A Bowen's Pawn (18+)

His head pops up, gray hair sticking up at odd angles.

His glasses rest low on his nose as he squints at me.

"Well, you're quite late. Selah Bowen, I presume?"

The name freezes me, just for a second.

I can feel intense eyes on me as I recover, giving him a sharp smile that doesn't reach my eyes.

"It's Selah Melrose," I say, with a tight lipped smile.

"I'd appreciate it if you kept up."

He mutters something while typing on his prehistoric computer.

"Glitch in the system," he says dismissively.

"Take a seat, Miss Bowen sorry, Miss Melrose, and find a partner for your history homework."

I blink, then arch a brow. "Partner?"

"Yes, partner," he replies, barely looking at me.

"Columbia is a very welcoming place."

"Sure it is," I mutter under my breath, turning to find a seat.

I dodge an eraser and take a seat in the back, where I can keep my eyes on everyone and the door.

I turn slowly, my gaze locking onto a pair of eyes.

He's slouching in his chair relaxed.

I take him in mismatched eyes that are currently peeling back every layer of my skin.

His eye a dark green, the other an icy blue.

His thick brows furrow slightly, a piercing drawing my attention.

Tattoos snake up his neck and intricate designs adorn his fingers.

His full lips curl slightly around the toothpick he's chewing, but there's no humor in his expression.

Just an intense gaze.

He looks like he wants to kill me. Probably because he does.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer," I say holding eye contact.

He chuckles, a low, deep humorless rumble.

"It's nice to meet you too, Bowen." He grumbles.

"It's Melrose," I say, leaning forward slightly.

"You must have really good hearing."I mumble.

He hums, rolling his toothpick lazily between his teeth.

"What an entrance, late and loud," He says, his voice deep and scratchy.

"Aren't you just a ray of sunshine?" I say holding his gaze.