ATTENTION

So I just posted the last chapter to A Night in the Green House. I would appreciate it if you guys could give me some feedback on the book. I would love to know your thoughts about anything of the book. Feel free to comment or email me at elizabethtroynava@gmail.com I have started a continuation of a Night in the Green House, so if anyone has any ideas they would like to share for the second book let me know. Thank you all for taking the time to read my story.

Chapter 18: Earth

Wednesday,

   May 15, 2008

            My birthday, my sixteenth birthday! Oh my goodness! I practically jumped out of bed. I went to my closet, and picked out my favorite outfit. I put on my black V-neck, black high wasted skirt with the purple flowers, and my new wedges. Then, it was time for my hair. I did not want to do anything special, so I put it up in a ponytail, with the traditional red ribbon of course.

            When I went to go check on my mom, she was not there. So, I went downstairs. I heard her talking on the phone, so I stopped at the top of the stairs to listen. “Okay,” she said. “Yes, come by after she leaves. No, I cannot promise you that things will be the same. I gotta go, I think she’s awake. I’ll see you later. Bye now.”

            I walked down the stairs to say good morning to my mom. “Oh my god, don’t you look beautiful! Happy birthday my baby girl,” she said.

            I laughed. “Thank you mommy,” I said. “Um, who was that on the phone?”

            “I’ll tell you later sweetie. However, right now you have to eat your birthday breakfast, and then go to school.”

            “Birthday breakfast,” I was confused; there had never been such thing as a birthday breakfast in our house before.

            “Yes! I made you waffles,” she smiled at me.

            “Oh! Thank you.”

            Waffles were my all-time favorite breakfast food. “So is it okay if I spend the night at Roxy’s house tonight?”

            “Of course! Whatever you want, it’s your birthday.”

            I looked at the clock. “Gotta go,” I said. “I’ll come back after school to get my stuff. Bye!”

            When I walked into school everyone was staring at me like I was new again. I walking down the hall with my head held high. I was actually happy that it was my birthday.

            Peter came up to me, and kissed me. “Well don’t you look good today? Could it be a special occasion, a birthday perhaps?”

            “Oh, Pete, you know it’s my birthday!”

            “Pete? Did you just call me Pete,” Peter asked, worried.

            I started to worry as well; I had not realized that I called him Pete, and not Peter. I really did not want him to suspect anything. “Of course not,” I panicked. “I said Peter. Babe, do you need to get your ears checked?”

            He sighed in relief, and I laughed nervously. “No, I don’t, but you have to go to class,” He kissed me. “Happy birthday, Leah.”

            “Thank you,” I smiled, and then walked to first period.

            I was the last student to walk inside the classroom, and as soon as I entered everyone started singing happy birthday. During that period, I wrote about what I was going to do that night to celebrate.

            I was on my way to my next class when Pete pulled me aside, and into an empty hallway. “I just wanted to tell you that you look beautiful today,” Pete said, sounding drunk.

            “Pete, are you drunk?”

            “Maybe just a little,” he said, and leaned closer to me.

            “Well, maybe you should go home and rest,” I said, trying to push him away.

            “No, I wanna do something first.”

            Next thing I knew his lips were on mine. I had had enough with him. I tried to push him off of me, but he was so much bigger than I. So, I pressed me knee into his gut as hard as I could, and slapped him. Then, I of course ran to the bathroom, crying.

            I stayed in the bathroom stall for at least an hour. I did not want to leave knowing that Pete would be there, waiting for me. As soon as the bell rang, I walked to my next class.

            I saw Peter outside of the classroom dangling his keys from his fingers. I tried wiping the tears from my eyes, before he could see that I was crying. But I did not wipe them away fast enough. “What’s wrong,” he asked.

            “It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it. What’s up with your keys?”

            “No, tell me.”

            “I’m fine,” I lied, and smiled at him.

            “Okay, well you and I are going to a fair,” Peter said, smiling. “Let’s go.”

            We snuck out to our cars, and decided that I would follow him. When I got to my car I texted Roxy saying:

            “Goin to fair w/ Peter b back l8er”

            It took us a while to get to the fair, it was somewhere in Phoenix. When we got there, we first went on the bumper cars, and then Peter won me a stuffed animal while playing some baseball throwing game.

            The last thing we did was go on the Ferris wheel. I had always wanted to be kissed at the top of the Ferris wheel. He and I got on the Ferris wheel, but he looked a little upset. “Peter, is something wrong,” I asked as the ride started.

            “No, babe. I’m fine,” he said.

