Eyes

"Always stand up for what you believe in...Even if it means standing alone."

______________________________________________________________

Bella's POV

The universe was out to get me. I was sure that I was cursed. So badly cursed with the worst black voodoo magic or dark arts that no spell or ritual could help get the curse off me. Because being surrounded by all the teenagers in a small school. Pressed against my locker. Made me think that I was cursed. I was so tired of being treated like this. I was so used to it to. I didn't know what to do but I knew I needed to get out of there.

I felt my lungs constricting. My breathing grew heavier by the second. My ears were ringing but they were able to hear all the the venomous words being shot toward me.

"You are as fat as a cow. Shouldn't you be on a farm?" A skinny girl with a very revealing dress on and a fur jacket. The girls next to her, who I assume are her entourage, cackled in agreement. It made my ears ring more. Anothet girl yelled, "Your mom and dad should have asked for a refund when you were born." The snide remarks came flying toward me.

"You don't belong here."... "Go back where you came from."... "Do you make your own clothes? 'Cause no store has your size."... The remarks came from all over. Stabbing me in the heart like a thousand knives. And I didn's say anything to stop them.

My lungs felt swollen and it felt like something was stuck in my throat. I knew what was happening, but I didn't know how to stop it by myself. Suddenly a tall figure stood infront of me. I could see it was a man. He was way to big to be a boy. He was wearing a black t-shirt and a pair of black jeans. I looked down and saw a pair of white sneakers. I inhaled deeply, trying to catch my breath and an aroma of a rainforest consumed my nostrils. But it didn't stop the panic. It only made me hyperventilate more. I tried focussing on something other than the crowd around me and the man standing in front of me. Out of nowhere a pair of small hands grasped my shoulders and a stranger's familiar face popped up in front of me. Her lips were moving but I could only hear her muffled voice. A group of people came closer and surrounded me. Almost like they were protecting me. The familiar girl in front of me was pushed away and another face took it's place in front of me. At first the voice was muffled to but then the head moved closer and whispered into my ear.

"Breathe. Your having a panic attack. You have to breathe!" My lungs unexpectedly filled with air and I gasped in relief. My heart started to slow down and I inhaled through my nose and exhaled through my mouth. Only when I was calmed down did I notice the crowd of people, that were insulting me, were gone. Not one in sight. I also noticed Ember standing next to me with a worried smile on her face. The last thing I noticed were two large hands clasped around my upper arms. They were warm and holding my arms tightly but it wasn't hard enough to hurt. Instead it actually brought comfort. Without my permission, my head tilted up and my eyes locked with the most mesmerising golden-brown eyes. They were more gold than brown but there wasn't supposed to be an eye color like gold, so it had to be brown. My eyes stayed locked with his. His grip stayed on my arms and a warm sensation in my chest started to blossom. I started to get this overwhelming urge to lean forward and... He'd be revolted. A voice of doubt hissed inside my head and I instantly dropped my gaze. "Are you alright?" He asked with uncertainty. I cleared my throat and with all the courage and self control, I looked up at him again.

"Yes. Thank you." I said with a lot more certainty and confidence in my voice than what I felt. He looked at me with an intencity that I didn't know existed. After a few seconds one of his friends cleared their throat and put a hand on his shoulder. "Dude?" His friend muttered. The man in front of me glared back at the boy, who's hand was on his shoulder, and I was starting to think he was going to rip that hand off. His friend probably saw that and quickly dropped his hand from the man's shoulder. The man holding my arms, slowly let go and dropped his hands to his sides. He stood up straight, reaching his full height. I looked up at him but instead of seeing a disgusted face looking away from me. I saw a concern-filled face looking straight at me. I cleared my throught and snapped my gaze away from him. I looked at the people around me and recognised Ember. There was another girl that looked sympathetic. And two boys that looked expectantly at me. Like they were waiting for me to do something. Their gaze kept shifting from me to the man. We were consumed by awkward silence for a few seconds until I decided to say something first. "Thank you, all of you, for helping me. I appreciate it." I looked each of them over as I spoke. When I was done the guy that put his hand on the man's shoulder spoke first. "Don't mention it. They should all just go learn some manners and not bully the new kids." He stated and I heard every word he said but the last word that he said echoed in my head. "kids"... I the anger in me flared and I snapped at him for the stupidest reason. "I'm not a kid. I'm seventeen, probably not much younger than you. So before you call me kid again, think before you talk."

I didn't know why I snapped at him but there was just a sudden anger that bloomed inside me. I looked back at Ember and she was smiling with astonishment. I looked at the other girl and she had the same facial expression. So did the other guy. And the man that was holding my arms looked surprised and almost smug. The guy I just snapped at almost looked scared and definitely taken off gaurd. "Sorry. I didn't mean to insult you." He said in an uncertain voice. I sighed and my anger faded away. "No, it's...it's okay. I have to get to class." I stated in a neutral voice. I started walking away. Brushing past Ember and not looking back. But then... I got this urge and I turned around looking at the man with the gold eyes. "Thanks again... For calming me down." I looked into his eyes and nodded in a nonchalant way. I turned around quickly and walked away before he could say anything. But I couldn't get those golden-like eyes out of my head. I don't think I wanted to.