Forever Changed (10 page)

“Yeah, we can if you would like,” I said laughing at him.

“I would definitely like,” he said as if he were a child who asked for candy and was told yes.

I headed to the mall and I had to ask him before it burst out of me, “Landon, why didn’t you change your eyes?”

“Because I can tell when you look at them that you adore them,” he said as if it didn’t matter.

I giggled to myself and pulled into the parking lot at the mall. We walked in and Landon looked a little uncomfortable. “What’s wrong? I thought this is where you wanted to go,” I said quickly
, afraid that he would be mad at me.

“Everyone is going to look at me and wonder what in the hell I am,” he said. Wow
, a demon with a worried concern about what people think of him. This can so not be happening!

“Landon, you look like everyone else in here. You look like a twenty year old normal man.” I said looking him up and down.

“Oh yeah the makeover,” he growled, “Sorry Elizabeth I am just a little nervous, I have never done this before, well looking like this that is.” He said with a little disgust in his voice.

“Come on,” I giggled. I grabbed him by his hand and we went shopping. I bought him everything he wanted and I bought myself stuff as well
, on one of the credit cards that my father had left for me. We went to see a horror movie and Landon had me laughing so hard during it that we ended up getting kicked out. It was awesome. I had never had so much fun in my life.

“You want to eat,” Landon asked me a little concerned.

“Yes, please I am starving,” I said with a look of pain on my face.

“Let’s go eat then,” Landon said grabbing my hand.

There are a few places to eat in the mall, some nice sit down type places and then some fast food. Landon said that everything was always fast for him, so we ended up at one of the nice restaurants.

We sat down next to the window that overlooked the mall. It was so nice. I absolutely loved having fun with Landon. I had no idea this is what it was
like to have a friend. If I would have known this a long time ago, I would have tried harder at making them.

I sighed out loud
, not meaning to and Landon looked at me with concern, “Are you ok, Elizabeth?”

“Yeah,” I said squirming in my seat. “I just never had so much
fun; I never knew what it was like to actually have a friend. You have given me so much in one day, than I have had in a lifetime. Being my friend is what I needed and I am glad you came up out of your rabbit hole to play.” I said teasing.

“Actu
ally, Elizabeth, you have given me just as much and I’m glad that I was given a choice.”

I looked at him with my head turned a little to the left, “What do you mean?” I asked him.

“Well I was born a demon to the Dark Lord and I have always lived in the underworld, unless I was working. I am one of three sons and I am the youngest. My father gave me a choice. He told me he wanted me to get a taste of the real world and decide on what I wanted. So I did.”

“But if you did then how
do you know you were crawling up through my bathroom floor.” I asked a little confused.

“I can’t tell you that, Elizabeth.” He said with a little sadness in his voice. “I am not the only one who has choices, but you do too. I know more about you then you know about yourself.”

The waiter came interrupting our conversation. He had brought us our meals, we sat and ate quietly. When we were halfway through eating, out of nowhere Landon jerked his head up looking out of the window. His eyes became black like they did before when he was concentrating in my bathroom mirror. He growled low in his throat.

I looked where Landon was looking and I saw him, standing on the other side of the mall looki
ng right at us.

He was standing w
ith a group of popular kids. They were all looking and laughing. My eyes connected with Lucas’ for just a brief second.

Why was he laughing at me? I really didn’t care much for Lucas especially now that I had Landon.

When we were in elementary school Lucas, would play cruel jokes on me and tormented me. I thought today at school he was really being nice to me, but he wasn’t he was being his mean cruel self and he proved that right now. He was laughing at me with the group of kids and replayed the scene from school with his group of friends. He had a blond pretending to be me and I watched as he pushed her to the floor and she jumped up on her knees pretending to pick up papers and books.

When growing up you always thought that when a boy was mean to you it was
just their way of flirting.

I realized it was all an act. I realized that all the years of his cruel jokes and tormenting that he was not flirting
, but I was the center of his jokes.

I couldn’t believe that I had a fantasy of actually being his girlfriend. All the rumors that were spread around were about me. The reason everyone was afraid of me was because of him. I had no friends because of him. I had no great moments at school because of him.

I could see him mouth, “Look she has a boyfriend. What a freak? If he knew her, then he wouldn’t be with her.” All his friends stood laughing.

I became angry. For once I was having the best time of my life and yet he was there to ruin it. I stared at him and I locked my eyes onto his. He couldn’t break the connection, his smile faded, but his friends continued to joke and play around.
I imagined him falling over the rail and smashing his face in the concrete fountain three stories below. Everyone would scream, including his friends, blood would splatter on a few shoppers and the fountain would be cracked.

All of a sudden, Landon screamed, “Elizabeth,” I broke my concentration on Lucas and looked over at Landon.

“What?”  I asked with so much anger in my voice that I could spit fire all over Landon.

“I was talking to you and I had no choice, but to get your attention
by screaming at you.” Landon said looking a little hurt.