            When I realized that we were at the top I got really happy. I faced Peter. “Peter,” I said.

            He turned over to me. “Kiss me,” I said.

            So, he did. We kissed at the top of the Ferris wheel, we kissed for the rest of the ride, and we kissed until the people made us get off. When we got off the Ferris wheel we decided it was time to go home. We held hands, and walked to my car in silence.

            “Peter, what time is it?”

            “Hold on, let me check.”

            Peter pulled out his phone, and his went blank. He let go of my hand, and just stood there. “Uh, Leah?”

            “Yeah?”

            “Is there something you want to tell me?”

            “No,” I said, confused.

            Peter showed me his phone, I was in absolute shock. “Well, I think there is,” he said.

            Someone had sent him a picture of Pete kissing me. Today. “Peter, I can explain.”

            “Well, let’s hear it,” he said.

            “He was drunk, and pulled me out of nowhere, and started kissing me. He was so strong I couldn’t get away. So, I finally pressed my knee into his gut as hard as I could, and then I slapped him. I ran away crying. That’s why you saw me crying earlier.”

            “Oh, and it’s just a coincidence that it’s the same guy June said you were cheating on me with?”

            Tears were starting to stream down my face. “Peter, I’m sorry.”

            “Yeah? Well, I don’t need your apologies, and I obviously don’t need you. We are done, Leah. Good bye,” Peter said, and then walked away.

            I got in my car, and drove home crying. When I got home I sat in the car for a few minutes. It was around seven in the evening. I knew someone was in the house, and I knew exactly who it was.

            I got out of the car, and slammed the door. I went inside to find my mom and Tyler making out on the couch. “What the hell is going on,” I shouted.

            They stood up when they saw me. “What is she doing here,” Tyler said with so much disgust in his voice.

            “I live here, dumbass,” I said.

            “Young lady, don’t talk to him like that,” my mom snapped at me.

            “Don’t talk to him like that?! Have you not heard how he talks to me?”

            “Tyler was right,” she said.

            “Excuse me,” I asked.

            “You’re not a good daughter! You are just a bitch in life, and he hates you,” she said. “And you know what? I hate you too! You’ve been an awful daughter, and I want you out of my house!”

            “You’ll be sorry, mom! Or should I just call you Isabella now? One day I’ll be gone, and you will have no one here for you. You will just be a bitter old lady, and die alone,” I said and walked out the door.

            I got in the car, called Roxy to let her know I was leaving, and I was on my own. The drive to her house wasn’t too long, but it felt like forever because of how mad I was. When I got there, there was a guard at the gate who asked me for my name.

            All I had to do was tell her my name, and she let me in. Once I passed the gate, there were a ton of golf courses. There was also a beautiful pond, which had a lot of flowers surrounding it.

            I had to turn left after the gate, drive up the street, turn right, and I was there. I got out of my car, and walked down the path. There were sprinkler on, and I got a little wet. Once I got to the end of the pathway, there was a little gate. I opened it, and walked up to the front door.

            On the porch were a bench, and a beautiful little garden. I knocked on the door, and Roxy came to open it. “Hey Leah, what took you so long?”

            I was whipping the tears from my face, so she would not make fun of me for crying. “I got in a fight with Peter, and with my mom.”

            “Oh, is everything okay?”

            “No, but it will be,” I said.

            “I’m sorry, Leah. Here, come in,” She moved aside, so I could walk into the house.

            I walked into the house, and instantly a chill ran down my back. Something did not feel right. However, I could not figure out what it was. “Would you like me to show you around,” Roxy asked.

            “Sure,” I said shakily.

            “Okay, behind right there is the den,” she said.

            She pointed to a huge open room. It had a fireplace, couch, three chairs, and a huge table surrounded with fancy dinner chairs. We walked down a short hallway. It looked sort of empty, and we turned right at the end. “This, this is the living room and kitchen.”

            The living room had a regular sized black couch, a black coffee table, and a huge Sony TV. “Come this way,” she said.

            We turned around, and I stopped in front of a closed door, and Roxy went back down the hall. “What’s in here,” I asked while opening the door.

            Before I knew it Roxy was in front of me slamming the door. “That is my mother’s room,” she said. “It’s uh, it’s off limits.”

            “Where is she,” I asked.

            “Out of town,” she said quickly. “Now come this way up the stairs.”

            We walked back down the empty hallway, and up a short flight of stairs. Once we got up the steps there was a very heavy scent of bleach, and perfume. Odd mixture, isn’t it? Hmm, I wonder what it is.

