Holden Steele's Ruin [Completed]

Chapter 3

Avery and I had agreed to meet at Cathie's, the same cafe I had been to on Monday, for a late lunch. It has been a blissful couple of days since my first day, rather monotonous but peaceful nonetheless. I walked into the cafe after my only class, immediately spotting my favourite table, by the window.

I pulled out my sketch book, deciding to draw as I waited on Avery. My hand began to move, the pencil stroking lightly against the plain paper. Barely conscious of what my hand had created, I watched in horror and amazement as the rough sketch of an eye met mine. I let the thin pencil fill in the line, shading appropriately to give the eye life. I was embarrassingly aware of what my subconscious mind had led my hand to draw but I foolishly let it. Grey eyes, familiar cold grey eyes were what I had drawn.

The bell above the door chimed, signaling someone's arrival while my eyes fastened on the grimy sunny-blonde. Avery noisily made her way towards me, a slightly annoyed look in her eyes. I immediately smiled at her, rapidly snapping my notebook shut.

"Sorry I'm late, class was a major drag." she quipped exasperatedly, dropping her bag on the floor and plopping sloppily on the padded seat. "I'm starving! I sear I could eat a goddamn cow!" She exclaimed, her dramatic nature making an appearance.

"I'll go order something. What do you want?" I stood up, randomly stuffing my sketch book into my bag. After Avery listed off what she was having, I joined the short line.

I expertly recited the order to the familiar barista, I had come by the coffee shop everyday since Monday, hence the semi familiarity between us. Truly, the only thing about him that I knew was that he was called Dylan and he was a sophomore.

"Here you go, Savannah." he slid my order in front of me, passing me a wink. I smiled rather shyly, hiding behind my hair while quickly walking towards our table, a light pink covering my cheeks at the inconspicuous gesture.

I arrived at the table to an enraged Avery glaring holes into her phone. Her perfectly plucked eyebrows pinched slightly, her olive skin tinting red with clear displeasure. Taking a wild guess, I pinned her frustration on her brother. I was accustomed to the face she was making, she was probably cursing her brother in her head. I had done it too, until I couldn't anymore.

"That was Archer, he's probably going to show up here soon. I promise I didn't tell him where we are, his just so fucking annoying!" I stiffened a smile at her annoyance, proving my earlier assumption right.

"It's fine really, I don't mind." I said, trying to lessen her obvious guilt at her brother's intrusion. She relaxed visibly, her tense shoulders dropping as her trademark carefree-smile spread on her lips. Avery immediately jumped into telling me about her first design assignment and her obvious excitement.

The bell chimed minutes later, revealing a grinning Archer. His eyes swept over the cafe, resting on our table before he lengthened his strides, moving towards Avery and I. The hairs on the back of my neck immediately erected at the sight of the dark haired guy from the bathroom. I watched, together with half the cafe, as he sauntered casually behind Archer. How he could make a simple pair of black jeans and a plain white shirt look that good was beyond me.

As if feeling my stare on him, he slowly tilted his head, meeting our eyes. Looking at the brilliant grey eyes now, I couldn't help but think about how dull and lifeless my sketch seemed as compered to the real thing. I was the first to break the eye contact, staring intently at my half-eaten muffin. Even when his scalding stare drilled holes into my head, I didn't flatter, wanting to at least keep a shred of dignity.

"Hey, beautiful." Archer said while dropping an arm over the back of my chair.

I frowned at the lack of reaction my body provided. How could I turn into a shuddering mess with one look from him, but not have any response whatsoever to Archer touch? Involuntarily, I glanced at the steely eyed stranger, surprised to find his gaze on Archer's arm on the back of my chair, his jaw clenched.