Child of Red and Blue

Alana taped her glass as her blue eyes scanned over the party. "Is it just me or is everyone here just really attractive?" Her best friend stifled a laugh behind his glass. He turned his back to the party, feigning interest in the oil paintings and embroidered curtains, and let out a laugh. Alana coughed to cover up what the classical music failed to, then smiled at a young couple trying to flirt. "At least it's multiethnic," Hunter said once he'd sobered. "It's like fifty shades of brown in here." Alana's snort shoved wine out of her mouth and onto the plush rug. "Shit." She squatted to rub it away, then wobbled in her heels. "See, this is why I don't buy expensive stuff." Hunter took her arm to help her stand. "How else are your two hundred closest friends supposed to know you're loaded? "It certainly couldn't be the Porsche in the driveway." They snickered. One of the many women wearing little black dresses paused to lift her nose at them. Alana curled her lip back. When the woman strutted away, Alana crossed her arms. "When Leon invited us to this party, I thought it'd be with his Frat. Not with these uppities." Hunter looped his thumb in his cargo shorts and shrugged. "This is what I expected." He paused to grin at her. "At least you wore a skirt and heels. I haven't seen you out of jeans in years." "Still got it all from Walmart," Alana mumbled, raising her glass to her lips. The smell of wine made her stomach knot, but she sipped it nonetheless. She didn't need to stand out any more. A man with dark skin and high cheekbones rose a trimmed brow at her. His green eyes lingered on the red to orange to yellow hair that sprouted from her head. And he of all people should know that bright blue eyes were possible on a black woman, his were green. "Got a problem?" Alana asked, glaring at him. Hunter took her hand and guided her from the step she'd taken toward the man. They moved to a large window overlooking the backyard. "Breathe," Hunter coaxed, pulling his hand from hers. He took a sip of his water and shimmied in his flip-flops. He looked up to the nine tiered chandelier they'd gawked at on their way into the sitting room, then let out a breath. "Where the hell is Leon?" Alana asked. She took a step back and leaned against the floor to ceiling bookshelf. She and Hunter had been lurking in the corner of Leon's grand room for thirty something minutes. They'd commented on every authentic artifact placed on the high shelves and every garment the guests were wearing. They'd made so many jokes about themselves and the life Leon must be living. Alana had checked every face in the crowd and saw neither of the Conks she knew. A wave of anxiety hit her, and she took a short breath. At least three people were staring at her. One even made a point to catch her gaze and grin like she was the butt of some joke. Butterflies took to Alana's stomach and she took another short breath. Her hand came up and she scratched her scalp. The stupid bracelet Leon had gotten her caught in the auburn to yellow strands and Alana screamed in frustration. "Hey, hey," Hunter said, setting his glass on the book shelf and taking her hands. "You're nervous." "There are too many people here." Alana lifted her chin to keep her gaze on the crowd around them. Part of her felt like she was one glance away from someone smashing a bottle over Hunter's head and trying to get her. Hunter pulled her hair out of her bracelet, as if it were the wing of a butterfly, tucked it behind her ear, then took her hand. "Come on." "We can't just leave." She stumbled when Hunted pulled her into motion. Alana failed to follow Hunter's effortless passes around people. Her broad shoulder smacked into a tall redhead, sloshing wine on her glittery gown. "Sorry." Hunter winded around a large band of laughing men in ties. His flip flops slapped against the stone slabs as he let Alana back through the sitting room, down the main hall, through the kitchen, then out the back door, pausing only to grab their coats. He let go the minute he passed the threshold and threw his hands in the air to take a deep inhale of the night. Alana smiled, her arms crossing. Hunter turned with a smile then handed her the fleece. One warm inside, Alana took a deep breath and looked at the cold silent night. Heated lamps kept the snow from the pavement, but it coated every speck of green. The moon glittered off the white landscape and Alana sighed. "Feel better?" Hunter asked, leaning against a statue of a flying baby. Alana took in a deep breath, then bent down as she let it out. She pulled her feet from the wedges and walked to him. "Now that I'm not soaring over six feet, yeah I feel fine." "It's thirty degrees out," Hunter protested. "Says the guy wearing flip flops." She waved to his feet. Hunter lifted his arm then draped it across her shoulders. He made a big fuss about moving Alana's wild hair from his nose and mouth, then laughed when she elbowed him. "You think Leon'd notice if I stole this statue?" Hunter asked, his hazel eyes on the nude babe. "With all the pretty women in there?" Alana asked, raising a brow. "You could set his house on fire and he'd be too busy making out in the closet with one of them." "He's your boyfriend." Alana shrugged. "I've been thinking about that." Hunter pulled his arm from her shoulders under her to look at her head on. "You're breaking up with him." "What we have isn't really a relationship." Alana smiled. "It's more like I'm cutting him off." She'd hope to see excitement widen Hunter's eyes and