Thorns & Horns

Chapter Three

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"What happened to you yesterday?"

I snapped out of my thoughts and turned towards Stephanie. The lunch room was roaring with voices, but I could still make out her words.

"I had a little panic attack. My brother came to pick me up."

Stephanie reached out, grasping my arm. I flinched at the sudden contact.

"Hadley, are you okay?" She asked with genuine concern.

"I'm fine Steph, just a little panic attack. It was my first day, I flipped out a little, so what? No need to worry." I reassured her. I went back to picking at my school lunch. That was one thing I did not miss about this school.

That and a bunch of worthless homework.

"Well make sure to let me know if you need anything, alright?" I gave her a tight lipped smile. I didn't like to be treated like this. Like I was a broken expensive vase everyone was so desperately trying to glue back together. Though I'm not expensive.

My eye caught onto something.

Two figures walked in. I stared at them analyzing every detail of them. One of them was familiar.

It was the stranger from yesterday. The one who helped me to the main office.

"Steph?"

"Hmm," She hummed, looking up at me.

"Who are those two guys that just walked in?" I pointed to the direction of the two strangers. She looked into the direction of the two.

She turned towards me a smile on her face. "Those two? Well, that is Eden and Lincoln West. They're gorgeous, I know."

I glanced back over to them. The one I was familiar with sat on the left, while I'm assuming his brother sat on the right.

"Which one is which?"

She gave me a questioning look, "Intrigued are we?"

"Just answer the question." I looked down, heat rising to my face.

"Lincoln is the one on the right with black straight hair, brushed to the side. And Eden is the one with the adorable curls." Stephanie answered, practically drooling over the two.

"I see." I replied, not taking my eyes off the boys.

"Why so interested?"

I looked over at Stephanie as she waited for my answer. I sighed finally giving in. "Eden caught me in the hallway during my panic attack."

"Shut the hell up!" I cringed as Stephanie screeched her words. Practically the whole lunch room was staring at us.

"Could you yell any louder?" I hissed, ducking behind my sweater.

"Sorry," she whispered.

I glanced up at the two boys and froze. Eden was staring at me. His emerald green eyes made goosebumps raise on my arms. I felt uncomfortable under his gaze, but it didn't feel like a bad thing.

"So tell me what happened." I looked over at Stephanie before answering her command.

"Nothing really happened. He just found me in the halls during one of my attacks, and then walked me to the office." I shifted in my seat, still feeling the gaze of Eden.

"That's it?" Disappointment masked Stephanie's face.

I shrugged, "That's it."

We went back to our lunch, but I couldn't help thinking.