This Cat Has Claws

5:Scars

Landon's POV

Marley left abruptly, so I didn't have any time to suggest that I walk her home. This part of campus isn't as safe as other parts, especially after a huge party like this one, and I've heard people bragging and complaining about what happened to them on nights like these. It took me a minute to decide to rush after her because I was honestly unsure that she'd ever need my help; tonight or otherwise. They way she handled herself was with so much confidence in her own ability it was like she would never need anyone's help if she could help it. But, I figured it still wouldn't hurt to go after her, especially since she got shot in the arm only a few days ago.

I couldn't see her anywhere. I thought I saw her cat ears turning a corner but there was no one around when I followed. All there was was a cat. So, I thought that was as far as I needed to go for this girl. I barely knew Marley, and I could see how this could also look really creepy. And, it's not like I'm all that outgoing with people to begin with, so there's no need to put much more effort than this with someone I hardly know. But I kept walking in the direction I thought I saw Marley go because that was my way home. There was no way I was going back to that party. My roommate Josh was the one who convinced me to go, and I still don't really know how he managed to do that, especially when he left me the moment a girl started talking to him.

When I turned a corner I was met with a cat. It was really cute. I can't remember the last time I was able to pet a cat. Grandpa is allergic, so we never owned one, but Grams and I would visit the animal shelters often when I was young, but not so much in recent years. I bent down and pet the cat and muttered to myself about Marley. I know I said I'd stop looking for her, but I swear she went down this way and there's no way she could walk so fast that I wouldn't see her turn onto another street before making my way over to this corner.

I looked down at the cat. It was purring a lot when I pet under its chin. What if Marley turned into this cat, and this cat that I was petting was actually Marley? Yeah right. People don't turn into cats, or anything for that matter. The cat walked away from me so I headed back home. I'd go visit Grams and Grandpa tomorrow and stay over since I had no classes tomorrow.

Grams wasn't home, unsurprisingly, when I walked through the front door of their house. She was working at the hospital near campus. Grandpa was probably writing in his office. Back in the day, Grandpa wrote some pretty good books that sold well, but recently he hasn't written much. He just gets so fussy about the wording and since he's old he forgets the words he wants to use.

"Grandpa!" I called out. "I'm visiting and staying the night."

"Hey squirt," Grandpa said as he walked out of his office and gave me a hug.

"You know how I love that nickname."

"And you know how I love calling you it. Is anything the matter? You were here just last week."

"Do I need a reason to come home? Okay, fine. My roommate is kinda annoying and I need a break. It's either I waste my time somewhere on campus all day or spend quality time at home."

"You tricky boy. You know I can't turn you away when you put it like that."

We both walked back the office. Grandpa began working on his latest novel and I pulled out my computer to do some homework. We spent most of our time together like this when Grams wasn't home. Neither of us liked to talk much or start meaningless conversations. Grams was the one to keep the conversations going. She loved to talk and loved to make us talk.

I heard the front door open and close and looked up from my computer to Grandpa. He began standing up so I closed my computer and got up from the couch I was laying on. We made our way out to the living room where Grams was setting her coat and purse. She looked up at us and smiled.

"I see you've come to visit again, Landon. What was the point of leaving home?" she asked rhetorically.

"How was your day, darling?" Grandpa asked.

"Oh, it was fine. Same old same old. When you get to this age and stage in your career, there doesn't seem to be anything new that happens."

Grams talked more about things that happened at work while we all pitched in and made dinner.

"How about you, dear?" Grams asked me.

"I went to a party yesterday and met that girl you were treating the other day," I replied.

"The one with who got shot? Now what was she doing at a party? Not drinking I hope. She should be at home resting."

"She seemed just fine to me. I completely forgot that she was even shot. It was kinda weird how unbothered by it she was."

"Did you talk to her?"

"Yeah, she actually hit me with a door, by accident, and I asked her about her arm. You know, she said that she'd had worse. She's really weird. She even pretended to be heartbroken when Josh was teasing us about coming down the stairs together. He was way drunk and thought we were a couple or something and instead of denying it, she acted like she was my girlfriend and created a whole scene only to walk away and laugh her ass off when Josh and I couldn't see her."

"It's nice to finally see you interested in someone for a change. I don't think I've ever heard you talk so much about another person before after only having met them a few days ago," Grandpa commented.

"When exactly did you meet?" Grams asked.

"That morning that she was in the hospital. We ran into each other when she opened the door to the classroom. I really wasn't expecting it. And it's not like I'm all that interested in her, but she really leaves an impression," I answered.

"She does, doesn't she," Grams said. "When I was dressing her wound I was a little shocked. I could see scars from what looked like gunshots higher up her arm and towards her chest. I'm actually a bit worried. She's so young and those scars were at least three or four years old, I can't help but imagine what caused them. And I don't think she got them treated at a hospital; she was very antsy and a little impatient."

"What was this girl's name?" Grandpa asked.

"Marley Parker," I answered.

"Hmm... I know of a family with that name and they're into some shady business, but there are a lot of Parkers in the world, so it's not for certain that she's a member of this particular family. From what I've heard, though, I wouldn't be surprised."

"What kind of shady business?" I couldn't help but be curious.

"I wanna say black market trading of some kind. I'm not too familiar with the details since I've only heard these things second hand, but it is somewhat dangerous. If anything, I'd rather find out she's part of that family than one that's abusing her. From what I've heard, the Parkers are very loving of their own, so if she is one of them, those scars weren't their doing."

I hadn't even thought about the possibility of abuse. It's one of those things that you hear about all the time, but from some far away place; never about someone you know. But now all I could do was wonder. I wasn't getting any answers unless by some miracle we ran into each other again over the weekend. Grams and Grandpa had moved onto another topic while I spaced out wondering about Marley. Maybe I was a little interested in her, just a little.