CHAPTER 5

She was late.

Or rather...

She didn't show up. I waited for her all through the mass, darting my eyes between the exit and the priest mounting on the podium but she never walked through it. After the sermon, I hung around the vicinity pinning my hopes that she was only behind time, even so, I never saw her around. I should have realized that when she said she was going to come, she hadn't really meant it.

I suspired heavily, restraining a dog-tired yawn from leaving my mouth as I took a turn towards the side-walk. I was hungry and drowsy. The hunger more dominant than the latter. I slept off the previous night without having dinner. The last time I chewed had been during the trip and now, I was relishing the consequences.

I stalked into the cafeteria with my bible pressed up against my chest. The place was a cacophony of loud chatter, each table a cossetted huddle of people raising their voices to be heard above the din. I casted my eyes about as if in a wandering daydream, barely taking note of who associates with who. The people in here were no doubt college students, both junior and senior who had arrived for a meal or for a quick purchase, their chatter and excited laughter filling the building.

The smell of chips and baked beans lingering in the air pulled me in closer and closer as I crossed over the threshold, sauntering further into the cafeteria. Chattering chefs could be heard over the counters, joking and teasing. The place was welcoming, though loud but welcoming nevertheless.

I glanced around, taking what I could with my eyes when they cut at a vending machine not far from my locus. I narrowed my eyes at the machine, checking how much I had in my purse. Few dollar notes glued together, gum posing as the adhesive substance.

Jace.

I frowned.

He was fond of chewing gum and storing it later on in paper or tissue when he was tired of them. Now, the question pending was, how did it find its way into my purse? There was no way I could riddle that out in his absence. Sighing, I tugged at the notes, parting them carefully so as not to rip them apart. They would be useless if that happened. I detached the agglutinated bills one after the other, carefully till they unlinked.

Cutting my eyes at the machine, gazing longingly at the wrapped, yummy-looking doughnut on full display, I couldn't help but wonder how great my teeth would feel if it had the chance to sink into it. My taste buds would surely dance and sing meliodiously to the high heavens in praise and content. I'm sure of it.

Someone was already in front of me by the time I got there. I watched her as she operated the machine, registering the steps she employed, getting the hang of it. Slipping in money, pressing buttons. Ha! Easy-peasy.

As soon as the machine was free, I scooted closer, eyeing the doughnut. It was glazed. My eyes stalling on the small letters inscribed in front of the pack. Chocolate Frosted Doughnut. I beamed. My favourite. I slipped in a dollar bill into the slot and then another. I paused for a minute before slipping in another and then another. Then, tapped the screen hitting the code for a selection. The targetted doughnut didn't move a bit. I frowned.

I slotted in another dollar bill while tapping the screen again and then, I paused. Nothing changed. My frown deepened.

Didn't I get it right?

I became more and more frustrated when the doughnut froze, declining sliding to my reach. Then, I started tapping..tapping.. tapping all codes. Ugh, why won't it work?

Suddenly, all the wires began turning at once and everything, absolutely everything spewed out. Scared and frightened, I glanced around the cafeteria. Everyone had their noses in their business. As usual, I got nobody's attention. If I hadn't appreciated it then, I surely do now.

I didn't know what to do or how to go about this. Panic-stricken, I sank down intending gathering all the items when someone else beat me to it. My eyes fell upon a pair of rugged black boots. Long-slender fingers in the company of lengthy neat nails launched into packing the snacks I had spilled.

Confused, my eyes glances upwards, instantly locking with those deep mesmerizing ocean blue ones again. Those ones with the silvery flecks twirling in them. My heart stalled, goosebumps taking over. He was smiling at me, a small smile stretching his pink plump lips. Small but enough to show off his dimples, a deep indention near the corner of his mouth, upon his cheek and God, they were beautiful. So beautiful, they could light up the whole world.

"The machine isn't some kind of punching bag, you know?" He cocked his eyebrow at me and only then did I realize I had been staring. God, for how long?

I swallowed, embarassed I was caught, for the second time, "I-I thought no one was looking. I was just trying to pay for a snack when the whole machine went all screwy."

His brow creased, lips twitched, amusement sneaking in and drawing back on his face like he was fighting back a smile and obviously losing, "And how did it get all screwy if I may ask?" His lips twitched again. He was clearly mocking me.

"I-I just..." I averted my gaze from him. Maybe that would probably help me think properly and say something convincing. "It's broken, I guess." I resigned, shrugging. Then, as if remembering, I accused, "It stole my money." I turned to the deceitful thing, glaring at it.

