1

My eyes shift to hers. She glances out the window in a quiet contemplation. The window is open, letting a breeze flutter the curtains. It's something out of a movie.

She's something out of a movie.

She's smoking a blunt, her eyes on the waning moon.

"What are you thinking about," I ask her softly.

She doesn't turn to me. I shift on the bed, my eyes snag on my shirt on the couch. I glance away from it.

"I need more weed," she informs me.

I chuckle. I'm not sure it's funny, but I have nothing else to offer.

"The sun will be up soon," she gently says, turning back to me, taking another hit. She walks across the room, and blows it in my face, and I'd like to say I get a contact high, but I don't.

Not from the smoke. She touches my shoulder. No, not from the smoke. From her.

"Yes," I mention. "But not yet. Not for a little bit."

She scoffs, and looks into my eyes. I would say she's peeking into the window of my soul, but I doubt it. I look into hers. I try to see her soul, but I only see the reflection of me, shining in those black eyes.

Seeing herself in me.

She turns away, breaking the spell. "You come by too often."

She walks back to the window, her eyes on the moon. She leans out of it this time, elbows resting on the windowsill.

Her silhouette seems to shine in the moonlight.

"You always let me in though," I murmur, standing. I follow her to the sill, rest out of it, turned to her. I open my hand. She scoffs and hands the blunt.

I hit it and sigh, before passing it back.

"I let a lot of people in," she finally says, almost to the moon.

It's a complicated statement because it's both false and true. But I don't say that. It's not my place. I don't really have a place.

"Hm," I offer instead. She passes me back the blunt.

Her eyes are transfixed the sky. The traffic is loud, but she's quiet.

"It's a nice night," I shift in my spot.

"No...it isn't."

I glance at her and then look back into the night. "You can see the halo of the sun behind the moon tonight."

"So you can," she murmurs.

Talking to her is often like talking to a brick wall. Especially after.

"Scarlett?" I brush her shoulder. She doesn't respond.

We sit for a moment. "Are you hungry?" I ask, tapping my fingers on the sill.

"No. I'm not hungry," she says.

I purse my lips. I get nothing today, it seems. This Scarlett has tight lips, only wrapped around her blunt, and my dick.

I sigh.

"What's on your mind?"

"You asked me that already," she inhales deeply, and lifts her head, blowing a plume of smoke into the night, as if to pollute the earth one puff at a time.

Her nightdress is as red as her name, a strap falling off her shoulder haphazardly.

I lift it, put it back in place.

She kinda snorts, as if the moment were laughable. Maybe it is.

"The sun will be up soon,"

"You said that already," I retort.

She cuts her eyes at me, a fiery glare out the corner of her eyes.

"Then..."

I smirk. "What are you driving at?"

She sighs with exasperation, turning around, leaning on the window sill, crossing her arms.

"Leave. You know when the sun comes up...I like to enjoy it."

"Alone," I emphasize the hidden phrase.

She cocks her head. "...Same thing."

I lick my lips. Scarlet, Scarlet, Scarlet. What a rare...I'm not sure what she is.

The moon is behind her now, glowing, emphasizing how outer-worldly she is. She looks down at me, as if to usher a new commandment.

"Leave."

Indeed there is one. But I'm rebellious by nature. It's one of my best traits.

"But if I leave...how can I give you your gift?"

"My...gift?"

I grin. Of course her interest is peaked. It's something she can potentially benefit from. I slide an envelope cross the window sill. She narrows her eyes, but picks it up, bringing closer to her face.

"A party?" She scoffs.

"Just one dance. You don't have to stay. I just...need to see you out of this room. At least once."

Scarlett narrows her eyes once more, skeptically, tapping the invitation on her arm pensively.

"No."

It's a complete sentence.

I reach out, and cup her cheek. My hand is bathed in moonlight now, like her, like she's blessing me.

"What do I have to give you?"

I bring her closer, my lips barely brushing hers. Her hand goes up to my wrist, gripping it tightly. Her eyes on mine. This time, I'm in the reflection of her eyes.

She's seeing me. She's seeing me, eyes peering into me, into my soul. I'd wanted it, but now...now that it's happening, I want her to look away.

I've got a rotten heart. I'd almost forgotten that.

She yanks away. "I said no."

I figured she would. I let a disappointed breath from my nose. "Fine then. Be that way."

She's back in the moon's embrace. She's left mine.

"Let me ask something instead," I inquire, bridging the small distance, standing in front of her.

She looks away.

I grab her jaw, and force her to look at me. Scarlett offers me a sneer, like a wolf ready to tear my flesh apart. I chuckle.

"Why do you think I come here? Night after night? To this room—to you?"

She looks into my eyes again. Dives into my soul, into that ocean of blood, black like my heart, pumping evil through my veins.

"I'm something you don't know, and can't have. Something you can't tame. You just want to break me in a new way, a unique way, like your name carved into my bones."

I lick my lips. "Is that what you think?"

"That's what I know. I know what you come looking for, and let me tell you: you won't find it in me."

I nod. "Maybe you're right, Scarlett. Maybe you're right."

I step back. She breathes for a second.

The sky lightens, slowly, then all at once.

"It looks like it's time for me to go," I lean in, and kiss her cheek.

"Maybe you won't be back," she says from behind me.

I smirk. "Maybe."