Dragon's Burn

by Brooke Warren

  Poppy

  “Morning, Karen,” I greet cheerfully, walking into the Reaversville Police Station.

  “Shouldn't you be outside enjoying your summer vacation, not spending it in this old dusty place?” She stands up from her desk and eyes the boxes in my hands.

  “If I did that, then you guys would never eat. I brought three dozen donuts today. Considering it's the Monday after graduation, I can only imagine how busy the weekend was around here.”

  She presses the buzzer, unlocking the door that leads into the office. I head back to the break room where I find Sam and Paul, two clerks, exchanging hushed words in a corner, cups of coffee in their hands. The scene looks straight out of a movie where the employees are standing around the office water cooler gossiping. Their faces light up when they see me walk in with the goods in my hands.

  “Poppy, my wife told me I’ve gained weight from all the food I eat while at work.” Paul licks his lips in anticipation of the sugary goodness he’s about to indulge in.

  “Then don't eat any. Show some restraint.” I place the donuts on the table.

  “Psshhh. I'll start my diet next Monday.” He walks over and opens one of the boxes. His eyes glaze over, taking in all the options.

  “When do you leave for school?” Sam moves next to Paul, mulling over his options.

  This place is like a second home to me. Freshman year of high school, I came down here and begged Sheriff Dusker to let me work here after school. He refused at first, saying I was too young to see and hear the things that go on in this place. But after four weeks of persistently bugging him, he conceded but made sure to talk to Granny first before anything was finalized.

  What better place for a future investigative journalist to learn than inside the walls of a police station? Over the last four years, I've seen, heard, and read reports on all sorts of crazy nonsense that goes on in this town. And I’ve loved every minute of it. Plus, last year I was upgraded from student status to actual employee. The extra money has been great, but I would’ve stuck around even if they weren’t paying me.

  I feel like myself when I’m here. . .it’s hard to explain, but I get this sense of belonging every time I step through the front doors. The employees have turned into my family, and that makes coming here even better. I did entertain the thought of becoming a police officer after I first started here, but since joining the school’s newspaper, I now know my passion lies with journalism. I got a rush every time one of my articles was printed.

  “I leave at the end of August. I'll have about three days to get settled in before classes start.”

  “You staying on campus?”

  “Yeah. It’s required for all freshmen. But they do have off-campus apartments for upperclassmen I can get into later,” I explain, biting into a chocolate donut. I close my eyes and moan from the sweet and delectable way the flavor melts in my mouth. So good.

  “Is the sheriff in?”

  Sam nods. “Should be in his office.”

  “Perfect.”

  I grab a strawberry-filled donut and head down the hall, knocking on a large brown door at the end of it.

  “Yeah?”

  I open the door and find Sheriff Dusker with his thin-framed glasses reading over paperwork that’s clutched in both hands. He doesn’t look up when I enter, but this is nothing new. Once his focus is locked onto the growing stack of paperwork that’s a permanent fixture on his desk, there's a small chance you’re going to pull his attention to anything else—unless it’s food. I walk to the front of his desk and lean over, placing the donut in his line of sight.

  “Poppy, school is over.” He puts the documents down and looks up at me.

  “So?” I shrug. “I don't leave for a couple months. Plus, you’re down a clerk, I'm here to help until you find a replacement.”

  He shakes his head and chuckles. “You’re a pain in my ass, you know that, right?”

  I beam at him, plopping down in the closest chair. He picks up the treat I brought him and takes a bite, the white powdered sugar, the same color as his hair, getting stuck in the corners of his mouth. His brown eyes sparkle with delight as he swallows and goes in for another taste.

  In the four years I've been here, the sheriff has become like a father in my eyes. Someone I respect and look up to. He shoots straight from the hip and doesn't coddle me, treating me as an equal.

  I busted my butt working here, but I wanted to prove what a hard worker I was and how much this opportunity meant to me. The sheriff is an important person in the town, second to the mayor only because he has rich residents in his back pocket. The last thing I wanted was to cause the department any embarrassment and ruin my chances of staying.

