Red and Silver

Chapter Eight - Flattery or Asshattery?

Waking up in the middle of a forest was easily in my top ten weirdest things to happen to me.

It was at that time in the morning when the light is just about to peek through the trees. That sort of gold-pink sparks in between this still dark landscape. I would of appreciated the beauty of it if I wasn't confused as fuck.

I was about seventeen metres outside my house, and in just my nightshirt and sweatpants.

I don't know how I got there, I just remembered that dream I had before.

Maybe I'm sleep walking?

But I've never done that before.

Though the air temperature seemed chilly, I felt feverishly warm.

Yellow eyes......

Those eyes just lingered in my mind, the smell of him fizzed and crackled in my mind like champagne bubbles.

A resounding crack made me jump to my feet and brought forward the terrible sounds in horror movies.

I bolted back inside as I heard another sound, a rustle from some dead leaves on the forest floor.

After closing the door to the house, I decided upon having a shower.

It felt normal, safe.

I needed a little normalcy in my life.

YOU UP?

A random number had texted me.

Drying off my damp hair, I texted them back.

WHO IS THIS?

A reply came in.

ITS ALEX.

I froze, clearly alarmed.

HOW THE FUCK DID YOU GET MY NUMBER?!

MY BROTHER USED YOUR PHONE TO CALL MY SISTER, I USED THE NUMBER FROM THE CALL.

I slumped down onto my bed.

Well, at least he isn't a psycho-hacker-stalker-murderur. I hope.

OH, OK. SORRY.

I WANTED TO THANK YOU, I'LL STILL DO IT IN PERSON, BUT I JUST COULDN'T WAIT.

A smile painted my lips. I remembered Josh when Layla rolled up, it felt so nice to see him so happy.

ITS FINE, HOW IS HE?

HE'S GOOD NOW THAT HE IS HOME. WE GOT SO WORRIED.

DO YOU WANNA CALL? I THINK THIS IS TOO HEAVY FOR TEXTING.

Sure enough, a buzz from my phone signalled his response.

"Hey, I'm being serious. Thank you."

The first words that came out of his mouth was that. Not hello, not awkward small talk, the shit that mattered.

"It's what anyone would of done." I shrugged it off.

"You'd be surprised." He chuckled darkly. "Josh gets picked on a lot, it our fault a little. And he gets enough shit from them and from home, so that was just a whole heap of terrifying for him. I'm glad you were there."

I was hesitant to say it, but after a few seconds of silence I said it. "Josh told me about your Dad."

"He did huh?" His voice was gravely and rough, more than usual. Due to the earliness of the day or the topic, I wasn't sure.