Winter || irwin

[ three ]

[ three ]

"So...your trainer let you come?" Luke asked Narda casually.

She gulped nervously. "Well..."

But her step-brother Ashton interrupted her with a bitter laugh. "Do you actually think the lion tamer let her out for a night of fun?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Narda glared at him

The group had found a nice pizza parlour that had arcade games and prizes to celebrate Narda's victory. They were sat at a large round table, waiting to be served. 

Ashton raised his arms up in defense. "All I'm saying is I know you snuck out because there's no way Vanessa was letting you out with us tonight. And its weird that you actually blew her off for once. You're like her puppet, always doing as she says. You don't have your own will, your mum and Vanessa run your life. And what's worse is that you let them."

"Okay, enough." Narda slammed a fist on the table. "I'm sick and tired of you always picking on me. What have I ever done to you, Ashton?"

She got up from her seat at the table and stormed off.

"Why are you always so harsh on her?" Calum asked in a serious tone. "She's your little sister."

"She's not my sister." Ashton growled, crossing his arms over his chest as he watched her disappear somewhere..

"I'll go see if she's okay." Luke said, getting up from his seat and rushing in the same direction Narda had gone.

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She pulled her coat around herself as a gust of cold air hit her face. Though it was summer in England, she was still surprised that the weather wasn't as warm as she thought it would be.

She had long since left the restaurant and was walking the streets of London by herself. She was several blocks along when an older man stopped her. 

"Hey, aren't you Narda Hillman?" He asked. It was a man who seemed to be in his early twenties.

Something about him sent a shiver down her spine. He was dressed in upper class clothing; black slacks and a white dress shirt with a long black coat over it. His blue eyes were dark with something she couldn't explain and his smile didn't seem genuine, like there was something hidden behind it.

She nodded slowly. "Yeah...why?"

His smile grew into a dark and toothy grin. "I watched your competition today, you were amazing."

"Thank you." She replied, and tried to walk around him.

But he grabbed a hold of her arm tightly. "Hey, would you like to see my car? Its really nice, brand new. You'd like it." He gestured down the street where there were no more street lamps to illuminate.

"No." She quickly shook her head, trying to wrench herself out of his grip.

"Come on." He smiled. "Its just down there a few steps."

"I should be getting back to my family." She insisted, her voice starting to sound panicked as she struggling in his hold.

From a distance, she heard a familiar voice that called out to her. "Narda!" He called.

"Over here!" She shouted back, her eyes brimming with tears.

The man who had a hold on her released her immediately and walked quickly into the darkness. When the young man who had been calling approached her, his expression softened when he saw the tears falling down her face. "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"