            I stopped at the top scent, because I could not handle the scent. “Roxy,” I said.

            “Yeah?”

            I covered my nose and mouth with my hands, “What’s that smell?”

            “What smell?”

            “It smells like a mix between bleach and perfume. Why?”

            “I don’t smell anything. Come on. Lemme show you the rest of the house.”

            We walked down another hallway. We stopped at the first door on the right, and walked in. “This is the office, and loft. This is where we’ll be sleeping tonight. The couch folds out to a bed.”

            The loft was kind of big. It had a desk cluttered with papers, tan walls, shelves full of creepy dolls, and a small couch that looked very uncomfortable. I walked over to the edge of the loft. “That is a long way down,” I said, scared.

            It did look like quite a drop. We walked out of the loft. Right across from it was bathroom, I think. “This the bathroom?”

            “Yeah, but I think Pete is in there. He’s probably throwing up all the beer, and vodka he drank this morning. This is his bedroom,” She said while opening the door.

            I walked in, and the room was huge. Right in the middle of the room was a big bed with a black and white comforter. There was a white desk, also cluttered with papers, two nightstands with lamps, and a balcony.

            “Can I go out on the balcony?”

            “Go ahead,” she said smiling.

            I went and opened the sliding glass door, and went out onto the balcony. The weather was beautiful. It was around 8:30pm, maybe 9:00, and it was still warm, with a perfect breeze. Pete and Roxy had a perfect view from here! I can see a golf course, a pool, a pond, and trees.

            I decided to stand out on the balcony, and just think for a few minutes. I had not realized how beautiful Tucson could be. I heard the door open behind me. I turned around to see who it was, it was Pete. I sighed. “What,” I said.

            “It’s almost 9:30pm. Roxy wants to know if you’re ever going to come inside.”

            “I’ll go in right now,” I said moving past him back in the room. “Where is she?”

            “Downstairs, in the den.”

            I walked downstairs and left Pete before he could say anything. I found Roxy on the couch in the den. “Hey,” I said as I sat down in a chair.

            “Here,” she handed me a mug. “Drink this. It’s hot chocolate.”

            I took a sip, and it tasted funny. “Mmm, tastes good,” I lied.

            “Thank you,” I said in between sips.

            “No problem. So how’s your birthday been?”

            “Not so good,” I said and started yawning.

            I was getting tired all of a sudden. “Why not,” Roxy asked.

            I yawned more. “I got in too many fights today.”

            “Are you tired?”

            I nodded. A smirk came across Roxy’s face. “Go to sleep, then.”

            “Okay,” I said.

            I turned over onto my side, and just fell right to sleep. Did she poison me? Wait, no. She could not have, because I am still awake, and I can see what is happening. But now it looks like I’m looking in from the outside, and not looking out from my eyes.

            Pete came downstairs, and he picked me up into his arms. What is he doing? He walked upstairs while holding me, and laid me onto his bed.

            No matter how loud I tried to scream, not a single sound came out of my throat. I could not move. My eyes finally opened, and then Pete moved on top of me. He grabbed my arms so hard his hands felt like stone. I could feel the bruises starting to make their appearance.

            Pete’s lips touched mine. He and his body repulsed me, it still does now. I could only lie there, and wait to gain feeling in my body again. I only had to wait a few minutes, and then I was able to at least move my fingers. Pete felt me wiggling them. “So you want to get touchy, eh?”

            Right after he said that Roxy came running into the room. “Pete,” she said. “They’re here!”

            “Already?!”

            “It’s almost ten! Take her downstairs, and to the dressing room, now!”

            “She’s starting to gain back feeling in her hands. I’m gonna throw her off the loft.”

            “You idiot, that’ll just kill her,” said Roxy.

            “Then catch or whatever, I don’t give a fuck. Catch her if you want, it’ll scare her and make her go numb either way.”

            She sighed. “Whatever.”

            Pete carried me into the loft, and dropped me over the edge. Right as I fell my entire body went numb. I fell into somebody’s arms, and it was Roxy. She carried me to her mother’s room. Well, now I’m guessing that it was not her mother’s room. However, before we went into the room, she put a blindfold on me.

            When Roxy removed the blind fold, I was in a bright colored dressing room. There was a closet full of clothes, a long counter, two sinks, makeup, and lights. There were a ton of lights.

Roxy sat down in front of me, and started doing my makeup. “Hmm, I’ve got a lot to do on the face, but I’ll leave the ribbon in your hair,” she said. “Poor Leah. I bet you didn’t see this coming. You are such an oblivious little girl. Well, guess what’s going on tonight, Leah. You are going to die,” Roxy said sweetly.

