Engraved.

✔ Chapter 3

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Should I go in? Should I not?

My head has been debating on whether to go inside the cafeteria for lunch for the past 10 minutes. I don't know whether if it would be a good idea to go in. It would certainly attract attention if I sit with the Populars for one day. Rumors would fly faster than you could say air-plane.

I take a deep breath and push the door open, I mean, What is the worst that could happen?

The cafeteria is its usual self. people are laughing, Having fun. The last time I was here I caused a food fight. The fight was fun but the out come was really horrible. It taught me a very important lesson : Never to mess with food.

I internally sigh and look around the hall to find Ashton. This is so stupid. I shouldn't have come here. My thoughts are running wild when my eyes fall on their table. Ashton is laughing, Nathan is eating, Jordan is on his laptop and Xavier is looking for something. His eyes look restless.

He makes eye-contact with me and neither of us back down. I know that there is unsaid rule in our school about how making eye-contact with the 'bad boys'. Its considered a deadly sin. Out of the corner of my eye I see that the chattering on their table has died and now Nathan and Ashton look at Xavier. When their eyes follow his gaze Nathan seems to be shocked, Ashton's face lights up.

Nathan nudges Jordan and he looks up fixing his glasses. The moment his eyes land on me he seems....impressed. I still haven't broken eye-contact with Xavier.

''Katrina over here,'' Ashton shouts and the laughter in the lunch hall dies immediately after he calls out my name. The cheerleaders gasps, the jocks are petrified and the other students are looking at me then at Ashton's table.

I walk over to their table and sit down. I feel uncomfortable with all the stares and the glares burning holes in my back.

Xavier senses my discomfort and in a low deadly tone say, ''Don't you know it is rude to stare.''

People look away faster than lighting and the cafeteria is once again filled with the chatters of people.

''Who's the chick, Ashton?'' Nathan says.

Don't say it. Think before you speak. Hold back your tongue. Aah! Too late.

''I am sorry, neither do I have feathers nor do I lay eggs then why in the world are you calling me a chick?'' I ask, my voice laced with loads of sass.

''I like you, Jordan, Nice to meet you.'' Jordan says and offers me a warm smile.

''Katrina, and I know who you all are,'' I say.

You see the problem with me is that I don't care of what other people think if me. I say what's on my mind and many people don't like me because of that.

My eyes meet again with Xavier's and I stare at his eyes.

His eyes search mine but I know that he wont be able to find answers or figure me out by just looking into my eyes. He is uncertain of who I am. Trying to figure out. But in order to do that I first need to figure and sort myself out otherwise there will be no escape from this horrible labyrinth that we prefer to call the World.

He won't ever be able to find who I truly am unless and until I show it to him.

For a change, I can see right through him. He's been through a lot and he hides all of that behind that hard exterior of his. He's gone through pain. Alot of it.

He's strong. He's a fighter and he doesn't know his worth. From the way he sits, to the way he talk, it is quite obvious to those who have eyes.

I break my stare from his eyes because I don't want to discover more of him. I am not sure if I will be able to stop. Once I find a mystery, I stop at nothing until I have completely figured it out.

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