Chapter 8

The sun was rising and Scarlet was flying low above the fields. The endless horizon was painted yellow and pink looking magnificent over fields of greens. She took it all in and draped her fingers over the military pin her Grand-mére gave her when she turned 11, also the first day Scarlet first began her flying lessons.

She recalled last night, comfortably sitting on the couch while Ze've sat on a pile of blankets and pillows cuddling with the neighbor's children who proclaimed that morning it would be movie night at Ze've's. The children couldn't stay awake to see the end of the movie. The sight of seeing him and the two sleeping boys in each side made her heart melt and her stomach flutter. When the movie ended, Scarlet bent over whispered, "I love you Ze've Kesley". He turned his head, smiled, and they gave each other a long kiss. He carried the two sleeping boys to their own home after.

Flying, her Grand-mére, her Ze've…Scarlet was purposely thinking about all things that gave her joy because in truth, she was burying her present panic. Today was the dreaded day of the celebration. She didn't want to think about standing in front of hundreds of people, accepting recognition, shaking hands, declining gifts, and things of that nature. They had already been doing that the first month after they arrived in the Commonwealth. Why was it necessary to do it at a local level where she would be face to face with people she knew- many of whom she did not want to see.

"Try to be positive. They are so proud and it makes them happy to see you. Maybe they'll feel more generous and open minded about Lunars when they see you and Ze've hand in hand." said Cinder during yesterday's video date. "There's going to be a lot of changes, and you have the power to direct it towards a positive direction."

Cinder was right, and her words of wisdom gave Scarlet strength. She admired Cinder for her generosity, maturity, and work in the world, but she also hoped Cinder could catch a break once in a while.

Some hours passed and Scarlet had to accept the fact she would have to stop flying and face the rest of the day. As she made her way back to the garage, she noticed a hover flying to the direction of their home. 'Strange. I am not expecting anyone.' She thought, examining the hover, changing her direction. The black hover looked newly purchased, and the windows were tinted so no one would look inside. 'An ambassador? Not at this hour…'

Both hovers stopped in front of each other. Scarlet hopped off first, "Hello? We aren't expecting any guests today. Would you happen to be lost?"

The suicide doors flew open and 4 women came out. "Mais je rêve! Our little Scar!" One woman with long wavy curls to the mid of her back shrieked excitedly. The women wore a thin cotton floral yellow dress to her knees with brown strappy heels. "Look how you've matured!"

It took a minute for Scarlet to register who these woman were. "Marine?" Her eyes widened. They were her best friends from middle school and high school.

"Yes, mon cherié it is I!" She pulled Scarlet towards her kissing her cheeks before giving her old friend a long embrace.

In the embrace, she looked at the others. "Theresa. Arielle…" She didn't recognize the stunning tan woman with the voluminous mid-length black hair and bright brown eyes. She wore a loose olive blouse, jeans, and strappy gold heels.

Theresa, a tall 5'8 woman with slick-backed blonde hair to her shoulders and blue eyes stepped forward. Her shoulders were broad and she stood up straight revealing her perfect posture. She was well-put together and dressed in a way that one from the 22nd century would describe as 'masculine'. "Scar, you continue to blossom beautifully," she said hugging Scarlet. Theresa was the only woman that wasn't her Grand-mére Scarlet knew tougher than herself.

"I'd like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Clara. We met in my training in Italy." The beautiful tanned woman stepped forward, taking both of Scarlet's hands in hers and kissed her cheeks. "It's an honor to finally meet you,"

Scarlet blushed, "The honor is all mine, Clara."

Arielle, Scarlet's height, with a head full of tight curls and coffee colored skin stepped next. She wore a mid-length bright blue dress with black flats. Arielle said looked into Scarlet's eyes full of admiration. She cupped Scarlet's face, "Our Scarlet…" she said before giving her a tight embrace.

"We brought some breads and jams. Would you like to have breakfast together?" Marine asked taking out a large picnic basket from the car.

"I can't think of a better idea. Let's catch up inside! You must meet Ze've." She led them to the house.

Ze've had just finished feeding the animals and cleaning their stables. He walked into the kitchen to the women gathered around the table of food and mimosas. All eyes were on him.

"Ze've," Scarlet stood up, "These are my best friends from school, my pack." A medical bioengineer, a high ranking police detective, a high ranking defense officer for the European federation- she was so proud and whatever pride she felt- they felt for her tenfold, knowing what she had been through, and what she's done. Scarlet was three years younger than the other girls, who adopted Scarlet as the last girl of their girl gang. It took two months before Grand-mére approved of the girls, seeing that they meant no harm to her granddaughter- although their influence was questionable.