            Roxy had put a ton of makeup on me. “There,” she said. “Done, now stand up,” she said sternly.

            I thought that I could not move, but I did as she said. Roxy linked her arm with mine. “Walk,” she said.

            We walked out a door, and into a room. The room was empty. Well, not completely empty. The room was scary. There must have been about two dozen white candles in a circle, surrounding the room. Every single one of the candles was lit. “Lay down in the middle, “She said, and pointed to the circle.

            I obeyed her order, and lied down. Then she left the room, and two other people came in. However, I could not see their faces. One of them stood right in front of me. “So, Leah. I have been waiting for this moment for quite some time,” said a man.

            I knew exactly who that voice belong to. The voice belonged to the man who made my life a living hell. The voice belonged to the man who would treat to me like shit each and every day. The voice belonged to the man who would talk to me like I was worthless. The voice belonged to the man who thought he owned my mother. The voice belonged to the man who had my mother wrapped around his finger. The voice belonged to the man who convinced my mom that I was a horrible person, and kicked me out of the house that very night.

            The man’s blond hair came into the flickering light of the candles. The man was Tyler Hart. “You see, Leah, I had to wait till you were sixteen to do this. My friends and I need the soul of a sixteen year old to survive. I met your mother, and when I met you, I realized that you would be our next victim,” said Tyler.

            Tyler kneeled down on both knees. He was on my right side. He pulled down my shirt, and found my heart. “X marks the spot,” he said while cutting an X into chest with a knife.

            “However, you will be surprised to know that I will not be the one risking your life tonight. She is,” said Tyler.

            A girl walked into the light. She looked familiar. She put the dagger into my heart inch by inch. I could feel the sharp metal piercing my skin. My vision was going black, and everything was starting to get dark. Then, I heard her say, “I am so sorry my California Sister.”

            Molly May… 

Chapter 17: Soul Castle

I have to get to Savannah! I have to get to her! I need her help. She is the only one that can make sleep, so I can remember! It is not my day for therapy until tomorrow, but I need to see her so she can help me remember.

            I walked right into her office, “Savannah,” I shouted.

            “Calm down, Leah! What is it?”

            “I need to remember. Can you help me fall asleep? Please, I have remembered all the way up till May 14^th, and my birthday was the 15^th. Please, Savannah. Help me,” I said to her.

            “If I help you, will you calm down?”

            “Yes, I promise.”

            “Okay, child. Lay down.”

            My mind is only focused on her voice. Savannah’s voice, and Savannah’s voice only. “Okay, Leah. You are tired. You are very, very tired. You have not slept in over six months. Your eyelids are becoming very heavy. You cannot keep them open any longer. When I say, home, you will fall asleep, and then wake back up in your bed in Tucson. Ready, Leah? Three, two, one, HOME!” 

Chapter 16: Earth

Monday,

   May 13, 2008

            I felt really bad for my mom that night. I wish that I was with her right now, but instead I am stuck in this damn Soul Castle. I walked into school that day with no emotion whatsoever. That weekend was just too much for me. June came up to me, and she was really happy. I hated her so much in that moment and I still do.

            “Hey Leah,” she said in her peppy tone.

            I gave her a dirty look, and ignored her. “What’s your problem,” she asked.

            “Leave me the hell alone,” I said, and tried to walk away.

            However, June made the mistake of coming up to me, and pulling my arm. “Now tell me why you’re acting like this,” she shouted.

            Everyone stopped and started staring at June and I. “You had me fooled, June. I thought that you’d be a good friend. But you’re not. You are just a dumb bitch.”

            Everyone in the crowd started shouting. Someone yelled, “Are you really going to take that, June?”

            “Excuse me,” said June. “What the hell did I ever do to you?”

            “You slept with MY boyfriend you stupid bitch! Last time I checked, he is dating ME and not YOU,” I shouted.

            “Well, then why did he come back for more last night?”

            After she said that, I punched her across the face. “Because, you are a trashy whore who will give herself to anyone, and lies about it when they say no,” I said, and then walked away.

            People in the crowd were going crazy after that. Parker came running up to me after I walked away. “What the hell was that all about,” he asked.

            “What do you mean?”

            “Why did you just deck June? You don’t seriously think that Peter slept with her, do you?”

            “Oh! That. I don’t think that he slept with her, I know he did. He told me himself.”

