Authors Note: Chapter 2 already. How exciting, no? Well, lets hope y'all like. And that's all I have to say. No flames please. If you like it than tell me and if you don't then I'm sure I'm happier not knowing. And now I'm ranting so I'll stop now. Enjoy.
Tortured Hearts
Chapter 2: Getting to Know you
"I can't believe I gave him my number. And I can't believe he took it!" Meranda thought to herself, not noticing the man coming up behind her. "Maybe today wasn't as bad as I thought it was." She smiled and then let out a scream as she felt the hand touching her shoulder. Immediately the parking lot grew incredibly dark as the shadows loomed from the corners and came straight toward Meranda as she spun around to see who was trying to attack her.
"Hey, easy there darlin'!" James said backing away quickly. "I just wanted to see if you needed a ride home." He looked at her eyes and saw that they were pitch black. He also noticed the shadows growing around them.
Meranda quickly relaxed and James watched as the green returned to her eyes.
"Are you okay Meranda?" James asked resting his hand gently on her arm.
"James! Yeah I'm fine. You just startled me. Cece told me you had left," Meranda looked quickly around watching the shadows recede into their former positions, praying that no one had seen what she'd done. Then, realizing that James had said something, she pulled her thoughts back and turned to face him. "Huh?"
"I asked if you needed a ride home?"
"I...I usually walk. It's only a couple of miles from here and I don't want to be any trouble," Meranda said nervous at how excited he made her feel when he looked at her. Like she was actually alive and a human being.
"Trust me darlin, you're no trouble. Come on," James gently took her hand and lead her toward the motorcycle parked near the building. "Here," he handed her his helmet and climbed on. "Have you ever ridden on one of these before?"
"No," Meranda said, placing the helmet on her head and climbing on behind him.
"Just wrap your arms around me so you don't fall off and hold on tight."
"Okay," Meranda did as instructed surprised at how muscular he felt underneath his shirt. "Are you sure it's safe?"
"Perfectly," James replied revving the engine. "So where do you live?"
"At the Big Bear housing complex up on Wilsear. Do you know where it is?"
"Yeah, have you there in a minute," He said pulling the bike out toward the road.
The next thing Meranda knew, they were flying down the interstate, the wind pulling at her cloths and kissing her skin. She couldn't help but close her eyes and feel like she was flying. And sooner than she wanted, the ride was over.
"This your place?" James asked stopping in front of the building Meranda had indicated.
"Yep," she replied climbing off of the bike, but letting her hands rest on James's shoulders for an instant before stepping back. "Would you like to come in? Have some coffee?"
"No coffee. I had enough of it at the diner. I think you could patch the walls with that stuff."
"Oh," Meranda said, disappointment filling her voice. "I understand." She handed him his helmet, "Thanks for the ride though." She turned quickly and began hurrying toward her door.
"I wouldn't mind coming in though," he said after her as he climbed off the bike and placed the helmet on the handle.
Meranda froze where she stood and turned as James came up next to her. "Really?" She asked completely surprised.
"Yeah, unless you don't want me to."
"No, no I want you." Meranda turned and then realized what she'd said. She turned back quickly, blushing. "I mean, I want you to come in."
James just smiled at her and followed her into her house. It was remarkably clean and smelled like a mixture of lavender, jasmine, sage and roses. He paused, closing the door behind him and breathing in, getting a feel for the house. It was completely dark inside, but Logan could still see Meranda moving around from lamp to lamp.
Meranda moved seamlessly through the house, comfortable with the dark. When she finally finished turning on her lamps the house was as bright as daylight.
"What, afraid of the dark?" James asked, as he looked around the room in full light.
"There's enough darkness in the world," Meranda replied setting her purse down on the end table next to her deep red couch.
"I'm noticing a theme here," James said as he looked from the candles gathered on an altar near the fireplace and the celestial theme that seemed to bring the night sky into the small house.
"I'm Wiccan," Meranda replied, pulling the ponytail tie out of her hair and letting it fall down her back. She brought her fingers up to her scalp and began massaging the soreness out.
"That would explain the flowers, and the candles and that," James said pointing toward the altar.
"Yeah I guess it would. It kinda gives me an inner sense of peace y'know? And it's not like I have a lot of friends, or boyfriends knocking at the door. I work and come home and this gives me a sense of fulfillment so I don't know what's so wrong with it," Meranda became somewhat defensive. No one liked witches and no one liked mutants and she was both.
"Hey, hey it's all right darlin'. I think it's interesting. Makes you unique and special," James walked up close to her and moved a stray hair from her face and began to rub her temple.
Meranda closed her eyes a bit, being lulled by the soothing movement of his fingertips over her head. She leaned into it, allowing herself to be completely exposed, and vulnerable. She quickly snapped out of it, pulling away. "Uh, would you like anything to eat? Or drink?"
