Mask

Chapter 5: Friends (RW)

{A/N: Picture of Ryder in the media box.}

"So," My eyes flitted between the two boys I had yet to be introduced to. They flicked back to Carter. "Who's who?"

He opened his mouth to speak but Blondie cut in. "Nicholas," He took my hand, eyes glittering with playfulness. His gaze briefly went to the other one, I assumed he was Ryder, and I could've sworn he winked. "You can call me Nick."

The boy, Nick, placed a feathery, light kiss on my hand. A slight shudder rippled through my body and I involuntarily let out a sharp breath.

I retracted my hand away from him as fast as I could without seeming too jittery or coming off as offensive. His knowing eyes glinted almost teasingly at the action.

I averted my eyes, jaw clenching. There was something about that look. I didn't dwell on it for long because the weird, tingly burning of Olive eyes' gaze brought me to look at him. His eyes were hooded, masked. His lips were curled down but it would've been unnoticeable if you weren't looking for it.

Why was I looking for it?

"Ryder, right?" I asked. He nodded, expression strangely cold. His eyes seemed to darken as he searched my face- literally just my mask, eyes, and mouth- for something unknown to me. I cocked an eyebrow under the mask and crossed my arms together tightly.

Slowly, my arms loosened and fell back to place as our eyes locked. Baby hairs stood up on my arms and I tensed up the slightest bit. A voice in the back of my was nagging me about something I couldn't quite place. His olive-green eyes swirled with flecks of black, brown and gold. I knew mine were silver with flecks of icy blue.

Carter's exaggerated cough broke us out of our mini staring contest. We looked at him simultaneously. "Sorry, someone had to break the se-" Ryder smacked him on the back, smiling sardonically through gritted teeth. "-Ouch!" I smirked at Carter's wince of pain, though it didn't stop him from finishing the sentence. "-ual tension"

My smirk fell and my eyes narrowed into a regal glare. "Carter..."

He raised his arms in surrender, a twinkle in his gray-brown eyes. I rolled my eyes and my lips sub-consciously curled up into a small smile.

We all stayed quiet for a while, not looking at each other. The atmosphere slowly made its way to border on awkward. No one knew what to do or say next.

I glanced down and fiddled with the sleeves of my outfit, gently biting my lip. I didn't know them and they didn't know me. We weren't friends, it wasn't expected of us to always be comfortable with each other as soon as we met.

I let out a sigh, looking back up. The three boys snapped their heads in my direction at the sound. I awkwardly raised my hand and glanced behind me exaggeratedly.

"Well I'm just gonna..." I waved my hand, not completing my sentence. They seemed to have gotten the memo so I just ran away from there.

Well, I was going to run. I took two steps off in the direction, but a warm hand wrapped around my arm and pulled me back, stopping me from going any further. I blew out a breath in disappointment. So close.