            Parker didn’t notice, but he walked with me all the way to first period. He was trying to understand what happened. I stopped walking when we got to the door of my class. “So,” Parker said. “Peter slept with June, just because she said that you cheated on him?”

            “Yes,” I answered.

            “Dude, that’s so messed up.”

            “Yeah, I know. I have to go. Bye,” I said, and then walked into class.

            That whole first period, I just sat there, and wrote in my journal. It was a good thing that was a creative writing class, because I needed writing time. When the period ended I bolted out the door, but what I did not notice were Parker and Ethan walking towards me. I bumped into them. “Sorry,” I said.

            I tried to walk away without them following me. However, that did not turn out so well. Ethan was on my left, and Parker was on my right. “So, Leah, can you explain what happened? I am getting different stories from everyone,” said Ethan.

            “Why do you care? You don’t even like me.”

            “Whoa, I never said that.”

            “Well, you sure as hell have implied it,” I said.

            We were already at my next class. “Well, guys, I have to go. See you later.”

            Ethan grabbed my arm, and I turned around. “Sit with us at lunch, and explain, okay?”

            “If I do, will you leave me alone,” I asked.

            “Yes,” they both said.

            “Okay,” I said as I walked into class.

            Second period went by in a blur, and I was surprised about that, because science was usually slow. As soon as I sat down in the class, it was as if the class was already over. I practically ran to my next class. It was English, and Peter was in that class. I thought that the sooner I got there, the sooner the class would end.

            When I walked into the room, there he was. Sitting; waiting. I wanted absolutely nothing to do with him in that moment. When he saw me, he got up, and walked over to me. However, right as he reached me, the bell rang and he sat back in his seat.

            I sat about two rows behind Peter. Everyone was talking about me hitting June; someone even said that I jumped her. I did not care what those people thought though. All I wanted was my boyfriend, but I wouldn’t admit it at the time. I still want him.

            That entire day was like a blink of an eye. I honestly don’t remember a whole lot. I had no desire to go to math class, so I ditched. I went to my car, and just sat there until lunch. I had promised Parker and Ethan that I would talk to them.

            I remember I even tried to call Molly while I was in my car, but she did not answer. I thought it was weird, because she would always my calls. I was going to call her brother, but then the bell rang. I got out of my car, and walked to the cafeteria.

            Everyone kept staring at me. Did I miss something? I don’t remember. Everything is starting to go into a blur from when I was alive. I remember that day, but it seems like none of it ever happened, and it was all disappearing as I say what happened.

            I walked into the cafeteria, and looked around for Ethan and Parker. They saw me before I saw them, and came over to me. “Follow us,” said Parker, as Ethan grabbed my arm till I was standing between them.

            We walked over to a table, all the way in the back, so no one could hear what we say. I sat down across from them. “Okay,” said Ethan.

            “What,” I said.

            “Explain. Tell me what happened, starting from the beginning when Peter told you.”

            I sighed. “Well, on Saturday Peter and I went out to Boomers, and we were inside sitting down. I knew something was wrong. So, I asked him. He told me nothing was wrong, and I knew he was lying. So, I got up and started to walk out of the place. He stopped me before I could though. He told me that June said that I cheated on him, and for him to go to her house that night. He went to her house, and had sex with her. Then, I tried to walk away again, because I had had enough. He stopped me, and made this big speech about how much he loves me, and then he proposed to me. I said yes, but then I kinda said no. I haven’t talked to him since.”

            “Well, did you even cheat on him,” asked Ethan.

            “Absolutely not,” I lied.

            “So then what happened this morning?”

            “The bitch had the nerve to come up to me this morning, and act like nothing even happened. Oh, but something did happen. I snapped at her, and she acted like she had no idea what I was talking about. So I told her what I meant, and she made a comment that upset me. So, I punched her in the face. Then, I just walked away.”

            “Wow,” said Ethan.

            “Why would she do that,” asked Parker.

            “I don’t know,” I said. “But can I go now?”

            “Hold on,” said Parker.

            “We’ll be right back,” said Ethan.

            “Where are you guys going,” I turned around to see where they went.

            When I turned back around, Peter was sitting in front of me. “They went to go help out a friend,” he said.

            I turned so I would not be looking at him. He did not say anything; he was waiting for me to talk. So, I faced him to get it over with. “What do you want,” I asked.

            “I want you back.”

            “Well you should have thought about that before you had sex with June.”

            “Leah, I was mad. I was upset. Believe me; I regret every minute of it. But I promise you, Leah, if you take me back it will sure as hell never happen again. I cannot live without you. I miss you. I love you. Leah, I am in love with you.”

