A Green Dress and a Flaming Bandanna

Chapter 10- Out of Breath

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Hey guys, yes I am also publishing this chapter thanks to the library's internet connection which means you all don't have to wait as long and I don't have to wait as long to read the updates on my favourite stories (winks at Mathilde). Please read and review and thanks for the previous ones. Enjoy :)

I awoke early the next morning. My body was clammy and my heart was pounding. Luke was still fast asleep, his body slung over the back of the chair, his nose twitching slightly. I took a deep breath and snuggled back down into my mattress.

I never did get back to sleep, I just lay watching Luke sleep until about 6.30 when the sun was just beginning to rise over Mt Gelato.

The gash on my head stung like hell. I guess that's why they gave me so much morphine. I winced and cursed under my breath. Luke didn't stir. I sat up and stared at him tilting my head to one side. Poor guy! He works so hard, no wonder he's always so tired!

I crawled out of bed and snuck across the room to the kitchen. My stomach growled just like it had done on the night of my arrival. I opened the fridge squinting as my eyes adjusted to the bright light which shone out of it, practically blinding me.

I grabbed some eggs and broke them into a bowl adding in some milk and sticking it in the microwave. As I waited for the compulsory ding I ran my hand over my forehead and ripped the bandage off. My dad had always told me that cuts heal way quicker when they aren't covered up. Yeah it stung but the material was way too tight and was giving me a headache. I threw the substandard bandage in the bin and continued to wait for my eggs to scramble.

I took them out and stirred the satisfying yellow and white mush with a fork before emptying it onto 2 plates. I wasn't sure if Luke wanted it but I wasn't going to be selfish and not make him any.

It didn't take long for the smell to travel across the room and reach Luke. I watched his nostrils flare and his eyes slowly open.

He groaned as he sat up and stretched his arms above his head and then behind his back.

'Is that…scrambled eggs I smell?' He said groggily.

'Yup, want some?' I answered trying to sound upbeat and cheery like I normally am.

His eyes widened and he yawned.

'Hell yeah I do!' He stood up and dragged his chair back to the table before plonking down on it again.

I set his plate down in front of him along with a fork and then sat down across from him.

Just as I was about to start eating Luke cleared his throat and stared at me raising an eyebrow.

I closed my eyes and sighed.

'Dressing gown! Got it!' I grabbed the large mass of pink, fluffy material from behind the door and slipped it on before resuming my position at the table.

'Ya know I don't have a problem with you walking around in your underwear but for your dignity's sake…'

'I got it Luke thanks.' I said before taking a forkful of eggs and wolfing it down. Once I had swallowed the rather hot mush I broke the silence. 'Thanks for staying last night, it means a lot to me!'

'No problem, It's great being away from the devil child for a night, although I'll get a lot stick from him today about it but anyway.'

I giggled.

'Come on he can't be that bad!'

'I've met nicer!'

I ate the rest of my eggs and then gathered up the plates. Luke opened the curtains and let the morning light into my dark, fusty house. He turned to me and froze.

'Hell Angela! What are you doing with your bandage off?! That could get like infected or something man!'

I rolled my eyes.

'But it was annoying me!' I whined.

'Nah ah! We're going to see Dr Jin!'

'But Lu-uke!'

'Hurry up and get dressed! I don't want you to get a disease or something!'

'Honestly Luke I'm not going to get a disease!'

He folded his arms and tapped his foot.

'Fine, fine I'm going!' I pulled one of my green dresses and a pair of shorts out of my cupboard and flew into the bathroom.

About 10 minutes later I submerged from the small room looking like I normally do only with a massive graze on my forehead. Luke was pacing back and forth in front of the door and once I caught his attention he opened the door and motioned for me to go out in front of him. I did so and he slammed the door behind me.

It was already quite warm outside. The noise of the slamming door echoed around the farm causing several birds to fly out of a nearby tree. As we began to walk towards town Luke glanced back at the bush and winced.

'Sorry about that.' I said noticing his expression.

'Nah don't worry. That'll teach me for sneaking around a drugged up invalids house!'

I punched his arm and he chuckled.

'Hey! I am not an invalid I'm just temporarily damaged!' I held my nose in the hair and began walking a step ahead of him.

'Hey! I'm supposed to be fitter than you, stop…stop getting faster as you said you're damaged!'

I quickened the pace so that I was almost running.

'Fine, 2 can play at that game!' He said before taking off at full speed down the path ahead.

'No fair I'm…I'm an invalid!' I called after him before giggling and breaking into a run.

***

As Luke and Angela race I imagine 'Fingerprints' by Katy Perry playing in the background. ^^

***

As I ran after him I figured out how I could make the race work to my advantage. I sped up running as hard as I could until I was right behind him.

We got to the fork in the road. One path going into town, one going uphill to the church, the other heading towards Maple Lake District.

I bit my lip and smirked overtaking him and running towards the lake.

'Hey! What about the clinic?' He called.

'I guess you'll have to catch me first!' I called back. He chuckled and then took off after me again.

I had never run so fast in my life. Why couldn't I have felt this urge to run at all those cross country races?!

