Chapter one
And So You Met Him
Pushing past the swelling crowds pressing their ways out of the university gate I can finally take a breath of fresh air. "Well that was tedious". I had just finished my final exam, and after the three hours of constant writing, stress and the freezing exam hall I was finally free and on my way home. Shoving my pencil case back into my backpack I found my headphones and picked on Pierce The Veil as the backing music for my journey home.
As I stopped at the bus station the rain began falling, causing the mass of pedestrians to herd themselves through the already crowded bus shelter, not minding the people already waiting under its protective cover. All of a sudden a weight threw itself into my side sending me flying, head first into the road. But I don't hit the floor, instead I ended up wrapped in warmth and shining silver. Looking up the sliver continued above my head. What's going on? what is all this silver stuff? It's beautiful. Soon enough the beautiful silver mass was brushed aside and the world returned to its former dull grey mass of rain and bustling streets.
Instead of the glinting silver sky there was a face, paler than normal peoples and with a thin scar running from one side to the other, and up and under the long bangs covering his eyes. His strong arms were wrapped around my waist keeping me from falling to the floor. "Are you alright? Did you hit anything?" Finally snapping out of my phase I realise my hands are clinging desperately to the front of his shirt. "I…..I….I'm sorry, I didn't mean to fall on you." After prying my hands from his shirt I expected him to let me go too, but his strong arms remained securely around my waist. Pulling me closer, a flash of green appears for an instant from behind the silver strands. Was that his eyes? Why does he hide them?
"I'm sorry, I would let you go but you're shivering and I'm afraid that if I let you go your beautiful face might go blue". The warmth radiating off his body seeped through my thin jacket and started to warm my skin. I hadn't realised just how soaked I had gotten walking through the rain, and just how cold I actually was. But even with my protests he still did not release me until he was perfectly satisfied that I was warm enough to stand on my own.
When I was finally allowed to stand on my own I am able a look at the man who helped me. He was taller than me by a few inches, he was at least 6'1, his thin pale body was covered with tight jeans and a long black jacket with skulls, chains and pins adorning his waist. His long silver hair is far longer than any thing I had seen, but sadly even stood up it still covered his eyes. The scar on his face wasn't the only one as he had another running across his neck, with another on his little finger. Why does he have so many scars, surely they can't be real.
Without realising I had ended up trying to stare through the silver strands of fringe to see the eyes which lie beneath, but of course I hadn't realised this until his face was again only inches away from my own.
"Ahh I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare, it's just… just… well…you have really lovely hair. NO WAIT. I didn't mean….ahhh I'm sorry please forgive me, I didn't mean to blurt it out like that, I'm so sorry." Jumping back I try to find a hiding place in the corner of the bus shelter away from the other waiting passengers. However an odd laugh caused me to glance up yet again. It was him, laughing at how I had hidden myself into the corner.
"It's really ok Dearie I'm used to it, a lot of people try to see under my hair, I find it's harder for them to read me with it covering my eyes. Oh and thank you for the compliment, it's even nicer when it's dry". Even with his words I am still unable to forget my embarrassment, that is until an announcement is read out by another passenger from the time table board above our heads. "All buses are cancelled until tomorrow morning, what?" "But it's raining" "I wonder why their cancelled". "Damn, oh well I suppose I should start walking then".
Before I can even turn in the direction of home a hand stops me. Turning back I find the man holding onto my arm with a worried look on his face. "You can't walk home in this you'll catch your death, you're probably going to end up ill after this already anyway. Please I live really close I could drive you home". He doesn't even know me, I'm just some kid that happened to bump into him. Oh wait, I know what this is, he's one of those men that pick up boys off the street to lock them in their basements and do horrible things to them for years before they kill them. Well I'm not being any part of that. "Um, no thanks I don't know you, it would be rude to just hitch a lift with you without knowing you properly. Plus I'm stronger than I look I wont get sick, thanks though." Again trying to turn away he grips my arm tighter. Wow he's persistent. "Please I know what your thinking and I'm not a creep, and I do know you, we met once at a funeral, of course you were a lot younger then, but I still remember. So please just let me drive you home." What is he talking about, wouldn't he have been fairly young too. "No it's really ok, and no I don't remember, sorry." However it still didn't make him release his hand.
"I don't mind if you don't remember. But please just let me drive you home, it makes me worry when you walk home alone". What? "Wait, what? You follow me home? You expect me to just let you take me home when you're going to follow me anyway, what kind of person are you? I'm going home." Spinning around I manage to release his hand as I storm away towards home. "WAIT, PLEASE". He still managed to grab my shoulder as I was walking away. "Please at least take my umbrella with you. Please?" He forced a black folded umbrella into my hand and let my arm go, never looking away from me. Snatching the umbrella from his hand I turn my back to him again. "Thanks I suppose, but just please don't follow me home." Finally free from his hold I took the opportunity to get further away from him, and started walking home.