  “You’ve got everything settled to start school?”

  “Yep, and I've reached out to the contact you gave me. I’m to meet with him after classes get started.”

  The sheriff connected me with an old colleague of his that now does private detective work in the Boston area. They normally don't take on students but were willing to speak with me since I came highly recommended. It's not necessarily journalism, but private detectives generally have good working relationships with the local police departments, and it's never a bad thing to start networking to build up relationships.

  “Good, good.”

  He grabs a couple tissues and wipes his mouth, going back to his paperwork, essentially ending our conversation. When I first started here, I used to take offense to his closed off personality, but I've learned this is who he is at work. He’s dedicated to his job and wants to set a good example for the department and town.

  I finish inputting the information and log off the computer. Grabbing my phone, I send a quick text to Deb, letting her know I’m leaving work. She texted me during lunch, and we made plans to meet at Wal-Mart first, then head to the discount store. She mentioned she needed to pick up a few things, too.

  I wave bye to everyone and head to my car. By the time I reach it, I can feel the beads of sweat running down my back. It’s hot outside, more so than usual. I hop into the scorching hot car, turn the air on high, and roll down the windows to let some of the suffocating heat out.

  Fifteen minutes later, I pull into the Wal-Mart parking lot. I send another text to Deb and let her know to meet me in the home goods aisle. I found a list online last night of things all college students should bring if living in a dorm.

  I weave my way through the massive store because, of course, where I want to be is on the opposite side of where I came in. Next time, I'll have to remember to park down in the garden section. I walk up and down a few aisles until I find what I am looking for.

  “So many choices.”

  I pick a few different options and compare prices and product information. The mattress cover I’m currently holding is ten dollars more all because it says hypoallergenic. “Yeah, no.” I put it back and bend down to the bottom shelf, where the cheaper items are. I dig through the unorganized mess until I find a twin-size cover.

  “Perfect.”

  As I stand back up, my back slides up against somebody. “Sorry,” I apologize, turning around, my cheeks flushing pink. When I see who is standing behind me, I take a step back and bump into the shelving. My heart is pounding in my chest and I clutch the mattress cover to me like I can somehow hide behind it.

  “Wh. . . what are you doing here?”

  Ryu’s cognac eyes bore into me. My face burns hotter, knowing I touched him from probably his thighs on up to his stomach before I had enough footing to turn around. Well, my back touched him, but still. I look up and down the aisle and notice no one else around. Why was he standing so close to me?

  “Can’t I shop here, too?”

  “No,” I exhale. “What I meant was, why are you here, in this aisle?”

  He studies my face, and the silence is making my insides squirm. Why isn’t he saying anything? Should I say something? Should I just walk away? Do I even want to walk away?

  “Didn’t know
this aisle was off-limits.”

  I blink a few times, processing what he said, and then it hits me.

  Oh god.

  “I’m. . .sorry. That’s. . .”

  “Not what you meant?” he says, cutting me off.

  All I can do is stand there because all my words are now a jumbled, incoherent mess. I’m never without something to say, but being around him somehow erases all my vocabulary, and manners it appears. We have a stare-off like we’re waiting on the other person to say something first. The longer we go, not speaking, the more my nerves roll around in my stomach. But that’s not the only thing I’m feeling. The intensity in his eyes and the proximity of his body has my own body stirring, craving to be closer to him.

  I’m the first to crack. Hoping to end whatever this is between us. “Look, I said I was sorry. You don’t need to be an ass and make me feel worse than I already do.”

  “You should learn to think before you speak.” He takes a step closer to me, and even though I’m already pressed against the shelves, I lean back anyway knowing there is nowhere for me to go. His presence engulfs me but not in a frightening way—in a consuming way that makes me melt inside. I inhale and almost groan from his spiced cologne. He leans down, and my hands tighten on the package I’m holding, keeping me from reaching out and pulling him flush to me like I want, even though I know I shouldn’t.

