Incharge

Chapter 17

Thomas Wilson

Scarlet hasn't been honest with me. I could feel that something wasn't right after the Showcase Dinner a few weeks back - as if she had been fearful.

Because of this, I decided to see her again this afternoon. I knocked on her door and with a shout of permission from inside, I opened the it.

"Sorry, Thomas! I was just cleaning up before school tomorrow." Scarlet was scurrying around clearly rearranging the items in wardrobe and chest of drawers.

I hung in the doorway, not feeling particularly welcomed into Scarlet's room. "Haven't properly had a conversation with you since No. 1. How's Emmy getting on with planning the ski trip rooms?"

She snorted a little laugh, "Do you think she's planning months in advance?"

I shrugged, "I could help her if she wants." It was a pathetic offer - one of which I knew Emmy wouldn't accept.

Scarlet went on and on about different reasons why I should most definitely not do that. Bullshit excuses such as Emmy and I 'not being the right fit'. The persona - happy, smiley, eager to please - that Scarlet was putting on for me was wearing thin.

I pushed off of the doorframe leaving the doorway wide open and I moved closer to her. "If Emmy doesn't like me, just say it straight to my face. We don't have to see her if she's like that."

Scarlet and I were just talking, if Emmy had a problem with that then she was just a bad friend. I tried to nudge my opinion into conversation and somethings were picked up by Scarlet.

"I guess she has been a bit nosy and controlling, I just thought that was normal for her."

"It's really not. I think you should faze her out a little, make sure she has less influence on you. You are such an amazing person who needs their independence."

Scarlet finished stuffing clothes into her drawers and sat beside me on the bed. I kissed her on the forehead and brushed my thumb gently over her cheek.

"Well, you up for going into the town for a bit? A walk before dinner?"

Her lips lightly brushed mine, "Sure."

And I felt better. It seemed as if all had been forgiven. Things were more at ease in my head as we went to leave her room and catch the bus.

"Nick." Scarlet nodded at her neighbour as he appeared to be standing right between Scarlet's doorway and his own.

He curtly nodded back at us. Nick was in workout clothes and was either heading for the gym or was going out for a run, or was returning from a previous exercise.

"Training?" I asked.

"Yeah, prepping for the next match. I'm going down to the pitches with Kit and Cory." He glanced at his phone. "I'm going to be late, enjoy your plans." And with that being said, Nick jogged off down the corridor.

Emmy Barker

"She said what?" I was furious, how could Scarlet talk about me like that?

"That's what I thought. Something just isn't adding up." Responded Nick as he pelted a rugby ball down the pitch.

A fumbling Cory ran to catch the ball but missed. Again. He picked it up off of the grass and jogged up the sidelines to give the ball back to Nick.