Shift (A Mated Love Story) *PREVIOUSLY known as "Golden Lilies"

Chapter One: arrival edited

ONE

I'll never be the same again. One week. That's all it took to change me, change who I am, how I see everything. It took one week to ruin me. One week to break me. Will I ever be the same...?

Present

I couldn’t believe I had to leave. The news of my mother remarrying was not a pleasant one. My father had been the love of her life, until their divorce that is. He had done everything for me, and I had always hoped that they would work it out. She however, had different plans and decided to marry a guy she had only just met a month ago.

Grabbing my ticket from the machine, I heaved my bag onto my shoulder, slowly making my way to security. I had always hated airports. While there was something cool about planes and flying, people were always in a rush, children were screaming, and the air smelled stale. I prefered the open road, but driving wasn't an option for this trip.

The plane ride from New York to Massachusetts was a short one, yet it felt like ages. Two screaming children kicked hard on the back of my neighbors chair, the mother, not caring, let him. The flight attendants were agitated and ready to depart. As far as I knew, they had been on the plane all day, and their snippy attitudes reflected so. My neighbor himself wasn’t terrible, simply irritated with the screaming children. The only bright spot on the radar of a crappy flight, was my seat. I was seated next to the window, with an empty seat between my neighbor and I.

The day was dreary. The clouds were dark with the promise of a storm, and all the passengers looked drawn and tired. Leaving my friends and family was one of the toughest things I had to do, even if I was seeing them in a few days. My brother and all of our friends had acted as if I were on my way to a sacrificial ceremony. I had to call them when I landed, when I arrived at the house and before bed. When I awoke they needed a phone call and throughout the day. Instead of treating me like the twenty year old I am, they were treating me like a child, coddling me. I have never regretted their friendship nor their over protective ways, but this time, they were stepping over the boundaries.

Thinking back to when I left, I remembered the way Mikail had looked at me. He looked sad and almost… lost. His eyes were pleading, yet he knew that I needed to go. When I had first told him the news, he simply said I could not go. Causing the biggest argument we had ever had. We had argued for days, and it ended in an ugly breakup. He never told me why I couldn’t go. A simple answer was all I needed, and yet he refused to give one.

I had always said I would follow Mikail, because I trusted him, but it took this trip for me to realize, that I trusted him more than he trusted me.

Looking over, I gave him an encouraging smile, pointing out the ever nearing streets. He gave an agitated nod, letting out a sigh of relief. As the plane slowly made its descent towards the runway, my nerves began to go rampant. I felt dizzy and so unprepared for the next few weeks.

I can do this. I can do this. It's just for a few weeks, Keith, Mikal, and Nick will be here in two days. You can do this!. I scolded myself, trying to ease my nerves. At the sound of the ding and a flight attendant on the speaker, my neighbor was up and out of his seat, grabbing both his and my carry on, then he was gone, with one last fleeting smile. My hands trembled under my scarf as I exited the plane, fidgeting with the straps of my bag. People swarmed out from the plane, pushing and eager to get off of the hellish flight, even the flight attendants were pushy, gently shoving people on their way out. I had a feeling that this was only the tip of the iceberg, warning me about my stay.

Brushing myself off and giving myself a literal shake, I proceeded off the plane. Standing just outside of the gate, I noticed an elderly man holding a sign reading: Lillian Evers. In big, bold letters. The man was staut and balding, yet sturdy for his elderly years. Approaching with caution, I eyed the man in the suit. Why would my mother send someone to pick me up?

"Excuse me sir, but I'm Lillian." My voice wavered, causing a rush of blood to flush my face. The elder man gave me a once over before his courteous smile turned into a genuine one.

"Good day Miss Evers. I am Eugene, the Founders chauffeur." He said, bowing slightly before reaching to grab my bag. His large hands were wrinkled yet firm, with scars dotting the back of his hands. His nails were cut short and were neat. I looked up into his eyes, curious as how such an elderly man could stand so strong.

"I've got it Eugene, and it's just Lillian or even Lilly. No need for formalities." I said lightly, giving him a genuine smile. Eugene paused for a moment before ushering me out of the airport, a gentle smile lighting up his face. "So Eugene, what am I getting myself into by staying for a few weeks?" The elder man chuckled, before his smile turned into a grimace. A dark look clouded his eyes for an instant, so quick that I may have even imagined it.

"You have no idea, Lilly. But just some advice," He said, opening my door. "there are quite a few young men who walk around the Founders home, they are quite... persistent to say, and you are a lovely girl. Just be careful. If you ever need anything, and I mean anything, just ask myself, the cook, or Allie." He offered. His voice was firm. A look in his eyes told me that I would need him or the others. The same wave of fear that had washed over me earlier began it’s decent again. A clump formed in my throat, and for a moment I was unable to speak.

"Er, thank you Eugene." I said, trying to give him a smile, which probably ended up looking like a grimace. He gave me a knowing look. Quietly and quickly, he closed my door. Faster than I thought humanly possible, Eugene was in the driver seat. Seated, buckled, and in drive, Eugen gave me one last look before pulling away from the curb.

Oh dear goddess, please let me go unnoticed and everything to go smoothly. I prayed silently as he steered the sleek black car onto the road..

Just two days, that is all I have to last.

A/N: So this is a new story! Tell me what you think! It gets interesting, I promise!!

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