  “That mouth of yours is going to get you in trouble, and I already told you to stay away from trouble.”

  I purse my lips, not missing the challenge. I don’t get it, it’s like he enjoys getting a rise out of me. And for what? I go to open my mouth to respond when I hear my name called.

  “Poppy, there you. . .are.”

  Poppy

  Deb is standing at the end of the aisle, watching us. I’ve no idea what this situation with Ryu looks like to her, but from the cheesy smile on her face, she finds it more amusing than me.

  I sidestep Ryu and run a hand over my hair, fixing it. Deb is chuckling, which turns my stomach with unease, and I can feel Ryu still behind me, which is making the knots grow bigger. I’m flustered and don’t know why. It’s not like I was doing anything wrong, but for some reason I feel like I’ve been caught in the act.

  “Hey, Deb. I was,” I hold out the mattress cover in front of me, “grabbing one of these.” I scream at her with my eyes to save me, get me out of here, and I breathe a sigh of relief when she walks further into the aisle.

  “Good for you. And I see you found Ryu along the way.” She bypasses me, and I pivot in place, watching as she walks right up to him. Is she seriously ignoring me and the fact that I need her to do her best friend part to save me? “It’s nice to see you again.”

  “You as well.” He flashes her a smile. Why does she get a smile? I didn’t get one; I just get the usual intense and prickly stare.

  “What are you shopping for today?”

  Ohmygod.

  Nope.

  She is not going to stand here and have a casual conversation with him.

  “Few things for the house.”

  I move closer to Deb and butt in. “That’s cool. Hey, Deb, we need to get going.”

  They both take me in. It makes me shrink inside, wishing I could somehow become invisible. I chastise myself for acting this way, this isn’t me, and with the smirk Deb is giving me, she’s thinking the same thing.

  “You know,” Deb starts looking back and forth between Ryu and me. “I think you guys running into each other again was meant to be.”

  Fucking hell.

  Please no.

  For the love of. . .

  “This would be a great time to exchange numbers, maybe go out and. . .”

  I grab Deb’s arm and yank her to me. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I say through gritted teeth.

  “Why not?”

  “Yeah, why not?” Ryu chimes in, crossing his arms over his chest, sporting a pleased grin.

  I blink a few times, trying to come up with a good reason. “Ryu has a girlfriend,” I blurt out, thinking about how he showed up to the party with Brittney.

  “No, I don’t.”

  “See, he doesn't have a girlfriend.” Deb smiles with fake innocence that makes me what to strangle her.

  Ugh. Jeez. “I’m sure he’s busy.” I shoot daggers at him, praying he gets the hint and drops this crap.

  “No, I’m not.”

  For fuck’s sake!

  “Look at that, he’s not busy.”

  I’m fuming inside, and my entire body feels like it’s on fire. I hope Deb can feel my anger slice right through her. This cannot be happening right now. Deb is either completely oblivious to how this is making me feel, or she is doing this on purpose. I’m going with the latter.

  “That settles it then. And because I know Poppy is speechless from excitement, I’ll give you her number.”

  All I can do is stand there, in dismay, mouth drawn tight as she rattles off every digit of my phone number. Ryu doesn’t pull his own phone out to put it in, which gives me hope he’ll forget it as soon as he walks away. But he looks smug, and that makes me want to stomp on his foot.

  As soon as Deb is done, he thanks her then says to me, “Memorizing numbers isn’t my only talent.” And just like that, he walks away.

  “Holy. Shit. Girl. He’s totally into you.” Deb squeals beside me and bounces in place.

  “I cannot believe you did that! What were you thinking?”

  “Um, I was thinking that you two were never going to do it, and I was just helping you guys along. And don’t give me that pissy attitude. Anyone with eyeballs can see y’all are hot for each other. I don’t know why you’re fighting it.” She shrugs and takes off.

