by Blythe Reid
Chapter 4
Scarlet
When I first suggested this idea to my mother, she shot it down without a second thought. I never imagined she would change her mind, but she did. Two weeks later, she came into my room and announced that she would let me go to New York. She’d already signed me up for classes at NYU, so I could finish my degree without any trouble.
My grandmother was expecting me at the end of the month. At first, I couldn’t believe my ears. Surely, this was just a joke. There was no way my mom, Claire Timms, would allow her daughter to leave France unsupervised. I felt like I was living in a dream.
But, the dream was a reality. Over the next two weeks, I packed up my room and made all the necessary arrangements. My mother hovered nervously every day, not wanting to let me out of her sight. More than once, I considered asking her why she changed her mind, but I was afraid to rock the boat. All that mattered was that I was going. I was finally venturing out on my own. Freedom was mine for the taking.
The day before my flight was set to leave, I sat in my room, triple checking my bags. I wanted to make sure I had everything I would need. The last thing I wanted was to forget something and give my mom cause to call me back home. If I made even one mistake, she might change her mind again and lock me up forever. I couldn’t risk it, so I spent the entire day repacking every single item in my suitcases.
My clothes were tucked carefully in one suitcase with my books and knickknacks in another. My toiletries were in a third suitcase, and my carry-on bag held my laptop and my copy of Flames of Sorrow. I knew I could never survive without it.
Even if I didn’t read it while in New York, just having it with me would be a comfort. It was like my own personal guidebook, the story to which I set my life. New York was going to be a new beginning, and I wanted to do it right.
After I was sure everything was properly packed, I sat down on my bed and smiled to myself. I still couldn’t believe this was happening. Everything felt surreal, like I was living in a fantasy world that could be snatched away from me at any given moment. To calm myself down, I picked up my plane ticket and held it tightly between my fingers. This ticket was the only tangible proof I had that I was leaving. Without it, my future would come to an earth shattering halt. As long as I held it in my hands, my mother couldn’t change her mind. She just couldn’t.
“Do you have everything?” Mom asked, poking her head into my room.
“I do,” I said with a smile. “I’ve triple checked every single bag. I’m good to go.”
“Are you sure?” Mom asked, glancing at the suitcases on the floor.
I could tell she was itching to check them herself, but something stopped her. She clenched her fingers together, her eyes darting around the room nervously. I wanted to laugh at the sight, but I knew better. I only had one more day before I was free. Just one more day, and then my life would be my own.
“I’m positive,” I promised. “Mom, I swear. I have everything.”
“Your winter clothes?” she asked.
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Your textbooks?”
“Yes,” I said.
“And what about your hair dryer?” she asked. “You don’t want to buy a new one in New York.”
“I have it,” I said calmly. “Mom, I have everything. I swear.”
Mom nodded and continued looking around the room. She seemed to be searching for a sign that I was lying, something that proved I wasn’t ready to leave. There wasn’t anything for her to find. I’d made sure of that. I wouldn’t let anything stand in my way, especially not my mom’s fears.
“Listen,” Mom said. She sat down beside me and fixed me with an intense gaze. My stomach clenched, terrified of what she might say. “There are a few things we should discuss before you leave.”
“Okay,” I said slowly. “What things?”
My mom took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She seemed to be working up to something, and I wasn’t sure what it could be. In my mind, there wasn’t anything terrible in New York. It was a place full of possibilities. It was the city where my real life would finally begin. I couldn’t imagine anything that would make my mother worry so much.
“I’ve told you your entire life to be careful,” she said. “I need you to remember that now, more than ever. New York is going to be a different world. There are people and things you aren’t familiar with, and you need to prepare yourself for that.”
“I know,” I said with a nod.
Her tone suggested something dark and grotesque, but I was simply excited to experience new things. While she was warning me against everything, I was mentally preparing myself to dive right in.
“Your grandmother will look after you,” Mom said. “She’ll keep an eye on you, but she’s not me. She’s more carefree and lax. She’s not one to set a lot of rules or boundaries, so you’ll have to do that for yourself. You’re an adult now, Scarlet, and you’re old enough to know right from wrong. I expect you to remember that while you’re away.”
“I will,” I promised.
I knew she meant well and that she was only warning me to keep me safe, but her words were like nails against a chalkboard. She was treating me like a six-year-old girl, not the twenty-one-year-old woman I was. She didn’t realize how much I was capable of, and she didn’t realize I could survive without her.
“Another thing,” Mom continued. “NYU is different. It’s a different college, full of different people. They aren’t going to have the same morals as you. They’ll be…”
She hesitated, unable to continue. I knew what her worries were. She was afraid I would become sexually promiscuous in the big city. She lived in fear of me rebelling, becoming pregnant, and completely ruining my life. No matter what I did to show her I was a responsible person, she never believed me.
“What I want you to remember,” Mom said. “You don’t have to do anything just because other people do it. Drinking. Drugs. Sex. Those aren’t things that you need to experience.”
“Mom,” I said, but she cut me off with a look.
