String of Fate

Chapter Sixty Three

She did so, her grip tightening as soon as she began moving. I held onto her hand, making sure that she wasn't going to fall. After a few paces of slow moving, I began to move her faster by pulling her. She had just started to relax, too. It was quite funny when she tensed up again. I reassured her again that she wasn't going to fall, however, it was funny to see her freaking out a little.

Next, I let go of one hand I then let her adjust again after she tensed up. After she had relaxed again, I let go of her completely. She wobbled but stayed on for longer than she usually did, the skateboard moving forward about a metre. Then Scarlett's butt landed on the floor. Again.

From that point onwards, Scarlett didn't ask for help when climbing onto the board but I hovered quite closely (she was slow enough that I could walk alongside). The friend had moved away, leaning against the lamp post that Scarlett usually sat under and scrolling through his phone. I honestly thought that he would be watching her like a hawk, but then I realised that he kept watching while pretending to use his phone.

"So, you're just going to leave your boyfriend over there by himself?" I asked her while she stayed on the board, making a little head movement in the direction of the lamp post. I didn't know for sure if he was her boyfriend but it was a conversation starter, and since I was trying to teach her to skate, I guessed that I should get to know her.

"Lucas is not my boyfriend. He's just like a childhood friend. Since my family lives in a big house, there's a guy that acts like a butler, well, he is the butler, and he's married to the cleaner. Lucas is their son. He's three years older than me, so he's eighteen, and we've grown up together with the cook and gardener's daughter, Peyton. She's only eleven." She explained to me, trying to concentrate on not falling over. "Besides, I'm only fifteen. Well, I'm sixteen on Monday, but I haven't got a string yet. This is probably going to be my last night of freedom. Tomorrow is my birthday party and Sunday will probably involve a long conversation with my parents about the available guys that were at the party. Even though I think they have a partner already planned out for me."

"That sounds like fun." I said, not meaning it. The type of party she made it sound like wasn't what you would expect for a sixteen year old's party. You'd expect a DJ, and somebody might even sneak in booze, but this one sounded like there'd be a tea party on the veranda – which obviously wouldn't be her style since she was here with a skateboard trying to be as rebellious as she could think of.

"Tell me about it." She laughed, knowing exactly what I meant by my tone of voice. She then sighed and actually came to a shaky stop by herself as she had reached the end of the tarmac bit. "It will be the highlight of my life."

It had gone one in the morning when Scarlett went home – and she had improved enough that she could do some tricks, too. It was crazy how quickly she got used to skating after I had started helping her. It seemed like all she'd needed was to know where to put her feet on a board. She actually had potential. It was a shame she didn't think she could continue skating.

Sadly, I didn't see her for the rest of the weekend. She had actually said that it would be unlikely that she would be able to sneak out again. She had already chanced too much and her parents were getting suspicious. Still, I didn't know why I had hoped that she would come to the skate park again.

Then, my string appeared Monday morning but I had work. Luckily, it was only a six to midday shift, so, I finished early. I bought a nice bunch of flowers before leaving work and then followed my string to a very nice house. This was not the kind of place that I would usually be found. This place was huge and actually up a ridiculously long gravel driveway.

I headed up to the door and rang the bell, waiting patiently for someone to answer the door. I realised that this was the kind of house that Scarlett would live in. Then, the door swung open. "Chase, do you want to come in? I'm guessing you are the person at the end of Scarlett's string?"

"I am indeed. Nice to see you, Lucas." I replied, stepping into the house. I began to hear shouting. "What is going on? Family problems? It's cool if you can't tell me, though. Just tell me – is Scarlett okay?"

"Scarlett's fine. The argument is actually about you. Scarlett doesn't actually know that it's you but she wanted to be with you anyway, well, the guy at the end of her string guy." Lucas explained as we headed to the room with the shouting – mostly a man and Scarlett. "You actually came at a good time."

"Great." I spoke. I didn't really want my first time meeting her parents to be in the middle of a family argument. Especially if the argument was about me. It seemed like they had completely missed the sound of the doorbell, too, because the shouting didn't stop.

"Oh my god! Is this him? I'm assuming so. It's lovely to meet you. I'm Peyton." A young girl said, bouncing over to us from the door. So, this was the eleven year old that Scarlett had mentioned. She had clearly been listening to the argument and didn't really seem to care that she had been caught. "You better get in there. Maybe you can sort them out."

I nodded, hearing the male voice yell. "What's wrong with selecting someone from the party?!"

"Because they may not be at the end of my string!" Scarlett shouted back. I didn't actually realise how loud Scarlett could be. Still, I couldn't help but laugh. "Can't I see who is at the end of my string first?!"

Lucas opened the door and stepped inside – the yelling ceasing immediately. He spoke calmly as if he was going to try and diffuse the situation just with a few words. "Chase is here to see you all."

"Who? Oh, just show him in, Lucas. Thank you. Sit down, the both of you." A female voice that I didn't recognise ordered. Then, Peyton started shoving me into the room, closing the door a little behind me. She would probably leave the door open a little bit so she could listen to the conversation. "You are the man that has taught Scarlett to ride the skateboard, correct?"

"That is correct, ma'am. I am also the man at the end of her string." I explained.

"Very well. You don't actually seem like a bad addition to the family once we get you in a suit." The man said after a moment. Was this really the same man that had been adamant that Scarlett marry someone from the party?

"Really, dad?" Scarlett wondered, surprise lacing her voice.

"You'd only find a way to be together if I said 'no' anyway. This way, you're both happy. Scarlett, sometimes I wished that you weren't as stubborn as me." Scarlett's father answered. "He's going to have to start working in the company immediately if he's going to replace me when I retire."

Scarlett rushed over to me and I held the flowers out of the way so I could pull her close. I smiled down at her face before leaning down and kissing her. She was actually quite a bit shorter than me without the skateboard.