Kitty

Johnny Stoke.

There was something about him Kitty couldn't put her finger on. Something was definitely different about him. She knew he wasn't a demon, and he certainly wasn't a magician, but he was something.

The way he looked at her was different than all her comrades. It was if there was a hidden element lurking beneath the surface of his chatty, cheeky exterior. It wasn't necessarily a bad sort of something, but it made her immediately curious and also a little annoyed that she didn't know what it was. She wasn't used to being so affected by an individual.

It was around midday of the second day with him. It was very warm out despite it being late September. There was a cool breeze in the air which was refreshing, but not as inviting as the wide stream which they had stopped by for a break.

Sarah was nose-deep in her map, Matt was sharing some crisps with Alexander, Jess was chatting to Johnny and Kitty was dipping her aching feet in the edge of the cool stream for some relief. As she felt the pebbles beneath her toes and relaxed, Kitty couldn't help overhear the conversation nearby between Johnny and Jess.

"... yeah I've always wanted to fight the magicians in London, be part of the network and all that."

"Oh you should, your abilities are really useful. We have a large underground network, it's not that united at the moment but we're nothing like the terrorist resistance before. We want everyone with abilities to unite and come to London as soon as we have enough numbers, then we'll bring the magic to an end for good."

"I can't wait to be part of that, when do you think you'll be ready to openly fight?"

"I don't think anyone knows yet. I guess it depends on how many we find. I bet you're a great fighter Johnny."

"I wouldn't count on that; I'm just a ignorant village lad. Me up against a vicious, bloodthirsty demon? I'd have no chance."

She giggled annoyingly. Kitty looked over her shoulder to see the blonde leaning against him; a little too close for people who met yesterday. "You just haven't had the chance. If we do encounter demons, I'm sure you'll be like a knight in shining armour."

Kitty held back a grimace at her word choice. Never did Jess look more her age than when she was attempting to flirt. "Knight in shining armour" sounded like something a six year old girl would say. What was worse was that Johnny was actually laughing along with her, what an idiot.

The dark haired girl went back to looking at the scenery, ignoring the brainless conversation behind her completely. The wind whistled gently through the towering trees, moving the sunshine through the leaves in mesmeric dapples of light that danced and played off each other like butterflies. Tiny fishes with gleaming silver scales darted past her ankles, drawing her attention back to the water. Crouching down in the shallow edge she dipped her hands into the stream, wiggling her fingers in the small currents.

Kitty's shimmering reflection stared back at her, as she watched it fluctuate on the water, a second reflection joined her to the left. She looked up to see Johnny crouching by her side in an identical position to her, also shoeless.

"This is really refreshing." He said, not meeting her eyes, but watching his hands in the water. "My feet are killing me."

"Mine too. It comes with the job." Kitty wasn't sure why, but she was feeling a little grumpy at being interrupted whilst enjoying some peace and quiet. He hadn't shut up the whole morning, and now he was here to pester her.

"Yeah I guess I should've expected it. So, what's your story then? I don't know anything about you Kitty."

"My story?"

"Yeah" he looked up at her, his hazel eyes appraising her. "How you got to be with this lot, why you've stayed here, where you're going with this trip..." he trailed off, watching her expectantly.

"Mind your own business."

He burst out in laughter. His smile seemed to radiate from all over his body. "I guess I should, I'm just naturally nosy you see. Get it from my dad; he has a whopping great tomato of a nose. He couldn't go near the high street less all the traffic should stop, waiting for it to go green."

The joke was so awful that she cracked a small smile. She hoped he would miss it but of course he didn't.

"Was that a smile, Miss Jones?"

She eyes shot up to meet his as he called her Miss Jones – the way he had said that sent a trigger off in her mind. She had heard her name spoken like that before by someone. She quickly dismissed it from her head, it was probably coincidence. Besides, he wasn't a demon. "No."

"I think it was."

"It definitely was not, bugger off." She gave him a playful small shove, intended purely for banter purposes, but he was caught off guard and, with his arms spinning like an out of control windmill, toppled forwards into the knee-deep water with a great splash.

"Oi!" he spluttered with loud indignation as he sat up, completely soaked through. With a devilish grin he supported himself on one arm and gave her an even harder shove, pushing Kitty to the right into the stream.

The next few minutes had the two of them wrestling and pushing each other over in the shallow water like children, splashing and yelping for mercy as they tried to submerge each other in the fast flowing water.

The rest of the group watched on with amusement, but it was only when Kitty cut her hand when falling back that Matt intervened. Before Johnny could compose himself and get to her, he was already at her side, guiding her from the shallows of the stream like she'd just broken a leg.

"Kitty are you ok?"

"It's nothing, just a cut."

"We don't have any first aid with us, it could get infected."

"I'll be fine, I think I'll live." She gave him a half smile. "Thanks though."

"Well, if it starts looking bad just let me know and we'll find some plasters from somewhere ok?"

"Will do."

Matt gave her a encouraging smile, before issuing orders to the group that they better get moving. As the rebels packed away their snacks and put their aching feet back into boots, Johnny extracted himself from the river behind them, and wadded over in his soggy clothing till he stood beside the injured girl.

"Sorry Kitty."

She turned to face him, "Its fine."

She didn't mean to be dismissive to him, but she felt on edge when he was standing so close to her. Her heart was beating as if it were trying to escape her chest after their play fight. Kitty had expected it to stop, but when he stood in front of her, dripping wet and looking uncharacteristically apologetic, it only increased in speed.

Drips of sunlit water trailed from his wet locks down the angles of his face. His t-shirt was soaked through, sticking like glue to the planes of his chest. His eyes shone a brilliant forest hazel in the sunlight, and she was struck yet again by the foreignness they held. However Kitty realised suddenly that perhaps for the last day or so, the strangeness that she'd felt about him may be because of something else.

Kitty flushed, realising she'd been gazing at him for a bit too long. She quickly looked away hiding her embarrassment with the assertiveness she was so used to. "C'mon we need to go."

00000

It was only at the end of the day, after much more bantering and laughter with Johnny en route, that Kitty realised what had brought about all these emotions and strange feelings. She was lying next to Alex, Johnny, Matt and Jess on the floor. Johnny had draped his now dry jacket over her and Alex, the smell of which she found oddly calming and safe. He was opposite her now, his features just about visible by the light of the moon. She gazed on his gentle sleeping face, taking in his messy curls and the strong angle of his jaw. She breathed in slowly, letting the scent of his clothes warm her.

Then it hit Kitty like a 10 tonne truck. She was becoming – quite unwillingly and against her better judgement – a little fond of the newcomer Johnny.