He chuckled.

What?

I turned to look at him. He was full out laughing at me, guffawing, splitting his sides. Embarrassed, I frowned, dropping my gaze to the floor. There was no need staying over. It was obvious I wouldn't be getting any doughnut but mockery instead. I proceeded to leave when his voice stopped me. I stalled.

"It isn't a hard task, really. It's barely even one." I turned back, narrowing my eyes in his direction till they fell on the floor. "And I'm sorry for laughing, really. I just..."He chuckled. "I just found it... a bit funny you know, watching you. Quite amusing. It's just..." He stalled for a moment.

Slowly, I glanced up to find his eyes already trained on me. Those eyes, rigid and stern the previous night shone more warmth and kindness, a mass of swirling emotion held in their depths. They were blue, seriously blue, almost sickeningly blue-full on prince charming, perfect, ocean-like blue.

"Forgive me?" I fidgeted when he spoke again. Biting the insides of my mouth, I dropped my back gaze to the floor, chagrinned I had been staring once again.

"Forgive me?" He repeated.

I glanced up at him, breathing, "Yes."

He smiled. Those dimples again shone. I looked away, cutting my eyes at the doughnut, my scowl reappearing. I glared at it, glared at it again. Then, I glared at it some more.

Ugh, why are you just so stubborn?

From my peripherals, I caught him advancing toward the machine. He pressed on it utilizing a second before tapping a keypad I hadn't even noticed prior. Tapping this and that, he then reached out to his rear pocket and dug out a black leathered wallet. Unzipping it, he strayed out two dollar notes from a wad of cash stocked in, inserting it into a slot. Then, he paused for a minute or two. To my greatest surprise, the doughnut I had been fighting for, the one I had been struggling since the fall of man to take out...yeah that exact one, it slipped out. It slipped right into his waiting hands. Then, he turned to me, extending it over.

Eyes wide, mouth agape, I stared at him as if he had just produced a rhinocerous from his pocket. The sparks in my brain were desperately trying to connect the dots and instead just causing a short circuit. What exactly just happened? I was still trying to riddle it out.

"User error."

Eyes wide, I took a peek at him, "What?"

"User error." He repeated. "Your money was either mangled or tampered with. Probably got stuck in."

I blanched. Really? I blinked a few times. How incredulous?

I took the wrap, clutching it tightly, "Thank you." He smiled and the pimple popped out again. I stared at it. It was deep. Very deep. I could poke it with my pointer finger and the tip would abruptly get lost in it. That's how deep it went.

"Church?"

My brows shot up, "What?"

"Church? Did you? Go, I mean." He pointed at the King James Version bible clinging to my chest. I glanced down at it.

"Yes, I did. Did you?"

His lips stretched, revealing his white set of teeth with impressive dentition, "No. Not today. Probably some other day."

I smiled back, nodding, "Okay."

"I wouldn't strike you as a freshman you know except for the fact that I haven't seen your face around here and I'm quite sure I'm not prone to forgetting one like yours." He finished off with another breathtaking smile.

My fingers pulled like a magnet toward one another, intertwining themselves as I took another much needed glance to the floor.

Looking back up, I replied, "I'm new here."

His brow swooped up, creating an arch, "Oh. You're new in town or new in college?"

I smiled, "Both."

"Woah. Guess you may need some showing around then."

Laughing, I threw in a response, "I guess. Else, I might fall into trouble."

"Nah, I don't think that's gonna happen. With me as your tour guide, nothing could go wrong." He said, beaming at me.

My eyes fell onto the floor once again, my cheek nibbled on as I fought back a smile. My head swirling around different thoughts as my heart began thumping.

Then, I heard his voice again, deep and baritone, "Look, about last night, I'm sorry."

What?

I swept my eyes back up, confused. He might have noticed because he started to explain.

"For snapping. For snapping at you. The way in which I talked to you last night was uncalled for. Believe me, I was so damn pissed at my sister that I couldn't exactly think properly. I..."

I blanched yet again, "Your sister?" His sister?

"My sister." He repeated. "Lana. She's my sister."

"Wow, I didn't know...about it. I thought she was your...you know...I had the impression that she was your...your...."

"My what?"

I shook my head, resigning, "It's nothing. I just...don't mind me." He took a step closer. On instinct, I backtracked, taking the same lone step back.

"Tell me." He demanded, his mouth twitching.

I chuckled lightly, "It's nothing really. Nothing important. Don't bother about it."

