Hey Guys. Long time, no write :D I'm in the process of re-writing every chapter of Erased this is the first edit, be gentle with me.
The soft 'click' of an opening door woke me up, my hand already on the dagger beneath my pillow. I stayed still for a moment, my ears straining for the hint of any other sound. Footsteps made their way across the carpeted hallway, trying to be soft, but failing at every point.
"Julie, why are you trying to be sneaky?" I said loud, a small smile playing across my lips.
The footsteps stopped just outside my door and a muttered 'shit' made its way to my ears. I'd say she was picking up bad habits from me, but she'd learnt that one on her own.
"I was trying not to wake you up." She said as she opened the door and came into my room. Short and way too skinny for her age, Julie always gave me the urge to cook; the need to feed her always strong. Granted, she'd gained at least ten pounds since living with me and at the school, but she still looked like she needed a good meal… or ten.
I released the dagger, my hand now slightly damp with sweat, it had a leather bound hilt, my least favourite kind of grip for this exact reason. I sat up and stretched, my back cracking satisfyingly, and gave her the hard stare. "Where were you off to?" My hard stare got an eye roll off of my resident teenager.
"I wasn't going anywhere." She tried her best not to look guilty. "I heard you come in late last night and didn't want to wake you up." Despite her time on the streets, she was still a relatively bad liar.
I slanted my eyes for extra scare.
She threw her hands up in the air with a distinct grunt. "Ugh, I was going to see Jasmine."
I couldn't help the brief flash of Disney princess before my brain kicked in.
"Jasmine, the girl who still hangs out on the street?" I could see Julie's brow come together in a very stubborn look. "The Jasmine who recently wound up in The Order begging for help with a hellhound after her? That Jasmine?"
She opened her mouth in what I imagine was a very well rehearsed speech about how I had helped Julie when she was on the street and how Julie was just 'paying it forward' by trying to get Jasmine out of what was left of Red's gang, but I was too tired for the lecture.
"I know you're a smart kid-" I started.
"But-"
I held my hand up to stop the protest in its tracks. "I know you're a smart kid, but we need to keep to the boundaries we agreed on." I looked her in the eye. "Which means no sneaking out and bringing old friends back here when you want to meet so I know you're safe."
"I can handle myself." She pouted, I don't think she realised she did it, but it always reminded me of just how young she was.
"I know you can. But what happens if something happens? Jasmine can't fight and you can't protect her." Parenting's hard.
She was about to answer but a knock sounded through the apartment. Julie and I looked at each other, each of us affirming that neither was expecting anyone. I stood up, my shorts falling to mid thigh as I walked into the hallway and to the door. It was unlikely to be an attack; they would have knocked the door down by now. I grabbed slayer off the table as I passed, holding the hilt with my right hand, ready to unsheath at a moments notice.
I pressed my cheek against the cold, reinforced wood of the door and glanced through the peephole.
"For goodness sake." I rolled my eyes as I opened the door. "What did you want, Your Fuzziness?"