Burning Love (My firewoman)

CH. 7 You like her shampoo, Don't ya?

Raven~

"Anne! look at him, he's looking like he has been abducted and punctured by vampires!" I commented looking at the photo of a man with palest skin, big round eye sockets but almost looking half sleeping with dark circles and wavy long hairs. Anne my cousin, has been showing me the pictures of some guys she listed as, to ask me which one seems better.

"Still! He got nice body... doesn't he?" She said as being an optimistic, not wanting to hear or say any bad for anyone.

"The one with denim jacket and green eyes looks better and he doesn't look like a creep." I honestly told her which one seemed good to my opinion even though it's her choice because she talked to them once or ever.

"I like him too his name is Owen. The time I met him was when in a grocery store, I had to pay the cashier but I dropped my wallet somewhere on the way." Anne was making that face of immense dreaminess, curling her fingers together and resting them beneath her chin. "And I presume the Cashier of the store must have kicked you out?" I said making her scoff and smack my arm.

"No silly, the cashier was kind to listen my explanation until Owen saw me talking. He asked what's wrong and I told him the situation so he just blinked in assurance to me and handed the money for my things to the cashier. He even helped me to take my things to the car and we talked a bit. I promised him to pay back but he never let me." She said grinning ear to ear and fell back on the green grass in embarrassment.

I smiled looking at her red face. "Maybe you should give him a chance, he might turn out to be your life partner, who knows. We end up with the people we don't even expect to be with." I laid back next to her carefully not hurting my broken arm, we stared at the beautiful blue sky as calm silence settled between us.

"You're right. What's going on with you? Have you found the heroine of your dreams yet?" She asked turning to me, resting on her belly and the name instantly popped up in my head, causing the butterflies do Zumba in my stomach. I didn't know when I started smiling until I saw Anne's wide eyes.

"Oh my god, there's is someone!" She squealed and rolled on the grass like an excited puppy. "Hey! Easy kid, yes there's someone but she doesn't know me also I don't know if we'll work out or not because I am not sure if she's also lesbian or she likes men or even if she's single or not." I said making Anne frown.

"What do you mean by she doesn't know you? And if you wanna know who does she like then just ask her." Anne said sitting up, crossed legs and looked at me in confusion.

"Well, she doesn't know me as Dee but as Raven and she's one of the survivors whom I saved during the fire crises." I said playing with a small flower randomly.

"Raven, be clear. I don't understand." She almost growled in confusion and a twig was stuck in her hairs making her look funny. "It's a long story." I said and she rolled her eyes at me. "Then I have got whole day to listen silly! Tell me now." She said smoothing the creases on her sunny dress and sat on the tire swing. I got up too and sat on the bench nearby.

"It all started when I reached to the occurrence scene. The fighters almost said that the second floor is empty and all the victims had been taken out, until one of her friend almost begged me to recheck the floor. I went by myself and she was actually there and when I saw her... God Anne, I lost it." I said closing my eyes as hands racked my face almost in disbelief. Anne stopped swinging and stared at my red face.

"Oh my! Look at you!" She said as I continued. "I saved her of course and she was unconscious so she couldn't see me. Until we both clashed in the same hospital and again she fell in my arms to my utter shock. I wasn't hoping to bump into her so soon." Anne smiled and came closer to sit beside me.

"Then what explains she knows you as Raven but not Dee?" She asked, her full attention on me. "I told her my real name instead of the nick name and that also without surname. I don't know why but I just couldn't let her know who I really was, because as much I know, she wouldn't believed me if I would've told her that I saved her."

"And as you that most of the people know me as Dee, and Ben must have told her till now. She must be searching for me." I explained uneasily looking here and there as Anne patted my shoulder.

"But you know her Raven, and you can tell her first." Anne said and I shook my head. "No Anne, I can't now because she would hate me on her face about my profession and acted all innocent. And I couldn't tell her that time because I wanted her to know me as I am, but not as her saviour." I got more anxious and paced around the grass.

"Okay so, the option we have got are, one: she'll find herself and feel bad because you lied to her or two: you tell and and feel bad because

... you lied to her?" Anne said shrugging and I looked at her crazily.

"Aren't both same?" I snapped lightly in frustration but she didn't flinched at all. She had known me for so long enough to know my anger issues so does everything. So I was tolerable to her. "But still I have chance because she kind of like 'Raven', and I sent her flowers too before discharging from the hospital. God! No one has ever driven me so crazy and that was just a damn glance !" I heart bursted inside my chest.

