Charred Feelings

Chapter 5:Scarlet and Blood

Andrew.

Andrew lived right next door. He was kind. I dated him for the longest time. 7 years. We broke up because I chose my career over him. I just wasn't ready to settle down at the time.

While we dated Me, Kira and him had many outings together. He never minded her being 3rd wheel.

He saved me from falling off into a sink hole many years back.

I swallowed hard.

Kira got up and walked out. I sat there for a few more minutes and stripped the cold and wet clothes from my body.

The warm water hit my back and I just stood there enjoying it.
It felt so good.

After finishing my bathroom routine I went out into the living room. It was 4:15 A.M. by now so I decided to brew some coffee. No use in sleeping now.

I went up to my room with the and checked my notifications on my laptop.

There was one message from Aspen.

And a notification for a game I used to play.

I clicked Aspen's.

"Hey Lyra, I'm unsure when you'll be reading this; but I hope you have a safe trip. If anything goes wrong just message me ok? Don't push yourself out in the fields to much."

That was all. I wanted to cry. I felt so many emotions. I decide to unpack my suit case. When I opened it the object Stacy gave me, rolled out.

I picked it up off the floor and set it on my bed. I checked my lock before I sat and took a closer look at it.

It was a simple black box. It's edges were a bit mistreated but other than that it just looked like a ring box.

By the lid of the box there was a lock.

I tried messing around with it but it didn't budge. What was the combination?

Someone knocked at the door downstairs. My heart stopped a bit.

I laid back when I heard Kira going to open the door.

I am Jumpy.

I think about Mike. What was he doing? I never said goodbye to him or Ms. Cadaver.

I remembered his dark eyes. They were so close to me.

MENTAL PUNCH.

"Lyra, Aspen is here."

I got off my bed quickly. Before I opened the door I remembered the box that was still on my bed.

Aspen knocked at the door.

"Wait a bit Aspen!"

I scurried around and hid the box behind my wardrobe.

I opened the door just as Aspen was  about to knock again. He stands there with his raised fist until it uncurls and falls to his side.

"Hey, Lyra welcome back.", he smiled.

I let him in and we sat on my bed.

He sighed." I got assigned a new job.", he scratches his head," I'm now an architect designing a new school."

Architect was one of the highest paying jobs. I could hear the excitement in his voice.

I force a smile." Wow, that lucky."

Aspen looks at me in the eye." Is something up? Did you see something in the Fields?"

Of course Aspen would know when I'm faking and when I'm not.

I sighed." My lips are sealed.", at just that Kira walks into my room with some chocolate.

She looks at Me and Aspen.

Aspen looks at her." Is there something I don't know about?"

Kira puts her chocolate down on my desk and sits besides me.

I look at her. Her hand was on her stomach again. Must be a motherly Instinct. I didn't work in maternity so I don't know much.

Kira sighed." Promise you won't tell anyone?"

Aspen stared at her intensely." Yeah I won't."

She lays back. When she does I notice a tear slip down her cheek.

She was faking it just like me." I'm pregnant."

Aspen frowns. "Are you joking?"

Kira doesn't answer him. I could hear her breathing quicken.

Aspen opens his mouth but says nothing. Instead he scoots over to Kira and hugs her.

I knew that this hurt for him too. He watched her grow up.

I turn away and looked over at my wardrobe. The box. Was it illegal to have it? What should I do with it when I don't even know the combination? Mike must know.

I got the box and I lost my compact. Irony.

After all the emotional talks Aspen and Kira had, I walked him out.

We stood there in the mud room.

He hugs me and says nothing.

Just sadness. He looks at me. Slowly he got closer and pressed his lips on mine.

I kiss back.

After a few minutes we let go of each other.

He looks at me." Get some sleep Lyra."

I pretend to yawn,"Yes Sir Aspen Colbat."

He laughs a little. Aspen walks towards the door but before he left h turned to me again."It'll get better for all of us Lyra. The government will give justice to the right and the wrong."

He sounded so confident. Kira never mentioned that the person was Andrew. Aspen's close friend.

I stood there long after he left. The government won't do anything. It was them who did this. Corrupt and evil. They'll trust a GreenCoat over a commoner anyday.

I resist the urge to cry. I have to be strong. Strong for the future Baby. Strong for Kira. And especially strong for me.