Call Me Cain
The mind is its own place,
And in itself can make,
a Heaven of Hell;
a Hell of Heaven.
She was crying as usual. The thickening crowd of New Yorkers didn’t seem to mind. She’d headed to the park alone, mainly because she wasn’t in the mood for Jordan. And the ‘I can understand what you’re going through’ look of his.
Currently though, a pair; a tiny blonde boy and an equally blonde girl (in pigtails), were openly gawking at her. Tessa was trying not to glower-or swear-at them. It was turning more and more embarrassing, and Tessa almost called out to them, intending to lecture them on their obvious lack of morals. Right about then, a motherly figure caught the pair by their wrists and yanked them in the opposite direction, but not before looking around awkwardly. Guess they make everyone embarrassed.
By now, Tessa was regretting not calling Jordan. If he were here, he would’ve annoyed the shit out of her; would’ve brought her out of her misery. Still thinking of Jordan, she looked at the empty seat next to hers, and let out a yelp of surprise. The place was not empty after all; there was a boy sitting there. She could swear there was no one in that seat a second ago.
The guy’s face broke into a toothy grin when she looked at him. Eyes locked to his, she blinked back incredulously.
He had brown hair, not the customary brown, but the lightest tinge of brown she’d ever seen. The afternoon sun was coloring the ends of it gold. His eyes were the color of wilting roses, the dead opposite of her own. Undoubtedly he was beautiful, with his high cheekbones and distinct jawline, but he was beautiful in a feral sort of way.
A line appeared between her penciled eyebrows. “Do I know you?”
The boy’s smile diminished as he assumed an injured air. “How swiftly you reject me,” he continued. “I thought we were seeing the start of something here.”
His voice had a distinctly British accent, though his appearance barely hinted at it.
She heaved an exasperated breath and turned to face him. “Look, I was busy before you came. If your lame act is over, you should leave me alone.”
He was still looking at her, as if he hadn’t heard a word she said. If he did, he had great self- restraint. His eyes were fixed on her throat in a way that made Tessa feel completely exposed. With a start, she realized he was staring at her jade locket.
“Your chain.” he inquired, “Where did you get it?”
“My father’s gift,“she replied.
Something about the way it easily rolled off her tongue made it feel like a lie. Her mother had always told her about the precious stone and how it was the last thing Tessa’s father had gifted her before he’d gone.
But now, something else was flashing behind her eyes, teasing her brain. A black haired boy, a silver-braceleted hand, familiar blue eyes, the jade stone around his neck. Her head was throbbing to match her heartbeat. She came back to reality slowly, wincing in pain. Her carmine eyes locked on his concerned, crimson ones. “Are you okay?”
She nodded her head, pulling her lips into a smile.
“Good.” The boy stood up; a quick flare of disappointment coursed through her. She didn’t even know his name.
“What’s your name?” she asked, a bit too hastily.
He flashed her a winsome grin in reply, so intimidating, it made her lungs contract.
“Call me Cain.” he whispered, hesitating a moment, before tucking a strand of her black hair behind her ear. And then he was gone, the way he’d come; in a flicker.
She tried to reach for those scenes she’d seen in her head earlier, but they flowed away like water. Tessa no longer felt like crying. She stood up and headed for Jordan’s, one hand wrapping the stone around her throat, thinking of light brown hair, dull red eyes, black hair and silver bracelets.
