Marked

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Chase

Okay, so I didn't want to tell her. I have the entire protest planned out with just one huge problem: the government.

I'm worried that the government will step in and ruin the plans. I mean, we've come so far and I don't want all that we've worked for become nothing.

So, as I looked at Scarlett, all I could think about is how far we have come, how much we've sacrificed, how much time would be wasted. But I also thought about how close this entire adventure has brought us.

But I'll never forget that first day of school. I walked into History and just glanced at the students in front of me. I just glanced at her and it became more than a glance. Her white eyes against her black-brown pencil straight hair, her soft face and the way her cheeks blushed when I caught her looking back at me.

I knew then that I would have to draw her.

But drawing is a hobby I've since grown out of.

It was her eyes that had me hooked. Looking at them, into the frosty whiteness was almost like getting a drug fix, a high I couldn't afford to get down from.

Then, there's the Riley side of Scarlett.

Riley has blonde hair with different colored streaks. Riley wears excessive amounts of eyeliner and mascara and eye shadow. Riley wears leggings and combat boots and skeleton t-shirts. Riley was not the girl I fell in love with. But Riley has white eyes and soft lips just like Scarlett.

To everyone else, Riley and Scarlett are the same. But to me, only Scarlett is worth saving. Only Scarlett is mine.

I wrapped my arms around Scarlett and kissed her forehead. I felt her tears wet part of my shirt, but I honestly didn't care about the tears, I only cared about what was causing them.

"Scar, what's wrong?"

"It's just... This march, it's a lot to handle..."

"That's it? That's what you're crying about?"

She raised her head away from my chest. "Well, there's more. But I don't want to cry my heart out to you..."

"Why not?"

She shrugged.

I sighed. "Scarlett, tell me what's bothering you and I want to hear everything,"

So we sat there on the couch in the tiny hotel room, her telling me everything and I just listening to her.

I honestly love days like this. Days where Scar tells me everything and I just listen. Just listen and comfort her.