  I stand frozen in place, feeling completely discombobulated. What the hell is going on? I take off after her, this conversation is far from over.

  “I’m not interested in him, and I didn’t want him to have my number.”

  “Yes, you are, and yes, you did.” She stops abruptly, and I almost slam into her. “This is me pushing you like you did me the other night to go talk to Bobby. You’ve spent the last four years fighting for the best grades so you can leave this hell hole. And in that time, I’ve watched you seclude yourself from everyone around you but me. I can count on two hands, plus toes, the number of guys you’ve dismissed, and the ones you did pay attention to didn't hold your interest longer than lunch period.”

  “What does that have to do with anything?” I scoff.

  “This is the first guy I’ve ever seen you fight so hard to stay away from. Which tells me he’s got your attention more than you want to admit. I’m not saying fall in love with him, get married, and blow your dreams to smithereens. What I’m suggesting is that you breathe. Let go and enjoy the summer. If it happens to be in the arms. . . or bed of a hot guy, then so be it. Because let’s be honest, you need to get laid. May take some of the edge off.”

  I chew on my lower lip. Part of me thinks I should ignore everything that she’s suggesting. But the other part is wondering if a summer fling is really that bad. I mean, I am going to college, so what better send off than to leave with some fun memories? Jeez. This is territory I haven't been in before, and I feel like a fish out of water.

  “I can see you considering it. It’s a start.” She giggles, and I shake my head.

  “Even if I take your advice, he didn’t take down my number, so it doesn’t matter anyway.”

  “We’ll see.”

  Ryu

  I tuck the front of my plain white t-shirt into my black jeans and check my appearance one more time in the mirror. The black roots of my hair are a stark contrast to the vibrant red pulled back in a braided ponytail. I notice the sides of my hair will need to be cut down again, soon. Satisfied with my look, I grab my wallet and some cash I keep hidden in my dresser before locking up my bedroom.

  The banging on a wall mixed with grunts and moans filter into the hallway from JD’s room. I shake my head, not really caring but w
ondering what female he’s fucking tonight. Monica was here earlier, so my guess is either Luanne or Stephanie. Doesn't matter either way; I've got no interest in club groupies anymore. JD’s still new, and he’s taking full advantage like any young guy.

  Since I only have my bike, JD agreed to let me use his car tonight. I search the living room for his keys. Dammit. I bet they’re in his room. Checking the kitchen just to make sure they’re not on the counter, I stop in front of JD’s door and give it a couple quick raps.

  “Where’re your keys?”

  “Pants.”

  The pounding against the wall and moans don't stop despite him answering me. I roll my eyes and throw open the door. Hmmm, guess I was wrong. Looks like Luanne and Stephanie have both joined him. Watching him fuck Stephanie from behind while her face is buried in Luanne’s pussy does nothing for me. Been there, done that one too many times over the years. In fact, the only female of interest to me is a certain blonde.

  I find his pants on the floor and dig the keys out of the pocket, then quickly exit the room.

  Sliding into the Honda Civic, I back out of the driveway, excited at seeing Poppy. I’ve no idea what made me text her, but she’d been on my mind for days, and where I should’ve listened to the rational side of my brain and stayed away, I found my fingers typing out a message for her before I could stop them.

  When I spotted her at the store the other day, I felt like a stalker peering down the aisle. Then I felt like a perv when she bent down, rummaging through the stuff on the bottom shelf. My dick didn’t care and sprang to life like it had been electrocuted the minute her ass was bent in my direction, like it knew I was standing there. I became fifteen again, letting my dick lead the way until I was right behind her.

  When she turned to face me, I knew what I wanted, what I needed to have—her, in my bed, glistening with arousal that I’d be all too happy to lick up for her. Because I'm leaving at the end of the summer is the only reason this is less of an ordeal than before. It's only a few months, not long enough for anyone to catch feelings, or anyone to find out about her. A simple fling, nothing more.