            “Peter, I love and miss you too. But you really hurt me. I thought you would be the only guy to not do this to me. The only one who would treat me right. The only one I would ever really love.”

            “Please, Leah. Just take me back.”

            I did not notice at first, but Ethan and Parker were sitting on both sides of me. “Come on, Leah,” said Parker.

            “Take him back,” said Parker.

            “I love you more than you will ever know,” said Peter. “Leah Night, will you be my girlfriend?”

            I could not help but smile. “Peter Mendez, if you ever cheat on me again that will be that last of us forever. I love you, and would be more than happy to be your girlfriend.”

            Peter leaned across the table and kissed me. Ethan sighed. “I am glad to hear that you guys are back together. I will see you all later; I have to go break up with my girlfriend now.

            Ethan stood up. “Wait, who’s your girlfriend,” I asked.

            “June,” he said.

            I laughed. “Oh, you go and have fun with that.”

            I turned back around and faced Peter. “Parker, we need to get you a girl now,” said Peter.

            “I already have one, man.”

            “Seriously? Who?”

            “Roxy,” Parker answered.

            I don’t know why, but it really freaked me out when he said he was dating Roxy. “Damn! She’s ho-,” Peter said, and I shot him a look. “I mean she is a very nice girl.”

            Wait, you’re really dating Roxy,” I asked.

            “Yeah, why?”

            “She is most likely going to cheat on you, just to let you know. I have nothing against you, that’s just how she is,” I said.

            “Why do you say that,” asked Parker.

            “Because, she is a slut,” I answered.

            “Isn’t she your best friend,” asked Peter.

            “What’s your point,” I said.

            “Why do you think she’s a slut?”

            “Because she is.”

            My phone started to vibrate. I’m pretty sure it was a text message from my mom, because I remember going home during lunch. I don’t remember anything else about that day though. I probably do not remember as much, because I am getting closer to my birthday.

Tuesday,

   May 14, 2008

            That morning I walked into my mom’s room to check on her, and she was sitting in a chair, crying. When I saw her, I ran over to her. “Mommy, what’s wrong?”

            “Nothing, sweetie. I am just surprised that time has gone by this fast. You are going to be sixteen tomorrow. I wish your brother and father were here to see you,” said mom.

            Before I knew it, I was in tears too. “Mom, it’s okay. My father walked out on us. That was his loss. As for Blake, he will be back in two years. But for now, it’s just you and me. We can do this together, mom.”

            “What do you mean; Blake will be back in two years? He told me he was leaving for good.”

            “He promised me that he’ll be back on my eighteenth birthday.”

            “Really?”

            “Yes, really. Mom, Blake will be back,” I said with a smile.

            My mom’s face lit up. “You should go to school now, honey.”

            “Bye mom, I love you.”

            “Bye, Leah. I love you too.”

            The drive to school was fast. The talk with my mom that morning made me sad, yet happy. I walked into school that morning with a big smile on my face. “Well, someone looks happy,” Roxy said as she came up to me.

            “Absolutely,” I said.

            “Could it be because there is going to a sixteenth birthday tomorrow?”

            “Possibly,” I said, still smiling.

            I was actually happy to finally turn sixteen. “So what do you have planned,” asked Roxy.

            “Nothing.”

            “Good,” she smiled. “You’re coming over to my house and spending the night.”

            “Really? I’ve never been to your house.”

            “Well, maybe a night in the green house will do you some good.”

            The bell rang. “Maybe it will. I’ll see you later, bye,” I said, and walked to first period.

            Not much went on that first period. I mostly just sat there, and wrote about my birthday. I’m remembering less and less. Maybe I’m only forgetting the boring stuff. Who knows? I don’t remember half of that day. I remember lunch time, but only some of it.

            I walked into the cafeteria to find June sitting down, and she had a black eye. I went to go sit with Pete and Roxy for a few minutes. “Hey guys,” I said as I sat down.

            “Hey girl,” Roxy said.

            “Hi,” said Pete.

            “What’s up?”

            “Planning on what we’re going to do tomorrow. It’s going to be a surprise, so you have to go,” said Roxy.

            I laughed with my nervous laugh. “Okay, bye,” I said, and walked over to Peter.

            I was scared of what they were planning. Well, I’ll get to see what actually happens soon enough. Wait a minute, my birthday and death day are the same day, which is the same day I was supposed to go to Pete and Roxy’s house. Are Roxy and Pete Green the people that murdered me? Are they the soulless people that took me away from everyone I loved?