"No they don't. Come here, relax a bit. What's the main problem here is to know if she's single or not and if she likes women or not. Look if she's single it's good because you can at least try but what use if she isn't." Anne said, a name popped up in my head. Kayden.

"Look I am not sure about it but one of her friend, Kayden, he seemed so attached to her and he almost had that boyfriend vibe with her. I don't know." I explained getting frustrated minute by minute.

"Hmm...we won't know until you won't ask. You have to try. Every girl literally drools over you unconsciously, trust me I have seen this. But if you really like her you have to be brave and truthful to ask her.

And on the other hand if she isn't one, I don't know, it would be easy for her to love you because....we just can't force anyone's feelings. So be sure of it first because I don't want you to get hurt in this again. And you didn't tell me her name?" Anne said sincerely and I nodded.

"Still I am positive that I saw something in her eyes too because, the way she fights with herself when she's with me, narrates something else." I remembered her getting red when we were close enough to feel each other's warmth in distance. The moments when we were so close like...so close, but she wasn't bothered by it.

Anne listened to me silently, holding my hands and head on my shoulder. "I am sure she would like you for who you are and will never question you over your sexuality. I know you blame yourself everyday for what you are...." Anne said the words so carefully like they would break me anytime.

"But it's not your fault and it wasn't ever. People have nothing to do but blame others and make them feel humiliated. You cannot control your feelings for someone and it's totally fine, dear. Heart finds a way to get wht it wants and all we need to do is, to embrace ourselves as who we are not what other thinks."

Anne's words drifted my mind back to the time when my days were nightmares and I suffered everyday. My heart clutched inside. She was indeed very true and I was thankful for her to be straightforward and caring at the same time.

She supported me like anything and stayed by my side even when I was giving up myself.

"Thanks Anne for being with me in my hard times and her name is Agnett." I said making her smile. "Very unique one just like yours." She said after getting up to go inside the house and I followed her.

Anne was my elder uncle's daughter along with a younger brother, Will, who was around 19. Scott as well as his wife Greta had always been supporting towards me. Yes, in the start it was a shock and they almost couldn't believe that I am lesbian but they chose to be more human and more accepting than my mother.

My mum...

I shook my head cleaning away the thought as soon as it came and we entered inside.

"You want some freshly baked cherry pie?" Uncle Scott said taking out the pie from oven that smelled really good. "I don't wanna have upset stomach again because of your food dad. I was so done by using the toilet for hundred times last time." Anne plopped on the couch and he scowled in irritation.

"You don't have to insult my efforts like that you prick! You don't want, than don't eat. And who told you to take 2 cans soda right after dinner, also took a glass of smoothie right after that? What is it? Death dish or what, and you putting blame on my dear food that It caused you that." He said and Anne rolled her eyes.

I laughed over what she ate and that was yuck! "How can you eat things after things like that!? It's gross to mix up soda and smoothie in stomach. Eww!" I said scrutinizing my nose.

"She's dumb, forget her. How's your arm now?" He said giving my arm a gentle inspection and then caressed my head. I smiled at his warmth.

"It's totally fine uncle, don't worry. Also this pie is so tasty, I see stars! I think Anne's taste buds have been tortured by her weird food combination so much, that they gave up tasting anything else." I said mouthful of cherry pie, blending in my mouth and he laughed at my joke.

"Heh, I am glad you like it young fighter." He giggled in happiness when I complimented the love of his life...cooking. Yeah, Aunt is surely the love of his life but cooking had been his first love before her. As soon as I took another bite my phone rang. I picked up.

"Sup Dad? Missing me already?" I teased him and he laughed. "Hey kid, how are you doing? And I am not missing you, instead I am in peace here, without your angry scowls and raging ass." This time I laughed, racking my fingers in my dark hairs.

"Why didn't you pick Ben's call?" He asked. "It might be in my room or something." I replied.

"Anyway so he called me. A survivor with her two friends were here to see you." A woman..

"He was asked to have your address to meet you but you didn't pick so he asked me instead, if they can visit me if you're not here. I gave him the permission so they were here." He continued and I listened to him glancing at the watch, it was almost 5 in the evening.

"What's the name of the survivor?" I asked hoping both it's her and not to be her.

"Agnett Raymond." He replied.

Good God!

"And I assume her friends must be Kayden Smith and Eva Jones." I said picturing both of them standing beside Agnett like bodyguards. "Yeah, so you have met them?" He asked and I heard clinking sounds in the background.

