Hold My Hand

Chapter 3

***Raiden's P. O. V.***

You wish you could wake up, but it's not a dream.

I was in the bathroom, hiding.

I contemplated just skipping lunch wholly and ditching my brother. But I couldn't do that. Nor I could go. I was frozen to the closed toilet seat wishing I could rile up the courage to go out there and face the dreaded lunch period with my brother and his friends.

I wanted to be like normal people; outgoing and chill and just go there and have a good time and enjoy lunch with the people my brother calls them friends. I couldn't. I wanted to. I tried to. I couldn't.

I found myself trying to distract my mind with things that don't matter at all.

Like how the toilets didn't smell nice even though they were clean.

Come on Raiden. It's just 60 minutes, you can do it. 59 minutes. 58 minutes.

Ughhh, I groaned and darted out of the bathroom stalls. I reminded myself of the steps I was going to follow.

Avoid eye contact.

Make sure you don't make any food noise.

Don't answer with your mouth full.

Don't answer unless you were asked.

Don't get asked.

I had it all planned and memorized. Until I opened the doors to the cafeteria and saw my brother waving at me from his seat.

Everyone was already there.

I contemplated sitting at the empty table by the trash. But he was giving me the 'don't you dare' look.

I sighed and approached their table hesitantly. Aiden moved slightly to make room for me.

"What's he doing here" I heard someone mutter. They thought I was out of earshot but I heard them.

"Guys this is my brother Raiden" Aiden was introducing me but everyone was looking at him stupidly.

"No s**t" the guy with the wavy brown hair said, "You guys are the same replica" he had a point. We were pretty similar in physical appearance but again, we were not the same person.

Everyone was back to their side conversations and eating as quickly as they stopped.

Except for one person.

He seemed as if food was the last thing on his mind.

He was reading a book. Someone on this table of airheads was reading an actual book. He looked so into it he didn't even see me sit down in front of him.

His hair was blonde. Very blonde. So blonde it was almost white. It probably looked white in the sun. His skin was slightly pale, not as much as the girl with the flashy hair and wild tattoos sitting with Evan, but not as tan as mine. His almond shaped green eyes were peering from behind his glasses. His facial structure was prominent, jawline for days, cheekbones sculpted by Aphrodite herself. He looked like he was mature enough to grow a beard, but he kept his face shaved smoothly. His lips were full and plump. His medium sized nose completed the artwork that is his face. His features were perfect. He was complete perfection he could be a God. Even his hands were clutching the book perfectly. His long digits were holding it elegantly in place, where not the winds of Zeus nor the waves of Poseidon could move it from his grasp.

He fixed his black Ray Ban frames up his nose a bit, after flipping one page.

As if he felt someone looking at him, he looked up from his book for the first time since I sat down.

When his eyes were gazing at mine, I felt like his green orbs were Saturn, and mine were Jupiter, and for a split second Jupiter and Saturn had collided.

I wanted to look away, but I couldn't. My eyes were glued on him. His mouth twitched a bit, like he was holding back a smile.

I wasn't like this. I didn't ogle people out, nor I admire looks. I didn't even associate with people and didn't like people to associate with me. A cliché lone wolf or whatever it was.

Eventually he let loose, and a small smile danced on his lips. The corners of his eyes crinkled a bit, and that's when I became aware that I was still shamelessly eye f*****g him.

Get over yourself, Raiden.

I quickly looked away and suddenly my hands were extremely interesting. I hoped Aiden didn't see me ogling on one of his friends. I glanced sideways at Aiden. He looked busy chatting with said Scarlet. I dared to chance a peek from underneath my lashes at the greek God.

He was peering at me from his book nonchalantly.

I felt the heat rise to my face and it shot to my ears which turned red as blazing charcoal.

He then stood up, startling everyone. He didn't say a word, he closed his book, tucked it neatly in his side bag, and dashed away elegantly. My eyes followed his strutting figure, at least six feet tall, with a toned body underneath the elegant outfit he was wearing. He was the exact opposite of what I was.

He was calm and collected and looked like he knew what he was doing. He gave off the impression of a guy who knows what to say and when to say it. What to do and how to do it.

He never had trouble starting a conversation, or keeping one for hours, and I knew for a fact that he was extremely good at socializing.

He didn't see me watching his figure leave the cafeteria, which I was glad for, but when I turned back around, Aiden was looking straight at me in a "what the f**k" horrified manner.

He saw me checking out a guy.

I didn't know what to do with myself. I couldn't stay on the table because I was freaked out at what my brother would say or what his friends would do, but at the same time I couldn't leave because the guy is probably still in the hallway so if I left I'd have to run by him, or knowing my luck, worse.

After going over a million options in my head at once, and looking like I was about to have a brain explosion, I decided to leave the cafeteria no matter what the consequences were. Anything to get me out of here.

As I sped towards the hallways towards the exit, I dodged by the few people who still haven't made it to the cafeteria, or people who are going to eat outside.

The green exit sign was in my vision, and I focused on nothing but it to avoid having a panic attack.

The closer I got, the tighter my chest felt until the inevitable happened.

I crashed into him head on, leading both of us to land on the floor.

My expression turned into pure horror. I quickly crawled backwards and threw a heap of apologies in his direction.

He was unfazed by the whole thing and he kept telling me it's okay and it's fine.

Eventually I ran away to the farthest table in the outside sitting area.

This is why I don't come to school.

Fucking things up was my speciality.