Chapter 15: Earth

Sunday,

   May 12, 2008

            That day, I got up at 6:00am, just like any other Sunday. When I got up, I did the same thing I did every morning. I went to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and checked on my mother. However, when I went into her room that morning, she was not there.

            I went downstairs to get the cleaning supplies from the kitchen. When I walked into the kitchen, my mom was sitting on the counter. “Good morning,” I said as I got out the cleaning supplies.

            “Good morning,” said mom. “What’re you doing?”

            “Getting out the cleaning supplies.”

            “For what?”

            “Um, to clean, like I do every Sunday.”

            Mom laughed. “Well, not this Sunday. Today, we are going shopping.”

            “Really,” I asked, starting to get excited.

            “Of course,” mom said. “I have Tyler’s credit card!”

            “Perfect,” I said. “Let me get some clothes on, and then we can go,” I started running up the stairs.

            I remember how excited I was. It was like I was a little kid going to Chuck E. Cheese. I ran up the stairs, and found some clothes to put on. I remember my hair was a massive mess! So, I just put it in a ponytail, slipped on some shoes, and ran back downstairs.

            I ran back to where mom was. “Ready,” I said.

            “Leah, sweetie,” she said laughing.

            “What,” I said, confused.

            “It’s only 6:45am. The mall doesn’t open till at least 9:00am.”

            “Oh,” I said, disappointed.

            “It’s okay, honey. Do you want to go somewhere for breakfast?”

            “Sure! Where do you want to go?”

            “Hmm, how about Denny’s?”

            “Okay.”

            “Let’s go,” she said, smiling.

            “Do you want to drive, or do you want me to,” I asked as we were walking out the door.

            “I don’t know where one is, do you?”

            I nodded. “Okay, you drive,” she said.

            We got in my car, and drove to Denny’s. We did not really talk. It was our first time in years being alone together, and her first time without one of her stupid boyfriends.

            It did not take long to get there. We walked inside, they sat us right away, and we ordered our food. Pancakes for mom, and French toast for me. The silence was getting awkward, so she was the one who broke it. “So how was your date last night?”

            She was so excited to hear about my date. “It was great! We played mini golf, but I cheated,” I laughed. “He kissed me while I was in the middle of saying something, and then asked me to be his girlfriend. I said yes, and the rest of the night was amazing.”

            That is not all that happened, though. We did play mini golf, kissed, he cheated on me, I walked out on him, he proposed, I accepted, he took me home, and then I basically said no to the proposal.

            “That’s great, honey. I’m very happy for you,” she said, smiling.

            “Thanks,” I said.

            I still had the ring; it was in my right pocket. I remember my heart broke a little when I realized that I still had it.

            Our food came pretty quick. We did not really talk much after that though. When we did talk though it was just her asking how school was, and stuff like that. After we ate, we paid, and then left.

            We got in the car, and sat there for a minute or two. “What time is it,” mom asked.

            “It’s 8:32am. By the time we get there, it should be around 9:00am.”

            “Okay,” she said.

            It took us a while to get to the mall. Tucson was a big city, and the mall was not close to where I lived. The car ride was silent. We did not talk the whole ride there. I remember when we got there; my mom had a look of relief on her face.

            We got out of the car, and walked into the mall. When we walked in, my mom just stood there for a few minutes. “Mom, you okay,” I asked.

            “Yeah, I’m fine. What store do you want to go to?”

            “Um, I don’t know. I heard that there’s a sale at Tilly’s.”

            “Okay, let’s go.”

            As we walked into the store, my mom got a huge smile on her face. “I’m gonna go look around, kay?”

            “Okay, sweetheart.”

            I think I must have looked around the whole entire store. I had not been shopping for a long time. When I went with Roxy to get a dress, did not really count. I remember there was only one thing I liked in the store. I was very surprised that I liked it too. It was a skirt, and I was the kind of girl that hardly ever wore a dress or a skirt.

            The skirt was high wasted, black, with purple flowers, and a bow on the side. I ran up to my mom like a little kid in a candy shop. “Mommy, mommy, mommy,” I shouted till I found her.

            She found me, and laughed. “Yes, Leah?”

            “Can I please get this,” I asked as I showed her the skirt.

            “But it’s a skirt.”

            “Yes, I’m aware of this. It’s really cute, can I please?”

            “I’ve never gotten you to wear a skirt in your life! What makes you think that you’ll wear that one?”

            “If I wasn’t going to wear it, would I be asking for it?”

            “Good point,” she answered. “Do you have a black V-neck?”

