Underneath It All

Chapter 1

My body was shaking when I saw him standing in the doorway, I was expecting my heart to be beating uncontrollably in my chest by now but right now, it felt like it had just stopped beating all together. The pain of the suspense, waiting for what might happen, the bloodthirst and rage visible in his dirty brown eyes as he slowly took a measured step towards me.

5 months ago

My fingers were tracing the hard and dusty covers from the books on the dirty and old shelves. I was glad I was able to relax again, after leaving London unplanned I had been accepting every single job that I could get, waitressing mostly. Working in three different bars and pubs in order to pay the bills, which were stacking up high.

I was walking backwards slowly in order to observe the upper shelf when I bumped into someone and I heard a loud thump, fear overtook my small body and I yelped in panic. Two firm hands touched my shoulders and even more panic filled my body, my heart beating crazy, my body stiff with fear. I heard a low voice mumble soothing words as the hands left my shoulder, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you!" I turned around quickly while trying to get as much space between us as possible.

I relaxed a little when I saw the stranger; he wasn't who I thought he was. Even since I had moved to Holmes Chapel I had been a little light on my feet, jumpy and touchy I guess you could say. Thomas had fucked me up good, I snickered to myself but even notion of him made the hairs on my arms stand up straight and my heart jump with fear and dread. I shook my head, as if I could just shake the thought of him away. The stranger was tall, much taller than he had been, but this stranger was skinnier and lean. His eyes were a beautiful shade of green; they seemed to be deeper than the ocean, like they were begging me to drown in them. His lips were an unreal pink and looked very plump, kissable even. His hair was long and curly, full of volume and looked as soft as satin, I almost wanted to run my hands through to feel if it really was satin.

He lifted his eyebrows, "did you hear me?" he said while crouching down, and picking up the book he had dropped. His voice was slow and low but it soothed him perfectly, just like everything else about him I had seen so far. I shook my head in response; not trusting my voice that probably would be shaking and hoarse by now. You see I didn't really speak that often, besides from being a waitress and all that, I only spoke to customers and cashiers. I hadn't really had the time or the motivation to start making friends, again.

"I asked if you're alright?" he extended his hand in front of him between the two of us, he seemed to want to lay his hand on my shoulder but my body involuntarily flinched and a whimpering noise came from my throat. I close my eyes, I wanted to slap myself for acting like this, but I couldn't help it, a reaction like this had become natural to me over the years. "I'm fine," my voice cracked a little, I cleared my throat, "sorry for walking into you." I murmured as I pushed my hair behind my ears and walked away quickly.

"Wait!" he nearly yelled behind, making me flinch again. His voice hadn't even been hard or angry like his. "You seem a bit shaken up in there," he said while pointing at my head, a light smile playing on his face. I tried to shrug as nonchalantly as possible, but I probably looked uncomfortable and awkward. I craned my neck a little, trying to look at the book in his hand; I smiled when I realized it was Jane Austen. Classic and probably cliché I know, trust me some people liked to remind me of the things that bothered them about me, but I'm a sucker for the classics. There was something about the mannerisms and the politeness that really stuck out to me. Along with the rules and the formal balls. I think it was the complete innocence of it all... Something you don't really see today.

He smiled a little, more like a little smirk filled with curiosity.

"So you like Jane Austen then?" He bit his lip gently and I looked away,