He stiffened. Ze've didn't actually have a chance to speak with Scarlet's grandmother when she was kidnapped, and he didn't get a proper introduction when her hysterical father thought Ze've would take him back to his abductors. Meeting Scarlet's best friends was the next best thing to meeting her family. He smelled like the stables and his hair was all over the place (more than usual). Does everyone come around unannounced here? He thought, wishing he could've been more prepared to make a better impression.

They all stood up and one by one greeted him with no less love than they had greeted Scarlet. Nobody flinched, looked a bit surprised, nor scared. This filled Scarlet up with love and appreciation.

When it came to Theresa, she gripped his hand tightly. "If you ever do anything to break Scar's heart, I will personally hunt you down; and trust me, I've got access to the European militia to track you whenever you are in the universe." She smiled, but she wasn't joking.

The other women laughed while Ze've nodded his head feeling a tiny bit intimidated. He sat next to Scarlet, who had already fixed him up 2 plates full of food.

"Oh Ze've you must see this picture!" Arielle said holding it out in front of him.

There were 4 women in front of a beat-up olive green hover. They looked like they were in an abandoned holding place for freight cargo. It took a moment for Ze've to recognize who was who. Theresa, had half of her head shaved and wore all black, ripped up clothes, black Doc Martin boots, and a spiked collar. She was obviously called most of the shots back then. Arielle's hair was dyed lavender and she wore a bright blue body suit with shiny purple circle glasses and dark purple lipstick. Marine didn't look too different. She wore a very revealing tight shiny, almost holographic, two piece cocktail dress and cheetah print high-heeled boots. In the picture she made an effort to highlight her curves. Then, there was Scarlet leaning against the cover of the hood looking the most 'normal' of the group. Her hands were folded over her chest and she had an indifferent look on her face. In the picture, she wore a tight fitting black tube top under a leather jacket, revealing some cleavage and her flat stomach. Her jeans had been ripped at the knees and she wore strappy black heels. She wore heavy black makeup, looking very seductive with hoop earrings and cherry red lipstick. She was their getaway driver whenever they had a night full of mischief- they were never caught with her behind the wheel.

Ze've smiled, thinking if she had the outfit hiding somewhere in the house and whether or not she would recreate this look for him in private.

Scarlet saw his face whilst his attention focused on her in the picture. "I was 16 in that picture- if you could believe that."

"Oh this was a fun night. We went to a club and got that pig Gill Lambert back that night," Theresa laughed.
"Nice necklace," giggled Clara. "You guys are the epitome of cool."
"Oh stars, look at my outfit!" Arielle laughed.
"Oh, if I could only go back to that weight!" cried Marine.

Scarlet remembered it was fun until the encounter with Gill. Everyone wanted his attention, including Scarlet at 11 years old- but she got over him when his true colors came to light. Despite the girls' disapproval, Marine was seeing Gill Lambert at the time. Drama and fights between the two were constant. This night, Arielle and Scarlet walked into the backroom of the club and saw Marine very drunk shaking her head, pushing him off her while she yelled "No! I don't want to!" Arielle and Scarlet fought him to get him off and only succeeded after Scarlet took a bottle and broke it over his head to knock him unconscious. Theresa threw him in the hover and they dropped him deep in the woods 2 kilometers off the main road. Marine threw up in the hover on the way back home.

"Wow, I hardly recognized any of you all in this picture" Ze've smiled. Being in their presence and seeing old pictures made Ze've feel like he was welcomed into their exclusive gang somehow, "I am looking forward to getting to know more of Scarlet's past." He put his arm around her shoulders.

Scarlet's eyes widened, "Not all of it!"

The women laughed.

"It's a beautiful thing, and I am sure it'll bring you two closer as a couple," responded Clara.

"Well- sometimes the past is not as pretty as the face you see in this picture," warned Theresa "And sometimes the things you've buried or wanted to forget come to the surface and remind you how ugly those memories are."

"Oh, well I hope none of those ugly memories…" Marine enunciated memories as though she was implying something secretive "show up tonight."

Suddenly Scarlet felt the rush of warmth and nostalgia flush away remembering the event was planned for tonight. Her eyes darted downwards. Ze've noticed the change in her aura and intertwined his fingers with hers under the table. "Past, present, or future- whatever may come, I'm ready to face it all with you by my side," he said.

Watching the two like the best romantic movie they have ever seen, the other women awed synchronously.

Scarlet kissed him on the cheek, but the feeling of trepidation sitting at the pit in her stomach did not go away.