Centuries

One

I walk into the mall with Cassie. I immediately hear a gasp. I turn around and see and group of teens hiding their faces. I inhale swiftly and follow Cassie.

"So where should we go first? Maybe Deb's? Or Forever 21? I need a new outfit," Cassie asks, looking around.

"Deb's. I like their jeans." I say. I begin walking when I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but.... I just was wondering if you're Charlie?" The teen who gasped asks. I nod. "I'm sorry," she says before walking away. I rub the back of my neck, glancing at Cassie. She pats my back, looking at me with pity.

I turn around in the changing room, looking at my ass in the mirror. I'm examining the skinny jeans when Cassie throws a dress over the door into the changing room. I grab it, looking at it. It's black with short sleeves. The sleeves are lace.

I try on the dress. I walk out of the changing room to ask Cas if the dress looks okay. She looks at me and her face instantly changes expressions. "It looks good. You could wear the dress to the... to the funeral," Cassie says. I nod, biting my lip. 

I purchase the dress and jeans and a pair of sneakers. Cassie talks me into buying a bottle of dark red nail polish at the last minute.

Cas drives me home. I'm currently living in an apartment. I unlock my door and walk in, dropping my shopping bag on the couch. I walk into the bedroom. I take my shirt and jeans. I lean towards the mirror, searching for any sign of aging.

For seven hundred and eighty-seven years, I've been eighteen.

We are born normal, growing older each year, until we turn eighteen. At the age of eighteen, we stop growing older until we meet our soul mate. When we find that person, we will begin aging again. We then grow older and older until we peacefully die.

Our soul mate may not be someone we feel romantically or sexually attracted to. I knew of two girls who never stopped aging. They had been friends since they were six. They loved each other, but as friends.

I have now gone the longest amount of time as an eighteen year old. I beat the previous record holder by seven hundred and twenty-two years.

I put on sweatpants and a t-shirt after taking off my binder. I walk into my kitchen and pour some liquor into a coffee mug and sit on the couch and begin reading 'The Great Cases Of Sherlock Holmes.'

An hour and two bottles of liquor later, someone knocks on the door. I put the book down and stumble to the door. I open the door. The mailman hands me a box. I wave as he walks away. I sit on the couch, setting the small box on my lap. The box is white, tied shut with a dark blue ribbon. I pull on the ribbon gently. The ribbon falls to the floor. I pull open the top of the box.

There's a note and a copy of 'Paper Towns.' These books are nearly extinct, but this one seems in almost perfect condition. I careful pull the book and note out of the book. I put the book on the coffee table and proceed to read the note.

"My Dearest Charlie,
I will not tell you who I am. I cannot do that. But I need to meet you. I assure you, this will be worth your while.

I have set up a trail of clues. I have spent the last six hundred years preparing this hunt.

Now why would you want to find me, you may be asking yourself. Well, I have something you want, something you've always wanted. I, however, cannot tell you what it is. At some point, you will have to come. This is something that you need more than anything. You can't go on with your life without this. I've already given you to much information.

If you're as smart as I think you are, you will solve this within a year. If my knowledge of you is even slightly wrong, it could take centuries. But don't worry. You have the time. I'll see you soon Charlie.

-o"

I read this and cannot give a single shit, as I'm drunk off my ass. I pick up the book "o" sent me. I open it to the first page and begin reading.