First Impression
1203 Words
Arian
The sight of the huge brass gates that loomed ahead caused a small shiver to run through me.
Grovehill Arena.
The huge letters carved on the gates were hard to miss.
My heart pounded with excitement, my lips shaking slightly as the taxi pulled through the gates. The driver hummed softly to the song playing on the radio.
I wasn’t listening though, as my attention was on my environment.
Huge stone buildings, dating far back as the 1600s surrounded us, with tall trees that took years of grooming to make them look as perfect as they were, made Grovehill look something out of a damn fantasy novel.
Heck, it looked and felt like I had stepped into another world.
One that I was so glad to be in.
I waved goodbye at the kind taxi driver after settling him, and clutched my suitcase in one hand, while the other hand held on to the map like my life depended on it.
Which it did by the way.
There were people scattered around, some in groups, others with their parents, and some, loners like me.
I wasn’t bothered with them.
All I could think of was why I was here.
Not even_
“For f**k's sake, raven!”
I didn’t have the time to finish that train of thought when someone rammed into me, sending me, suitcases and all, towards the floor.
I gasped, preparing for the impact as my body hit the floor.
It never came.
Instead I hovered for only a couple seconds, before a hand pulled me up.
I looked up at my helper only to be met with a pair of angry blue eyes, framed with thick perfect-cut brows.
“I’m not going to apologize. Next time, watch where you are going!” he hissed, his gaze hot as he released my arm like it was on fire, before giving me a once over. “Pathetic!”
I could only stare, my mouth open as he walked away, the leather jacket he wore, giving him a rough edge.
My assailant/saviour had to be at least six foot tall, if not more, compared to my five feet six inches, with dark chestnut brown hair, framing his face.
Not once, did he look back as he walked away from me.
What an annoying jerk!
“Damn. That stupid asshole!”
I almost jumped out of my skin at the sound of the thick baritone, which was way too similar to the jerk’s.
I whirled around to see a figure I could only describe as something out of a damn Calvin Klien cover.
He had light brown hair, but with a skin that would send a girl’s mouth drooling. His left eye was the coolest shade of green, and the right, a dreamy hazel.
I could literally get lost in them...
Who was he?
I must have been standing there blinking in confusion because he spoke again, pointing at something behind me.
“Him. I’m talking about the jerk who just hit you.” he smirked.
I blinked again. “Oh, so you know that jerk!”
The smirk widened. “Unfortunately yes. I'm Eli. Beta Eli. And that jerk, is my alpha. Alpha Riven.”
I almost choked on my own spit when those words left his lips.
He was_
That was_
I opened my mouth to speak, but only ended up shutting them back.
Eli chuckled, reaching for my suitcase which I hadn’t realized was still toppled over. “I apologize if that came out wrong.” he raised his hand. “Riven is a jerk, but I promise you there are times you will like him. And I’m sure he didn’t mean to run you over like that.”
Something flashed in his eyes as he spoke, but was gone in an instant.
“Well, it’s okay. I wasn’t looking either.”
I mean, what else could I say?
While the beta in front of me was probably the most handsome man I had ever seen, I had a feeling I didn’t want to be in the same room as his Alpha.
Jerk or no jerk.
I shivered at the mere thought of him and reached for my suitcase.
Eli raised a brow. “Either way, I apologize.” He pointed at my map. “I can help you with the directions you need.”
I was shaking my head even before he finished. “I’ll be fine. Thank you for your help, and apology.”
His gaze were on me, and I swear I felt a tiny rush of heat within me, but I blinked and it was gone.
I mean, I could have been imagining it.
Eli looked like he wanted to object, but shook his head. “Okay then, it was nice meeting you...”
I frowned, then cleared my throat when I realized why he had trailed off.
He was asking for my name.
I eyed the hand he had outstretched, then inhaled. “Arian. My name is Arian.”
I took his hand, and flushed as a jolt of heat rushed through me.
It was instant, and grew by the minute, making me retract my hand almost immediately.
Eli didn’t comment on it. Instead he nodded, slipping his hands into his pockets.
“Arian.” the way my name rolled out from his lips, with ease, had me clutching my map closer.
“Yeah. And I should be on my way.” I had no idea where I was going, but I willed my legs to move, and they obeyed me, hightailing me out of his presence before I went down the rabbit hole that was my mind.
Eli’s chuckle followed me, even when I was sure I had merged with the crowd of students.
I stopped walking when I got to what looked like the reception, and released a shaky breath.
I willed the thought of Eli and his jerk of an alpha away, bringing my thoughts back to why I was here.
Grovehill.
I was in Grovehill, and I had to get my f*****g papers!
I let out a string of curses and made my way towards the receptionist.
The woman who had the grossest bubble gum manners took one bored look at me and sighed. “Your name?”
“Arian Bennett. I am here for_”
“I don’t care what you are here for. Your name is just fine.” she hissed, typing rapidly into her computer.
I resisted the urge to smash the pretty glasses she had on, into her face and just managed a small apologetic smile.
After what felt like an eternity, she pushed a file, with an ID card that had my face on it, towards me. “Your house number, and your room number are all in there, with every other document you need. Welcome to Grovehill, and good-luck.”
Her words felt rehearsed, and it didn’t help that she yelled ‘next!’ right after.
I nodded and took the file.
It was official.
I was now part of the sham in our world.
A sham where I had five days to look for my mate, or have my whole world come crashing down.
- Writer
