Adapt (I)

TJR Garcia © 2020

SCARLET

“Not your smartest hiding place.” He raises one eyebrow. “Maybe you wanted me to find you.”

“If that’s what gets you to sleep at night.”

He shrugs. “The opposite, really.” He rounds the table and sits across from me. He sits his phone down and begins to pull off his jacket, leaving only his black T.

I’m not sure where to look, what with his previous comment and my ability to see more clearly the definition in his shoulders.

It doesn’t help that his proximity means that every hair on my body is prickled, waiting for the blood lust to set in.

He lets out an exasperated breath, and then begins to untangle his headphones.

I contemplate leaving, but something tells me that he would just follow me. So instead, I pull out the chair, sit and eyeball him. “Why are you still here?”

He tilts his head. “I like it here. I think I might stay for a bit. Do a bit of surfing.”

I close my eyes. 1, 2, 3... “I mean such an accomplished hunter such as yourself would be needed on important missions.” I flash him my best fake smile.

He gives me a lopsided grin. “I would, but my current mission isn’t finished.”

I count to three again. “There aren’t any more of them here. You can leave.”

He pushes one of the ear buds into his ear. “I didn’t say that was my job.”

I groan, realizing, with chagrin, that he is here to recruit me.

His smile becomes even more smug, if that is possible. “Did you really think that I was just going to leave without you?”

“I’m not going with you, Boe. I told you, being around other hunters...” I shake my head.

He leans over the table. “See, you keep saying that, but I really don’t understand.”

I lean back in my chair, trying to create some distance. “Every time I see a hunter, I want to kill them.”

He snorts. “Okay, I have had many threats before but none like that from someone as pretty as you.”

I roll my eyes. “As understandable as that is, it’s not about who you are, but what you are.”

“Male?” he scoffs.

“A hunter.”

He shakes his head. “We aren’t all the same”

I sigh. “I wish it had to do with personality or attitude.”

He slumps back into his chair and looks pointedly at me. “Look Scar-is it okay if I call you Scar? I’m going to call you Scar. You seem like a smart girl so even you must know that you aren’t making much sense right now.”

I chew on the inside of my cheek, disarmed for a moment by his use of the familiar nickname. After a long pause, I finally find my tongue. “Ok, you know the itch that you get when you see one of them, the rage that builds in your chest? The ache?”

He nods.

“I get that around hunters as well.”

For the first time since we had met, Boe’s face lacks condescension and smugness. He takes a slow breath. “Oh.”

I just stare at him.

He swallows. “So, every part of you right now wants to murder me, and not because I’m just a dick?”

“Well...” I trail, smiling slightly as his attempt at a joke. “For some reason-”

I am just about to tell him that he, in particular, doesn’t evoke that same reaction, when he cuts me off.

His eyes are wide. “Was that a smile?”

My brows crease, confused. I look behind me; just to be sure he is talking to me.

“Ha! It was.”

I turn back and Boe is leaning over the desk again, but closer this time. “So, if every part of you wants to kill me, why am I still alive?” His voice is low, with just enough huskiness.

And, for once, I am speechless. For the first time, Boe captivates me. I mean, at a glance I knew that he was attractive, but I had not realized just how much. My breath catches. His cheek and jawbones are chiselled and strong, made that much more prominent by his sunglow tan. His eyes are such a dark green they could be black, and he smells like pine needles and campfire smoke. More than that, the way he looks at me, as if I am a prize he is going to win, makes me shiver.

But that is not the only thing that has me speechless. Why haven’t I killed him yet? I claim that I want to kill any hunter, but here he is, sitting across from me, making my heart race. Why is he the first hunter I have every encountered that didn’t give my markings an ice bath?

I try to swallow away the lump in my throat, but it sticks there. “L-look, just be thankful that I haven’t killed you, and cut your losses.”

He nods for a second, but then shakes his head, “No can do.”

I chew on my lip, still a little dazzled by him.

He breathes out a laugh and looks down at the table. “You have to stop chewing on your lip.”

I stop immediately.

His sits back in his chair, satisfaction leaking into every movement.

Then I spot Caron smudged against the small window in the door.

“Oh, fuck.” I gather all my stuff and burst out of the room. Just before I close the door Boe yells out, “I’ll see you at the party this weekend!”

Something stirs in my stomach, and I’m sure my face is crimson.

“She sure will,” Caron calls back.

I slam the door behind me. Why is it so freaking hot? I run out of the library and toward the restrooms. I need water. I need a cold shower. Is this what embarrassment feels like? I slam into the bathroom sink and hurriedly start splashing my face with water. The cold liquid kisses my skin, instantly lowering my temperature. What is wrong with me?

“Scarlet?” A soft voice echoes through the tiled room.

I groan in reply.

“Are you alright?”

I close my eyes, attempting to steady my voice. “Yeah, I think so.”

Caron rounds the corner and rubs my back.

“Need anything?”

“Yeah, a break from all your comments about Boe and I.” I stand up, gather all of my things that I had carelessly thrown on the ground.

Her lips stretch into a wide smile. “You say that as if there is a ‘Boe and I’.”

I roll my eyes.

“Alright, I’ll leave it alone, as long as you admit you like him.”

I flick water at her.

She wipes droplets of her face. “Alright, new topic. What are we going to wear to the party?”

I shake off my hands and shrug. “I don’t know if I will even go.” Try definitely won’t go, now that I know that Boe will be there.

“Come on!” her voice breaks a little, all her pleading rolled up in those two words.

“Ugh! All right. You’re getting on my nerves today.” I say, hanging my head.

She winks at me. “But in the good way, right?”