His eyes trained on me a bit more, his lips contorting into a mischievous smirk as he regarded me. The way his lips curves upward. The way his one dimple crinkled, it is the most beautiful thing I've seen in a while and it is this radiance that makes every sane human who sees it feel the irrestible impulse to smile as well.

I laughed, looking away, suddenly nervous at his scrutiny. The way he was looking at me...staring at me...without blinking as if the whole world could come tumbling down and he wouldn't bat an eye. He never took his eyes off me.

I looked up at him to find still staring down at me. I chuckled, turning away again.

"Stop." I laughed.

He cocked an eyebrow, "Stop what?"

"Doing that."

"Doing what?"

"You know what."

He tipped his head back, cackling, his adam's apple bopping up and down as he laughed deeply. It was baritone, like a deep rumble from his chest, "I don't know what you mean, really."

I shook my head, smiling.

"Once again, I'm sorry for yesterday or earlier today rather. I'm not trying to justify my actions believe me. All I'm trying to say is I'm sorry."

"Apologies accepted." I grinned.

A smile touched his lips, that beautiful dimple on full display again. "Thank you. I'm Keegan."

I knew that already but I don't voice it out, "Genesis."

Another staredown ensued. His eyes. Those electric blue eyes. The way he gazed at me with them. With those eyes. My heart unbiddenly began to throb fiercely in my chest and my insides bubbled with emotion. He stared straight into my eyes, a dazzling charming smile gracing his lips, transfixing me, hypnotizing me, giving me the impression that I was the only thing beautiful...pretty or worth looking at, making me feel some type of way.. some way in which I have never felt before.

He should quit it.

I do not like it.

Those eyes...those very eyes. They are doing something to me and I can't take a firm stand on it.

Suddenly and unexpectedly, a voice, deep, dark, exotic, like a mountain harbouring an echo. It finally broke the spell that seemed to cloud over Keegan and I.

Low and thunderous, I shuddered at the intensity, "Keegan, you coming or what?"

Immediately, I cut my eyes to riddle out the owner of the deep voice but was just able to catch his back.

"Yeah sure. Right behind you." Keegan replied but the newcomer had already began walking away.

He was a clear head, higher than most people I would consider tall. Thick muscles beneath the black leather jacket he was cladded in. His face was obscured by the the black hoodie draped over his head, clinging to his skin. I wonder how many jokes and comments about his stature he gets daily, jibes about, "the air being thin up there."

"Guess I'll be seeing you around?" Keegan's voice retrieved me out of my reverie. He arched a brow, anticipating my response.

I smiled, concuring, "Yes."

"Cool then." I gasped sharply when he unexpectedly swaddled me into his arms. His arms around me, I involuntarily inhaled, catching a whiff of his cologne. Strong and manly, yet pleasant. He squeezed. My stomach fluttered at the feeling of his body pressed up against mine. Excluding my dad and Jace, I have never been hugged by a boy ever before.

He withdrew, casting me a smile before walking away, toward the direction of the boy with the leather- jacket. My knees threatened to buckle as I watched him go, willing my heart to normalize and my stomach to unknot.

Whatever this is, it should stop right away. They are unwelcome, unbidden.

The sound of my phone ushered me out of my thoughts. I fetched it out of my brown rectangular shaped purse and took a look.

Dad

It had totally slipped my mind to give him a call...again. I picked it, barely hearing his voice. The noise in the cafeteria was too loud, rendering any logical conversation between my dad and I impossible. I could barely catch a word from him.

"Dad, hold on. I can't hear you." I dashed for the exit...through where I had come in, navigating through the crowd of college students. "Let me find a quiet place so we could talk. Hold on a bit please."

However, my motion paused the moment I slammed into a hard brick wall, my right arm taking the full force of the painful impact. The force sent me flying to the floor, landing on my bottom as my phone fell flat, screen turned over.

I gasped, crawling over to it, grimacing as a sharp pain shot through my arm. The screen was slashed at the centre-cracked-broken. It had suddenly turned off, the screen black and blank, declining coming on at the power button.

"No, no, no. Don't do this. Come on, don't do this now." My stomach twisted into knots. "Come on."

"There are no needs for those eyes if you can't put them to good use." Like the voice of a raging lion, deep like the sea. I trembled, quivering at the sound of the distinct voice raining down on me, like the sound of rocks against metal.

Slowing lifting my eyes, they landed upon a set of the most green narrowed, rigid, cold, hard orbs I have ever encountered. Burning stare, constraining me up in flames.

They burned like fire, smouldering.