I could hear his footsteps catching up with me which made me go faster. I was running so hard I didn't notice poor little old Shelly coming slowly but surely along the path around the lake. I must have missed her by an inch.

'Shit, sorry Shelly!' I yelled, my breathing ragged.

I heard Luke say practically the same thing shortly after me. I giggled and sprinted on.

'Come on Angela! Dr Jin will kill me for letting you get too energetic when you're supposed to be resting!'

'Screw him!' I panted.

He laughed 'Hell Yeah!'

I ran up the hill to Soufflé Farm and kept going through to Brownie Farm.

As I got to the horse racing track I could see Renee in the distance just about to mount a large bay mare.

'Yes!' I said to myself running that extra bit faster to get to her before she got on. 'Renee! Renee!' I yelled.

'Angela?! Angela no that's not fair!' Luke yelled from behind me.

I finally reached and Renee and paused putting my hands on my thighs and leaning over to catch my breath.

'A-Angela? Are you okay?' She said sounding quite worried.

I glanced behind me and saw Luke approaching swiftly.

'Yea, yea I'm fine! Could I please borrow your horse? Thanks!' I said. Before she could even reply I grabbed the reins, stuck my foot in the stirrup and hoisted myself on.

'Get on girl!' I yelled giving the horse and large nudge in the sides. Sure enough the she complied and bolted off in canter.

I took a quick look behind me and saw Luke standing beside Renee with his hands on his hips, panting. He smirked at me and waved looking way too pleased with himself. It made me worry, but I was having too much fun to care. Renee looked incredibly confused but entertained at the same time.

I kicked the mare on flying around the course at top speed. I used to take riding classes as a kid at stables near my Gran's house in the country outside the city but I'd never gone that fast before.

As I got towards the end of the track I could hear another set of thundering hooves from behind me. At a glance I saw Luke catching up on me riding a large, shiny black stallion.

'Nice try!' He called. I shook my head and pushed the horse to go faster but there was no way we could out run that beast.

I tugged my reins hard bringing the mare to a standstill. I jumped off and began running over the grass towards Alan's Tree. It took Luke a few minutes to realise but he soon spun around and cantered back, jumping off and running after me.

As I reach the giant tree I gave up. I couldn't run anymore. I stop and propped myself up against the bark, panting and wheezing, trying to catch my breath. Luke soon caught up with me grabbing my arm and pulling himself to a halt.

I laughed and slid down the trunk onto the ground.

'Well that….was….fun!' I said between breaths.

'What…the hell…Angela!' Luke panted collapsing down beside me, sprawling out over the grass. 'You're….pretty….fast!'

I nodded still gasping for air. My lungs stung as if they were scraping the barrel for oxygen.

'I think…I won't…need to do…anymore exercise…for a year!'

'I've done…some pretty intense…workouts…but none compare…to that!'

A shadow appeared in front of us and a pair of familiar, boring brown shoes caught the corner of my eye.

'I don't know if you two hooligans have noticed but this,' Gill said spreading his arms out and looking around 'Is a public place! I would prefer it if you took any private…intimate affairs to a bedroom and not our beautiful countryside.'

Luke sat up wiping the beads of sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand.

'What the hell do you think we were doing goody new shoes?'

Gill sneered at Luke down his nose, his expression disgusted. Jeese does he actually think we would do something like that?

'Gill it's not what you think! Luke and I are just friends! We were having a race!'

Luke's eyes widened as he finally caught on to what Gill thought we had been doing.

Gill blushed looking rather embarrassed.

'Er…o-oh, well! I just needed to know because that's….what good mayors do! Yes! They check on things! Especially the residents so…even if you weren't…you know in the countryside….please don't…if you were ever thinking about it because Hana and Cain are living just down there and…'

I held up my hand and nodded.

'I get it…Gill! Thank you, we won't.' I said trying to make things less awkward for him.

Luke sniggered.

'For goddess sake dude who do you think we are?'

Gill snapped his head round towards Luke.

'Oh I know exactly who you are! You're the childish carpenter who got Selena pregnant, so I wouldn't be surprised!'

Luke frowned, the blood draining out of his face.

'H-how did you know about that Ponce?'

Gill folded his arms and began walking away.

'Let's just say news travels fast around this place!'

Once Gill had disappeared Luke stood up.

'I needa go home.' He said staring at the ground.

I stood up quickly and dusted myself of.

'Luke don't listen to him, he's way too full of self importance! He'll get what's coming to him!'

He began walking away but I grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

'Luke he's wrong about you! Your personal life is nothing to do with him!'

Luke tugged his arm of me.

'No Angela he's right! I…need to be alone!' He said stalking off.

My arm fell limply at my side as I stared after him.

'Luke?' I said quietly. Great! Now I have to go to the clinic alone! I threw my arms up in the air and began walking slowly after him.

Thanks for reading guys. I really like this chapter and got the idea for it whilst listening to my ipod which gave me the idea to put the song in it. Please keep reviewing it means a lot and thank you to the Coleraine Library which is allowing me to publish this for you guys. Thanks and more to come soon ^^