“Scarlet, I know you want more freedom,” she said. “I’m not blind. I can see how excited you are for this new adventure, and I’m excited for you. You may not believe that, but I am. I just want to make sure you’re safe. You need to be careful and smart. You can’t just lose yourself the second you leave home.”
“I won’t,” I promised. “Mom, I’m leaving home, but I’m still me. I’m still the same person I’ve always been, okay? My morals aren’t going to fly out the window the second the plane lands.”
“I certainly hope not,” she said softly. “I would like to think I taught you better than that.”
“You did,” I said. “I’m just going to spend time with Grandmother and finish school. That’s all.”
“Make sure to help your grandmother,” she said firmly. “She’ll keep an eye on you, but you’re there for her, okay?”
“I know,” I said. “You don’t have anything to worry about.”
“I’m a mother,” she said. “I have everything to worry about.”
I tried not to roll my eyes, but she was being ridiculous. Of course, I wasn’t going to fly off the handle in New York. I didn’t plan to become a loose woman who slept with every man she met. I wasn’t going to get drunk and high every day of the week. I wanted to experience life away from home, but I wasn’t stupid. I was just young and excited. More excited than I’d ever been before.
“I’ll be okay,” I said. I smiled and took her hand in mine. “I will be. Everything will be fine.”
She nodded but didn’t return my smile. I knew she didn’t believe me. Every second I was in New York would be another second of her own personal nightmare. Her precious daughter was leaving her to explore a new city in a faraway country. She wouldn’t be able to watch me every second of every day anymore. She would have to trust me.
“Don’t take the subway,” she said suddenly. “It’s dangerous. People get raped and murdered on th
e subway every day. It’s not worth the risk.”
“Mom, I can’t just walk everywhere,” I said with a small laugh.
“Take a cab,” she said simply. I wanted to argue, but I didn’t see the point. Once I was safely in New York, she wouldn’t be able to control me anymore.
I wondered how Grandmother would be. She wasn’t like my mom, but she was still my grandmother. I was sure there would be some rules and boundaries set, but I didn’t know what they would be. I told myself not to worry about it. Nothing Grandmother did could come close to the way my mother treated me. I’d basically been locked away for twenty-one years, so anything would be a definite improvement.
“Check your bags again,” Mom said as she stood up to leave. “I don’t want you to forget anything.”
“I checked,” I said.
“Check again,” she demanded.
With that, she left. The door was wide open behind her, and the sight annoyed me more than anything she said. I just wanted half a second of privacy, just a minute to be by myself.
I stood up and walked toward the door, pushing it gently closed. I hoped she wouldn’t hear the click and come to investigate. If only for a few seconds, I wanted true privacy. I felt like I couldn’t even think with my mom around.
I went to sit back down on my bed. Leaning back against the pillows, I closed my eyes and cleared my head. I didn’t want to dwell on my mom’s warnings. I simply wanted to dream of New York. In just a few short hours, I would be on a plane heading toward the rest of my life.
As I picked up my plane ticket, I smiled to myself. I didn’t know what New York held for me, but I knew it would be better than my life in France. There was so much to explore and discover in New York, and I couldn’t wait to start. I was even excited to spend time with my Grandmother. From what I knew of her, she seemed great. I knew I would learn a lot from her, and that maybe, she would learn something from me. Whatever happened, I just hoped Grandmother would treat me like an adult. I’d spent years being sheltered, and I was ready to break free.
More than anything, I hoped New York would hold love. I’d never been in love. I’d never had a real boyfriend. Even friends were hard to come by with a mother as strict as mine. That was what I looked forward to, the ability to meet new people and to make friends.
I wondered if I would find true love in New York, or if I would discover the true meaning of the word passion. I held the plane ticket to my chest and closed my eyes, praying that New York would be everything I dreamed of.
Chapter 5
Lucien
We arrived at the airport earlier than we planned. After checking our bags and working our way through security, we found our gate. We still had over two hours before the plane would board, and neither of us wanted to sit around and wait. Instead, we went into a gift shop and bought some food and a few magazines.
We were both too hungover to drink, but the idea of sitting around doing nothing for two hours sounded like torture. With our purchases in hand, we found two seats by the gate and settled in.
Adam and I ate our way through four sandwiches and three bags of chips. We broke up a bag of skittles and shared a chocolate bar. By the time we washed it all down with a soda, we were full and ready to leave. But we still had over an hour to wait.
“This is miserable,” I complained. “We shouldn’t have left the hotel so damn early.”
“At least we aren’t late,” Adam said. “It would be worse if we missed our flight.”
“Would it?” I asked. “A few more days in France doesn’t sound bad.”
“Aren’t you ready to get home?” Adam asked.
I shot him a scathing look without replying. He knew me well enough to know the answer to his question. The last thing I wanted to do was return to my normal life. I’d been having a blast in France, and I was dreading the return to reality.
Even with senior year to look forward to, I wasn’t ready to be back in New York. France felt like a reprieve from all my problems. The second I stepped foot in New York, everything would change. These last few minutes in Paris were my final moments of relaxation. I would have stayed forever if I could.
“Aren’t you at least excited to get back to Delta Pi?” Adam asked.