“Sorry, I really don’t like that guy,” I said with disgust.
I looked back over at Lucas. He had turned completely pale and he had a grip of life on the hand rail in front of him. He was talking to his friends and kept darting looks over to me.

What was that all about? I wondered to myself. I watched as
he took one more glance my way, slowly letting go of the rail, and walked hurriedly away with his friends.

Chapter 19

Landon and I finished our meal and headed to the car. We had taken all of our purchases out before we sat down to eat. I was so thankful for this I was ready to go and for some reason I was extremely tired. Landon talked my ear off all the way to my house. Unfortunately, I only half listened to him.

             
I pulled into the garage and Landon said he would meet me in my room. He grabbed all the bags and disappeared. I got out of the car, with one bag in tow, and walked into the house.

             
My mother was sitting at the kitchen table, “Where have you been?” She said with worry in her voice.

             
“I went to the mall,” I said holding up the bag in my hand.

             
“Do you know what time it is?” She said with a stern look on her face. I couldn’t help it ever since I read my father’s note in the book, I looked at my mother differently now.

“Sorry mom,” I said and I really meant it. “I stopped to watch a movie and then I rode around to think.”

              She looked at me in wonderment for a minute and then replied, “No, it is fine, go on up and get ready for bed.”

             
“Are you ok mom?” I asked her while walking to the stairs. “You look, well depressed.”

             
“Honestly, I am Elizabeth,” my mother lost it and bust out into tears. “I loved your father so much, I didn’t mean or want to kill him and I have been a horrible mother. I shouldn’t care what either of you are. I should love you, no matter what! For some reason, I thought I could change you both and instead I killed him. The love of my life murdered and then had my own flesh and blood, take care of his body. Oh my God, Elizabeth what have I done.”

             
I was dumbstruck, my mother really did love us and now she is grieving over my father and over me.

             
“It is ok mom, I understand. You may not, but I do. No worries ok? Things are going to get better. I promise” I said and walked to the stairs. My mother sat and watched me with confusion on her face and curiosity.

             
I walked into my bedroom and Landon opened the door for me. “Hi,” he said.

             
“Hi,” I said back.

             
“I had a question for you,” he said looking down at his hands. Nervous I guess, I thought it was adorable!

             
“What’s that?” I asked while taking my shoes off.

             
“Will you take a picture with me?” He said looking a little embarrassed.

             
“Of course, I just have to grab my camera and try my damnedest not to fall over all these bags.” I said giggling.

             
While Landon moved all the bags away, I went to my dark room to retrieve my camera. I made sure to grab film this time. I walked back into the bedroom and sat up the camera on a tripod. I set the timer and I wrapped an arm around Landon smiling from ear to ear. The flash went off and snapped our picture.

             
“Thanks, Elizabeth, I can’t wait to get a copy.” He said excited again.

             
“Landon, will you stay with me tonight? I really don’t want to stay alone.” I blurted out really fast, tears pressing against my lashes.

             
“Of course Elizabeth, I will,” he said wrapping an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close to his warm body.

             
I pulled the blanket back, slid out of my pants, and crawled into the bed. Landon did the same. I rolled over and faced away from him and he wrapped an arm around me.

             
“Thank you Landon,” I said, though almost asleep.

             
“Anything you want I will give you, Elizabeth. You are my destiny that will set me free.”

             
I was not even able to reply. I passed out falling into a deep dark sleep, with Landon’s arm wrapped tightly around me.

Chapter 20

I awoke the next morning to an empty bed, Landon had left. I got up and got ready for school. I was originally going to stay in bed all day, but I decided I didn’t want to be alone. I was happy that Landon stayed with me last night and for him being a demon, he was a very well behaved gentleman. He said he had a choice and I couldn’t help, but if he would elaborate on his choice.

I had been lost in thought the whole ride to the school. I sighed, got out of my car,
and walked into school. The day moved rather slowly. With just the last class remaining, I was so ready to go home.

I walked up to my locker and noticed that there was a piece of folded up notebook paper sticking out. I grabbed it and unfolded the note. It was written in bright red ink and read,

I know what you are, but you don’t scare me.  Looks like you owe me if you want me to keep my mouth shut. Give me a ride home today after school, so we can talk more then. I will be waiting by your car. See you soon, Elizabeth.

                   Lucas

I slowly lifted my head up and looked around the crow
ded noisy hall. No one was paying attention to me and of course, I was thankful for this. I had one class left to attend and I rushed to get there.

              ******

Class had ended a little early, so I stopped by the girl’s restroom before I went outside. I made sure that the bathroom was empty by looking under all the stalls. Then I called out to him.

“Landon? I need you! Please come out!” I said in a loud whisper.

In less than a minute, Landon appeared by my side.

“What is wrong, Elizabeth? Are you ok?” Landon asked with concern on his face. I noticed that he was wearing the new
clothes, which I had bought him at the mall.