Scarlet Red

Chapter 1

Note to self: Don't wear heavy denim jeans during the fall semester of school in rural Louisiana. You'll sweat through them before anyone can see the cute design on the butt.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead as I walked up to the gothic-style school in a simultaneous feeling of bewilderment and amusement; bewildered due to the sheer look of the school (it's entire infrastructure just from the look of it looked severely outdated), and amused that it was 2014 and there were schools that still looked like this one that were offered to high school students as public education. But it was whatever; I just needed to finish high school and get on with my life.

My aunt was in charge of my education now, ever since my mother died back in May. She was a poet laureate and very famous, so it was guaratneed for me to go anywhere I wanted to go. Marie said that this was the best that rural Lousiana had to offer, so I guess I would take her word for it.

I felt a small tap on my shoulder and turned around to fall a tall, lanky boy with dark curls and slightly tanned skin. Confusion came over me as he pulled a piece of wadded up paper from his pocket and unfolded it, smoothing it out with his thigh. I couldn't help but crack a smile at the disorganization that I as already witnessing. It had looked like he was doing something important--or was about to do something important, anyway--but by the way he huffed at how crinkled his paper looked, it seemed that his first day of school wasn't going according to plan. Not his plan, anyway.

He stood up straight and took a deep breath before reading introducing himself, but not before introducing me. "You must be Cassidy Maycomb, new here from Oregon, and whose aunt also happens to be a very famous author--I'm a really big fan, by the way,"

"Most people are," I waved off, shrugging a little.

The lanky boy smiled and continued, folding the paper back up a little neater and sticking it back into his pocket. "I'm Joshua Noel, and the head dean has assigned me to be your tour guide and personal mentor until you get settled here. So if you don't mind me looking over your schedule, let's get you going, yeah?"

I smiled some and handed it over to him, and he looked it over before starting to walk ahead of me. I took the hint as telling me to come on, so I followed him, straggling behind him.

"Hey look! Look at Joshua with that new girl! Hope he can get a piece of that human ass!"

I turned my head and saw a boy laughing and high-fiving his friends, giving me a dirty look. Joshua seemed to see this nonsense as well, and I could physically see him starting to grow angry at this. That kid lets out a wolf howl, and I scoff, completely digusted at his behavior. Was this how most boys acted around here? I'd have to talk to Marie about this hen I got home.

Joshua stomps up to that kid and pushes him, shouting, "Shut the fuck up, Mark! Just be quiet!"

Mark stood up, and he grew taller instanty. I was starting to fear for Joshua, but Joshua didn't seem to hold my same fears. My pulse started to pick up speed, and my blood pressure shot up in anticipation of the fight that would inevitably go down.

Joshua took up his position up spoke almost inaudibly to Mark, "Don't you know that it's not right to speak to a woman like that?"

I started to blush and turn away, not wanting to see--or hear--Mark's response. All that was heard was a small huff, and soon Joshua was back to where I was. My eyes were shut thight, not wanting to know how things went down between the two. He touched my shouler and I jumped a little, startled at his touch for some reason. I took a deep breath and turned back to him, honestly surprised that there wasn't a single bruise or red mark on him.

"Let's go," he said coldly yet softly, grabbing my arm in what looked like agentle grip. But damn does this hurt, I thought ot myself, wincing a little at his firm grip. He looked down and noticed how hard he was grabbing me, then he let go. "Sorry about that, Cassidy,"