Scarred Knight

He was here

Lake

“Let’s do this.” Trace whispered excitedly, letting go of the last curl she just did. It fell gracefully around my face, giving me a soft look and it even made my cheeks look less fuller. Or may be it was the make-up she did.

But for once, I smiled while looking at my reflection with confidence brimming within me. And I wasn’t too shy to accept that the way I was looking wasn’t the only thing spiking my confidence level, may be it had something to do with a certain someone who refused to come into the light. I wondered if he was watching me right now. Did he like what he was seeing? Do I look beautiful to him?

“Here.”

My eyes fell on the red tube lipstick my dear friend was holding out for me. “No way. I am not going to put this on.”

“Why not?” Trace really sounded dejected as she said, “It’ll go so well with this dress.”

I looked down at myself. I was wearing a black sequin top with black skin tight jeans which I hadn’t wanted to as it showed all the curves that I had been hiding for so long but as Trace was used to doing, she had given me one of her speeches and showed me the silver halter top in different style, saying, “Please, if you won’t, I wouldn't either.” I had relented, considering she had been nothing but my motivator all this time and picked me the clothes to twin with hers.

But now… the red lipstick, it was so not me. I wasn’t really sure about it as it wasn't my style. I started to shake my head, only to pause when the door bell rang and Trace stepped closer to me with the tube in her hand and ordering me to be still. “Don’t move.”

“Trace!” I hissed as she pressed the tube to my bottom lip.

“Hush.” And then she was applying the lipstick. “Now, rub them together.”

The door bell rang again. “I’ll go check the door, it’s probably Asher. And you just take a look at yourself in the mirror, then you’ll stop glaring at me.” With that she gave me a smile and ran out of my room to open the door.

I took in a deep breath and turned to look at my reflection as she had suggested. And, for the first few seconds I just stared at myself, almost not recognising the face that stared back at me. The scarlet color on my pale complexion with my dark hair stood out like a beacon, enhancing my lips, making them look more plump than usual and, if I dare say, kissable.

And as soon as that thought slipped in my mind with that came the cold green eyes. I closed my eyes and shook my head, urging myself to forget all about those impenetrable green gaze. I shouldn't be this obsessed with him. My thoughts shouldn't be filled with him, when he was so insufferable and an arsehole. And it absolutely should not matter that he was the most gorgeous man I had ever seen. Green eyed Greek God. I should just focus on the last months I have left of the senior year in the school, not on the devil masquerading as a teacher.

The loud whistle broke the silence, pulling me out of my thoughts. I looked into the mirror and saw Asher standing on the threshold of my room. He gave me a playful smirk as he sauntered further into the room with his hands tucked in his pockets. “You take my breath away.” I felt my cheeks flush under his gaze as he came closer to stand at my back. I still didn't know how to accept compliments. “Where were you hiding, Lake?”

I shrugged and turned to face him. “You don’t look bad yourself, Ash.” He was wearing a dark navy t-shirt that stretched across his torso like a second skin and black jeans.

The back of his knuckles touched my cheek. “Beautiful.”

“Stop it.” I playfully pushed at his chest and smile at the way he pretended to get hurt.

He opened his mouth but stopped when we heard Crook barking like crazy and Trace’s angry voice. My shocked gaze went to the door before I looked back at Asher in question. He sighed and drawled out, “Oh, Liam tagged along with me. So…”

“Let’s go before they both kill each other.” I said as I rushed out of the bedroom, gathering my mobile and the little wallet.

.

.

I made a mistake.

I shouldn’t be here.

This was so not my scene.

Alcohol. Drugs. Girls walking around wearing bare to minimum or almost nothing. Yeah, as I said, shouldn’t be here.

I looked around myself, for the hundredth time wondering where the hell did Asher go. He was glued to my side since we stepped inside Mason’s house. We did a little bit of dancing and I even enjoyed it with him twirling me around and making funny faces. Most of the boys from the school had come to talk to Asher and had also given me compliments which had made me feel better than I'd ever felt in social gatherings. For once it felt nice to be not the butt of the joke or getting bullied by certain she-devil.

But that happy feeling was slowly dwindling as I stood there all alone with everyone crowding around me and no familiar face in sight. And there was no one else at fault for that but me.

As Chase hadn’t joined us, it had left Asher with me- mostly out of sense of obligation, because stupid Liam had dragged Trace out of here when some guy from the football team had asked her to dance with him. I had seen her crestfallen face and I had felt sorry that Liam was taking that away from her. Like I said, stupid. So, it had left Asher to babysit me and I had felt bad that he had to, because I didn't know anyone else and despite what I'd hoped I still felt awkward in such circumstances.

And because I was master at self-sabotage, I was the one who told Asher to go around and meet his friends as I felt like I was holding him back from enjoying the party. But now I was getting anxious as another group of boys started toward me, making me curse myself as my gaze once again searched for a familiar face and I didn’t find one in the crowd surrounding me.

I stepped back when two of the boys detached themselves from the group and came toward me, but there was nowhere to go as my back came against the glass wall behind me. Fûck. I fisted my hands by my side, ready to fight if I had to even though I knew nothing about self defense. But then something happened, the boys froze, their eyes focused on something behind me.

I didn’t move. I couldn’t. I just watched as the boys, simultaneously, turned around and went away without saying or doing anything.

Breathing deeply, I slowly turned around and my breath caught. My lungs seized. I felt my world darken at the edges as my eyes only focused on the dark figure wrapped in the shadows, standing on the other side of the glass wall, looking impossibly sinful and dangerous in the way he held himself.

Moments passed as we stared at each other. His eyes, unknown and unfamiliar. Mine, rivetted and fascinated.

I couldn’t see his face, but I knew it was him. I could feel him in the air. This close, my body was aware of him. My heart stalled and quickened it’s rhythm once again.

He was here.

My ghost.

I could see him. Of course, not his face, as he wore a black hoodie on an equally black jeans, hiding his face. But for me, it was enough that he was here and real.

I placed my hand on the glass wall, inching closer to it as if it’d disappear from between us and I’d be there in front of him with no barriers that could keep me away from him.

I watched as his gloved hand went into his jeans pocket and he took out his mobile phone. Fascinated, my eyes tracked his every movement and a moment later my phone pinged. With shock filling my system, I took out my own mobile phone and opened the waiting text.

“Go home.”

I didn’t think. I lost that ability between somewhere seeing him and realising he was real. I didn’t even question how he got my number as my fingers moved on their own as I typed back. “Are you going to be there?” I looked back up, but he wasn’t there anymore.

Shît.

I looked to the left and right, only found partygoers, no tall, dark figure dressed in black. No sign of him anywhere.

But I didn’t wait for long.

I had to get home.

.

.

To be continued...

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