"Yeah on the occurrence area. How's she then?" I asked as I put the dishes into the sink and grabbed an energy bar.

"She seemed fine but yeah I felt bad watching her injuries. When they were here I felt so good you know like, they're fun kids. You barely spend time with me and being with then was actually very fresh and mind diverting." I felt bad at a point when he mentioned about spending time. The sound of clinking mixed with crackling seem to be heard from the background.

It's true I barely get time from my work shift and almost everyday had to stay in the department dorms. Of course he would be lonely.

"I am sorry dad but I will try to spend more time with you. I am happy you had company today." I replied chewing as I plopped beside Anne on the couch.

"I understand but don't regret when I'll die. You didn't even stay here for more thn 15 minutes, back from hospital, grabbed the things and went." He said all in such a tone, I f*****g felt guilty inside and heard another clink and now with a big bam.

"I am coming back today anyway and I promise you, you won't get any complaint from me again. I'll spend more time with you okay." I said reassuringly and headed to mine and Anne's sharing room.

"You coming back today? Why so early? Is everything alright?" He asked little worriedly.

"Of course everything's fine, it was planned already. I'll be there till 8 and what are you doing there? What's the noise?" I retorted caressing my neck.

"Oh sorry about that, I was digging through the certain area of garden to plant flowers. You wanted to plant them so I was getting it ready." He said and I felt warm inside.

He always do things for you which makes you happy and you do nothing to keep him happy...

"Thanks dad, we'll plant them together tomorrow, okay. I'll talk to you when I'll be home." I replied as I gathered my things and packed up.

"Okay kid. Drive safe and take care of yourself." He said before hanging up.

I looked myself in the mirror and stared at my reflection. I was wearing a loose purple t-shirt, with black ripped jeans and a black denim jacket. Tattoos peeking through my arm and neck, set my black hairs decently and checked myself in a twirl.

"I would say I was a bit curvy, but unusually taller than average women and lots of muscles. Fighter training indeed does a lot to your body when you're doing it for 5 hours Every day. Due to my tall height and big frame with short hairs, people always mistook me for a guy.

Such a heartthrob you looking woman!

Smiling at myself I took the bag. "You ready?" Anne asked as she helped me with the another bag. "Yeah let's go." We both headed to our cars as I bid goodbye to my uncle and aunt. "When you get there give a call to us." Aunt said and I smiled, nodding at her.

The way from New Jersey to Brooklyn was silent and peaceful. I stared at the running back trees, birds flying with us, beautiful flower fields, and the setting sun. The sky was filled with beautiful gradient of warm and cold colours like an art piece.

Anne was occasionally asking me things in between, trying to keep chirping between our silent journey. We stopped at a gas station after an hour and took some snacks for us from the store including a protein bar and a energy drink for me.

A black car was parked near ours, which caused our windows to face side ways. A man around his 20s along with two of his friends, came out of the car and started hooting at a girl, who was with Anne, purchasing from the store.

They were slowly invading their personal space Making the girl uncomfortable. Anne tried to ignore them as much as she could. They suddenly touched the girl's hair and one of them smelled it, almost leaning himself on the girl's back. She pushed him away but he didn't budged.

"Watch yourselves Boys, you won't like what will happen next. Get off!" Anne warned him but they smirked and the same guy was about to touch her waist but I got their before he could do it.

That's it boys...time for some fun.

"What's your problem Men? You like her shampoo, don't ya? Well mine is way better than her's. Leave them alone." I sternly growled at them causing some stares to slap towards me.

"And who are you? They don't seem to have any problem with us, then why are you getting so greedy. With the looks like that, no one would want your shampoo or your pu-"

Before he could finish, I threw a kick in his shins and punched his face so bad he flew to the door making others jump.

"And with the behaviour of yours, no one would like to see your little filthy d**k too, bastard!" Grabbing him by the collars with my one hand, I banged my head on his real hard and he almost fainted, mouth and nose oozing blood.

I punched his mouth more, burning in rage making him cough more blood. I kicked his stomach so hard making him scream in pain. "Dare to badmouth or touch a woman again, and I'll f*****g feed you to the hungry dogs!!" And punched him more ignoring the pain in my knuckles and tried to keep away my broken arm.

"RAVEN! Stop now..." I heard Anne's voice and stopped.

I stood up leaving his filthy body and glared at the other guys. One of them was looking at the guy so horrifyingly and other almost ran away. They made very good amount of distance between the girls and themselves, fearing the outcome of it.

