Red and Silver

Chapter Eleven - Your Bark And Your Bite

Sitting in the front seat of his car felt......personal. I could smell him, the majority of his scent like woodsmoke today, it dominating the rest of the little aspects of him.

I had expressed interest in going over to his house so he could teach me how to fight a little, or at least that was the excuse. I just wanted an opportunity to talk to him some more.

"Why are you so nervous?" He grinned.

How does he know I feel nervous?

"I'm not nervous." I blurt out.

"Yes you are, I can hear how fast your he-talking." He half corrected himself.

"Fine, maybe a little." I resigned grudgingly.

The familiar forest began to take up the majority of the scenery, until it swallowed up the entire landscape, the only thing that reminded me of civilisation was the winding road we were taking.

When we drew up into a long gravel driveway, I heard myself gasp.

His house was a large, rustic looking farmhouse, with large windows and a porch swing. The outside looked old and faded, anything that could have been paint was just crumbling flecks of white and the garden was in complete shambles. It was tired, worn out and old. It looked like a home. I noted that there was a black Chevy out the front of the house.

"You live here?" I murmured softly.

"Glad you like it." He said gruffly.

We pulled up next to the Chevy and walked up to the front door, where an old brass knocker sat. There were scratches all over the door and the frame, as well as what looked like dog hair that carpeted the porch.

"You got any pets?" I asked lightly, trying desperately to calm my nerves (somehow it wasn't working).

"Nope." He scoffed and unlocked the door.

The first thing I saw was a grand staircase, with a long winding banister.

The second thing I saw was the girl standing on it.

She had long caramel hair, tanned skin and brown eyes that looked like molten chocolate. She had curves like an hourglass and a faint scar on her cheekbone.

"Um he-hello?" I stammered, startled.

"Hello." Her voice was as soft and as smooth as honey.

Alex waved nonchalantly.

She descended gracefully, almost dancing across the floor to greet us.

"This is Scarlett." He pointed to me with his thumb.

She nodded her head politely.

"This is Lun-"

"Lu," she interrupted. "My name is Lu."

"Pleasure to meet you Lu."

As she shook my hand, I couldn't help but feel like she was looking at me oddly.

Suddenly, she began talking to me with her strange soft voice.

"You know what they say, how you're not like other girls. I feel that being one of the many, by being a 'most' girl, is a privilege. One I would be happy to share, don't you agree?"

I chuckled awkwardly, my brain scrambling and trying to keep up with her philosophical train of thought.

"Um, I guess so?"

She took another step towards me, speaking even more quietly than before. I strained my ears to try to listen to her.

"But something tells me that you're a little bit odd. You're strong and smart and beautiful like other girls, like all of them, but you appear to be......wild."