Colour Me Red

Chapter 17: Ellie

Chapter 17: Ellie

“So you didn’t really have a choice?” I concluded forcefully. “Your father raised you to be a killer from a young age, you don’t know any better.”

Dune was looking at me like I was crazy.

“What?” I demanded, annoyed that he wasn’t supporting my undersized epiphany.

He had a small smile on his face, like he found me endearing, which set my nerves on edge. I could never decipher what he was thinking when he looked at me like that, and it made me squirm uncomfortably.

“As much as I wish you were right, you’re not. I still went to school and was reprimanded when I did something mischievous; I knew right from wrong then, and I still do now. I’m not trying to justify what I do; I just want you to understand that I know what it’s like to have an excuse-of-a-father.”

I smiled at him in amazement but didn’t have a chance to respond.

“There’s a bag over there with some clothes in it for you, by the way,” Dune stated simply, gesturing with one hand to a bag in the corner.

I rolled my eyes at his attempt to change the topic of the conversation, but dropped it anyway and rose from the couch.

Picking up the bag, I rummaged around inside to find a pair of dark jeans and a tee.

“Er, Dune?” I said awkwardly. “Didn’t you think to pack any underwear?”

Dune turned to look at me from where he was lounging on the couch with his arms spread across the back, and raised his eyebrows.

His face said it all.

“Seriously Dune? After all the money you spent in Victoria’s Secret you didn’t think to bring at least one set?”

He sighed before replying.

“I’m afraid I was a little preoccupied worrying about whether or not you were alive to remember to pack anything less than essential.”

I gaped at him.

“I can’t just wear these!” I gasped, thrusting the clothes in my hands-or lack thereof- towards him.

He dragged one hand over his mouth as if he were trying to quell a smile.

“If you look in the draws over there you might find . . . something,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.

I frowned at him but made my way over to the set of draws anyway.

Tugging on the handle, the top draw slid open and I was greeted with the sight of men’s underwear. 

I spun furiously.

“Are you kidding me?” I whined, holding up a pair of boxers.

Dune was full on laughing now, no longer able to suppress the underlying humour.

“You wanted underwear, right?” he chuckled.

I threw the offending item at his face.

I glared at Dune. Why did he find this so funny? I had been wearing the same clothes for four days and really wanted to change into something that didn’t smell of a sterilised science lab.

“Just put them on already,” Dune smirked, folding his arms behind his head after removing the boxers from his face.

After scowling at him for some time, I realised it was the best I was going to get.

“Fine,” I huffed, retrieving the underwear from Dune’s possession.

I waited and looked at him expectantly.