Forever and Always

Chapter 10

I couldn't sleep at all. My eyelids refused to close, even though I drank a warm glass of milk and took some Tylenol that Mae had in the cupboard. Maybe it was excitement that was keeping me awake. Maybe it was sadness. I mean, I'm mortal today, but tomorrow will be different. Tomorrow I will be forever young.

The moon lit a small light in my eye while the other one was surrounded in darkness. I breathed slowly, my face sweating buckets out. I needed sleep, badly. I was already stressed as it was, but this was getting ridiculous. I gripped the pillow on the edge of the couch as I sat up, and I looked around the room. Up to the loft. Down the hall. I crept near a ladder and climbed up it, and as I did, I heard the floorboards creak behind me. I turned my head swiftly to see Miles sitting at the table.

"Beth, can we talk?" he asked, his voice cracking. His face was red and raw, and he must've been crying.

"Yeah, sure," I said quietly. I made my way back down the ladder carefully and sat down in a chair next to Miles. He rubbed his face to wipe the excess tears off. He looked pretty stressed to.

"I needed to tell you to think wisely," said Miles. " 'Cause what you're doing can be right or wrong." I nodded, understanding the point he was trying to come across to.

"I know. And I'm ready," I said. Miles shook his head, the flesh on his face becoming even more blotchy.

"Look I...I'm so happy for Jesse," he said, one tear escaping his eye. Happy? Disappointed should have been the word.

"Happy?" I questioned.

"Yes. Because he found his true love. He barely even got to know Winnie, but you've been here for a while, and well, he loves you and wants to be with you," said Miles smiling. "It just had me in tears though, knowin' that you're about to step out of the circle of life tomorrow." Tears were rolling down his cheeks now.

"Listen, Miles, I wish you could've known my life way before this. Living forever was a dream of mine, but I thought as I grew older, it would fade away. Turns out, my life wasn't a dream come true. I'm a runaway. I came to find the legendary Tucks and to learn about them. But I ran into a problem on the way," I said. Miles looked at the ground.

"And what was that?" he asked. A smile spread across my face.

"I grew to love the Tucks. I fell in love with the youngest son. I'm living my dream now, of spending forever with my first real family," I said as Miles tilted his head up, his eyes wide.

"Beth Foster, you have really changed us, you know that?" said Miles.

"You've changed yourself," I said. "And I was wondering about Jesse." Miles's tears faded away.

"What about 'em?"

"Has he talked to you a lot about me? I know it's immature but---" I was cut off by Miles.

"Yes! All the time! I mean, you're basically the only thing on his foolish mind!" exclaimed Miles with great enthusiasm. I smiled and blushed, my cheeks growing hot.

"Good to know...," I said. I turned to see if anyone was watching us.

"Jesse fell asleep with the water bottle in his hands," said Miles. That was just ridiculous.

"Seriously?!" I said. Miles nodded, sending a wave a laughter from my throat.

"Like I said before, I'm glad he's happy. He needs to be," said Miles. "And Beth..."

"Yeah, Miles?"

"I just wanted to welcome you to the Tucks." Miles put his hand out and I firmly shook it, his palms icy cold and clammy.  He looked confused when I did.