"I wonder if the people who hurt this little thing will ever be punished," she said quietly, tickling the kitten under its chin. It purred ecstatically.
"Yes."
She looked up at me. "You've done it already, haven't you?" She knew. There was no point denying it.
"Yes."
"Good." I handed her the coffee, careful not to let our fingers touch. "Does your television work?"
I grinned at her. "Probably."
"Do you mind if we watch a film or something?"
"Sure." I handed her the remote. She glanced at it and pressed a button. The television lit up, and I watched her face as she flicked through the channels. It was hard to read her expression, but I wasn't about to start reaching into her thoughts again. I was afraid of what I would detect, and a lot more afraid of what my reaction would be to what I found. I sat there, pretending to watch some romantic comedy, while all I could think of was what it would feel like to touch her.
Rebecca
I got home from school in a complete mess. I glanced in the mirror. My clothes were splattered with blood, but it was my expression that frightened me most. I looked wild-eyed and feverishly excited. No wonder everyone had stared at me at school. I was scary, man. I shook my head at my reflection and stripped off and climbed into the shower. The hot water washed the beguiling smell of blood from my skin, and the familiar soapy scent seemed to wash away the madness sloshing around in my head. I stepped out of the small shower cubicle feeling a lot more balanced than when I had stepped into it. I dressed quickly in jeans and a t-shirt and a thick jumper, and threw a load of washing in the machine. I didn't want my mother to find my bloodstained clothes and assume that I was the one who had been hurt. Ten minutes later I was ringing the Angus' doorbell, eagerly anticipating seeing his strong, beautiful face again, and nervous as all hell at the same time. He answered the doorbell in jeans and a white cotton open necked shirt, tall, powerful and dangerous, but strangely gentle too.
"Rebecca." He seemed pleased to see me and a bit puzzled too. I explained what had happened at school, and he nodded. He seemed impressed that I hadn't actually bitten Shanice's neck. Someone who admired my restraint! I was stunned and grateful at the same time.
We watched a film for a few hours. I can't for the life of me remember what it was about, but I felt I needed some kind of distraction. The cat seemed to enjoy it.