C H A P T E R - V I I I

Gulping nervously, I pulled on the skin off my nails and tried my best to stop from shaking, I couldn't help but think of every worst outcome possible.

Ugh, my stupid brain!

I wanted to be brave, confident, and strong but we don't always get what we want so I'm stuck here nervous as Satan's home!

Nate tried keeping the environment light by cracking jokes here and there occasionally making fun of the way Elijah walked, I was grateful for the effort but it did nothing to ease the nervousness and anxiety I was feeling.

Before I could hyperventilate and die of heart failure, I felt my hand being encased by a large warm hand and tightly clutched, my breath hitched and I looked up to see Elijah gazing at me with soft comforting eyes. I stared deeply into his dark hazel eyes finding them warm and soothing. I felt my whole body and heart calm down and my breath got normal.

Huffing I closed my eyes focusing on Elijah's warm hand rubbing circles on my hand, on Nate's silly jokes and him being silly. Elijah swatted Nate at the back of his neck making him scowl and he tried to swat Elijah back but was stopped by his death icy glare.

I let out a determined sigh and nodded to myself. Swallowing down all the negative emotions, I put on a temporary mask of braveness.

I can do this, nothing to be scared of. They are just measly stinky boys. I can do this!

Nate kicked the door open then moaned and clutched his foot in pain, I giggled while Elijah rolled his eyes and we moved forward. Nate put a hand around my shoulder giving me a wide silly grin.

This is it.

Elijah looked at me once and squeezed my hand tighter before opening the main door. I closed my eyes in panic but opened them quickly. I sighed in relief when there was no sight of the boys.

I clutched onto Elijah's arm tightly for my dear life and we reached the cafeteria doors where there were loud murmurs of boys. Duh. Nate skipped faster and he opened the door for us and bowed down earning a light chuckle from me.

As soon as we stepped inside, there was complete and utter silence. Everyone paused and froze in their steps, just like in the morning. Am I having a deja vu right now? But unlike the morning, they were no longer shocked, surprised, or confused. They were intimidated, their eyes wide with fear penetrating in their souls. Like a deer caught in headlights.

I peeked at Elijah to see him deathly glaring at all of the boys, his dark hazel eyes darkened as he glared at them so sharply and icy, even I nearly peed out of fear. Thankfully I didn't.

No one dared to utter a single word, and we walked quietly towards the line. The line disappeared the second, Elijah stepped in as Nate smirked at everyone raising his brows up and down.

I shook my head, a wide grin forming on my face when I realized they were right, there was nothing to worry about. Grinning peacefully, I looked at Elijah and his eyes slowly turned to their normal dark hazel color turning soft and releasing warmth and peace once again.

Nate flipped his non-existent hair smiling cheekily as he shoved a tall guy to the side earning a scowl but he ignored it and strutted towards the counter filling our lunch trays for us.

I happily sat on the chair with Elijah beside me and Nate in front, eating my pasta. The rest of the boys slowly turned normal as all of them not continued whatever they were doing, talking among themselves very quietly giving Elijah fearful looks.

Slapping away Nate's hand as he tried to steal my fries, I chuckled at his pouting face, oblivious to Elijah staring at me softly.

-----

"I need to grab my books," I said to Elijah as we walked back to our dorms. Nate went after throwing a tantrum when he was called to the principal's office.

"Our classes start Monday" Oh really? Thanks for informing me I had no idea.

He raised a brow at me, his lips twitching upwards in a smile and I blushed red when I realized my dumb butt mouth had said that out loud. He changed our route towards the library anyways. I looked at Elijah with a shy grin to which he shook his head and quickly walked in front of me with his one hand in his pocket and the other holding my empty bag.

I took out my schedule from my bag and gave it to Elijah when he asked for it. Shrugging I handed it over to him. It's not like I asked him to do my work, he's doing it with his own free will.

Jumping and sitting on the table of the empty library, I swing my legs back and forth while Elijah collected my books for me.

"Um, Elijah?" I called out to him and he hummed in response. Would it make me sound intrusive?

"Uh-why....what do you mean you came here willingly?" I blurted out quickly immediately regretting nervously playing with my fingers looking down at the floor. He came from the corner and stood in front of me placing both of his hands on either side of me on the table.

I bit my lip and he let out a grumble before freeing my lip out and cupping my chin.

"Don't do that, Angel" He said softly with a strained voice and I looked up at him with wide eyes.

"Why?" I asked him without skipping a beat trying hard not to bite my lip again.

"Because," He said that like it was the most reasonable answer ever.

"Because why?" I pestered further.

"Because Angel it makes me think of not-so-nice things" He twirled my strand of hair around his finger.

"What things?" I question stupidly and he clenched his jaw gritting his teeth. What? Did I say something weird?

"Things tha-"

"HEY BESTIE! WHAT CHA DOIN?" Elijah groaned when Nate came bouncing with a wide grin and paused looking at us with wide eyes and an innocent smile but we could clearly see the amusement and mischievous dancing in them.

"Oh did I interrupt something I wasn't supposed to?" He innocently played with his fingers shooting a smirk at Elijah and giving him a wink.

Elijah gave him a calm blank look before rolling up his sleeves and charging after Nate who shrieked and ran around the library causing absolute chaos as I looked at them with happy eyes and a fond smile.