The Shadow of Our Past

Crimson

While Kira cleans and bandages the cuts from yesterday, she fills me in on the plan they put together. Eva gave us a new location that Jess and I will be going to. Eva described it as an old boat shed, completely out of the way and unsuspecting. Eva also gave a description of a second man she saw in the shed with my dad, who I think might be Amal Faez.

"Do you know where he lives?" Kira says as she sits back on her heels, looking up at me expectantly. My eyebrows furrow, but I tell her his address anyways. There were a few times I needed to drive my dad over to Amal's house when I was the only one with a car. "Perfect, Ethan and I are going to try talking to him"

"I don't want you anywhere near him," I retort instinctively, watching her small hands tenderly wrap my shoulder with gauze. Amal is admittedly a more relaxed man than most of my dad's other friends, even going as far as to make small talk with me on occasion. Either way, I don't like the fact Kira wants to just waltz into this man's home with the hopes he will be willing to help us.

"I know, but Ethan will be there and if anything seems off we'll leave right away. You have to trust me." I sigh, finally able to move my arm again. Jason, Luke and I used to just tend to our own wounds separately, so having someone to take care of me is still very odd and new. "I'll even keep a few of my pocket knives on me."

"Pocket knives?" My eyes widen, wondering how many times she's had a knife on her person when around me. I shift in my seat, now resting on the lip of the toilet's lid.

"Yeah, I keep one by my bed and sometimes on me when I go anywhere public outside of school." That makes sense, but the knife near her bed still makes me nervous.

"Why can't we stay together? I trust Ethan but I would rather be there with you. I don't like the idea that something could go wrong without me knowing," I huff while she stands again. Blue eyes look down at me, soft yet determined.

"Out of all of us, you and I know what's going on the best. So, having us split up is more effective. I don't like it either, but we need to be quick. Jason's still in jail." I wince at the thought of Jason, guilt eating away at me again. Kira offers me a hand kindly. I accept it and stand on unsteady legs. "I'll give you a moment," she says, then gingerly closes the door behind her.

Feeling somewhat normal again, I inspect myself in the mirror. Hands run through my hair to smooth it out and I button up my shirt again. After checking my bandages are set properly, I join Kira, Eva, Ethan and Jess by the door. We all file out of the door, Kira staying behind to shut the lights off. I wait by the door for her, out of sight from the other three. When she comes out, I wrap an arm around her waist to pull her against me. She melts into my embrace, nuzzling her head against my chest.

"Be safe, okay?" I murmur, burying a hand in her soft hair.

She shifts so she can reach my lips, pressing her own against mine. She pulls away after a moment, leaving my lips tingling, "I will. You better too."

"Yeah, okay." I lean down to press another kiss to her velvety lips, reveling in their feeling. I pull away to look at her, rubbing a thumb against her side. A wave of worry mixed with love washes through me, so suddenly it nearly makes me shiver. Love? Do I really love her? Everything has moved so fast with Kira, but the flutter in my stomach and hammering in my chest can't be ignored. She's changed my life within a couple months, shown me light and joy. Whatever is going on between us isn't temporary or shallow, not when I can see a life with her. I'm taken aback by my own thoughts again, shaking myself mentally.

My arms release her slowly and we walk over to join the others. Eva and Kira talk for a few moments, trading dampened smiles and melancholic words. I watch Kira, the way she plays with the hem of my borrowed shirt and glides a hand through her perfectly wild hair.