Chapter 12
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"I'm a shape shifter Leah. I can change my shape to appear as though there is no difference between me and a door knob. I camouflage too. You can take the earmuffs off by the way."
I slide the earmuffs off my ear and down to sit comfortably around my neck.
I try to gather my words but only manage to slip out a stutter. "Leah I know that it's not normal, that I'm not normal, but when I was little my parents used to bash me, abuse me... It hurt a lot. I tried to find ways to become someone else, something else. On my 9th birthday, my mum was chasing me; drunk of course. She was chasing me with a baseball bat.
I said to myself, if only I could hide somewhere she would never ever discover again. I squeezed my jaw shut, and clamped my eyes close and that was the first time I shape shifted. Every time my mum tried to hit me I would just shape shift. It's only since I turned 15 that the noise started to occur every time i did it. The noise is in such a high tone that it can kill. Hence the earmuffs. I know it's a lot to take in, so lets go and I'll drive you home to think about it, but Leah... I'm still the same person I was before you knew about my secret. And it is a secret so no-one is to know." Harry explains
Once again I try to form words, but fail because of the shock still running through my system.
"It's okay Leah, I don't expect you to say anything, it's a big shock to the system. C'mon lets go." Harry's words comfort me but still don't snap my body out of a state of shock.
"Put the earmuffs back on please, I'm sick of being a wooden slate." He jokes. However, this isn't a joking time, and my face just widens in anger. I comply to put the sound protectors on, only for my own safety.
After a few flashing lights and a painfully high sound, Harry appears back infront of me. I look into his eyes, as we both lock or vision on each other, as I remove the earmuffs from my head.
"I'm sorry Leah, I wish I didn't have to do this to you, but because I've been doing this so long, I get urges now. If I am really angry or scared I deal with it by shape shifting cause that was what I did when I was little. I wish on every shooting star I see that it stopped and I didn't feel urges anymore, but when I wake up the next morning they are still there." Harry's eyes begin to fill with tears. I take a step forward to embrace him in a comforting hug, but my body freezes and I just say, "lets go." Before turning and walking up the old rickety stairs.
Why can't I just hug my own boyfriend? Oh yeah that's right, he forgot to mention he wasn't exactly human!
*****
It has been a matter of weeks since I've seen Harry. My body longs for his masculine arms to embrace my body in a hug, but it doesn't happen. He has tried so many times to call me; my mobile, home phone, even mum's mobile, but I just ignore. What kind of superstar could keep a secret like that?
It is somewhat impressive that someone of his celebrity status could keep that secret... But if not a single soul knows, why would he trust me with something that could potentially end his career? My mind wonders, trying to think of reasons why he would tell me, but only one explanation is plausible. He actually loves me and would trust me with his life.
I continue to lay in my cosy warm bed mulling over the idea of someone that told me something out of love, I completely shut out because of it. If he hadn't told me, would we still be together? I bet we would. I really really like Harry, but that. That secret is not something that is to be taken lightly.
Mum knocks on the door awakening me from my trance as she walks into my room holding a milkshake.
"Sweety, I know you clearly don't want to talk to me about whatever is going on; I'm fine with that. However, Harry. Shutting him out like that. Leah you haven't seen him in weeks and although you may not know it yet, I can see the way you pair look at each other. You are both totally head over heals in love. Don't let Harry, the first decent man in you're life slip away." Mum kisses me on the forehead before exiting the room.
She is right. Harry is the first man in my life that I actually wanted to stay. Dad never hung around, had no brothers. Harry is the first guy in my life that has wanted to stay. However the thing that mum said that motivates me to get off my lazy ass, have a shower and get the car keys is that 'we are both head over heals, totally in love.' Because that statement. That's the truth.
