That energy--so familiar and yet so foreign in its intensity--cracked in the scant foot of air between us. Each hair on my body rose as if pulled by a magnet toward her. Her blue eyes were locked on mine, the whites glistening in the light.

This burning sensation came to me at that moment, as if something in my pocket had caught on fire and sent an electrifying shock throughout my body. I reached down and patted my pocket, it had been the watch.

My fingers brushed against the golden chain until grasping onto the watch itself.

I could see it then, the paths my life had laid out for me as it had for my father and his father before him. And so she gave me a choice in those seconds. In those long, tense seconds I stood before a fork in the road.

Down one path lay a happy, stable life. One where I, unlike the previous members of my family was able to break the curse. And so I would walk this path, hand in hand with this girl free of any other expectations. We would have the house, the jobs, the life my parents had always wanted for me.

But then there was the second path- dark, twisted and narrow, winding its way through dense foliage that captured the moonlight. Lightening and thunder cracked over the second path, and a tree stood there with my families old car pushed up against it. It was the path my parents had gone down the night of the accident, it was the path of heartbreak and tragedy.

The path I was more prone to go down, even if it wasn't the one I chose.

I had a feeling no matter what path I chose, this girl with the crimson hair would be a part of it. The only question was, what would I do to protect her from the path everyone else in my family was held hostage in.

My heart launched out of my chest as her head rose and I caught a glimpse of her face. She was pale, abnormally pale, with a small scar on her left cheek. Her eyes were blank like mine were when I had first arrived here, but even so, a certain sadness lingered in them.

I felt my heart leap at the look in her eyes. The need to hug her growing slowly in my heart. Perhaps that's what love is.

I wonder if she can feel it too.

I moved aside from the door, watching silently as the girl stepped inside, her thin fingers reaching up and pulling at the side of her gray hoodie, gently pulling it off.

Katie quickly closed the door behind her, her exasperated brown eyes sweeping over the house before landing on me, "Aspen-hi, this is Juniper...shes uh. Going to be staying with us for a few days until she manages to get back on her feet. Can you please uh, grab a few blankets and put them in the room down the hall? I think that room will do"

Things like this were common, for whatever reason. Even before the accident, Katie spent most of her time helping other children get situated into good homes. However, none of the children stayed long, other than me of course.

I nodded, sparing one last glance to Juniper before quickly turning and walking away. She was staying with us

With each thought of the girl with the crimson hair, my speed increased until, before I knew it I was standing in front of the cabinet. I opened it, reaching for a few blankets before turning and setting them onto the bed in the closest room.

Would she like it here?

Beside the well-made bed sat two nightstands, one with a lamp and the other holding a pumpkin spice candle. I reached up and moved a few strands of m brown hair back, reaching for my phone in my pocket.

James always knew a lot about girls, it was his 'expertise' as he called it. So cute girl staying at my house, yeah. It was definitely something I should talk to him about.

I reached for my phone, but before I called him there was a knock on my door, and there she stood. Juniper.

"H-hi" I stuttered, quickly pocketing the phone.

"Is this the room for me?" She spoke out. Her voice was like music under a summer breeze, almost lost against the noise of the Monday morning traffic. Yet somehow it took hold of me, making me want to listen all the more.

My eyes traveled down to her clothes, which were casual, the ubiquitous look all the university girls had: tight jeans, wide-necked sweater, and cute brown boots. So how come on her those same clothes garbled my brain to mush, stopping me from stringing a simple sentence together; like, "Hey, what's your story?" How hard could that be?

My face flushed pink as I realized I hadn't answered her, so quickly I spoke out, "Yeah, of course. Uh...here"

I handed her the blankets, sending her a small smile before walking out of the room. Upon walking into the kitchen I came face to face with Katie, who was leaning over a bowl of soup, eating it slowly as she read through a pile of papers.

"Is she like me?"

Katie jumped at the question, her eyes turning to me before slowly turning back down onto the papers, "no, I wasn't on the lookout for one today. I came across her on accident, but when I saw the sorry state in which she was living I thought it would be best if she stayed with us for a while. You don't have a problem with that, right?"

I shook my head.

"Good, okay, why don't you bring her some food and go back to your homework," She said, nodding her head to the pot of soup that was placed out on the stove.

"Mm, okay." I stopped at Juniper's door, which was closed shut. Uncomfortably I shifted my pressure from one leg to the other before gently knocking on the door.

Juniper opened the door quickly, "Come in, I guess"

"Thanks" I handed her a bowl of the lumpy soup and sat down on the side of the bed beside her, "I know this situation is a bit weird, and uh...I don't know what you've been through. But you're safe here, really."

She nodded and turned to me, giving me a small smile as she picked the bowl up, "Thanks, Aspen was it?"

"Yeah" I took a bite of the soup, settling in the warmth the bowl gave me.

Small talk was never my thing. But with her, small talk seemed all right. I knew it was too soon to ask her any personal questions. But maybe leaving a good impression was all I had to do.

Upon finishing the bowl I turned towards her, "my rooms just upstairs. I sleep in the attic- trust me it's not as bad as it sounds. So if you need...someone to talk to I'm here for you."

Juniper glanced over at me, and there was this look in her eye that made me just want to wrap my arms around her, "Thank you."

I got up, taking the empty bowl from her and setting it on the kitchen counter before making my way to the room.

Upon entering my room I closed the door and slid down the side of it, pushing the crimson girl from my thoughts.