Cause for concern {6}

"So, what do you think of Skye?" Jax voiced behind the sipping of his coffee, eyeing Damon who earlier he noted had taken a specific liking to her.

Damon paused, and in response gave a look that read. 'And what are you trying to get at?'

"From what I've seen... very kind, and funny, Jax" Lev commented, noticing the tension and pretty much answering for him while holding the snug drink in his hands.

"But.. she's not some object to just talk about" he laughed.

Damon shot Jax a look, sighing at the obvious remark toward him. "For your information, my intentions are entirely innocent"

Jax rolled his eyes, sinking further into his seat.

Damon coughed at it, all eyes on him, studying him to see if he spoke the truth. "She reminds me of my younger sister is all"

He took a swig, face doused in a light blush.

"Yea right" Chongan scoffed, still wearing his gloves while holding his drink. It was very out of character of Chongan...

"Your sister is beautiful, but Skye..." he placed the drink to the table, engaging in the conversation attentively. "She is something entirely different"

He laughed and leant back. "Don't pretend like you don't see it either" he added. "It's blatantly obvious"

Damon shrugged, his head resting on his palm.

"I'm not denying it, but I don't see her that way" he breathed before smirking slowly; head lifting and grabbing jax's wrist that was about to reach for his cup. Jax deadpanned. "Unlike him"

All eyes fell to Jax. "What?" He drawled. "I can't help it! It's natural"

"Yes, very natural to stalk a beautiful girl you just met"

"See! You say she is beautiful to-"

"-not the point here Jax" Chongan butted, enjoying the humour that was dripping with sarcasm.

He huffed displeasingly, Lev noticing the agitation and decided to step in. "Look, I think collectively we can agree she is stunning, but can we please not discuss this further, it's kinda creepy dude"

They all silently nodded, returning to their drinks at hand.

Lev shook his head in a manor of amusement. "Remind me why I'm friends with you lot still"

"Because we are one of a kind" Jax blurted proudly. Chongan smiled at the small talk, checking his watch that was buried under his layers of cold protection.

He glanced to the door, Damon following suit.

How much longer?

~

It hadn't been that long, well... that was a lie.

When Skye's fingertips brushed against the oak wood frame of the cafe door, she knew she had taken longer than anticipated. The familiar bell chimed as the warmth of the brews engulfed her freezing body; scarf wrapped tightly.

Her hands went to the scarf while the door closed, dipping her fingers into the crevices of warmth and pulled it over her lips.

Her eyes were slightly puffy; red outlining along with her lashes; you could tell she had been crying.

But she just stood there. Hiding her face to not raise concern for anyone- if anything- herself.

She didn't want to move, nor did she wish to speak. Her voice would fail her.

Skye was trying desperately to keep her hands steady, to build up the courage to walk to her friends and act as if nothing happened. But it did. And Skye had no power to change that.

Noticing her arrival in the cafe, Damon gently called for her, his hand waving in the air with a giant smile plastered on his face.

Skye pulled the scarf lower, smiling weakly in return. Wrong move.

Damon was on his feet before the others caught drift of what was happening.

He swept past tables quickly. "Skye, are you alright?"

Seeing a friend in tears at the door was not normal.

His hands fell to her shoulders, Skye's face falling to the floor as he grew closer; to hide the embarrassment.

She was struggling to hold back the welling of more wasted tears- gosh she felt pathetic.

"Hey, look at me" Damon soothed, crouching slightly to her level and gazed up at her. He couldn't see much, but what he did see, was heartbreaking.

Damon's hand's squeezing her cold shoulders felt undeserved. She had brought more pain to Lev by saving his life, and now he had to pay the price.

"What did that woman say to you? Did she do anything to you?" He gave her a once over; no signs of a brawl... he sighed a sigh of relief, deciding to ask either way.... to be on the safe side.

"She didn't hurt you did she?"

Skye shook her head. 'No'.

"What's the matter here?" Chongan voiced from behind, walking to the side of Damon.

His eyes glossed over Skye... and felt guilty.

"I-it's nothing" she lied, hand quickly wiping her eyes. "See, just allergies to the cold"

Even with the tears gone, something was amiss.

And neither of them was buying it.

Not wanting to pester her further, they changed the subject.

"How about we head back to campus? We could help you with that essay?" Damon suggested, looking to Chongan for support on the matter.

"Yea" she stuttered. "That sounds great, thanks"

Skye hurriedly and a lot colder than intended shook him off, wincing at the face he pulled and headed straight for the door... but before her entire body left the warmth of the cafe, she stole one last glance at the man who fate was after.

Lev Milos; who had captured her eyes, her heart.

Even from a distance, his emerald eyes stood out; his lips frowning in concern... and what she didn't expect, was for his eyes to widen slightly; an unreadable expression on his face as he drifted his eyes to his lap.

Skye left without saying another word.

But Lev.

He knew her from somewhere. The recognition flowed from somewhere dark... it being only brief.

The moment he connected his gaze to her own, the moment he saw the tears leak from her eyes with her blonde hair parted round her face...

He felt a familiar feeling. Almost like a flash of a memory that... wasn't a memory..

It hurt too. He could feel a cloud of pain around his mind, similar to a headache but less thrumming; more... fearful.

He shut his eyes, clawing them open immediately when he saw her face there again. The tears, but this time a glow... What was this?

"Skye..." he breathed, clutching his head.

Lev stared longingly at the door that both Damon and Chongan had now walked through; muttering to himself. "Who are you?"