“Of course,” I said. “But that doesn’t mean I’m ready to leave. Some of us actually enjoyed this vacation.”
“What does that mean?” Adam asked.
I snorted. “Just screwing with you. You really should’ve taken one of those blondes last night. God, they were amazing.”
“I’m sure,” Adam said, laughing. “But having both probably didn’t hurt.”
I grinned. “Not one bit. Perfect way to end this trip.”
“Do you ever think about having a real girlfriend?” Adam asked suddenly. “Like, actually settling down one day?”
“God no,” I scoffed. “Why on Earth would I do that?”
Adam shrugged. “I don’t know. For love?”
“Love is overrated,” I said with authority. “The only things women want me more for are my body or my money. I’m happy to share my body with them, but my money? No. It’s not worth it.”
“It could be worth it,” Adam argued. “If you found the right girl.”
“No such thing,” I said. “They’re all the same. Just gold-digging naggers.”
Adam laughed. “Damn, that’s harsh.”
“Maybe,” I said, “But it’s the truth.”
“I don’t think so, man,” Adam said. “Love is real. There’s someone out there for everyone, even you.”
“You sound like such a chick right now,” I groaned. “What the hell happened to you?”
He laughed. “Nothing. I’m just not you.”
“Clearly.”
We fell silent for a while, just waiting for the minutes to tick by. When I checked my watch, I saw that we had half an hour left. I groaned and leaned my head back against my seat. Adam handed me a magazine and I nodded gratefully. I wasn’t at all interested in reading, but it was better than staring at the ceiling.
I flipped open the cover and mindlessly turned the pages. Nothing caught my eye. I closed the magazine with frustration and glanced around. Adam was captivated by his magazine, and I didn’t want to bother him. Instead, I looked around the terminal, searching for a bar. When I found one, I half-rose from my seat until I heard a nervous voice coming from my right.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand. I have a ticket. Why can’t I get on the flight?”
I glanced over to see a girl about my age standing at the ticket counter. She had her hands on the counter, and her green eyes were wide with fear. My eyes were instantly drawn to her long, red hair. It flowed down her back smoothly, and I found myself wishing I could run my fingers through it. Shaking my head, I got rid of those thoughts and focused on her conversation.
“We’re overbooked,” the gate attendant said. “I’m sorry, but there’s just no room on the flight. We have to bump someone and since yours was the last ticket purchased, it has to be you.”
The girl stared at the gate attendant in horror. I could tell she was at a total loss. She’d clearly never been in this situation before. Judging by the way she kept tapping her foot, she was incredibly nervous.
I didn’t know what compelled me to do it, but I was suddenly on my feet. The girl just looked so lost and helpless that I couldn’t resist. I hurried toward the counter and stepped up beside her. Smiling kindly at her, I turned my attention to the gate attendant.
“Is there a problem?” I asked.
“No sir,” the gate attendant said. “I’m just explaining our policy to this young lady. There’s no need to get involved.”
Her voice was firm, and her eyes were set. She didn’t want me to cause a scene in the middle of the airport, but I wasn’t happy about the situation. This beautiful girl was standing alone at the ticket counter, asking for help, and no one came to her rescue. So, I did.
“And what policy is that?” I asked. I
kept my voice level, calm.
“Sir, we’ve overbooked the flight,” the attendant explained. “So, unfortunately, we have to bump someone. I’ve just informed this young lady that she’s been bumped.”
I nodded. “I see. Well, my friend and I actually bought an extra ticket because we like to have space on our flights, but if this woman needs the seat, it’s all hers.”
“You don’t have to do this,” the girl whispered to me. I glanced at her and smiled encouragingly. She smiled back, her cheeks blushing slightly.
“You have an extra ticket?” the attendant asked with a frown.
“I do,” I said. I pulled out my boarding passes and handed them to her.
She nodded. “I see. Well, that seems fine then.”
I smiled. “Perfect.”
The attendant typed something on her computer and then printed out a new boarding pass for the girl beside me. She handed it to her, and we turned away from the counter. I looked at the girl kindly and waited for her to speak. She was blushing brighter than ever and seemed to be at a loss for words. The sight was incredibly endearing.
“You really didn’t have to do that,” she said softly. “I mean, thank you, but it wasn’t necessary.”
“It’s not a problem,” I said. “That policy is total bullshit anyway. Why would they sell more tickets than they could accommodate? It doesn’t make sense, does it?”
She laughed. “No, I guess it doesn’t.”
“What’s your name?” I asked, stepping closer to her.
“I’m Scarlet,” she said.
I smiled. “Well Scarlet, I’m Lucien.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Lucien.” She smiled and extended her hand to me. We shook hands, and then she looked down at her feet, nervous again.
I fought the urge to laugh at her discomfort. She was already embarrassed, and I didn’t want to make her feel even worse about herself. She looked so innocent standing there in the airport. With her dark red hair and emerald green eyes, she could have been a model, but she seemed completely unaware of her beauty. I could tell by the way she shifted her weight from one foot to the other that she wasn’t used to this much attention from a man, especially not one as attractive as me.