"Anything else? You both wanna smell shampoo too?" I asked getting closer making them shook their head furiously.

"Then GET LOST!!" I yelled and they both scurried away, taking the half dead man with them. People were watching me wide eyes until I yelled them off.

"Thankyou Miss, I don't know what they could have done if you wouldn't be here. Some people don't even try to help of they see any harassment. Thanks a lot." She hugged me tight and I gently patted her.

"Your arm is broken, Raven. Are you hurt?" She asked checking me for injury I shook my head.

"I am fine but don't ignore if something like this happen again. Just kick them." I said fixing my hairs and she nodded.

"I warned them, the demon was right here, they didn't listen." Anne said rolling her eyes and she chuckled.

I stomped to the cashier, banging my hand on the counter, he jumped and his eyes widened. "Listen Mr. It's the last time I have seen you ignoring the shitty people, because next time you won't want to meet me again with a police complaint against your security because you were watching silently." I snarled, making him scared much.

"I- I will keep that i-in mind. S-sorry." He shuttered and I took Anne with me taking our stuffs. I was stomping towards the car red in anger, literally fuming, ignoring Anne's voice. How dared he to touch her!

Before I could open the door of the car Anne stopped me and hugged me. "Raven, I am fine, okay. Please calm down." She mumbled gently and I nodded my head. She was shorter than me so my chin rested on her head. I took some deep breathes to steady myself.

"Cm on, let's go." She said getting inside the car. Our drive was so silent that it consumed me and I just watched outside the window still thinking what could have happened to Anne or that girl if I wouldn't had been there.

Stop overthinking Raven.

"What's your plan after getting home?" Anne asked and I shrugged. "Spend time with dad and doing job as usual."

"Agnett visited you today, I mean kind of." I replied with a humm, drinking my energy drink but suddenly felt so light headed hearing her name. "Do you somehow know her IG or something? I am very curious to see her." She asked suddenly and I shook my head.  

"Don't know her IG or whatever but...

"I do have a picture of her...um... I...kind of took it... without her permission...umm... secretly.." I said getting embarrassed and thinking of having a quick judgement. Her eyes widened still I stared everywhere but her.

"Raven! You just can't take someone's photo like that. It's creepy." She said shaking her head. "But I am not a creep you know that too, uhh...it just...she was looking so beautiful, it made my heart ache." I replied staring at the picture of her sitting in the hospital canteen, watching outside.

When I showed it to her and she suddenly pushed the breaks so hard, if I wouldn't be wearing seat belt, I could have hit my head badly. I was relieved that my hand was fine.

"Wtf Anne!!!" I yelled and slapped her head so hard she glared. I glared back more fiercely and she made a face.

"I know this girl!" She said after watching it carefully and I looked at her in surprise.

"What? How? When and where the f**k you saw her? And this doesn't make you HIT THE BRAKES LIKE THAT!" I yelled looking at her in disbelief.

"I don't know but she seems very familiar like very much. I just can't remember where." She said making me look at her, eyebrows raised.

"You sure? You might have seen her around maybe." I replied looking at her picture again.

Anne pressed her head on steering wheel trying to remember. After 5 minutes she gave up and shook her head. "Maybe you're right, I could have seen her around."

Soon we reached to my house and she bid goodbye after seeing dad. "Be careful, bye."

We both headed inside and I plopped on sofa. My head was really hurting after banging it to the guy's head. Shameless prick!

"Are you okay kid? You should have dinner and take your medicines." Dad said sitting beside me when I was leaning back, holding my temples. "And what happened to you? You beat someone?" Dad asked getting off and coming back with a ointment.

He applied it gently but I kept watching him. His slight grey hairs were neatly settled on his side, eyes seemed tired and a tiny frown over his wrinkled face. Even though being an ex military officer, he kept his health, fitness and muscles.

"They were bastards, that's why I beat them. Always eying girls." I snarled silently and he shook his head, heading to the kitchen. After settling, dad came back with dinner and we ate comfortably.

"Agnett's parents have invited us, specially you, on a dinner as a gratitude." Dad said pouring some curry to me and I listened to him carefully.

Hmm. Should I go or not then? I don't know, what if Agnett got too shocked that it's me and kick me out of her house? What's if she never talk to me?

Argh! I don't know! I'll go.

Suddenly my phone rang, I took it out and scanned the screen for ID. It was an unknown number. I picked up.

"Hello?" I said but the other end seemed silent. "Is this R-Raven Lorenzo?"

You kidding me...