"Uh water would be nice," James said putting his hands into his pockets awkwardly.
"Right on it," Meranda turned and ran into the kitchen and returning quickly with the water. "Here you go."
"Thanks," James said, taking the water and looking around at the pictures on the wall. "Who's that?" He asked pointing to one in particular. It had Meranda, happy and full of life, and an older woman.
Meranda's eyes softened as she walked over next to him and looked up at the picture. Tears beginning to brim in the corners of her eyes. "That's my mom. She died last year. Car crash."
James turned and looked down at her as a tear rolled down her cheek. He brought his hand up and brushed it away. "I'm not going to bite," he whispered.
This time she didn't pull away but instead leaned her head onto his chest. "I'm sorry. I've had bad luck with men."
"Don't apologize. You don't have to darlin'."
"I like it when you call me that," Meranda said raising her head and looking up at him. "And when you look at me. It makes me feel beautiful."
"That's cause you are," James said wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her deeply.
Meranda resisted at first but finally let James in. Opening her soul to him. When the kiss ended, Meranda opened her eyes and saw James smiling down at her.
"Wow," she said smiling.
"You took the words right out of my mouth," James replied laughing.
"Why don't you sit down. I have to get out of this uniform."
"All right," James said reluctantly letting her go.
Meranda turned and ran into her room closing the door behind her. She quickly pulled off her uniform and ran into her closet, searching for something sexy and coming up dry. Finally she pulled on a pair of black jeans and a red v-neck sweater. She checked her hair and walked out. James looked up at her and smiled.
"Hi," she said nervously.
"Hi," he replied getting up so she could walk by and sit down.
"So, what do you want to do?" she asked placing her hands on her knees.
"Get to know each other?"
"Sounds good."
* * * * * * * * * * *
Meranda walked into the kitchen laughing all the way as James followed her. "I can't believe you did that!"
"What? He was asking for it," James replied leaning against the fridge as Meranda opened it.
"Let's see, we have a whole lot of nothing. Hmm..." Meranda closed the door and moved onto the cabinets. "We have popcorn? And some cereal and an empty box," Meranda looked over at James. "Sorry, I usually pick something up on the way to work and back home."
"That's alright," James said coming up next to her and resting his hands on her hips. "I'm sure we could find something else to keep us busy."
Meranda giggled and wrapped her arms around James's neck. "I can't believe this," Meranda giggled again as he kissed her neck.
"What?" He looked at her smiling.
"This. How comfortable I feel with you. It just amazes me. I feel like I can tell you anything."
"Like the fact that you're a mutant?"
Meranda's face lost all color as the word left his lips. She quickly pulled her arms away from him and backed up into the counter. She felt like a deer in the headlights of an eighteen wheeler. "How..."
"I saw your eyes at the diner when I walked in. And later in the parking lot when I scared you. It's okay really," James began to take a few steps toward her.
"Stay back," Meranda warned, her voice shaking. "In fact I think you should leave," her voice growing small as she shrunk back into the corner near the sink.
"Meranda really, it's okay," James said putting his hands up in the air. "I'm not going to hurt you. Actually I wanted to tell you something..."
Meranda's eyes grew black and the lights began to fade from the room. "You're not going to hurt me. You're just like everyone else! You get me to trust you, take what you want and then use everything else to hurt me and use me! Get out!"
The room went pitch to the point where even James's advanced senses couldn't make out anything. He had to think fast before someone got hurt and he knew it wasn't going to be him. "Meranda I'm not going to hurt you. I just wanted to tell you I feel the same way. Like I can tell you anything. Like about the fact that I'm a mutant too."
"Oh sure you are." Her voice rang through the shadows. "Prove it!"
"You'd have to let the lights in so I can show you darlin'. Mines not as evident to nature as yours."
The light began to gradually return to the room as her eyes returned to their natural green. She had braced herself against the counter for support and the color had left her face.
"Are you alright?" James asked taking a step toward her.
Meranda put up a hand to stop him. "I'm fine. Just tired. Now prove it."
"Okay, fair enough. You showed me yours," James picked up a knife that was lying on the counter and held out his hand. "I show you mine," he made a long, deep cut down his forearm. He hissed in pain as the bone became exposed and blood began to trickle.
"Oh my God James!" Meranda cried grabbing a towel and stepping toward him only to watch the wound fuse itself back together before her eyes. She let the towel fall to her feet and took his wrist in her left hand and gingerly running her right fingertips over where he had cut himself.
"I also have a kinda heightened sense. I can hear, see and smell things better than most people," he said as she examined his arm. "And you're the only person I've ever told."
Meranda looked up into his eyes. "I'm sorry. You just caught me off guard."
"Hey it's my fault. Do you still want me to leave?"
