Delicate

ice cold

୭ ˚○◦˚. Theo ୭ ˚○◦˚.

"Fifteen flares inside those ocean eyes"

March 17, 2005

"Lad, tell me if you're actually riding Gracelyn?" My best friend—Asher Ford—asked the second I walked into school.

"We are dating, ya eejit," I chuckled, smiling to myself.

Grace had asked me out a couple days ago and I was fucking ecstatic. I never thought she'd want to be official but here we were.

"Well, fuck me," He grinned, "How'd you manage that?"

"I honestly couldn't tell you," I shrugged, "But she asked me to be her boyfriend like two days ago."

"William is going to beat your ass," Asher snorted, "He's been after the girl for months now."

"He can do whatever he wants but he's not getting her," I snapped, "Or anywhere near her for that matter."

"You're already pussy whipped," He laughed, "What did I say about that, Theodore?"

Asher was always on my case about how much of a 'lover boy' I was. I guess I caught feelings fast and hard. Which he said was because of my mommy and daddy issues.

He was one of the only people who knew about my home life, mostly because I trusted the lad with my whole life.

"Drop it," I snapped, "I don't need a lecture from you."

"You can tell me to drop it but we both know I won't," He winked, following me to my locker.

"Theo! Theo!" Mia's voice shouted from across the hall, and I quickly turned around to look for my little sister.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, wondering what the hell my first year sister was doing in the fourth year common area.

"Yeah, grand," She nodded, "I'm just letting you know, dad texted, he's coming home tonight."

I could hear the worry in her voice and I was sure it matched the worry etched on my face.

I didn't want my dad to come home—and I knew Mia didn't either—his presence came with violence and tears.

And me having to protect my two little sisters.

"What do we do?" Mia lowered her voice, "I don't want him to come home."

"It'll be grand," I lied, "Try not to worry. I'll be home at half five."

Of course he chose today to return. A day I had rugby practice and he could get my sisters alone and say terrible fucked up shit or wail them with his fists.

I knew Mia hated him—the same way I did—but Ivory didn't understand. No matter how much pain he inflicted on her, she would come crawling back to him. She was like a puppy in that way.

And it pained me to watch. She didn't know why her love was pushed away and Mia nor I could ever begin to explain it to her.

"But, Theo, the last black eye just went away," Her lip quivered—her tough girl persona cracking—reminding me of the ten year old girl I raised.

"It'll be grand," I repeated, "I'll try and skip practice to get home early. Just go to class, I won't let you get hurt."

It was a shit response, but what the hell else was I supposed to say? Every time one of them got a bruise or a scratch I blamed myself.

Because I didn't protect them.

I watched her scurry off in the direction of the first year wing, with my heart beating rapidly.

"You alright?" Asher asked, his eyes full of sympathy.

"Fine," I swallowed hard, "Lets just get to class."

"Alright," He nodded.

My eyes locked on a familiar pair of blue ones and I felt myself stop in my tracks. Cassandra was glaring at me, her long black hair falling out of her hood and wired earbuds leading into her pocket.

"Actually, you go on without me," I muttered, feeling the strong urge to talk to her.

Asher gave me a strange look before nodding and jogging off towards class. I inhaled a deep breath and walked over to where Cassandra was leaning against a set of lockers.

"Hey," I offered her a warm smile.

She gave me an icy glare and crossed her arms over her chest, "Can I help you?"

God, this girl was the opposite of sunshine.

"I just wanted to ask if you were alright," I hummed, "You know, since yesterday?"

"I thought I told your girlfriend to let you know I don't need your help," She hissed.

Yeah, Grace had told me that Cassandra had told her off but that didn't mean I was going to listen. This girl had obviously been through something in order to make her so cold.

"She did," I nodded, "But I don't exactly care."

"You should," She snapped, "I don't want to be your friend, Theodore. I don't want anything to do with you."

"And why is that?" I asked.

"Because I don't need anyone," Her expression was stone but her eyes bore so many emotions. They were ice blue and looked like they concealed a world of pain.

"Everyone needs someone," I shrugged, "I'm not asking to be your friend, I was just asking if you were alright."

"And I said to leave me alone," She sneered, storming away from me.

I felt her iciness surround me, even in her absence.

But for some reason it just made me more intrigued.

Why was she so set on shutting the world out?
Why was she so closed off?

And why the hell did I care?