by Gayle Keo
She nodded. “Good. So what do you like to do besides play basketball?” she asked the man.
There was a blush, and she wondered what was going on. It seemed like it was something big, something that seemed embarrassing.
“Do you really want to know? It’s really embarrassing,” he muttered.
“Of course! I’m not going to get mad if you say your hobby is to collect dolls, or even if it is watching soccer or reading comic books,” she told him. In truth, she just wanted to find out what his interests were.
“Okay. Well, don’t laugh at me, but I really like dragons. I study up on dragons, read books on them, want to go to museums and crap like that and talk about the folklore of them. I’m a big fanatic of medieval attire and items as well. I collect them. Being a basketball star who makes good money, I do have the ability to indulge in that hobby,” he told her.
She listened to this, and in truth, she was legitimately interested in this.
“Holy shit that’s awesome!” she cried out.
“Really? You’re not embarrassed?” he asked.
“Course not. Why would I be? It seems like an interesting hobby. I mean, if the paranormal and fantasy areas of life are your forte, then I’m totally fine with that. I mean, my major hobby is reading Japanese comic books. I love them and they’re my go-to book sometimes when I’m not studying,” she said.
“Interesting. I would’ve never pegged you as a manga reader,” he mused.
“Yeah. It’s a bit weird and embarrassing, but I make the hobby my own. But that’s really cool that you like dragons and such. It feels nice knowing someone who has a hobby they’re passionate about. I mean, it’s better than just speaking about basketball all the time, even though that is a big part of your life,” she said to him.
He looked at her, and for a moment, both of them felt as if time had stopped. For Scarlet, she felt happy to make Cody feel comfortable about himself, but at the same time, she also wanted to get to know him, to find out more of his own quirks and his hobbies.
After dinner, they left the area, and Cody turned to Scarlet, a blush presence on his face.
“I want to show you something. I’m a bit worried about it though, because I don’t know how you’re going to take it,” he said to her.
“What is it?” she asked.
He looked around, and then his eyes darted to the car.
“Get in the car. I’ll take you to a more private location where I can show you my true self,” he said to her.
She did so, looking at Cody with worry on her face. What was it that he was so scared to show her? They went to where a nearby abandoned forest was, and when he got out, he motioned for her to follow him.
“Are you sure you want to go in there? It looks kind of creepy,” she muted.
“I’m sure. It’s the only way I can show you this,” he said.
She followed him inside, a bit confused as to what might happen next. When they got to the center of the forest though, a small clearing where the moonlight shone through, he turned to her with a blushing face.
“Okay, promise me that you won’t laugh,” he said.
“I already told you that I wouldn’t. What else do I have to say?” she told him. It bothered her that he wasn’t so trustworthy of her words. Of course, this seemed like a big factor in his life.
“I know, I’m just scared,” he said to her.
She nodded, understanding a little bit of what was going through him. He then pulled back, and for a second, Scarlet thought he just brought her there so they could be in a private area. But then, a light had shone through, and suddenly the forest was illuminated in a white light, and that’s when she saw it.
The man changed, his body morphing into something that seemed like otherworldly. She looked at it, and immediately she thought that this was a dream. The man was changing, and suddenly, after all of it was over, he looked at her, a blush presence on his face.
“Here it is. I hope you’re not scared,” he said.
She wasn’t scared, more shocked than anything though. She looked at it, her mouth hanging open and dry at the sudden realization of what this man was.
He was a dragon. He was a dragon shifter who could change into a red dragon.
*****
For a moment, she didn’t know what to say. It wasn’t that she was disgusted with him or anything, but it was more along the lines of wonder and shock.
“Are you scared of me?” he asked.
“Nope. Just curious if you want the truth of it,” she told him.
He turned to her, his hand extended and the scales present in his hand.
“If you want, you can feel it,” he told her.
She looked at the hand, wondering what this would mean. What if they did get in a relationship with one another? Would he want any weird dragon sex?
“Do you ever…do it with girls in this form?” she asked.
“Nope. I only use my human form for intercourse. But this is a part of me as well. However, I make sure that it never shows up when I’m around others who don’t understand,” he told her.
She looked at him, eying him up and down.
“I understand. I get that,” she said to him.
“Thank you. But you’re not afraid of me. That’s surprising,” he told her.
Why should she be afraid? Sure, he was a big, scary dragon to some people, but for Scarlet, this seemed almost like a dream come true. She felt secure around him in a strange way. She read manga with weirder premises than the stuff in front of her.
“I’m totally fine, Cody. I’ve read manga with stranger elements to it. Sure, this is the real world, but I am not scared of you. You were amazing at dinner tonight. So why should I toss that to the side just because I know about this?” she said.
Cody changed back, his human form in shock at the words that were uttered.
“I’m so surprised. Every single woman who knew about this got scared. I had to take away their memories ofthe past. I only had one other person know about this in the past, but they didn’t do anything and instead just ended their friendship with me. I’ve been terrified of showing anyone this, and I didn’t know if I could with you. I mean, your reaction is the best I’ve seen thus far, so it makes me feel comfortable about myself,” he told her.