            I shook my head no. “Go get one,” she answered.

            “You never did match your clothes very well,” She laughed. “It’s to match with the skirt, of course!”

            “Okay,” I said.

            I ran to go grab a V-neck; I was so happy that my mom was actually spending time with me. “Got one,” I said as I walked back up to her.

            “Is there anything else you want?”

            “Nope! Did you find anything?”

            “I got a red V-neck. Since we got two, they’re on sale.”

            After my mom paid for the stuff, we left the store. “How much have we spent on his card,” I asked.

            “Um, around sixty dollars.”

            “Can we try to make it to one hundred dollars,” I said with a smile.

            “No, sweetie,” she said sternly. “Haven’t I taught you well enough? We have to make it to at least two hundred!”

            “Sounds great!”

            “Where to next,” mom asked.

            “Shoes,” I answered.

            “Macy’s it is.”

            We had to walk all the way across the mall, but it was worth it. The more time I had with her was always good. “Leah, do you have any heels?”

            I laughed. “I can’t even walk in heels.”

            “I’m getting you a pair of heels to go with your skirt,” mom said.

            “How am I supposed to walk?”

            “You’ll learn, it’s not that hard. I’m gonna get you that pair, right over there.”

            She pointed to a pair of wedges; they were a crème color. We walked over to the shoes, and looked at them. “Are you sure, mom? They’re $58.”

            “Sweetie, that’s okay,” she said smiling.

            As soon as she said that, the sales lady came over to us. Her name tag said, Becky. “Hello, ladies. May I help you,” she said.

            “Yes,” mom said. “These wedges, my daughter would like to try them on.”

            “What size,” asked Becky.

            “Eight,” I answered.

            “Okay, I’ll be right back.”

            “Well, she was pleasant,” mom said, laughing.

            “Definitely,” I said, agreeing with her.

            Becky came back after she found the shoes, “Here you go,” she said.

            “Thank you,” I said, and then she left.

            My mom took the shoes out of the box, and took the tissue paper out of them. “Here,” she said, as she handed me the shoes.

            I remember that I did not want to try on the shoes at all. However, when I put them on they looked quite cute. “Okay, now walk,” said mom.

            “Uh, how?”

            “Heel toe, heel toe.”

            “I’ll try.”

            I walked across the store, and back. I nearly fell about five times. “Okay, we’ll take them,” mom told Becky.

            I started to put the shoes back in the box, but then my mom stopped me. “What’re you doing?”

            “I’m gonna give her the shoes, so she can ring them up.”

            “No, no. You’re going to wear them around all day. I want you to get use to walking in them.”

            “What if I fall?”

            “Then you will get back up, and start walking again.”

            Mom handed the box to Becky, and she went to go ring them up. We walked over to the cash register, and paid. “Thank you, ladies. Please, come again,” Becky said as we walked away.

            “Thank you,” I said to mom.

            “No problem, sweetie. What time is it?”

            “Almost two in the afternoon.”

            “Let’s go home, I’m tired.”

            We walked to the car in silence. Mom did not seem okay, I wanted to ask her what was wrong. However, she always hated being asked that. I will never forget the car ride home, though. We were in our neighborhood, and I was about to pull into the driveway, and out comes Tyler almost hitting us. I’ll never forget the look on my mom’s face when she saw him. She was absolutely terrified.

            As soon he was out of the way, I pulled into the driveway. “Mom, are okay?”

            “I’m fine. J-just leave me alone right now, I need to think,” She got out of the car, slammed the door, and stormed into the house.

            I got out of the car, and locked the doors. I rushed inside to find my mom, and ran upstairs looking for her. She was in her room, pacing back and forth. “Don’t tell me that you’re fine, when I know you are not,” I yelled.

            Mom turned around, and looked at me. She was about to say something, but I was not done speaking to her. “I am sick and tired of you lying to me! Just tell me what’s wrong. I know something is wrong with you, so stop with the bullshit excuses and tell me already,” I shouted at her.

            “You really want to know?!”

            “Yes! I do. Just tell me!”

            “Well, you can’t handle it; you are way too young to understand!”

            “Mom! What the hell is wrong? I am almost sixteen years old, I can handle whatever it is!”

            “I’m scared, Leah! I am fucking scared of what is going to happen. I’m scared of Tyler. When he left last night, he whispered to me saying that he’ll be back. I am scared of what he’s going to do.”

            “He’s not going to do anything. He can’t do anything, he’s a dumbass. Don’t worry about him. Don’t.