Author's Note: Okay, I owe you guys a much-o grandito apology…I've had a lot of things going on, some family issues (grandfather died). I also switched schools and fell more in love with my bf, lol. So yeah, you could say I was busy :-D. Anyways, here's a BIIIIIG chapter to feed your hungry appetites! More coming soon, and look up my other stories cuz I'll start updating periodically on my spare time :-D
Thanks, y'all are the best!
- 1LiLRoGuE // Kate -
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Rachel bit her lip as she stood on the sidewalk of the busy street, watching the cars go by with a lost expression as she contemplated on what to do next.
First ahv ahwl, ah should probably go get mah hair fixed.
She fingered an uneven lock.
Maybe ah'll have th' whaite dyed out ahv it too. But what if they recognaize me at th' salon?
She looked at an abandoned can of oil sitting in the alley beside the restaurant.
Ah couldn't. That's what James would do, but ah'm not him.
Sighing, she made her way over to the can, picked it up, and walked away as nonchalantly as she could until she had reached a less busy area.
Rachel dove into a grubby, unoccupied alleyway, and held up the can of oil over her pristine curls with a determined expression.
Here goes, She thought as she tipped the can.
The oil took a moment to travel the distance between the can and her head before hitting her scalp with a cool, tickling sensation.
It proceeded to cascade down her curls and her pale skin to her shoulders, leaving dark streaks of black wherever it went.
Rachel let out a gasp that was nearly a shriek and set down the can, oil dripping down her chin all the while.
She wiped her eyes clear and blinked slowly, feeling the oil matting her eye lashes together in a thick, black clump of goo.
At least ah don't need mascara, She thought with a bitter smile as she made her way out of the alleyway to the street, trying to look casual as she walked through the crowded sidewalks, turning heads all the while at her blackened exterior.
She stopped at the first salon she saw and went straight up to the desk.
"Haih, do yah have any openings foah an emergency wash-dye-cut?" She asked sloppily through a mouthful of dripping black oil.
The appointment girl's eyes widened as she surveyed the oil all over her customer's head and shoulders.
"Oh my! You poor thing. What happened? No, wait, let me get something under you. Follow me."
She grabbed Rachel's oil-smeared hand and tugged her over to the chair, vanishing into thin air and then moments later returning with a mountain of paper towels.
"Okay. Now. What the heck happened?" She asked as she straightened up, the floor covered with a solid inch-thick layer of the paper towels.
Rachel sniffed and stared with pretended disbelief at the mirror as she saw her black reflection.
What should ah say? She wondered silently, then realized the girl was awaiting an answer.
"Oh! Ah---um---ah was helping----mah boyfriend---fix his car----he was teaching me how t' fix engines---and stuff. Anyways, ah was under theah---and ah----accidentally fiddled with somethang ah wasn't supposed t' touch---and goosh! Oil everywheah!"
Rachel bit her lip, almost sure that the girl wouldn't buy her story, but then she clucked sympathetically.
"Men. Always trying to make us do something we shouldn't. I mean, cars are just so messy to fix!"
Rachel grinned in relief.
"Yeah. Ah traihed t' tell him, but bein' stubborn, an ahwl, he just wouldn't listen t' meh," She said, thinking of James as she spoke.
Ah'll be faine on mah own.
Suddenly she realized what a mess she had just gotten herself into.
How am ah going t' pay her? She wondered.
Maybe ah'll just say ah left mah wallet at home. That's it! Ah'll say ah left it at home cuz ah had t' change to go fix th' car. She'll probably say ah can. Ahwl salons do things laike that.
Rachel watched as the woman busied herself at the sink across.
"Alright! Now, let's get all that nasty oil out of your hair and face. Follow me."
Rachel followed her to the sink and sat down in the chair in front of it as the woman turned on the tap with a gushing sound.
Rachel closed her eyes as the warm water penetrated into her scalp, seeping through the spots where the oil wasn't so thick.
"Argh! Oil is so hard to get out!" The woman said, accompanied by the squeeze of a shampoo bottle.
Rachel sighed in silent agreement.
So is anger, She thought, her thoughts turning back to James.
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The James outside of Rachel's thoughts had meanwhile left the restaurant with a snarl on his face, although he did not stomp his feet for the sake of his dignity.
Where does she get off sayin' that I caused all o' her troubles? She slept with me. She caused her own trouble. Stupid girl.
His knuckles felt itchy, and as he thought he absentmindedly scratched them.
An callin' me gay. That little…minx. She knows full well that I'm not. Heck, I fucked her last night. If anyone, she would know.
The snarl was wiped off his face for a moment to be replaced with a kind of vague grin as he let himself wallow in the memories of last night.
But th' point is, she did it t' spite me. After all I freakin' did for her. Bitch.
He looked guiltily around, as if he was afraid she would hear.
What did I do for her? Cept make it impossible t' find out who she is. She can't even go to th' authorities fer help now. Shit.
He frowned.
An now she's all alone. Oh fuck. That girl doesn't have the instinct to survive Sunday at Church, let alone bein a wanted criminal with amnesia.
James grimaced and crossed the street.
I gotta find her. She needs my help.
He shook his head angrily.
There I go, bein' stubborn again. I need her too. I need somethin' to remind me, somethin' to keep goin' for.
James shook his head sadly.
There's absolutely no way I kin find her now. She's gone. Long gone.
He heaved a sigh---and stopped in mid-breath.
What th' heck?
He took another breath, this one through his nose, his eyebrows furrowing as things began to sharpen and define themselves.
Holy crap…
James closed his eyes and concentrated on the smell---hanging in the air, in the very same spot that Rogue and him had been before they walked towards the restaurant.
Restaurant.
He wasted no time in sprinting back across the street (to the dismay of the drivers) and smashing through the doors of the restaurant, in a hurry to track down Rachel and help her in whatever trouble she might've gotten herself into.
Bonnie the waitress blinked as her runaway customer ran to his table and began---smelling the air?
She shook her head. She had to imagining this.
"Sir, can I help you?" She asked, walking towards the man, who was now standing on the table.
James jumped down and grabbed the waitress by her shoulders.
"Yeah, yeh could. Make yerself real useful an tell me where my friend went?"
The waitress shrugged.
"Oh. Her. I don't know."
James shook her with a panicked expression.
"Dammnit, woman! Which door did she leave through?"
Bonnie pointed towards a et of double Dutch doors situated on the northern side of the restaurant.
"That way, sir. I suppose you'd like to cancel your order?"
James nodded and made like a bullet for the doors, his mind and heart racing.
He stopped just outside the doors and took a deep sniff, thanking whatever gods where above when his companion's scent filled his nostrils.
James shook his head in wonder and began to run after Rachel, pausing every so often to make sure he hadn't drifted away from her path.
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