push his freckled cheeks into a goofy grin. It had taken ten years, but his distaste for Leon finally got to her. Alana had finally accepted Leon as scum and realized she was at least better than one of many side pieces. Instead, Hunter's brows drew together in a frown. The moonlight glared off his eyes and hardened his strong jaw. Hunter's mouth moved as if counting and once he hit seven a few times, he closed his eyes and sighed. "Do you not want me to?" Alana looked down to her paint chipped toes. "I thought you hated him." "I do. And I'm glad you're leaving him." Hunter touched her elbow and smiled. There was an emotion in his eyes Alana couldn't place. "I'm just worried." "Leon wouldn't hurt me." Hunter didn't look too sure. "I meant about after graduation. What are you going to do without me?" "Well I was going to," Alana stopped herself from saying she'd follow him. It had been her only plan. Hell, she'd followed him to college, even if she had to live in an apartment off campus and see him between work shifts. The thought of fumbling through life without Hunter at her side took her breath. She took several short breaths, then seeing Hunter's growing worry, she forced a smile. "You act like you're dying. We'll see each other. Talk every day." "I can't be with you every day," Hunter continued in a soft voice. "I know," Alana barked. "You have to go on and branch out. You can't hold my hand every time I get scared. I get it. I'll be fine." Hunter's face molded from confused concern to anger a split second before the loud clap. Several more followed as Leon's older brother announced himself. Classic solo slow clap. Demetrius wore a suit with a red undershirt unbuttoned to show his bare chest. His black hair was slicked back, making him look even more greasy than normal. "Look, it's the Mutt and his b***h," Demetrius said, his mouth cut into a grin. "Little Aly, is Hunter finally sick of you?" "Shut up," Alana spat, her embarrassment and anxiety pointing to anger. "Don't you have puppies to kick somewhere?" Hunter asked, stepped forward. Demetrius's grin widened giving his hollow cheeks faux life. "Is your family volunteering?" Hunter's eyes narrowed and for the third time in their fifteen year friendship, Alana saw him truly angry. "Open that mouth to threaten my family one more time and you'll never be able to open it again." "Demetrius, what do you want?" Alana asked, drawing the man's coal gaze. "I'm a big fan of before and afters," Demetrius said, holding his hands up to form a box with his index finger and thumbs. "I want to memorialize how strong you think you are. Heather thought she was strong too." Alana charged forward. Hunter grabbed her wrist and yanked her back before she could run into the blade Demetrius pulled. "Careful." Demetrius tilted his head to smile at them. "That temper of yours is going to get you killed." "What is your problem!" Alana yelled, pulling herself from Hunter. Demetrius's smile dropped and he glared at her. "My old man didn't love me enough. What's yours?" His eyes bore into hers. Then, he dropped the knife to smile. "But it's a party. No need to shed blood. Yet." He raked his eyes over Alana's body then backed into the house. Hunter and Alana watched until Demetrius turned and laughed himself back to the grand room. Only then did Alana take a breath and let Hunter take her hand. "I f*****g hate him," she whispered. Any louder and she might break. "Why does he keep rubbing Heather in my face? We know he did something to her. We were there!" Hunter nodded. He'd helped Alana through many sleepless nights following her sister's disappearance seven years ago. "Do you want me to drag him outside and kick his ass?" "He has a knife." "I've got," Hunter patted his pockets, then pulled out a gum wrapper that had made it through the wash. "Well, I can still take him." His goofy grin calmed Alana's pounding heart and she pulled her hand away to stand on her own. She dropped her wedges to her cold feet and slipped them in. "If you hadn't been here," she said, wrapping her arms around herself. "You'll go insane thinking about hypotheticals." Hunter put his hands in his pockets and nodded toward the pathway leading to the front yard. "Want to go?" Alana prepared to nod, but stopped when she thought she heard her name. Hunter let out a tense sigh, and Alana turned to see Leon. He was wearing a ruffled button down and dark jeans. His black hair was unkempt, rather than methodically tossed. Dark bags hung under his eyes so prominently, Alana thought Demetrius might have hit him again. "Alana," Leon called again, his voice rough. His smile didn't reach his eyes and his bare feet were slow to reach them. "I'm glad you guys came." Leon's gaze avoided Alana, and reluctantly fell on Hunter. Something passed between them, leaving Alana out of the loop as always. The familiarity swept Demetrius's assault and Leon's appearance under a rug. Alana found herself smiling. "Your brother pulled a knife on her," Hunter said, ruining whatever false reality Alana was desperate to create. "And you just stood there?" Leon asked. "Hey," Alana barked, putting a hand on Leon's chest to keep him from taking a step forward. "I can handle it myself. Besides, it's not like he would use it." "He would," Leon snapped at her. Then, as if realizing she existed, his breath caught. He put his hand over hers on his chest, and brought it down to his side. "He's dangerous." Alana rolled her eyes with a smile. "Well, Hunter's got a gum wrapper and I have my heels." Leon looked to Hunter, his