Color Me

On Fire

Henry was waiting for Kai at her door.
He kept biting his nails, going through all the horror scenarios.
He watched her walk towards him. The cutting silver eyes and the high cheek bones. Muscled arms filled the long sleeved shirt she wore and amped up the intimadation factor. He could see she was a total headturner and also why Otis couldn't bear it.
He had the looks but he was rotten inside.
Kai gave the upnod to the boy in front of her room. Unsure whether he wanted to see Lee or what.
"Hey man whatsup. You looking for Lee?"
"No. I uh I um I did it. I gave your records to Otis."
Kai looked at him for a minute. Henry began to squirm  and sweat. He was fully ready to be punched or choked.
Kai clicked her tongue. "It was a shameful thing for you to do. See what i have to put up with now?"
She pointed to the crudely drawn figure  of a woman with humongous breasts and small penis.
"I'm sorry. I didn't ask him why he wanted them or what he would do. I know it doesn't absolve me of responsibility I knew it was wrong to give him that information. I'm sorry."
Kai stared at him hard. Like she was studying a bug under a microscope. Henry felt like a bug especially knowing  self survival had pushed him more than guilty to apologise and be honest.

"My lawyer will.be in contact. Do what he says."
"You wont get me arrested right?"
"No. But i hope you take your next job seriously and not as a joke to be used when you or your friends feel like it."
"I will."
Henry was walking away when he remembered, "oh Kai please be careful. Otis was so pissed earlier today and he said he's planning something for you."
"Okay. Thanks man."

Nothing would happen for a few days and Kai wanted to dismiss the warning but she waited.

Otis paid off two guys from he met at a cafe to jump Kai off campus so it doesn't come back to him.
She'd get what she deserves.
Tired of playing the waiting game after having noticed 2 guys tailing her around past few days Kai laid her own trap and bait.
She carried brass knuckles in her pockets and she left her bike with Zoe for safe keeping.
"You wont tell me what you're gonna do? Thought no more secrets between us."
"Zolana baby. I'll be back soon. I dont know what I'll do. I could be wrong and being paranoid. But if worse comes to it I'll be a tad bit bruised come tomorrow morning."
"And if they have knives or guns then what?!"
"I promise I'll come back safe. I promise."
"I hate that you have to play vigilante like this."
"Me too. But i could be wrong. Lets hope I'm wrong."

Kai walked the long way from the restaurants back to campus. She could tell she was being followed again.
This had to end tonight. She turned into a dusty dark and creepy looking alleyway. No one would quickly come running here. Two burly men turned into the alleyway as well.
"Is this really necessary?"
"Needs must kid."

The first one lunged forward, swinging a meaty fist. She dodged, using his momentum against him, and landed a swift kick to his stomach. He stumbled back, gasping.

The other charged, eyes blazing. She sidestepped him, delivering a sharp elbow to his spine. He yelled, stumbling forward. I seized the chance, grabbing his arm and twisting it behind his back. The temptation to break it was strong but dislocation will have to do.

The first guy had recovered, he swung wildly. She used his partner as a shield, the blow landing on his shoulder. He yelled again, as she kicked his legs out from under him. He hit the ground hard.

Two swift punches to the temple and they were both out and would be for a bit.

A third shadow loomed at the top of the alleyway.
"Is it worth Otis?"
"You are a freak!" "So, its still none of your business what i am."
He charged her with a knife.
Kai blocked him but he knicked her forearm.
She headbutted him and shoved him face first into the wall.
"Stop it! Stop it man." He kept struggling.
Kai banged his head once on the wall and let him drop. He was still conscious just groggy.
She walked away.

Kai could feel her skin crawling with something. Like a storm was about to break. What else could be worse than this past week.
She parked her bike next to Austins' car. She had been blackmailed into attending a sibling lunch but probably or hopefully Zoe was there too.
She walked into the house and followed the voices into the lounge.
Austin and Zoe were racing go-karts on the VR.
Aly, Kim and Tammy were egging them on and shouting opposing directions or information from the game.
She just shook her head and joined in the mayhem.
Everyone was all over her and overlapping hies and i missed yous flowing around. A long sleeved henley kept her bandaged forearm hidden.
Go-karts forgotten in favour of holding Zoe and watching Kim imitate some of her teachers with gusto.
Lunch was served and they ate as if they'd never seen food.
(Cafeteria food was good but this was better.)
Aly finally bit the bullet and asked,"so did you find out who stole your records?"
"Yeah i did."
"Who is it? I can make them real miserable around school."
"Thanks Al but you don't need to. The guy's gonna do some community service in exchange for a clean record."
She didn't say anything about the fight with Otis even after Zoe elbowed her, she just shook her head.

For just a bit her mind was quiet.
The doorbell rang and Kim hurried to answer it thinking its the ice cream and donuts she had ordered.
But there she stood in all her glory, Rissa.

Like the gods were laughing Richard came down the stairs just then.