Forever and Always

Chapter 10

    Scarlett went into her bedroom, pulling out her favorite bright red bag. It was big and held a good amount of items. She threw in some clothes, mostly sweat pants and camis, which had become her daily dress code. "I'm sorry, really I am." Scarlett said coldly, feeling her mother's presence in the doorway. 

"For what? For being hurt? For being sad? That's not something to be sorry for Scar." She said softly.

"Apparently it is to dad." Scarlett said zipping up the bag and slipping into her sneakers.

"That's not true." Emma replied almost harshly. "It's been hard this last month and a half."

Scarlett looked her mother dead in the eye. Their amber eyes were full of sadness, grief and anger.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did Levi have to die?" Scarlett felt like she could break down, but their were no more tears, her throat was hoarse from screaming.

"It was just... time."

"That's what Renny, Annie, everyone, told me... but I, I don't think that's true." With that Scarlett pushed past her mother and walked briskly down the short hallway. She made her way to the front door and pulled it open. As it shut behind her she heard the weak crying of Emma.

    Scarlett frowned as she watched Levi strut down the parking lot towards her. He had that arrogant air about him that he got once in a while, which probably meant he had aced a test.

"Hey." He said cooly. She rolled her eyes, she absolutely hated it when he got that "look at me" look.

"Hi." She muttered and looked over at Annie and Hannah. 'Help me' she mouthed.

They saw her and started laughing, they thought it was so cool Levi O'Hara was speaking to her. It was November, three months into Freshman year for the three of them. Hannah gave Annie a look after they recovered and they quickly raced over to her.

"Poetry?" He asked, nodding towards the book Scarlett held.

"Yeah... I have to read it for English." She said making a face of disgust. She studied him a minute, he was... cute? Dark hair that was messy on purpose and green eyes that stood out in a crowd.

Little did she know he was studying her long, dark red hair and amber eyes with just as much intent.

"Scar, can you come help us with... um... that..." Annie looked to Hannah for help.

"Your boyfriend is looking for you." She thought on her toes. Hannah's almond shaped, hazel eyes danced with glee.

Scarlett cast a look their way and then nodded. "Right." She said taking the opportunity to escape Levi.

He watched her go with a small smile. He suddenly realized she didn't like the way he acted so high and mighty. "Well, I can change." He whispered before turning to his laughing friends.

    "Scarlett?" Wendy Josephal rubbed her bright blue eyes awake. "What are you doing here at this hour?" In truth, she was wondering what Scarlett was doing here at all. She hadn't been to this house since junior high, She only reckonized her because they had both been at Levi's funeral.

"I-is Jared here?"

"Um... well, sweetie," Wendy struggled for words.

"It's okay, mom." Jared came behind his mother.

"Are you sure?" She asked her son intently. Scarlett noticed they looked so similiar, sharing most of their features except eye color.

He nodded and gave her a look that said politely 'leave'. She complied, giving Scarlett a weary look before she disappeared up a flight of stairs. She worried about her son when he was with the sad child. 

"What happened?" He asked immediatly.

"I left. They hate me." She said simply.

"You can't stay here." He said, well reaching for her.

"Why not? I thought... why not?"

"Scar, I." He paused. "I love you okay, I wanna help you and you need me, I understand, but I just can't keep dropping everything for you." He regretted the words the minute they left his light lips.

Her face fell. Suddenly the only person that made her feel better was telling her to leave. To get out of his life.

    She laughed. Her first laugh since Levi's death. The only one who could even get a smile out of her was Jared and now he had accomplished laughter.

He looked surprised, but smiled himself. He was just glad she could be somewhat happy when they were together, in a way he felt guilty. Like he was trying to steal his dead best friend's girl, which wasn't true. He was just being a friend, being there for her.

"Thanks for coming over." She said looking up, her eyes filled with sadness, making his own feel depressed.

"Of course! Anytime you need to talk, just call me." He replied sincerely. She had cried, talked and yelled for an hour mostly about Levi's death. He figured it was good that she told someone, even if it wasn't her therapist Renny.

"Thanks Jared, just... thanks." She said her eyes filling with tears again.

"Sshh." He hushed her, pulling her into his arms and softly squeezing her. She needed him, he knew he had to stay, he couldn't let her down.