I suddenly stood up making the table and chair shift unfortunately screeching. The bowls and glasses moved furiously for a second. My breathe hitched. Dad looked at me weirdly. But all I could think was the woman talking from other end....

"What's wrong?" He asked his spoonful stuck in air, near his mouth. "I- I'll have to attend this call, I'll be back." I said covering the phone, he nodded and I went out to the backyard.

"Hello? Can you hear me?" The voice said again and I literally stumbled while walking. "Yeah, I-I can hear you properly. Who's it?" I asked trying to act I didn't know her but I knew her voice f*****g too well to deny.

"This... is Agnett Raymond. I am one of the survivor who was saved by you in the Glover club fire breakout. I think....umm.. Mr.Eugene must have told you about the rest." She said with hesitancy in her beautiful voice. She unusually took a lots of long silence between the call. I reached to the yard and sat on the big iron swing, with pillows and flower vines.

"Yeah, um..he told. Have you called to ask me about the dinner?" I asked, stressed, thinking what she must be having in her mind right now. There was this silence again.

"Yeah actually, I- I have. I- I also wanted to say thank you for saving my life." She said breaking her voice being uncertain over what was happening. All I pictured was, her sitting somewhere and tucking her locks behind her ears.

My heart was thumping loudly in my chest and I was getting loads of butterflies in my stomach. What should I do..

Rather you go there or not, you have to deal with the consequences, Raven. If you won't go you'll loose the opportunity to start a way with her and if you go you might have to deal with much more but you can still try to do things better. Okay.

"I'll come. Just text me the time and address. And whatever I did is my responsibility, you are my responsibility." Silence...

Oops!

"Umm I mean, you and others, who were stuck there were our duty to rescue so it's totally fine." I said but the line was still silence. I heard soft rustling and faint panting from the other side. My breathe hitched again...

"O-okay. I'll text you the address and time. We are having it this Friday so I hope you'll be back from your cousin's place." She asked and I watched the phone screen.

Even her number is adorable as f**k! Wtf is wrong with me!

"Sure it's fine and I am already home, got here just an hour ago. I was planning on coming back today but dad didn't know that otherwise he could have told Ben and then maybe we could have met.." I explained, watching the slit moon in peace.

Her voice just makes my mood happiest.

"Oh...then it's better. I hope your injuries recover soon, please take care. I have got to hang up." She said in a way that her words seemed smiling.

"Sure, you too take care of your arm and don't stroll around at night like a ghost."

"What...how do you know?" She asked stunned.

Shit!

I hung up as fast as I could. Dumb dumb dumb Raven! You literally spilled !!!

Friday is two days away...and she'll officially know me. I don't know why I was so hyper thinking over her reaction, when she just barely knew me. It won't matter her much, I thought.

But she was mattering me way much than I hadn't even expected. Just a look and she locked me up. It was like she did something to my head and heart and they were misbehaving now.

"Raven?" Dad called me standing at the door and my eyes snapped back at him. "You left your dinner in middle. Is everything alright?" He asked coming towards me and sat beside me on the swing.

"Yeah, everything's fine. I...um it's nothing. It was a call from Agnett Raymond. She was asking me about the dinner and I accepted." I said watching my phone, thumbing the screen gently.

"Oh. It's good but I was thinking something." He said looking at me calmly. "What is it dad?"

"Does Raymond happen to be familiar to you? Because it sounds really familiar to me." He stated frowning and my face copied him.

Why everyone is familiar with the woman and her last name but not Me?

"I don't remember dad. Where have you heard it?" I asked keeping my head on his shoulders and he kept his arm behind me.

"Forget it, I must be overthinking. Anyway, you shud finish your dinner and take your medicines then rest. It has been a long day for you." He said caressing my head lovingly and I nodded. After pretty 20 minutes of father- daughter bonding time, we both went to sleep. I obviously lost my appetite so I just took a bottle of alcohol from the fridge but, stopped.

"Cm on, no drinking. She told you to take milk instead. Okay. You'll be fine, you'll be able to sleep." I assured myself and gulped down a glass of warm milk.

I took a bath which was very difficult for me and changed in something comfortable. Plopping on my bed, I stared at her picture in my phone.

"You just hit different baby, I don't know why and what is it, but there's something about you that makes me have you by my side more than anything. I think you really reminds me of someone but I can't figure it out. This feeling is really weird." I whispered and hugged my pillow to my chest.

Good night, Agnett..

I drifted into sleep, which was surprisingly, calm rather than my nightmares.

, ....