XVI - The McGregors

In a flash, Fred steps in front of me like he’s protecting me from Keith. Keith has his fists clenched so hard that it turns white.

I take a step to see Keith clearly and situate myself in between Fred and Keith. He is here! He found me!

My heart beats rapidly at those thoughts.

“Keith?” I ask, not believed that he’s here.

“And who do you think you are, wimp?” Fred sneers, looking up and down at Keith.

Keith straightens his posture and gives the teenager a glare. “You should look at the mirror more often, kid.”

Fred stomps his feet childishly. “I’m not a wimp or a kid! I’m a mutant that is created by the one and only Dr. Frankenstein! You should all worship me for I am the last of the mutants after the rebellion!”

Keith and I turn to each other to share a glance. This kid is obviously living in a lie.

“Hate to tell you this kid, but you’re nothing but a human,” I tell him gently.

He takes a step back. “No, I’m not! I’m inhuman! So are you, sweetheart. No humans will be as beautiful as you.”

I shudder at the thought a teenager thinks of me like this.

Keith takes a steady step towards Fred. “Listen, dude. I know the truth hurts and everything but don’t you think you have gone overboard?”

Fred puffs out his chest again. I snort. He looks like he wants to get punched by Keith.

“Then who do you think you are, huh, human? What does she even sees in you?” Fred asks, taking a pace forward as well. The two boys stare at each other with hatred.

I clear my throat. “Listen, Fred. I appreciate your help but I think I can manage it. After all, you did help me find my friend.”

He looks at me, confused. “Friend? Where is your fr – oh…”

Fred gives Keith a dirty look and then gives me a flirty smile. “You know, miss, you deserve more than him.”

“Are you saying she deserves you more?” Keith says through his gritted teeth. I can hear the anger… and jealousy in his voice.

Fred smirks. “Why not, wimp? Who wouldn’t go out with me?”

I roll my eyes at the teenager. “Look, kid – ”

“Fred,” Fred supplies, batting his eyelashes at me.

I blink. I did not just see a boy batting his eyelashes at me. Keith blinks a few times as well.

“Listen, Fred, you are too young for me and at the very moment, I don’t appreciate being invisible in this conversation,” I say, sounding very annoyed.

“Just because you’re older doesn’t mean we’re not meant to be together!” he challenges, grabbing my hand tightly.

I punch him on his face on instincts. Fred cries out in pain.

“Don’t touch me,” I hiss. Keith laughs loudly at Fred’s bruised up face.

“Why you – ” Fred is about to grab me again when Keith appears in front of me, protecting me from Fred.

“Don’t you dare lay a hand on her,” Keith warns in a low yet dangerous voice.

Fred opens his mouth only to get cut off by a gun shot.

All three of us jump, startled. Fred is pale all of a sudden and starts to climb a tree. Let me tell you, he climbs fast. Just like a monkey.

The gunshot gone off again.

I look up to see that Fred has disappeared. Wimp.

“If that’s Viking moron, I just want to say that I’m sorry for insulting you and indirectly calling you a coward earlier,” I apologize, looking at Keith.

Keith’s face is drained. Both his hands that are carrying his bagpipes and dirty clothes are shaking. He looks really afraid.

“Apology accepted, Harrison.”

I hear sounds coming towards us. It is the sound of footsteps!

“We should get out of here,” I whisper to Keith.

He whimpers in reply.

I take one step forward, which makes a loud crack noise when I accidentally stepped on a stick. The footsteps stopped, followed by another gunshot.

You have got to be kidding me!          

“Run!” I yell as I drag a pale Keith away from where I think the gun was shot.

I had to slow down so Keith can catch up with me. He keeps saying, “Oh God, I don’t want to die!” which is pretty annoying.

We stop when we see a dog growling at our way. It does not look friendly at all especially with it saliva spilling from its bared mouth.

Keith and I turn around, only to see a giant blond Scotsman blocking our way. His hunting gun is aimed in our direction. The Scotsman has plenty of dead rabbits and squirrels hanging by his belt. He wears a vest with many pockets and a Scottish blue hat which is similar to Keith’s red hat. Based on my observation, the giant is a hunter.

Why are all Scots gigantic and scary? Well, let’s exclude Keith and Fred from the list.

“Keith?” the giant says. His expression shows disbelief.

“Dad?” Keith replies.

I study the blonde’s looks. Keith does not look like his father at all, to be honest. They only share the same tall height. Their personality is different too, based on my observation.

“What are you doing here?” Keith’s father questions as he puts the rifle away and adjusts his blue checker hat.

“We were lost,” his son replies with a sheepish look.

Keith’s father looks at me for a moment and gives me a warm smile. He looks amused. “Well, where are my manners? My name is Craig McGregor, Keith’s father.”

I smile back. “I’m Kaya Harrison, sir. It is nice to meet you.”

Craig’s both end of his mouth twitches. “Where did you pick this polite lassie from, son? I like her!”

Keith blushes at his dad’s words. “Dad!” he hisses.

The dog that was growling at us is now by Craig’s side, wagging its tail happily. Craig pats the dog’s head and gives it a treat.

I can feel my face turning redder than Keith’s. “It is a long story, Mr. McGregor.”

“Why don’t you follow me to our home while you tell your tale? We have all the time in the world,” Craig offers.

“That would be lovely, Mr. McGregor,” I say politely.

“That is Ronnie, by the way,” Craig says, pointing at the dog that is happily munching on its bone.

Keith rolls his eyes. “That female dog was never my favorite.”

“That’s because you tried to pull her tail when you were younger,” Craig shoots back.

“I was twelve when it bit me!” Keith defends, pointing an accusing finger at the

“It was your fault that you tried to touch the dog when I first brought her home when I specifically told you not to.” 

I burst out laughing, trying to imagine a young Keith crying while holding his booboo.

At that very thought, I laugh harder.

Keith groans out loud. “Dad!”

“Fine, fine! I’ll stop it, although I enjoy it as much as Kaya does,” Craig says, giving me a wink.

I howl in laughter again when Keith grumbles gloomily under his breath.

The McGregor family is going to be the death of me.