Shades of Red

CHAPTER THREE

Against her better judgement Scarlett had agreed to go with Celia to visit her boyfriend in the neighboring town. Though slightly larger than Folsom, Mississippi Falls was just the same as Scarlett's home town. It was also nowhere near a river- much less the Mississippi- but the stupid names of towns in Alabama was not her main concern at the moment.

Celia giggled for the umpteenth time in the past half hour and Scarlett had to use all her self-control to stop herself from rolling her eyes, again. It was hard not to, with Celia all over the guy and Scarlett left to wander around the small town with them. Playing third wheel was never fun, but this was just beyond torture.

So, as they strolled down the main street of the town, Scarlett looked into every single shop, spied on every person she saw, and even tried to make up imaginary scenarios where a car suddenly lost control and hit her as she walked down the sidewalk. Unfortunately none of the latter came true, but the first two kept her decently occupied, at least, as occupied as you could be when the town had no interesting shops or people for her to watch. Celia had hoped it would take her friends mind off of tomorrow, but all it did was make her more miserable.

Joseph Gordon was the doctor of the town, a profession he had taken up after his father. This made him very rich and very in-demand since the nearest hospital was another half an hour drive. He was constantly trying to impress her with his knowledge, but Scarlett could see right through him. He wasn't too tall, barely taller than Scarlett, and his blonde hair shined in the hot sun. Celia thought he was catch; with his money, brains and good looks. Scarlett found him tolerable at best.

But if this is who she's willing to spend the rest of her life with then who am I to stop her?

Scarlett sighed heavily. They had been with him for the better part of the day and it was starting to get dark. It was a decent drive back to Folsom and she wanted to get back before the wolves howled. Thinking about the wolves made her shiver, even if it just was a figure of speech.

Sitting in the booth, with the happy couple cuddling across from her, made Scarlett sick. She had never really been one against public displays of affection, but for some reason she was feeling extra jealous today. Surely it had nothing to do with a certain dangerous man who occupied all of her thoughts, especially after what Celia had told her, surely.

Would he even like things like that? She thought. That doesn't seem like his kind of thing, but you never know.

Scarlett jerked in her seat like she had been shocked. Dammit Red! What are you doing? She was so focused on her own thoughts she didn't hear the door to the dinner open behind her. What she did notice, however, was how pale her friend Celia had gone. Scarlett furrowed her brows and followed her line of sight.

There, sitting at the counter, was none other than Dawson and Edie Whitlock. Her childhood bullies- life-ruiners, if you will. Scarlett immediately whipped her head back around to look at Celia, only to find her no longer concerned with the boys.

Joseph had taken her attention from her friend and was sweet talking her. The mushy gushy words he spoke to her had Scarlett wanting to leave, immediately. The only problem was the Whitlock boys were in her way and she couldn't leave Celia stranded without a way home. Not that Celia seemed to really care. And then they kissed.

Scarlett had to hold down the food she just ate.

Oh gag me with a spoon, she thought.

After an entire day spent doing nothing she was now stuck watching her friend get friendly with her boyfriend and couldn't leave without walking by her childhood tormentors. This was just her luck.