Little Red

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~Sweet 16~
"Layla just take it please!" Aria, my best friend since second grade begs. Shes giving me an old Fairy Tale book from at least the 40's at the least. Her grandmother got tired of it and was going to throw it out, or so thats what she told me.

"Aria thats so sweet but honest thats too much!" I try to explain but she doesn't budge.

"Suck it up and take it." Aria snaps stubbornly. Many of the guests laugh at my defeated expression, but all of them can see that I'm glad I can have it.
I glance at my parents, and they are awkwardly smiling at me. They always get this way on my birthday, afraid my grandmother would have to be eaten alive. Im the first Red Riding Hood to appear again for a while, it usually skips 2 females in the family, if there are any born. Fairy Tales have always been a big part in my life. It IS my life. Ive always found myself envying the other girls, who get to play as the Damsel in Distress. Others, make me feel greatfull. There was a Sleeping Beauty from 15 years ago, whose never been found. Still. She went missing and, many people think she found her trigger, and others say she ran off to never even be able to touch her trigger. But, a curse is a curse. Unless its been lifted, by God Knows What, you cant get away from it.

"Shall we go dance?" I ask my friends and family, tired of being the center of attention and wanting to go outside. Its the first day of summer and its never felt so good.

We all begin to crowd outside on the light filled deck. My parents leave before midnight for Panama City, where my grandmother is, so the curse cant happen on my special night. Which leaves me home alone.. Forbidden to leave. My parents started that rule of course.
Aria turns up the music and all of us fit in the flow of the beat. Laughing and smiling all together. So natural, and normal.
The hours pass, and bit by bit everyone shuffles out. It reaches 9 p.m. And my parents have driven away to their flight to paradise. Just me and my 2 friends left to carry out the night.

"Layyyy killer party girl!" Jake congratulates with a slap on my back.
"Thanks, see you next week? For the lake trip?" I ask, and he winks, as reassurance.
"You know it! Happy birthday!" He says, with a peace sign and hops off the porch heading to his Chevy Truck. Hes been my friend since the beginning of this year, which is shocking because hes a grade above me. He practically kills me with his shady blonde hair and piercing blue eyes.

"Aria please tell me your out of the liquor cabinet." I call out, closing the door to the last of the party.

"No promises!" She calls back and i already hear the clinks of the glass against my granite counter.

"Oh my gosh remember when you first had that stuff?" I ask her giggling at the memory.

"Oh dear god don't remind me. I practically gagged at the slightest bit. Remember when you were even offered a drink? I thought you peed yourself!" She shoots, she scores and our laughs fall in sync.

"Im 16." I comment to myself and she just glances at me.

"And im 17 very well you passed 1st grade!" Aria teases, her boundless brown waves shine underneath my kitchen light. She dyed it brown to be different from her curse. Thats what we all want.
She has small brown eyes but its perfect for her facial features. Shes petite like me, except im a lighter skin color and have medium blonde wavy hair, and big blue eyes. Different from the tale itself, makes me feel lucky.

"Geez hun lay off the vodka." I joke, as she continues to pull out drink by drink, and she just winks.

"You know i cant stay away!" She replies. I turn the music up and I just watch as she takes as many shots as she can. Shes light weight, but she doesn't care. She figures, that she should have as much fun as possible since shes the role of Cinderella, and yes she has step sisters believe it or not.

"Tell me you wont puke as much as last time." I say

"Last time i was a beginner, your looking at champ now!"
"Who do you think is your prince charming?" I ask out of the blue. She looks down in thought.
"Thats a great question. Frankly the answer is in the curse." She replies hastily and continues on drinking. I worry for her, how much she wisps away with one chug.

But I also cheer her on though, supporting her party animal, because it makes me feel better after the fear of having to watch a wolf get cut open. We never interact with the Greys Family.

The Family who holds the Enemy side of the curse. They always have a wolf awaiting. They live across town. Thankfully.

Time reaches 12, as Aria is passed out in my room, I've already given up my trash can to her for her needs. The usual routine takes place and I'm left alone cleaning up. I've never really drank before, i like to clean for Aria when she does this, since she cleans every day of her life.

I turn off the music, and sit outside a while, relaxing. My birthday is over. Thats all there is to it. I don't feel any different at all.

"Once a Red always a Red." I quote softly from a song my mother sang to me as a child.

I stare up into the stars, admiring their beauty as i've always done since i was little. As i look up into the mysterious life of space, a green dot, that blended into the stars catches my attention. It zips to my right, and i follow it intently. Its beautiful. So cute, and petite. I feel a giddy emotion and i hop up and follow it into the woods, led by the light of the stars. I always do the same thing, i want to do something fun. Do something dangerous. Ive stayed safe, lets see what this little fleck can do.

I giggle, and smile as I run like i can fly after the green light. Leaving the safety of my house. I want something different. This is unexpected! Something ive been dying for forever now.

A happy feeling envelopes my body and senses. The compelling need to follow it only increases.
Hours which feels like minutes fly by, and i feel like i can hear music play by in my ears.
As the green light continues, i follow it o a cute little cottage, buzzing off a friendly feeling. It zips underneath the door and i knock before i even understand what im doing. The third knock awakens me and snaps me out of the compulsion, and I stand stunned at who opens the door.

A boy who must be 18 years, light copper skin, deep brown eyes, dark brown spiked up hair. He looks first annoyed, then stunned as i am.

"Who are you?" He asks, his eyes trailing my body everywhere sending me shivers.

"Uhm.. Im Layla...? I thought i uhm.. Saw something sorry to bother you." I say quickly, heat rising in my cheeks, feeling shamefully immature.

"Its..fine.. I guess." He replies slowly.

"Ill be going then." I say a little too awkwardly and i turn around retracing my steps.

"Please- stay." The boy suddenly pleads, his tone a little deeper.

I keep walking, afraid of what i might of gotten myself into, and then i feel a tight grasp on my wrist. Forcing me to face him.

"Let go of me i will scream." I demand closing my eyes tight, not wanting to look him in the eyes again.

I feel a shaky feeling travel through my body and i feel a strong urge to get out to leave.

"I cant let you do that." He growls and yanks me back to his cottage.

My fear tightens into my throat. My nightmare not only in front of my eyes but inside me. I cant speak. I cant scream. My biggest fear, bigger than a Grey.