Loving Eros

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

“Why is everybody so serious, Acting so damn mysterious? Got your shades on your eyes, And your heels so high that you can't even have a good time." -Jessie J.

Story woke up early the next morning and walked to Spera. It was a quiet morning, and even though she didn’t know exactly how idle the streets were or how little people actually came out in public, she didn’t want to take any chances just in case she had any rough encounters that Benjamin and Ozzy warned her about. She was afraid of Ozzy finding out she’d walked to work on her own, or maybe it was Benjamin who’d be concerned. Well, Ozzy wouldn’t be concerned. He couldn’t worry about anything. Well, as far as she already knew. But still, she was careful to avoid another lecture about how she was ‘foolish’. Knowing Ozzy, she’d get it anyway.

She stayed at a hotel only a few blocks down the road, so distance wasn't a problem. However, when she reached but a block away, an extremely familiar accent reached her ears.

"Now look here, you wankstain!"

"Ouch, shorties' got a little temper!" A pestering boy, no doubt.

"How dare you! Take a hike, ya' waste of oxygen."

Was this the kind of thing Ozzy was talking about? Better yet, she recalled from her first day at Spera that Grey had mentioned something about incidents like this. Well, it seemed harmless, but something still wasn't right. Story backtracked a little and did indeed find Scarlett around the corner along with some teenage boy, just a little over her age.

Story cleared her throat. "Pardon me!"

The two kids' heads turned around. Scarlett’s look of mild annoyance twisted into a happy face with an artificial twinkle in her eye. “Story! I was wondering why you were late!”

Story blinked. Late… Late for what? She caught a small glimpse of Scarlett squinting her eyes at her, and decided that was the signal to play along. She laughed, embarrassed. “Ah… Yes! Sorry about that! I’m sorry for interrupting you and your friend, however.”

Scarlett and the boy glanced at each other. Before he had a chance to say anything, she punched the poor young man in the stomach, causing him to yelp and flinch. “I’m not his friend. He was just leaving.” The boy shot her a glare and turned to walk away with a ‘tch’.

Story frowned and turned back to Scarlett once the boy was out of sight. “Are you alright?”

Scarlett shut her eyes with a ‘hmph’, adjusting the position of her messenger bag’s strap on her shoulder. “Oi, of course I am! I’m perfectly capable of handlin’ a ruffian or two on my own.” She opened one eye to glance Story up and down. “Headin’ down to Spera for your first day on the job, eh?”

Story nodded with a weak smile. “Yeah. I’m kinda nervous. Where are you headed?”

Scarlett shrugged. “Eh, I was just walkin’. It may not seem like it, but I don’t always enjoy bein’ cooped up in my sanctuary all day every day.” She blinked. “I know, why don’t I walk ya’ there? It’s not really a good idea to be walkin’ around places like this all by yourself.”

Story laughed awkwardly. You’re one to talk… “Yeah, I have a feeling if Ozzy found out about it, I’d--”

“You’d be in for quite the lecture.” Scarlett dusted off her shoulder and continued walking. Story scurried to keep up with her.

“Well, thank you!”

Scarlett raised an eyebrow. “Oi, Ozzy wasn’t kidding. You certainly are a nervous wreck. You’re gonna wanna tone that down or fix it in a place like this.”