Crimson Collars

LAUREL

< Chapter I >

I woke up to the front door of the house softly closing.

Groggily, I peered over my bed to look out my window only to find that dawn has only just begun.

With a double-take through the glass I realize its Olive. Even though it was too early for school she was wearing her uniform as she crept evasively through the cement alleyways.

For the past week shes been doing this and every time it wakes me up, only for me to nod off later at work. I swear to God, she pulls something like this again, Imma cut a b*tich.

Little sisters, what can you do, My inner logic stated.

"You can staple them to the bed til noon." I muttered.

No violence. We're big girls now, Logic said in a condescending tone.

I became enraged, "Did I ask you? Cuz I don't remember asking you."

Meh meh meh meh, Logic mocked.

Ugh I can't take her sometimes. I threw off my covers to reveal Luc curled up like a cat, sleeping.He was so cute with his red hair sticking up at all ends like that.

It was a Monday. God I hate Mondays, almost as much as terrorists and stray legos. I spazzed out staring at the rising Sun still laying down.

Poke.

Poke.

I look over, seeing Luc wide eyed and silent. He pointed to his wrist motioning to check the time. Five minutes till I sign in. Peachy.

Quickly dressing while grabbing a plum from the table, I polish it off on my white blouse and I walk toward the hotel where I'm employed.

I wouldn't have to work if my father wasn't in a coma. The past government was hard on anyone who wasn't the Elite. Many workers -such as my father- banded together in the different provinces that made up the country and started a revolution. The base for our province was in  the huge mountain at the border, and was cut off by the  government at that time. My father was one of the men inside, but he worker alone on a chemical gas that could be deployed on the enemy. Without proper ventilation he collapsed and slipped into a coma. If it weren't for his fellow rebels carrying him out he wouldn't have the chance to live like he did today.

So this left me and my mother out on the streets looking for some possible way to feed our family.

I stepped out of the spring air into the air-conditioned lobby of the official Francois Blanc, the hotel for political officials. Hastily scribbling down my signature, I ran to get My cleaning cart.

Today was the same as always. My braid bobbing as I walked briskly from floor to floor doing my job.

                                                                                              *       *      *              

As I opened the door to room four hundred ten I sigh as I see most of the rooms contents were spilled on the floor.

What even..., I thought as I pulled a pair if boxers off the floor and heading a few feet in I picked up a sock. Ignoring the trail of clothes I start making the bed, all of a sudden I hear a male voice exclaim "Ayala?!". I turn around confused to hear someone in the gist of the mess only to find a young man.

His face falters as he murmurs  "Green eyes, no no that isn't right." then his eyes wanders to the window. I heard from other maintenance personnel  that there were a few loonies but I never saw one.

Oh hell no, I thought as I froze.

Don't be afraid. They smell fear. Back away slowly... Logic was just as afraid as I was.

"Aren't you supposed to be the calm one giving advice? What kind of crappy advice was that?! He's not a friggin dog!" I whisper- yelled back.

   I don't know about you but I'm shitting my pants. He might whip out something from his trousers, a gun, a-

"Logic!" I yelled, knowing where she was going with this.

He whipped his head back to me his eyebrows raised, "Are you going to clean or," his eyes taking in my maid uniform "are you here for something else... "

Wait.

Did he just...

Anger swelled up inside me as my eyes narrowed into slits. "I'm not a prostitute, if that's what you mean," I say as I turn to make the bed. As an afterthought I add, "And you know if I was one, you would be able to get near this let alone tap it no matter how much moolah you got son."

His eyes were wide open and.he leaned as far away from me as he could in his chair. When I was done with  my whole monologue and turned back to cleaning I thought I heard him mutter, "Angstyyyy,"

"Do you have a problem with me? Because I can leave. And you'll just be sitting in this mess being all mopey and depressed again."

"You're actually quite amusing."

"You got some sick kinda humor man, cause I was just threatening you before." I remarked.

"It's just...," he sat forward with his elbows on his knees and his hand in his hair, "It's refreshing." He started to stare out the window again except the shades were drawn...

Wondering how it was possible for someone to completely brake down like this I stopped folding his shirt. Studying him closely I see he has gray eyes, black straight hair, with black stubble lining his jaw . The only thing we had in common was our olive skin tone.

I sigh for the umpteenth time today "Whats the matter?" I  asked tiredly rubbing my eyes.

He looked at me hesitantly "Who are you?"

I looked at him feeling annoyed for some reason "Your knew psychiatrist, so whats up." I say rolling my wrist in a go on motion.

"Well I'm Carter, Carter Bennett." he said straightening up in his chair.

"You seem okay now so... should I clean or leave and come back later?"

Silence.

As I stood up he held my arm,

"Please. Stay."

I looked down at him, with his gray eyes pleading it was hard to say no.

Slowly sinking back into the closest  chair I listened how that he loved a girl and he thought the feelings were at least a little mutual since he's known her for years, and they shared more than one kiss. He 

moved to my province, and away from his own  because he felt ashamed that he might have been a part of her little sisters death . Finding out that he held no part in killing the little girl, he went to what was left of his home province after the war to propose only to find her happily married to someone else.

While he talked I cleaned the room. When he finished I quietly stepped outside and  started rolling my cart out again.

"Wait!" he said as he jogged down the hall to catch up with me, "You never told me what you name was."

I cocked my head to the side and smiled mischievously "I guess I didn't."