hand tight on Alana's. "Mind if I talk to Aly alone?" Hunter's eyes slid to Alana, and she gave a weak smile. He knew, same as her, that the moment she got Leon alone, thoughts of breaking up with him would fly out the window. One kiss and she'll fall head over heels in love again. But something was wrong with Leon. There was none of the smooth, cockiness that drew people to him. He was often well groomed and stylish. But now...he looked as if he'd been sitting in a dark room drinking his life away for two days. "I'll go warm up the van," Hunter said. "Hope the damn thing doesn't explode on you." Leon added a laugh to overshadow the lack of humor in his words. Catching it, Hunter turned back with a glare. Leon opened his mouth to save face, but just shook his head with a sigh as if the effort was too much. Leon turned first, tugging Alana along with him. With a shrug and a smile, Alana mouthed "ten minutes." Hunter stared at her, another deep breath escaping through his plump lips. His blue eyes held a helplessness Alana hated. She was making her own choices. Sure they were bad choices, but what's the worst that could happen? The crunch of their footsteps on the snow covered cobblestone path led them into the dense wood surrounding Leon's mini-mansion. Alana wasn't surprised when Leon pulled her off the path a few steps. His arm made a wide arc, stopping Alana in front of him. His hands slipped onto her hips and he walked her backward until she leaned against a tree. All the usual thoughts ran through her head: is he disgusted by the rolls, is my breath fresh, does he like it in the dark because he can't see me, how do I do this again? Each was silenced when he pulled her close and pressed his lips to hers. Then, instead of guiding her into a deep kiss, Leon pulled back. His green eyes were lost in the shadows, and the only proof he existed in front of her was his heavy hand on her waist. Alana brought her hands up to smooth his hair. He put it on his cheek to savor. "You're missing your party," Alana whispered, unsure if sound would break his gentleness. "It's not my party." He sighed, then leaned forward to rest his forehead on her shoulder. "Run away with me." Her nervousness made her laugh. "To where?" "Anywhere." Leon's thumb ducked under her shirt and he caressed her skin. "I'll buy you new clothes. We can dye your hair. Dye my hair. Buy a dog." Alana laughed again. A shudder left her when Leon moved his soft hand across the skin of her back. "Where's this coming from?" "It's a bad day." "How about we talk about it?" Alana's toes curled in the grass when Leon shifted to kiss her neck. "Talk to me, Leon." He pulled back, his hands leaving her body. "I can't." "Why not?" Only his rough breathing proved he existed in the dark. "Leon, if Demetrius is hurting you." A laugh was on his voice. "Demetrius knows not to lay a hand on me." Alana flinched when Leon brushed her bang out of her face. "Or you." Yeah, say that to all the times Demetrius pushed her into table edges or tripped her. Alana knew how much it meant for Leon to think he could protect her. She knew it killed him to think about how Hunter was her shoulder to lean on instead of him. It's why she let him pull her into the dark and kiss her. And why she ignored when he kissed other girls. "I'd do anything if you asked," Leon whispered. "I'm asking you to talk to me." Something warm and wet ran plopped onto Alana's thumb, then ran along its side. "I love you." "What?" "I love you so much." Alana smiled, her heart flipped. Seven years since their first kiss and he said it. "I love you too." She welcomed his lips, matching his passion, his longing. Alana wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself closer to him. Her fingers wound through his hair and she wished he'd go for the buttons on her shirt. "Say you love me again," Leon said when he pulled his lips away. "I love you." Alana leaned forward to peck him, but he pulled her into a tight embrace. His cheek was damp against hers. Alana closed her eyes and held him. Of course it took him hurting to confess. "I'd do anything for you," he said again. "You just have to ask." Skipping the same roundabout of trying to guess what's wrong, Alana sighed. "Okay." Leon gave her a long kiss and Alana let him. The emotional high of his confession was spent. He must have known she was giving up on him, so he was throwing one last line out to keep her. She'll let him have this night and then she'll end it. When Leon had his fill and left her lips sore, he pulled her into another tight hug. "I'm so sorry." The words had barely registered in Alana's mind when pain arched her back. Air became impossible to get down and a weight filled her lungs. Warmth slid down her back and grew cold by the time it pooled in her wedges. The shock and pain threw reality out the window and Alana saw the man appear in the shadows. His white and red eyes were bored with the murder in front of him. Alana pulled at Leon's sleeve. The will left and she went limp. Leon lowered her to the ground and whispered a faint "I'll come back for you." He took a few steps back. The shadows that had been blocking the moon fell from the trees to coat Leon, giving her just a glint of his blade. In the new moonlight, Alana's ailing body watched the shadows drag Leon into the abyss. Alana coughed. Blood splattered the white ground. Eyes closing, Alana's last thought before she died was of Hunter. She hoped he didn't take her death as his failure to protect her. She hoped he didn't find her corpse. Then, she died.