Holden Steele's Ruin [Completed]

Chapter 35

The cafe date yesterday was a disaster, it mostly consisted of Dylan trying to engage me in a conversation while I spaced out every few minutes. I couldn't help but think back to the brief moment I had see Holden, replaying it multiple times to identify the fleeting emotion that had seeped into his eyes.

Before long I was excusing myself, putting an end to Dylan's torture. I rightfully apologized for my uncharacteristic inattentive behavior, my chest feeling heavier when he accepted it good naturedly.

I still couldn't shake off the disappointment I had seen splayed on Holden's face earlier even as I lay on my back, staring at the blank ceiling once I had gotten back to my dorm room. I had retrieved the hoodie again, this time deliberately. I let my fingers wander over the material tentatively, urging the unsettling feeling I had to go away.

It wasn't until the wee hours of the night that it finally struck me. My hand randomly patted the space beside my pillow, searching for the smoothness of my phone. I blinked rapidly at the screen, squinting my eyes in order to get accustomed with the blinding light.

My pupils purposefully alined with the top of my screen, the current date giving me the final push I needed to go through with the ludicrous idea I had committed to. After much deliberation I decided to come clean to Holden, I wanted to tell him everything.

I should have probably waited from the sun to rise. After all, it was after midnight. Nothing good ever happens after midnight.

Driven by faux confidence, desperation and longing; I had slipped on a my shoes before tiptoeing out of the room. My freezing fingers hugged the light sweater tighter against me body as I walked down the dark streets, lengthening my strides .

I pressed my phone to my ear as I waited anxiously for him to answer. My legs twitched to make a run for it but it was too late, I had already dialed his number.

"Hello?" Holden's sleep ridden voice came through the speaker. The drumming in my chest picked up immediately, my throat suddenly drying up as I cursed myself in my head.

"H -hi" I said nervously.

He was silent for a while, the sound of shuffling sheets confirming that I had indeed woken him up from his sleep.

"Savannah?" He sounded more alert, the edge of his strong voice rising in astonishment.

"Yeah" I gulped a gust of cold air as I screwed my eyes closed. What was I thinking by coming here?

"Is something wrong?" He said in distress as more shuffling cracked through the phone.

"...no. I'm -I'm outside. Could you...could you open the door" I held my breath as I waited for his response, my eyes jumping to the rattling bush beside me.

"Fuck!" He said under his breath.

The door let out a sharp, harsh sound as it was pushed open. A barefooted, shirtless Holden sanding on the other side. He looked at me, his eyebrows knitting together. I held his eyes, resisting the urge to shudder at their intensity.

The muscles of his arms jumped as he pushed the heavy door open, silently stepping aside to let me walk past him. He followed behind me as I walked up the stairs whilst I struggled to tame the flock of butterflies in my stomach.

He closed the door to his room and turned to face me, his blank face not portraying any emotion. I bit my lip as several seconds passed in silence, his eyes watching me to gauge my motive. There was so much to sort out between us and I didn't know where to start.

"Happy birthday" I couldn't help but notice how meek my voice was, my words sounding more like a question than a statement.

"Its past midnight" he grumbled.