HEART OF FIRE (On Hold)

Sue

CHAPTER 8

Pov: Justin

I parked the car on the driveway as I was going to have to leave soon to fetch my aunt. Martha came out the front door carrying a trash bag. When she saw me she stopped and said "morning sir". She then picked up the bag and said, "I assume you want me to get rid of these bottles before your aunt gets here and get rid of the smell of booze."

"Yes, please," I sighed in relief that I didn't have to do all the cleaning myself. We spent most of the morning cleaning the house, packing the fridge and cupboards with food, and preparing one of the guest rooms. Around 12, we had cleaned the whole house, and I had to get ready to pick up my aunt. My stomach growled, making Martha look at me, "When last did you eat?"

"In all honesty, I don't know." I think the last time I ate was at the coffee shop with Nick, or did I eat something after that.

"When are you picking your aunt up?" Martha folded the last piece of laundry and looked at me with a soft smile.

"I will leave at one," plus the drive there and back, getting in the car and how ever long traffic is, I should be back by 3, maybe 4.

"I will make you some sandwiches for the road." I was going to protest, but before I could, she was gone. She came back fifteenth minutes later with a lunch box. I could see about six sandwiches in them. They smell like chicken with mayo. There is also a beef one with what smells like chilli.

She handed me the lunch box and said, "I can't cook, but I know how to make sandwiches." I thanked her for her help and paid her for the week. She left, and I closed up the house before I climbed back in my car and made my way to the airport.

I made it to there around five to two and had already sent my aunt a text saying I was here and where I was. I was in the car eating the sandwiches Martha made for me, and I kind of ate all of them, and I was still hungry. Yeah, don't judge me, I am a dragon, and we tend to eat a lot. I saw my aunt coming this way, well actually I more or less sensed her. Dragons don't need to catch a scent of another dragon to know there is one. We have this ability to sense other dragons around us. Dragons share some similarities with cats. One of those similarities is that we don't get along well with one another, and that's why we don't form packs or collectives. We usually avoid each other unless you are related or already know the other dragon, but even then, we only have small families consisting of no more than the parents and children. We do have family reunions and family gatherings, but those don't last long. That is the reason my aunt came alone, I spent lots of time with her so I am quite used to being around her. Her husband, on the other hand, not so much.

I got out of the car to great my aunt, "Well, isn't it my favourite nephew?" My aunt's name is Susan, but I call her Sue. She has dark drown hair and light blue eyes. She is the same height as me but slightly stronger. She is much older than me. I only recently turned 18 while she turned 112 a couple of months ago.

"I'm your only nephew, Sue", she pulled me into a tight side hug and kissed my forehead. "So you have no competition then." I helped carry her bags and put them on the back seat. We climbed into the car and made our way back to my place.

The car drive was mostly silent, well for me. Sue called her husband Jack to let him know she landed but ended up in a long conversation with her daughter. My two year old cousin, Rodin. She finally put the phone down when we reached my place, and even then, we were quiet as we put her things in the guest room. "I am going to go downstairs and start with dinner while you finish unpacking."

"Oh great, your cooking is still the best," she has mentioned this to me before. A lot of people back home said that very often to me. I spent a lot of time cooking either with my mom or my grandmother, and after a while, I got quite good at it.

I made my way in the kitchen and decided to make some chicken pasta, nothing too complicated. Sue came into the kitchen and asked, "Where are your plates so I can set up the table?"

"I don't... actually know where they are. "Sue gave me an odd look.

"You don't know know where the plates are in your own house," I did not know how to respond. "I don't know, I haven't been here long enough."

"You will learn where everything is in time, but right now, I have to search this kitchen." Sue started to open all sorts of cupboards and look in them. She did eventually find everything and left with some of the stuff to set up the table. Sue came back again to get glasses and some juice.

She opened the fridge and said, "You stocked up this morning, didn't you, and did some spring cleaning?"

I looked at her pretending I didn't know what she was talking about, "What do you mean?"

She gave me a side glance before grabbing a bottle of cream shoda. She closed the fridge and sniffed the air. "By the look of things and the smell, you tried to cover up the fact you'd been drinking."

I stopped pretending to stir the pasta and turned while saying in a rushed manner, "I have no idea what you are talking about."

"You forgot, I am a dragon as well. It's near impossible to cover up the smell of something with us", she put down the glasses and the juice. She put a hand on my shoulder and gave me a sad look. "You can't hide things from me, Justin. I know you quite well, too well, actually. So dish up the food and let's talk. "

I carried the plates while Sue carried the juice. The dining room was quite nice, I forgot how big the table was and that there was a glass wall that allowed me to see into the yard. In the yard, the pool and beyond it the forest. I put the plates down at the only two places that had been set up and sat down.

We spoke about small things for a while, how the rest of the family is doing. My cousins and their recent school plan, and we talked about what we should do this week while she is here. We then ended up talking about dragon stuff and the upcoming dragon rumble. I didn't mention Nick and how he might be my mate, I will come to that topic another time as I am still not sure if he is, it would help to figure out when he turns 18. I am also happy she didn't bring up the alcohol thing that i tried to cover up. It was nice to talk to Sue. She is my moms sister and the only person I still talk to from our family.