Playing with Fire

Playing with Fire (ch. 7)

Chapter 7

The Past is the Past

I slide into the familiar leather passenger seat inside of Leo’s beautiful mustang. I feel a little nervous, although I don’t know why since Leo’s been to my house many times.

How will it look? Will it be a huge house, a small one, or a medium? When Leo still went to high school he seemed pretty well off, except the time during our first date. Then I had to pay for the two of us.

I laugh out loud to the thought as Leo gets in front of the steering wheel. He raises his eyebrows as he sticks his key in the ignition. The usual roar of the engine sounds out into the night and a light in one of the windows of my neighbor’s house turns on.

Leo backs out of the driveway quickly then heads down Edward St. He makes a quick loop around the roundabout near the end of the street then turns onto Harold Ave. He starts to speed up and practically runs into a ditch on the next turn. I’ve already lost track of the street names and am starting to get tired of waiting.

Finally as I’m wondering if we’ll ever get there, he turns into a long narrow driveway. It curves around a large section of trees and there is a lake on the other side. As we follow the driveway I notice that there are lots of people out and about. I’m confused at why, and then realize why when the trees come out of our view and a huge apartment building comes into view.

So… Leo lived in an apartment building? And it seems like a pretty sketchy one considering all the sketchy people. I notice a huge field where some boys where playing football, which was next to a tennis court and then a big closed off swimming pool. Ok, so maybe it was a wealthy, sketchy hotel?

There’s a parking spot near the front entrance so Leo parks there. I go to open the door, but Leo quickly shuts it and looks at me with dead serious eyes.

“Now Phoebe, this isn’t a normal hotel. This is one specifically for creatures and things like me, like vampires werewolves… you know that kind of thing. Don’t look anyone in the eye unless I tell you too. There aren’t many, I guess you could say good… things that live here, but there are a few friends. If you start to hear a voice in your head you let me know, because some of these creatures can control you to do… things.” His eyes dart to the football players. I smile faintly to myself at the numerous times Leo uses the word “things”.

“See those boys? Over there in the football field?” He asks. I nod and look over to see them staring at me, all with the same expression; hunger. I gulp down a whimper and look back at Leo.

“Well there actually a pack of werewolves, and they look like they haven’t fed yet. If one approaches you don’t say or do anything,” He pauses for a second while he grabs something from the back seat. Then says as he hands me a bottle of pepper spray, “Just in case.”

 I nod once more and open the door. A floral smell fills my nostrils and I suddenly feel like running into the field with the boys to roll around in the grass… and frolic through flowers… hold on! What the hell was that?

I catch a cute looking guy staring at me from the field. He had sun kissed skin, bronze hair and no shirt on, which showed off his mouth watering abs. He catches me staring at me and gives me a seductive smile as he wiggles his eyebrows. A plan forms in my head as I push out my boobs and lick my lips. Ok I know, EW, but guys get turned on by that shit and I needed him turned on. I lightly pull my hand up my hip and his gaze follows. He starts to move forward smiling. That’s when I give him the finger.

Leo chuckles under his breath and quickly closes my hand, and guides me to the front door. A young, sort of pretty receptionist girl is at the front desk doing…oh my God. I start to feel a scream of terror build up in my throat and I go to open my mouth, but Leo slams his hand over my mouth.