The Dangers of Pursuing Red

Chapter 4 - It's all in the Blood (Part 2 of 5)

Returning to the present story, following Melissa’s accident, I found myself trudging aimlessly through an overgrown field of gloriously green grass. I had stumbled upon quite surreal surroundings, and just for a moment I could allow myself to be submerged in the absolute tranquillity of this other-worldly place. I could forget my own troubles and the awful things I’d done, without any external distractions. My mind was all that existed in this new world.

                It was only after continuing to walk in a dazed state for quite some miles that I realised I’d wandered all the way back to my home town, and I was rapidly approaching the field behind the house which belonged to the Hills family.

                As I proceeded to try and skirt around their garden, however, I couldn’t help but notice and be noticed by a very familiar figure in the garden.

                “James!” The beautiful voice of Laura Hills cried, as she glided towards me, in that joyful, yet regretful tone she wore so well. Her behaviour increased my curiosity as to whether her numerous mood swings might signify schizophrenia. “James, I’m so sorry-”

                “- About the nightclub? Yeah, I know you are.”

                “No, I honestly am… I’ve just been going through some stuff.”

                “Haven’t we all?”

                She shifted uncomfortably on her feet, but when she lifted her head, her face washed away the shyness she’d worn for the past few weeks, as if she was starting a fresh slate. Her eyes were infected with the same intense glow I’d seen emerge from her the first time we met in Herbert Hills’ car. I felt that warm sensation inside my all-too-human body once more.

“Do you want to come inside? Jennifer cooked some- Oh, wait… Never mind… Let’s just go for a walk,” she mumbled.

                I nodded my head, as Laura seemed to embarrassedly recall that her mother had been the cause for our row in the first place. We both walked in content silence for a while.

                “What makes you happy James?” She spoke suddenly, with the confident air of a girl who’s in command of all around her.

The reply was on the tip of my tongue when I suddenly realised what Laura was doing; she was continuing to assess me, just as she’d done the first time she met me. And she was doing more than just facially assessing me this time. This was a mental assessment.

                “Happy things are what make me happy,” I replied sarcastically.

                “Come on, you know what I mean.”

                “I do, and that’s exactly why I avoided the question.”

                “But I don’t understand why you’re shutting yourself off from everyone.”

                “Well, I suppose that’s what makes you and I so similar, Laura. Neither of us fully understands the other. I’ve known you for a few weeks and we’re already falling out every time we open our mouths.”

                “Well let’s start again then. Hello, my name’s Laura Hills,” She smiled broadly, in that unconditionally heart-melting way she had, before stretching out her hand so very delicately and flicking her ginger hair over her slender shoulder.

That smile was full of warmth, and I wondered why she’d seemed so uptight and aggressive up until that moment. Then I realised… It was me. My carelessness made it impossible for her to appreciate the real person beneath all my arrogance, even though she sensed the good-natured James lying beneath.