Blindside

Panic

Osiris

"Please, please no Duncan. Let me out!" 

Pleading. Always pleading. Why did he have to be like this? What did I ever do to him?

"Shut up you little s**t stain. I told you what would happen if I have to open the door!"

"I'm sorry Duncan! I'm sorry! I didn't mean it, I promise. Whatever I did, I didn't mean to make you mad!"

"I swear to f**k, all you do is whine. I said shut up!! Do not make me say it again, shut your stupid mouth, or I'll do it again!"

Panic. Pure panic was setting in. 

Breathe. Just breathe. He always lets me out. He will let me out this time too, right?

Yeah, but how will it take this time?

~~~~

I shot up in bed. 

Fuck

I was covered in sweat. A nightmare. I hadn't had one in so long. Wiping a hand down my face, I checked the clock. 6:00 AM. Damn.

Might as well get up. Climbing from bed, I made my way to the bathroom. Walking in, I immediately went to the shower, turning it on and setting the heat just right. Turning to the sink, I grabbed my glass and filled it with water, chugging it down in one go.

While I waited for the water to heat up, resting my fist on the counter, I looked at myself in the mirror.

Pale. f**k.

My mind felt like it was racing. Why the hell did I have a nightmare? How did this get triggered? Everything in me just wants to brush it off, but something at the back of my mind is nagging at me.

Pulling in a deep breath, I let it all out slow, trying to ground myself. There's nothing I can do about it, it already happened, let's just hope that's its just a one off. Pushing off the counter, I strip off my boxers and step under the water, letting the warmth seep into my body and melt the remnants of my nightmare away.

~~~~

I was in a mood.

I still couldn't shake the feelings I had about my nightmare. The most I could hope for at this point was that nothing decided to cross my path and totally upset the balance.

Walking into home room, I made my way to my usual seat. Dropping down into my chair, I pulled up my hood, shut my eyes, and tried to get a moment of peace before the day got rolling. Just as I started to nod off, I caught a whiff of something sweet; vanilla mixed with hazelnut. That's when I sensed someone near me. Lifting my hood, I looked up into a pair of the clearest blue eyes. 

How did I not notice them yesterday? Were they blue, this clear blue that I was easily getting lost in? I can't remember...

Mentally shaking myself, I came back to reality. Frowning, I tilted my head, waiting for her to say something. Cleo was just standing there, looking at me as if she was searching for something, eyes warm and a soft smile gracing her lips.

What is she thinking?

Realizing she had yet to speak, she met my eyes and laughed softly.

"Hey.." she said, voice almost as soft as her laugh. 

"Hey.." I replied just as softly.

She must have taken that as some sort of permission, she turned and grabbed her seat, slid it over and sat next to me. Taking a deep breath, she faced me once more.

"Look, yesterday was a bit.. Okay, let's be real, it was a s**t show. We didn't start off on the right foot, and I'm actually a nice person. I won't lie, I can be a little hot headed sometimes, but otherwise I 'm pretty chill, I swear." She paused briefly, assessing my reaction, "So what I'm trying to say is, I'm sorry for being shitty and I was wondering if we could start over?" She finished, looking at me, hope written in her features.

Blinking at her, I had to admit I was a bit surprised. I could be a d**k on a good day, and yesterday I honestly pushed my luck. I was an asshole, there really is no sense in denying it, so the fact that she was sitting here apologizing and asking to start over was a shock.

Shaking my head, I tried to get my brain to formulate a response. Clearly misreading my silence, she suddenly went to her bag and pulled something out. Coming back to her seat, she handed me a medium sized square tin. Taking it gently from her hands, I looked at the tin confused, then returned my confused gaze to her.

"Peace offering? I mean, I was going to give them to you anyway, but I thought they might help" She explained, that small smile back on her face. "They're oatmeal spice by the way" She added.

Looking back down at the tin, I popped the lid and breathed deep. Holy s**t did they ever smell good. I couldn't help but take one out and shove it in my mouth whole. f**k me, they tasted better than they smelled.

"Sooo.... Is that a yes?"  Cleo said, drawing my attention back to the conversation. With my mouth full, the only thing I could do was give her a firm nod.

Letting out a big sigh of relief, she relaxed into her chair. Damn, she must have really worked herself up with that one.

"Phew! Okay great!" She said cheerfully. Extending her hand out to me, she added "I'm Cleo. Obviously I'm new here, and I'm pretty sure you're best friends with my cousin Corbin." 

"My name is Osiris, I have a twin brother, his name is Griffin. I'm the quiet one, and in case you didn't figure it out, Griffin, doesn't know how to shut up" I replied. Chuckling at her enthusiasm, I took her offered hand and gently shook it.

So much happened in that moment. I've heard all the sappy classics, but I definitely didn't think that I'd be one to actually start thinking them. I honestly felt like time slowed down and in that moment I noticed so many things about her. Her skin was so soft, her small hand was so warm in mine, she had the lightest peppering of freckles over her nose, and the vanilla-hazelnut scent was all her. 

Gently releasing her hand, she graced me with another small laugh "No, really? I didn't notice" She replied, mock surpise in her voice. Laughing more, she gave me one last look before standing and grabbing her chair.

"See you at lunch?" She asked.

"Yeah, I'll be there" I replied. With a satisfied smile, she took her seat as students started to make their way in before the bell.

One thing was for certain, I knew things in my life were about to change. For better or worse, well I would just have to wait it out. Snatching one more cookie, I shoved it in my mouth whole, much like the last, and stashed the tin in my bag as the bell rang. 

God damn these are good. Now, how do I get her to keep making these?