Blood & Winter

Chapter 2 : First Impressions

Hey there everyone... show me some love and like share and comment!! Thanks so much for reading!!!! I know it's a bit slow but I promise if you keep reading things start to happen... this is just the first draft of the first book in a series!!! So keep it in mind it's still got alot of work and editing to be done.....

Well part of him anyways.

       He sat with three other people, who were laughing and joking, as he sat reading a book. Obviously uninterested in the racket they were making.
I had to squint my eyes even more, trying to read the title of the book, but it was too blurry for me to make out. I pushed my hand down into my purse, never taking my eyes off of him, and cursed myself for not wearing my glasses. I knew I needed to, but I hated the feeling of having them sitting all day on my nose.
       I shoved them onto my face, accidently smacking myself on the nose in the process. I drew in a quick breath as the cover of the book came into clear view.
        It was the exact same book I had in my bag. The same book I had been lugging around with me for years. A collection of quotes and sonnets by Pablo Neruda. I leaned slightly to the left trying to get a better view of his face. I could only see the half that wasn't buried deep in the book. But the half I did see was what had made my breath stop.
       His skin was like cream and seemed to glow in the dim light of the diner. His lips were a beautiful dusty pink, and he smiled every now and then as he came across something scattered along the pages that he liked. But the thing that stood out the most, of the little I was able to see, were his eyes...
       They were a bright green that almost seemed to glow beneath the fluorescent light. They seemed to speed across the pages, as he took in the words.
       Put down the book. Why won't you put down the book already? I felt as though I needed to see the rest of his face. He was breath taking, bewitching even. There was no other way to describe it. I had never seen anyone who looked like him. He smiled again. And then finally placed his book down, folding the corner of the page he was on, keeping his place.
        He nodded to something the redhead to his left was saying to him, smirked, and then he turned and looked directly at me.
       Crap, crap, crap. Did he see me oggling him? I quickly turned my eyes down to my plate. As I moved my hand towards my fork, I almost knocked over the tall, glistening glass that held my milkshake. Crap. Damn clutz. I shoved the straw down, stirring it, to even out the lumps inside.
       It was as if I couldn't breathe as I felt his green eyes searching my face. It felt as though they were sending coils of heat slowly through my entire body. I fought against the urge to look up at him again, but in the end lost to curiosity. He smiled at me, and then turned back to his friend, and nodded again.
       He smiled at me. What planet was I on that he would smile at me, that way?
When I looked this way.
       I self-consciously smoothed down my hair. It felt limp and almost oily to the touch. I grimaced at my failure of keeping myself halfway presentable while grieving.
        I looked back down at my plate, and picked up a piece of bacon, biting into it, as my stomach growled at me, annoyed that I had denied it a proper meal for so many days.
       From the corner of my eye, I saw the god like creature across the room smiled again, as though he had heard the roar of my hungry stomach all the way across the loud diner. I felt myself blush at the thought.
       I tried to concentrate on my food. Forcing down each bite, and each sip of the milkshake, which was absolutely delicious, while trying not to look at him and stare.
      Suddenly the place across from me in the booth I was occupying was filled. From the sudden shock I took a deep breath while my mouth my full, and a piece of bacon lodged itself in my throat. The air that was already in my lungs was trapped, trying to force its way out. The air outside my lungs teased me cruelly, dancing before my eyes.
       I was choking. Right in front of this beautiful creature, I was freaking choking.
       Before I realized what was happening, a pair of arms, strong, and hard as stone, wrapped themselves around me, forcing the bacon up, and out of its deathly hold on my throat. The air rushed into my lungs, sweet, and cool. My eyes watered, and my knees buckled beneath me. I felt myself being placed down gently, back on to the soft seat of the booth.
       Instantaneously two bright green eyes, were staring up into mine. The world swam around me, and I felt faint. I had no clue whether it was to the lack of air I had recently had, or because of this... godly being kneeling before me.
I found myself breathing in short gasps of air. My heart was pounding in my chest like a drum. My hands shook, and as I glanced down at them, he took them firmly in his. I couldn't help but notice that his hands were ice cold.
       Jet black hair set off the green of his eyes. They were like two jades glittering back at me. They slanted up slightly at the corners, giving him a slight feline look. His cheekbones were high and chiseled beautifully. His nose was small and perfect, but I could immediately tell it was natural. His lips were full and even pinker up close and were accompanied by a set of perfectly straight white teeth. His smile dazzled me as he stared up into my face. I couldn't disconnect my eyes from his.
       "Are you well?" His voice was soft, gentle, with hunts of and Irish accent. And full of concern. "Can I get you something? A glass of water?"
       He picked up a napkin and dabbed at my forehead. Beads of sweat had formed across the ridge of my brow. I tried to speak, but instead, settled for a lopsided, shaky smile. He stood and motioned for me to slide farther into the booth. I glanced across the room and saw his three friends staring at me, taking the scene in, in obvious amusement. I slid deeper into the booth, making room for him to sit down, still barely finding the ability to use my voice.
      "T-t-thank y-you." I managed to somehow squeak out. I reached for my milkshake, and took a long sip. It was cool, and slid down my throat, relieving the burning sensation left from choking. I couldn't bring myself to meet his eyes again, so I just continued to stare down at my plate.
       "August." He said smiling at me, with a smile that seemed to make a warmth burn from deep inside me.
       "What? No it's only April." I shook my head at him in confusion. Suddenly the room was filled with a sound that I could listen to for the rest of my life. He had his head thrown back and was laughing. His eyes closed and his pink lips spread in a breath taking smile.
       "No, no. My name is August, August Hartigan." He held out his hand, taking my hand in his, gently taking my own in his, and bringing up to his lips, as he placed a kiss softly against it. It cause a shiver to run down my spine, and a fire to spread throughout my body, as they made contact with my skin. They were so soft. "Are you sure you're okay?"
       I had to collect myself immediately, before I made and even bigger fool of myself than I already had. Choking? Really Cass.
     "Really, I'm okay. Just a little shaky. Thank you. My names Cassandra Olega, but everyone just calls me Cassie, or Cass." Yea great, ramble on now too, you're a freaking genius. "Can I offer you something to drink or eat? I mean, you just saved my life." I felt my cheeks burn as I fumbled over the idiotic words tumbling out of my mouth.
       "I'm sorry for startling you the way I did." He smiled at me, and I couldn't stop myself from smiling back at him. He gave me a feeling of absolute comfort. I felt completely at ease with him all of a sudden. And I never felt at ease around people anymore. I had gotten used to being alone, because I was suspicious of everyone.
       "What are you doing out here in the middle of nowhere? Where are you headed?" He asked.
      "Why, are you going to follow me now?" I joked at him. It felt like I was sitting with an old friend. It was really weird. The food thay was being pushed around on my plate, was now cold, and I had honestly lost my appetite anyway.
       I looked out the window, and saw that the rain was still coming down in buckets. I sighed. I had hoped I would make it at least through New Mexico today. I would just have to wait out the storm. Although, if he kept me company, I doubt I would mind the wait.
       "I may." He answered after a moment's silence. I had lost track and didn't fully understand what he meant.