Some Quality Time
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Red Eye!
Chapter Ten
Maryland – Two months later…
Kyra stretched in her bed lazily; feeling a bit like a satisfied cat after a long nap in the sun. She had essentially just woken up from a nap and for one of the first times in over two years, she actually felt rested.
She abandoned the warm covers and padded barefoot down the short, nearly non-existent hallway into her living room. Passed out on her couch, half-covered with a blanket stolen from the back of the couch, was Mark. As agreed, he was still fully dressed and his long blonde hair was a mess.
She could not help but smile as he slept on unaware of her presence.
After he had cared for her that one night, Kyra had become more open with him. She found herself able to trust someone for the first time in many years. The only person she could ever remember trusting was her father, but even then, he had still turned around and betrayed her. He had driven her to her current state of affairs—with a boyfriend that she trusted, yet was afraid of his touch.
Since that night, she had still jumped every time he tried to touch her. Mark was very understanding about it and kept his distance, but she could not help but yearn for normalcy. She wanted them to be able to act the same as any other couple.
Heading back into her bedroom, Kyra lifted the bed skirt and dialed the combination to unlock her safe. She withdrew the leather journal and a pen before leaning her back against the bed.
She pressed the pen to a clean sheet of paper and began to write.
August 11th, 2025
It's hard to believe how much time has passed since I left. I should be grateful that I have evaded my father as long as I have, but I hate lying. I hate having to lie to Mark about my past, my family—even my own name. He's so trusting and understanding, yet everything I've told him has been a lie.
So much for the 'never tell a lie' rule…
I can't help but wonder if what mum felt about him is the same way I feel about Mark. I know she did her best to resist him, but they still ended up together. Mum was scared long before she met my father, but she was still able to have a semi-normal life. Well, as normal as you can get with assassins on your trail and a manipulative, self-centered bastard for a lover.
Does she ever wonder if she made a mistake? I can't help but wonder if the world would have been a better place without me and Myra. Our father could care less about us. We're nothing more than mere property to him. That's the only reason he's tracking me. It's not because he loves me—he just feels that I belong to him.
I'll be damned if he catches me.
Kyra slammed the journal shut bitterly and shoved it back in her hiding place. She glanced up at one of the many clocks in her apartment and stood back up. It was mid-morning, and they should both be waking up if they planned to make it to their afternoon classes.
Sighing and shaking her head, she walked past Mark's sleeping frame and into her kitchen. Without paying much attention to the amount of noise she was making, Kyra withdrew a frying pan, a carton of eggs, plates, bacon, and other miscellaneous cooking supplies. She turned the burner on the stove and waited for the pan to heat up.
While she was waiting, she cracked the eggs and began preparing scrambled eggs for herself and Mark. When the pan was ready she started frying the bacon first.
The scent of cooking breakfast items comforted her and reminded her of home.
"Scrambled eggs at 3am, Leese?" Jackson was teasing as he snuck up behind Lisa while she stood at the stove. He wrapped his arms around her slender waist and buried his head in her curls.
"Couldn't sleep. Want some?"
"Hmm…"
"Yes or no, Jackson?"
"I have better things to do than eat eggs. Such as…" he spun her around to face him, "show you just how much I love you."
Lisa smiled slyly as he reached behind her to turn off the burner. Once satisfied that the house was not about to burn down around them, Jackson lifted her onto a nearby counter. She giggled.
"What about the girls? Are you sure that this is safe?"
"They're sound asleep. Besides, it's no secret how much I love you."
Jackson's lips trailed kisses up and down her slender throat as she made little noises. He was wearing a self-satisfied smirk.
From her hiding place, Kyra was beginning to be grossed out. Her parents were not exactly very quiet or private about their affections and it was a fairly normal sight to walk in a room and find the two entwined and making out. But she knew exactly what they were leading up to, and Kyra could not help but wonder why they could not just walk back down the hall to their bedroom and do it.
A cry sounded from down the hall and she winced. It was Myra and she was probably having another nightmare. And once her sister was awake, she would be looking for her and her parents would figure out that she was not in bed asleep.
"I'll handle it," Lisa said quietly, disentangling herself and hoping down from the counter. Jackson did not bother to protest.
She heard her mother's soft footsteps pad down the hall and she started to crawl in the direction of her bedroom. Soon, Myra would be asking for her, and like always, her baby sister would get what she wanted.
"Hello, Jack," said her father, suddenly appearing in her path. She stifled a gasp.
Kyra squeezed her blue eyes closed tightly, praying that she was only dreaming and that when she opened her eyes, she would still be in her bed. No such luck.
When she opened her eyes, Jackson was helping her to her feet and scolding her.
"Jacqueline Kyra Reisert Rippner, what the hell am I going to do with you?" he asked with a slightly amused tone as he shook his dark-haired head.
"I didn't mean to—honestly."
He rolled his crystalline eyes. "Jackie…"
"Fine…I was hungry. I didn't mean to, but I could smell the eggs—"
"I understand, now what do you say when you get back down the hall before your mother comes looking for you, hmm?"
"Fine," scowled Kyra, eleven years old and already stubborn as hell.
"Mhmm, eggs, huh?" Mark's sleepy voice from behind her startled her.
"Uh, yeah." She nodded her head, trying to cover her surprise.
"My favorite. How are you this morning, Mel?"
She smiled. "I'm doing just fine. You?"
"Me too, though I think it's about time you got a bigger couch."
"Is that so? Maybe it's about time you started sleeping at your own apartment, Mr. Tyler," Kyra teased, turning around to smirk at him.
"Only if you'll stay there with me."
A shiver ran up her spine as Mark placed a hand on either side of her on the stovetop. He was very close to her and she thought she could see determination in his eyes. More than anything, Kyra wished she had her knife with her, but there was no place to hide it in her plaid shorts and tank top that she had slept in.
"Mel? Earth to Mel!" Mark was waving a hand in front of her face. She could not help but jump this time.
"Sorry, I got distracted."
"Yeah, and you're burning the bacon."
Author's Notes:
I feel like I'm actually making good time on this story. I'm not updating every day, but hey, writers (even fan fic writers) need to have a life outside of writing. Well, I don't, but sleep helps me think straight and deal with my personal issues (some of which are appearing in this story).
Anyways, thanks for reading/reviewing and enjoy!