"Never."
Their lips met again and they melted into a blur of happiness where it was impossible to tell where one ended and the other began.
Tortured Hearts
Chapter 2: Getting to Know you
"I can't believe I gave him my number. And I can't believe he took it!" Meranda thought to herself, not noticing the man coming up behind her. "Maybe today wasn't as bad as I thought it was." She smiled and then let out a scream as she felt the hand touching her shoulder. Immediately the parking lot grew incredibly dark as the shadows loomed from the corners and came straight toward Meranda as she spun around to see who was trying to attack her.
"Hey, easy there darlin'!" James said backing away quickly. "I just wanted to see if you needed a ride home." He looked at her eyes and saw that they were pitch black. He also noticed the shadows growing around them.
Meranda quickly relaxed and James watched as the green returned to her eyes.
"Are you okay Meranda?" James asked resting his hand gently on her arm.
"James! Yeah I'm fine. You just startled me. Cece told me you had left," Meranda looked quickly around watching the shadows recede into their former positions, praying that no one had seen what she'd done. Then, realizing that James had said something, she pulled her thoughts back and turned to face him. "Huh?"
"I asked if you needed a ride home?"
"I...I usually walk. It's only a couple of miles from here and I don't want to be any trouble," Meranda said nervous at how excited he made her feel when he looked at her. Like she was actually alive and a human being.
"Trust me darlin, you're no trouble. Come on," James gently took her hand and lead her toward the motorcycle parked near the building. "Here," he handed her his helmet and climbed on. "Have you ever ridden on one of these before?"
"No," Meranda said, placing the helmet on her head and climbing on behind him.
"Just wrap your arms around me so you don't fall off and hold on tight."
"Okay," Meranda did as instructed surprised at how muscular he felt underneath his shirt. "Are you sure it's safe?"
"Perfectly," James replied revving the engine. "So where do you live?"
"At the Big Bear housing complex up on Wilsear. Do you know where it is?"
"Yeah, have you there in a minute," He said pulling the bike out toward the road.
The next thing Meranda knew, they were flying down the interstate, the wind pulling at her cloths and kissing her skin. She couldn't help but close her eyes and feel like she was flying. And sooner than she wanted, the ride was over.
"This your place?" James asked stopping in front of the building Meranda had indicated.
"Yep," she replied climbing off of the bike, but letting her hands rest on James's shoulders for an instant before stepping back. "Would you like to come in? Have some coffee?"
"No coffee. I had enough of it at the diner. I think you could patch the walls with that stuff."
"Oh," Meranda said, disappointment filling her voice. "I understand." She handed him his helmet, "Thanks for the ride though." She turned quickly and began hurrying toward her door.
"I wouldn't mind coming in though," he said after her as he climbed off the bike and placed the helmet on the handle.
Meranda froze where she stood and turned as James came up next to her. "Really?" She asked completely surprised.
"Yeah, unless you don't want me to."
"No, no I want you." Meranda turned and then realized what she'd said. She turned back quickly, blushing. "I mean, I want you to come in."
James just smiled at her and followed her into her house. It was remarkably clean and smelled like a mixture of lavender, jasmine, sage and roses. He paused, closing the door behind him and breathing in, getting a feel for the house. It was completely dark inside, but Logan could still see Meranda moving around from lamp to lamp.
Meranda moved seamlessly through the house, comfortable with the dark. When she finally finished turning on her lamps the house was as bright as daylight.
"What, afraid of the dark?" James asked, as he looked around the room in full light.
"There's enough darkness in the world," Meranda replied setting her purse down on the end table next to her deep red couch.
"I'm noticing a theme here," James said as he looked from the candles gathered on an altar near the fireplace and the celestial theme that seemed to bring the night sky into the small house.
"I'm Wiccan," Meranda replied, pulling the ponytail tie out of her hair and letting it fall down her back. She brought her fingers up to her scalp and began massaging the soreness out.
"That would explain the flowers, and the candles and that," James said pointing toward the altar.
"Yeah I guess it would. It kinda gives me an inner sense of peace y'know? And it's not like I have a lot of friends, or boyfriends knocking at the door. I work and come home and this gives me a sense of fulfillment so I don't know what's so wrong with it," Meranda became somewhat defensive. No one liked witches and no one liked mutants and she was both.
"Hey, hey it's all right darlin'. I think it's interesting. Makes you unique and special," James walked up close to her and moved a stray hair from her face and began to rub her temple.
Meranda closed her eyes a bit, being lulled by the soothing movement of his fingertips over her head. She leaned into it, allowing herself to be completely exposed, and vulnerable. She quickly snapped out of it, pulling away. "Uh, would you like anything to eat? Or drink?"
"Uh water would be nice," James said putting his hands into his pockets awkwardly.