“You should be. I mean, you are something amazing in my eyes, and this dragon part is just another part of you. It’s kind of like you having brown hair. I mean, sure you could change it but it’s a part of you. I’m not scared. Not at all,” she told him.
The feeling of happiness lurched over him and suddenly, he pulled her close, hugging her softly. He looked into her eyes, staring directly at her with a smile on his face.
“Thank you Scarlet. I don’t know what else to say. I mean, this is the first time I’ve felt this way about someone, so I was nervous about the outcome,” he said.
“Don’t be afraid, Cody. Everyone has their secrets, and the fact that you were so willing to show me that right now is something astounding. I mean, I won’t tell anyone about it. I promise,” she said.
“Thank you. I needed that,” he told her.
They stared into each other’s eyes, and for a moment, Scarlet thought that this would be the perfect moment to kiss him. She didn’t want to take it further than that, because she didn’t feel like it was right to have sex on the first date. But suddenly, she felt her body move closer to his, and that’s when she pressed her lips to his own, sealing them with a kiss.
Some might think that this kiss was the type where rainbows and butterflies would shoot out of it, but in truth, it just felt normal to both of them. When they kissed, it didn’t feel like they were pushing it with one another. Instead, it felt nice and natural, and for Scarlet, this was exactly what she needed. She had been in too many relationships in the past where things would go sour because of secrets, but in truth, as she pressed her lips to his own, her lips colliding and touching his own, she felt like she was in a new heaven she had n
ever indulged in before.
For a moment, it felt like time had stopped, at least in their eyes. He pulled back, blushing madly at her and trying to speak, although it came out as a stutter.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to be so forward. It’s just…it felt natural. You’re the first girl I’ve opened up to, and I feel welcomed,” he told her.
“Don’t apologize. I feel the same way,” she replied.
They kissed one again, this time for a bit longer and a bit more passionate than they expected. After he pulled away though, he grasped her hand, heading towards the car.
“So, I know this is weird and stuff, but I want to ask you personally. Will you be my girlfriend?” he asked her.
“Of course. Why would I say no? We can take it slow and everything.” she said.
For him, that was the perfect response. His eyes lit up, his face hanging in a happy grin, one that said it all.
“Thank you Scarlet. Thank you for everything,” he told her.
They went back to the car, and for the rest of the night they held hands, both of them feeling sure and amazing. But what they didn’t know, was that in the corner of the forest was someone that Cody knew, someone who wasn’t afraid to expose Cody for who he really was.
*****
The next couple of months were crazy, with Cody and Scarlet going out on dates together, seeing movies, hanging out by the park, and just enjoying the way the other person felt. Cody hadn’t felt this happy ever, and for him, this seemed like the right thing to do. But he could tell that something was wrong, something he couldn’t put his finger on, and he knew that there was something amiss with everything that was happening.
In the locker room one day, Cody was putting on a black polo and some khakis to wear for when he would see Scarlet tonight, and his teammate Tony looked at him with a glance.
“Wow, I haven’t seen you dress that fancy in a while. Normally you’re always in sweats after practice,” he mused.
“Well, I’m going to meet my girlfriend tonight. I’m excited to see her again, since it’s something that makes me feel happy. I feel like when I play the games, I’m thinking about her now than just some random chick in the background,” he told him.
“That’s cool. I’m happy for you bro. Just don’t let it get in the way of the championship this Friday. I mean, I don’t want to have to take over for you when the going gets too tough,” he joked.
“Nah. I’ve got my head in the game. Scarlet should be coming to the game as well, and I think it’ll be great for her to see it. She’s a school reporter and she’s going to school for journalism, and I’m excited to see what sort of piece she’ll put together,” he told Tony.
“That’s cool man. I’m happy to see that you’re doing better. Even the coach noticed the difference. You seem lighter, like a burden has been pushed off of you. I’m happy to see that everything is going well for you,” his friend said.
“Yeah. I’m just excited for tonight. Apparently she wants to take me to this interesting Indian place, and I’ve never had it before,” he told his friend with an animated expression. For Cody, this was so right to him. Getting excited for dates, feeling like the king of the world, all of that just felt so real to him, and he didn’t feel like he had to prove himself to show the happiness he was feeling.
Unfortunately, things were about to get worse for him though, for as soon as he walked out of the locker room, he noticed someone sitting on the bench across the way. Normally, Cody didn’t pay attention to random people who at around here, but when he looked at the person, he could tell that something was up.
“Kenneth,” he said to the person in front of him.
“Hello there Cody. It’s been a while hasn’t it?” the man said.
“It has. You coming to spy on our team before the championship game? Afraid you’ll lose if you do otherwise?” he asked the man.
“Actually, I came here to personally see you. See, you and me have a little bit of business to talk about regarding the recent game that’s happening this Friday. I would like to make a proposal with you, and I hope that you’re fine with it. I mean, if you don’t listen to my demands, I think it’ll spell problems for both you, and that girl that you’re seeing,” he said.
