Blood Red (2)

Chapter 2

I scratched at the wooden table under me, peeling off the paint. I wetted my dry lips and tapped my pencil against the table. It was still a nice day out, the open window driving a breeze over my skin. Archie was playing with Pongo out on the streets with Henry, who didn't have school today. The streets were empty save for every once and awhile a car would slowly crawl through the small town. I remember what Archie used to say, this towns so small what's the trouble of starting your car worth when you can just walk? I snickered under my breath.

"What's so funny?" Asked a voice.

"You." I turned around and gave Killian a small hug. "You smell too."

His face fell. "Do I really?"

"No I'm just playing." I patted his chest and walked to the fridge. I was down to my last Big Red. "Wow. I don't remember having more than three of these in the last few days."

"Uh...I might of had one," admitted Hook.

"Oh. Just one?" I pressed.

He nodded shyly. "Yes. It was so good I had myself another. I couldn't stop drinking them. At least I saved one for you."

"You're right."

"So what did you do today?"

"Read," I replied.

"Are you making fun of me?" Hook narrowed his eyes.

"You're learning, and you're doing good. I really did read though." He bit his lip and smiled just a little bit.

"What did you read?" He questioned.

"Henry's book...your story."

Killian's face fell, a frown took over his lips. "Oh."

"I just wanted to know about the man I am about to marry."

"In eight months." His body tightened...he was getting angry.

"Well...I..."

"I already told you about Milah, what else must you know?"

"About Pan. About Liam." He stopped, his breath hitched. I watched his fingers curl. "I'm sorry," I gulped, pinching my sleeve. "You already knew everything about me. I just wanted to know you."

"Well are you happy now?" He spat the sentence like it tasted bad.

"No," I whispered. "No I'm not...not like this."

He didn't say anything, and I stared at his chest, as it moved back and forth. I couldn't meet his eyes. He wrapped his fingers around his chin. "I'll forgive you...under one condition."

"Anything," I said with a sigh of relief.

"Anything?"

"Yes anything just tell me!" He cocked his head to the side.

"Kiss me."

He was across the room in a stride, his lips against mine. I moved away from him. "You said yourself we have plenty of time for that later." My lips screwed up into a small smirk.

"You're right," Killian admitted. "Now about your surprise..." He trailed off suspiciously, his pointer finger on his lips.

I tried to control my excitement. "What is it?"

"I got you a book...well I made it."

He reached out a book that seemed rather new, no dust lay on it and the spine was still stiff. I opened it to find all the words were typed in a normal font, each letter no bigger than a grain of rice. "W-what is this?" I stuttered in awe, fingering the brown leather cover.

"It's a book about you and me," I heard Killian say at my side. "It has your story, as well as bits of mine, and it has the future."

"What do you mean?" I studied the thin pages, careful not to tear them.

"I had a dream about the future. In fact, I wrote down every dream I've had about you in there...about us. Pictures as well. I thought you would like to know who you're marring."

"How long did it take you?"

He shrugged. "About three months...not too long."

I flipped to a section titled Cora and found a chapter labeled "Little Red" and tilted my head.

"You can read it if you want...it's all yours."

"Alright," I said with a blink. I ran my hand along the page, feeling the slight bumps from the ink before my eyes focused on the words at the top of the page. This was about me, I knew it had to be.