"Right on it," Meranda turned and ran into the kitchen and returning quickly with the water. "Here you go."
"Thanks," James said, taking the water and looking around at the pictures on the wall. "Who's that?" He asked pointing to one in particular. It had Meranda, happy and full of life, and an older woman.
Meranda's eyes softened as she walked over next to him and looked up at the picture. Tears beginning to brim in the corners of her eyes. "That's my mom. She died last year. Car crash."
James turned and looked down at her as a tear rolled down her cheek. He brought his hand up and brushed it away. "I'm not going to bite," he whispered.
This time she didn't pull away but instead leaned her head onto his chest. "I'm sorry. I've had bad luck with men."
"Don't apologize. You don't have to darlin'."
"I like it when you call me that," Meranda said raising her head and looking up at him. "And when you look at me. It makes me feel beautiful."
"That's cause you are," James said wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her deeply.
Meranda resisted at first but finally let James in. Opening her soul to him. When the kiss ended, Meranda opened her eyes and saw James smiling down at her.
"Wow," she said smiling.
"You took the words right out of my mouth," James replied laughing.
"Why don't you sit down. I have to get out of this uniform."
"All right," James said reluctantly letting her go.
Meranda turned and ran into her room closing the door behind her. She quickly pulled off her uniform and ran into her closet, searching for something sexy and coming up dry. Finally she pulled on a pair of black jeans and a red v-neck sweater. She checked her hair and walked out. James looked up at her and smiled.
"Hi," she said nervously.
"Hi," he replied getting up so she could walk by and sit down.
"So, what do you want to do?" she asked placing her hands on her knees.
"Get to know each other?"
"Sounds good."
* * * * * * * * * * *
Meranda walked into the kitchen laughing all the way as James followed her. "I can't believe you did that!"
"What? He was asking for it," James replied leaning against the fridge as Meranda opened it.
"Let's see, we have a whole lot of nothing. Hmm..." Meranda closed the door and moved onto the cabinets. "We have popcorn? And some cereal and an empty box," Meranda looked over at James. "Sorry, I usually pick something up on the way to work and back home."
"That's alright," James said coming up next to her and resting his hands on her hips. "I'm sure we could find something else to keep us busy."
Meranda giggled and wrapped her arms around James's neck. "I can't believe this," Meranda giggled again as he kissed her neck.
"What?" He looked at her smiling.
"This. How comfortable I feel with you. It just amazes me. I feel like I can tell you anything."
"Like the fact that you're a mutant?"
Meranda's face lost all color as the word left his lips. She quickly pulled her arms away from him and backed up into the counter. She felt like a deer in the headlights of an eighteen wheeler. "How..."
"I saw your eyes at the diner when I walked in. And later in the parking lot when I scared you. It's okay really," James began to take a few steps toward her.
"Stay back," Meranda warned, her voice shaking. "In fact I think you should leave," her voice growing small as she shrunk back into the corner near the sink.
"Meranda really, it's okay," James said putting his hands up in the air. "I'm not going to hurt you. Actually I wanted to tell you something..."
Meranda's eyes grew black and the lights began to fade from the room. "You're not going to hurt me. You're just like everyone else! You get me to trust you, take what you want and then use everything else to hurt me and use me! Get out!"
The room went pitch to the point where even James's advanced senses couldn't make out anything. He had to think fast before someone got hurt and he knew it wasn't going to be him. "Meranda I'm not going to hurt you. I just wanted to tell you I feel the same way. Like I can tell you anything. Like about the fact that I'm a mutant too."
"Oh sure you are." Her voice rang through the shadows. "Prove it!"
"You'd have to let the lights in so I can show you darlin'. Mines not as evident to nature as yours."
The light began to gradually return to the room as her eyes returned to their natural green. She had braced herself against the counter for support and the color had left her face.
"Are you alright?" James asked taking a step toward her.
Meranda put up a hand to stop him. "I'm fine. Just tired. Now prove it."
"Okay, fair enough. You showed me yours," James picked up a knife that was lying on the counter and held out his hand. "I show you mine," he made a long, deep cut down his forearm. He hissed in pain as the bone became exposed and blood began to trickle.
"Oh my God James!" Meranda cried grabbing a towel and stepping toward him only to watch the wound fuse itself back together before her eyes. She let the towel fall to her feet and took his wrist in her left hand and gingerly running her right fingertips over where he had cut himself.
"I also have a kinda heightened sense. I can hear, see and smell things better than most people," he said as she examined his arm. "And you're the only person I've ever told."
Meranda looked up into his eyes. "I'm sorry. You just caught me off guard."
"Hey it's my fault. Do you still want me to leave?"
"Never."
Their lips met again and they melted into a blur of happiness where it was impossible to tell where one ended and the other began.