Comforting Souls

Chapter Three.

Lana drove a beautiful white Mercedes-Benz CLA220 AMG. The car was decked out with full black, leather interior, the seats cupping you in a sweet embrace and the scent of sweet vanilla filled my nostrils. As the evenings are now turning cool this time of year, I had never been more thankful for Lana's heated seats. I almost let out the littlest of whimpers as she pulled her car into a space beside two other cars. I didn't want to move, I was too cosy. But as I stepped out of the car, I turned to face away from the early evening sun as it still shone brightly, though the slight breeze still made the hairs on my arms stand.

I walked round to the boot of Lana's car. "Do you want any help with anything?" I laughed lightly as I watched her struggle with a mountain heap of blankets. Her dark hair was a mess as she fought endlessly to prevent the blankets from falling to the ground.

She tried pointing to a box with a handle that was slightly hidden beneath a jacket next to some more blankets. "Yeah, can you grab that cooler?"

Bending down into the boot of her car, I managed to dig the cooler box out. "Jesus, woman. How many blankets do you own?" I threw one back into the boot as it had gotten attached to the cooler.

"One can never have enough blankets." She grinned towards me as I pushed down the boot, clicking it shut.

Placing the cooler on the floor, I helped Lana fold some of the blankets to make it easier for her to carry and followed her lead. She lead us down a dried, mud path. I had to dodge a few branches from smacking me in the face, especially after Lana had walked through them. Those ones would swing back in force.

Once we cleared that dreadful area, a beautiful scenery was set out before me. The green grass was bright, and the river actually looked clean. Compared to the ones back at home, this water didn't look like it was going give you half a dozen diseases. Far across the river you could see homes in the distance as well as taller buildings, but with the sun slowly setting behind them, it looked like it could be a print on the front of a postcard.

"Nice, ain't it?" Lana spoke, making me slightly jump out of my daze. A soft chuckle escaped her mouth. "Sorry."

"It's fine." I chuckled along with her, I could just imagine the dopey look I had on my face looking out at the view. "But yes, it's wonderful."

She nodded her head over her shoulder. "Come on, the guys are just round this bend."

I heard the sound of the radio in the distance, Nickelback was playing, then a sound of group laughter. Someone shouted that Lana was here, I peered round her to see a well built guy with floppy sand coloured hair. A plain white T-shirt dressed the top half of him as khaki shorts and flip-flops dressed the bottom. As his blue eyes met mine, a toothy grin would spread across his face.

"And she brought a friend." He spoke, stepping towards me. "Here, let me take that from you." He grabbed the cooler with one hand and stuck out his other. "I'm Nathan."

Placing my hand in his, I smiled back, feeling at ease. "I'm Scarlett, but I also go by Sca'."

"Who's the girl?"

The voice didn't sound too inviting towards me being here. Letting my hand slip from Nathan's hand shake, I slowly turned myself towards the person who questioned my presence. My eyes gazed over another male, not much taller than Nathan.

He probably stood around six foot maybe six foot one, hair darker than the ace of spades and slightly shaggy. His dazzling green eyes slightly narrowed as he gave me a once over. Who the bloody hell does he think he is looking over me like that? His body was decorative in places with black ink like an unfinished canvas, and his dark denim jeans hugged around his waist comfortably as his jean legs would ruffle over what seemed to look like black biker boots.