Holden Steele's Ruin [Completed]

Chapter 2

It had been a total of two days since I arrived at the University of Southern California. My anxiety had undoubtedly decreased, I was still jumpy and a little homesick, my heart constricting at the slightest thought of home. I could tell my mother missed me too, she had called a total of six times in those two days, sniffing as she told me how empty the house felt without me.

However, today was Monday, and the real university life would begin to kick in. I would no longer have the option to hideaway between the softness of my sheets, and pretend I wasn't self destructing.

I only had three classes today and I was determined to make it to them on time, it was like a subconscious way of telling myself I was ready for this new chapter. I grabbed my toiletries, briefly catching sight of Avery's still body under her large blanket. We had grown closer during the last two days, bonding over similar likes and hilarious YouTube videos. Her carefree nature had indefinitely been a leading front at calming my nerves. I decided not to wake her, seeing as it was still slightly early.

I walked down the hall, sighting the large blue sign labeling the bathroom and immediately scrunching my face up. I completely despise the dorm's bathrooms, the cubicles were too small, I could barely even stretch my arm freely without bumping into the age-stained walls. Furthermore, the only privacy they offered was a; thin, frail curtain that was nothing less of translucent. I guess they could be worse though, like being coed or something.

Stripping out of my pajamas, I turned on the overhead shower whilst searching blindly for my shower gel. My lips thinned when I was met by an empty space, I craned my head, noticing the small bag I kept my toiletries in was slightly ajar. Groaning, I came to the conclusion that it probably fell out as I was walking in here.

True enough, when I peeked out of the curtain, I could see it on the floor–a few feet away from my cubicle. 

I let out yet another audible groan, glaring at the white bottle lying on the floor. Seeing as I was already wet, it would be a tiresome task to put my clothes back on. I immediately formulated a plan in my head, deciding to wrap the towel around myself, quickly grab the gel and continue with my shower. Besides, what is the worst that could happen? There was no one around anyway.

I sprinted towards the gel, my eyes frantically searching the vicinity for any approaching person. Sighing in relief, I picked up the bottle, swiftly turning to run back. I was too invested in getting back to the cubicle I didn't even notice someone standing slightly behind me. I saw the collision before it happened, my slow brain registered it a little later, but it was already too late. My head roughly met with a solid clothed chest, the result was a deafening pounding between my ears. Tightly shutting my eyes, I waited for the foreseeable fall that was to come, it never came.

My hazy eyes slowly fluttered open, meeting with cold, guarded, grey eyes. I hardly took notice of the two strong arms wrapped around me, one around my waist the other holding my towel in place as I studied the man before me.

He was the physical description of tall, dark and handsome, morphed into a person. Impossibly sculpted eyebrows sat past his thick long lashes, giving way to his intense steel-like eyes. A prominent nose stood sharply in the middle of his face, leading to full pink lips that were set in a smirk. There was something about his features that seemed dark, hooded and guarded. I blinked and blinked then blinked again, confusion flooded me as I stared up at his impossibly tall frame.

I watched dumfounded, my mouth gaping open as I wordlessly stared at him tucking the edge of my towel in its original position, his finger grazing my breast as his eyes stared straight at me. The moment his skin touched mine, an involuntary shiver ran down my spine, my cheeks flaring in embarrassment.