golden eyes | irwin [HIATUS]

four - surprise

Ariel

I turn quickly to face him, the smell of cigarette smoke making my nose twitch and my throat itch. I cough a little, my eyes narrowed at his shadowy figure. I still can't see the upper half of his face, but at least this is some improvement.

"Long time no see," he greets me, smoke dancing from between his parted lips. I didn't know that he smoked. Of course I wouldn't, I've known him since literally last night. It's unusual seeing him so up close when I wasn't even able to look at him. "Enjoying the party?"

"Are you?" I ask instead, taking note of the fact that I've sobered up a small fraction.

I see him smile and my eyes catch on the sizable divets in his cheeks; he has dimples, okay, I love dimples.

Despite it being dark and cold out here, the interest I have in the human being before me is far too great to do anything about my shivering. I take a chance and step forward, my eyes observing his cool body language. He doesn't seem bothered by it, so I move closer again. I remember I asked him a question and stop.

"So, are you gonna answer me or not?"

He takes the cigarette away from his mouth and drops it uncaringly on the wooden porch, stomping it out. I glower at him, partly surprised. I shouldn't be, though. He climbs through my window into my room; this is nothing.

"I guess you could say that I am, but only after you chased me out here."

I gasp. "I didn't chase you out here! I needed to breathe some clean, fresh air…although, you smoking doesn't make it very clean." I grimace, and he chuckles. I see his teeth, so white they look as if they're glowing in the darkness.

He crosses his arms over his chest, leaning on the wall of the house. I can't tell if he has muscles or not because of his hoodie, but he seemed strong last night when he had his hand over my mouth. I'll just imagine that he does. "What, do you not like smoking?"

I roll my eyes. It always comes down to these kinds of questions. I shrug, playing with the ends of my hair. "I mean, I've only done it once, and I nearly threw up afterwards. I don't know how you take that as an answer, but—" I shut my mouth for a fleeting moment. "Why am I telling you this, exactly? You're a complete stranger!" I exclaim, throwing my hands up in frustration.

I seem to babble a lot and can never shut myself up around certain people.

He laughs, "You'd be surprised, sweets."

I'd be surprised? What the hell is that supposed to mean?

"You know what? You seem to know a whole lot about me, Mr. Elusive. Care to share a little about yourself?" I change the subject, trying to act sophisticated as I grab a chair to sit in. I nearly miss the seat and attempt to cover it up. I don't think he was paying attention. Phew.

He mumbles something under his breath, and I swear I hear, "I was." I shiver and ignore it.

"What do you want to know?" He asks me as he sits down on the side of the table opposite to mine.

I bite my lips, leaning downward to try and look up underneath his hood to see the rest of his face, but he has it concealed well. "How about we start with…your name?" I suggest.

He lets out a breath. "I suppose I can tell you that," he replies, folding his hands on the surface of the smooth and freezing glass table. He doesn't flinch away at the contact, and I begin to think he might be superhuman or something. Or just really warm. I like warmth. "I'm Ashton."

Ashton. I like it.

"Of course you do," he breathes out, and this time I hear it.

"Did I say something out loud?" I question, completely confused because he sounds as if he's saying things regarding my thoughts, and I'm a little freaked out. He was doing it last night. The air alters around us and I tense my muscles anxiously.