyes that held sorrow within them, high cheekbones lightly covered in delicate freckles and pink, plump lips that held a natural pout. His top one being a tad bit fuller than his bottom.

"I only came because my sister dragged me along." He huffs, sinking further into the brown couch that was covered in stains. Some were even questionable but he didn't want to let his mind wander off that far afraid that he would grow sick. "Well, where is she?" Niko shrugs and looks down at his bandage, smiling a bit. He lifts his head and looks at Xaira who too wore a smile, hers of course was radiant and welcoming, calming him down even though her presence alone frightened him.