Chapter 15
1302 Words
Scarlet
The morning light spilled over the quiet neighborhood, soft and pale. I turned off the engine and sat there for a second, watching Lysander’s house through the windshield.
I took a breath, grabbed my purse, and stepped out. My heels clicked softly against the pavement as I walked up the short driveway. When I reached the door, I hesitated. My hand lifted to knock—then the door swung open.
We almost collided.
“Oh—”
“Sorry,” Lysander said at the same time.
For a second, we just stared at each other. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, hair slightly tousled, like he’d been rushing. Then a small voice broke the moment.
“Aunt Scarlet!”
Leo’s grin hit me first—wide and pure. Before I could say anything, he threw his arms around my legs. I almost stumbled, then laughed, crouching down so we were face-to-face.
“Hey, champ. You’re getting stronger,” I said, brushing his hair back.
He giggled, eyes bright. “I told Daddy you’d come! I told him you like me!”
“Is that so?” I teased, glancing up at Lysander. He was watching us, an easy smile tugging at his mouth.
“Alright, buddy,” he said gently. “Let’s give Miss Scarlet some space to breathe.”
Leo laughed again but didn’t move. His small hands stayed wrapped around my arm like he was afraid I’d disappear.
Lysander cleared his throat, voice softer now. “You look… beautiful.”
It caught me off guard. My eyes flicked down, suddenly aware of the simple white blouse tucked into dark jeans, my hair pulled back loosely. I wasn’t trying to impress anyone. Still, I managed a quiet, “Thank you.”
He nodded, almost shyly. “Shall we?”
Outside, his car waited—a sleek black SUV that gleamed under the morning sun. Leo climbed in first, chattering about something I couldn’t quite follow. Then Lysander gestured for me to slide in.
We ended up in the back seat together—three people that could almost pass for a family. Leo between us, humming to himself. Lysander’s arm rested on the seat behind me, casual but close enough for me to feel the warmth of him.
I turned my face toward the window. The city rolled by in a blur of light and motion, but my thoughts drifted elsewhere—to what could’ve been. To the tiny heartbeat that once lived inside me, the one that never made it past that night five years ago.
If things had been different… maybe this would’ve been us.
My chest tightened. I blinked hard, trying to shake it off.
“Scarlet?” Lysander’s voice broke through the haze.
I turned slightly. “Yeah?”
“You okay?” His eyes searched mine, concern quiet and real.
I forced a smile. “I’m fine.”
He didn’t look convinced, but he let it go. Leo started singing something off-key, and Lysander joined in. Their laughter filled the car, soft and warm. I kept my gaze on the window, letting the sound wrap around me.
When we pulled into the school’s parking lot, my breath caught again. The place looked like a small university—wide lawns, glass buildings, bright flags waving in the wind. Kids in neat uniforms ran around with parents who looked like they’d stepped straight out of glossy magazines.
“Wow,” I muttered under my breath. “Didn’t know schools could look like this.”
Lysander chuckled. “It’s… something, isn’t it?”
Before I could respond, he placed a hand at the small of my back, guiding me gently toward the entrance. The touch was light, polite—but it sent a ripple through me.
Inside, the air buzzed with laughter and music. Tables lined the gym, filled with snacks and art projects. Parents clustered together, chatting. Balloons in the school colors floated near the ceiling.
Leo tugged free from Lysander’s hand and bolted off. “Wait here! I’ll get my friends!”
We watched him go, his small figure weaving through the crowd. I was still smiling when he returned, dragging three kids behind him.
“Guys, this is my dad,” he said proudly, “and this is my mom!”
The words hit like a soft punch. My eyes flew to Lysander’s. His did the same. For a split second, neither of us breathed.
Leo pointed up at me. “See? I told you! That’s where I got my green eyes from!”
The kids stared, first at him, then at me. One girl whispered, “She’s so pretty.” Another boy just grinned. “Cool.” Then they all ran off laughing.
Silence fell between us again. And then—laughter. Soft at first, then real. Lysander rubbed the back of his neck, still smiling.
“Sorry about that,” he said, his voice low. “He tends to… make up his own stories.”
I shook my head, still laughing. “It’s fine. He’s adorable.”
Our eyes met again, something unspoken hanging in the space between us—something that felt dangerously close to warmth.
The school had turned into a noisy blur of color and sound. Kids raced from booth to booth, clutching paper crafts and dripping popsicles. Parents stood in groups, laughing, trying to pretend they weren’t competing over who baked the best cookies or who had the most talented kid.
Lysander and I ended up near the “Parent-Child Challenge” section—an obstacle course set up with little foam tunnels, ropes, and soft mats. Leo bounced on his toes beside us, a ball of pure energy.
“Come on, Dad!” he said, tugging at Lysander’s hand. “You and Miss Scarlet have to race with me!”
Lysander groaned, mock serious. “I don’t think Miss Scarlet signed up for cardio this morning.”
Leo’s eyes went wide, pleading. “Please?”
I laughed, hands up in surrender. “Alright, alright. But if I trip and break something, you’re explaining it to HR.”
That earned me a grin from Lysander. “Deal.”
The whistle blew, and chaos began.
We ducked under ropes, crawled through tiny tunnels meant for kids, and tried not to knock over foam barriers while Leo cheered us on. Lysander almost slipped on a mat, and I caught his arm before he hit the floor.
“Thanks,” he said, out of breath, grinning like a teenager.
“Don’t mention it,” I panted. “I needed the laugh.”
When we finally reached the end, Leo jumped into my arms, laughing so hard his nose scrunched. “We won! We won!”
I was laughing too—loud, careless laughter I hadn’t heard from myself in years. For a second, the noise around me faded, and all I could feel was the lightness in my chest.
Then something cold hit my head.
I froze. A thick liquid slid down my hairline, dripping onto my cheek.
The laughter around me dimmed, replaced by a few surprised gasps.
My hand went up slowly. When I pulled it away, my fingers were wet—with what looked like blue paint.
The crowd had gone still. Leo’s laughter stopped mid-sound. Lysander’s face changed instantly, the smile gone.
“Who—?” I started, my voice barely above a whisper.
A soft snicker came from behind. Then another.
I turned my head just enough to see a group of kids standing a few feet away, holding a half-empty plastic cup, their eyes wide with the kind of guilt that only comes after something stupidly impulsive.
The paint dripped down my temple, cold and sticky. My throat went dry. For a heartbeat, no one moved.
- Writer