For a second, Cody felt like punching the man in the face. What the hell did this have to do with Scarlet? This made him ferociously angry, and suddenly he turned to the man, glaring at him with annoyance.
“What do you mean?” he asked the other guy.
“Isn’t it simple? I have a proposal for you, and if you don’t take my offer, I’ll ruin both you and her. You gave me some interesting information the other night, and I’m putting it to VERY good use,” the man said with a sneer.
Cody looked around, and then he motioned for the small office nearby.
“Tell me in there,” he said.
The other man smiled, and Cody followed him like a helpless animal. What was Kenneth doing? What the hell was this?
Kenneth and Cody had been rivals since their middle school days. It turned from a friendly rivalry to where they would spit scorn at one another, and it would be a fight that was not only bitter, but permeating as well. Kenneth joined the rival team, and both of them made it into the NBA. Kenneth told everyone that he refused to be on the same team as Cody, and judging from the look on his face, he had some sort of messed up plan up his sleeve.
He sat down across from Cody, grinning like a madman.
“What the hell do you want?” he asked.
“Simple. I want you to throw the game. I want you to not show up on Friday, and I want your team to lose,” he said.
“And you think I’ll just agree to your shady demands, right?” he asked him.
“Well no. I wouldn’t believe that. What I do have, however, is some blackmail,” the man said with a smile.
He pulled out a piece of paper, a photograph of sorts, and the image casted on it made Cody blanch.
“No fucking way,” he said.
“Oh yes way. I have a photo of you changing into a dragon. If you want this to go public, to ruin your image forever and ever, then by all means, come to the game. If you don’t show up though, this won’t go public and I’ll destroy it,” he said.
Cody couldn’t believe this. “You bastard,” he said.
“Well, I know that Cody, but the answer should be obvious. I’m sure I won’t be seeing you at the game this Friday,” he told him.
Kenneth got up, marching out the door and leaving Cody a flustered, unsure mess. What should he do? What was there to do in this sort of situation? The only thing he could think of was to wait and see.
He made his way out the door to where Scarlet was, unsure of what to say to her, or even what to do about the worry that was present within his feelings.
*****
For Scarlet, seeing Cody late was the first bad sign. She motioned for him to sit down, and he looked at her, trying his best to avoid contact.
“You know, avoiding eye contact isn’t something a boyfriend does,” she mused.
“Sorry about that. I just…I’m worried about something,” he said.
This was the first time that Scarlet ever saw him worried. She then looked at him, wondering what was going on.
“What is it?” she asked.
“I’m worried about something that happened. I just don’t know what to think,” he said.
This wasn’t getting anywhere. She ordered them food, but she took it to go.
“I thought we were eating here tonight,” he said.
“I changed my mind. Let’s head on home,” she told him.
They took the Indian food home, and when they got to her place they sat on the couch, eating the contents with very little being said. She looked at Cody, seeing the downcast eyes that immediately screamed something was up. She turned to him, and once they were both finished, she started to ask.
“Okay, what the fuck happened?” she asked him.
He glanced at her, wonderi
ng what he should do.
“Well, one of the rival team members came to the area where we practice today, and let’s just say that it wasn’t pretty,” he told her.
“What did the fucker do?” she asked him.
“He threatened me,” Cody said with a small choked sob.
She moved closer, glancing at him with a worried look. Scarlet didn’t know how much this affected him, and it made her feel worried.
“What did he say? With the way you look, it’s got to be something that majorly shook you up,” she mused.
“He told me…that he would expose all of me to the world, ruin my career, and ruin yours as well if I was at the game this Friday,” he said.
That’s when it all came crashing down. She looked at him with wide eyes, the shock setting in.
“Holy shit,” she told him.
“Yeah. I’m worried about it myself, because he might do it anyway, but even I don’t know where he kept the picture after that. I’m just worried, because I don’t want to lose the game, but I feel like I have to,” he told her.
“You don’t! You don’t have to do a thing. I can help you,” she said to him with vigor. She wasn’t going to let him throw away his only chance.
“And why not? Why do you care so much?” he asked.
“Because…because I love you,” she said to him.
He looked at her, the shock of the moment setting in, and that’s when she spoke.
“Yeah. I’ve been in love with you for a long time, Cody. To be honest, I was worried about something like this, and I knew that if I didn’t realize the feelings that I had when we first kissed, I probably would’ve dismissed them. But here I am now, realizing the truth of everything that is going on, and in truth, it’s a bit shocking,” she told him.
“I imagine. And it’s weird, because I feel the same way,” he said.
“Yeah. I mean, I could’ve told everyone about you from the moment I learned of it, but I love you too much to do that. I mean I could potentially help you with this if you want me to. I can go look for the camera over the next couple of days and destroy the file. I can help you win the game and everything still. It’s just…I’m worried about how you feel. I didn’t want to hold it back anymore, and I hope you’re not weirded out by a girl like me saying those words,” she told him.