Choices, Love, and Magic (Complete)

chapter 24

Freak-a-zoids!

So, I decided to post that book I mentioned. It's called Pennies For Peace. You'll understand when you read the first chapter. Enjoy!

At first, I was nervous about Olivia showing up, but she assured me that no one else knew where I was. I wasn't sure if I believed her, but I couldn't exactly turn down my only current opportunity for a place to stay.

Speaking of, you know Olivia's house? It's not a house. It's not even a mansion. It's a small country, full of Greek columns and multiple pools. And I didn't even get a room. I got a suite.

The color scheme was, as Liv put it,"Ivory white with pale rose, as a beautiful background, with accents of gold." I just saw a tannish-white with pink and gold. Pretty, light-weighted atmosphere, and, thankfully, dimly lit. I hate PINK!!!

But I didn't want Liv to feel hurt, so I thanked her and asked her as we stood in the Victorian-era-style room,"Is it okay if I adjust the room to my style?" She nodded and I looked at the room, considering. Large widows, thin ivory curtains, a couple columns, translucent pink wall coverings, ivory lounging furniture with gold stitching, and a gold-and-ivory-with-rose marble fireplace, walls, ceiling, and floor. Rose-shaded wood doors. Not my style. But easily fixed.

With a wave of my hand, the curtains became thick and black, the wall coverings became deep purple, the furniture became black with red stitching, the marble swirled into black, purple, and red, and the doors became dark cherry wood. I proceeded to fix the rest of the suite the same way as Olivia stood surprised.

"Well, that's not what I expected," Olivia muttered as she looked around the room. The decor now screamed, instead of 'stable and calm,' an obvious message of 'dark, twisted, and tortured."

"This is my style lately, Liv," I laughed lightly, touching her on the shoulder as she looked around the room, taking in the changes. But she turned to me at what I said. Her expression was still confused, but it also was mixed with determination, making me nervous.

"Speaking of 'your style,'" she demanded with air quotes before gesturing to my new coloring,"Why do you suddenly look like a vampire? You weren't turned into one, were you?"

I laughed aloud and shook my head at her, giggling,"No! I am not a vampire." I straightened and tamped down my giggles before facing Liv and continuing,"I don't really want to know what I am." She nodded understandingly and showed me the rest of the country she called a house. When we finished, she gave me a map.

Yes, a map.

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After about a week and a half of living with Olivia and modeling, I was gaining hope. And also a bit of pride when I saw myself on a bill-board in Times Square!

Unfortunately, fate still hated me.

I was in my bedroom, in my suite, with my cell phone in my hand. I stared at it, trying to gather the courage to call my family. They at least needed to know I was alive.

Finally forcing my fingers to the numbers, I dialled. The phone rang 2 and a half times before I heard the click signifying that the phone had been answered.

"Hello?" My mom spoke tiredly, and I released a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.

"Mom?" I winced at the shadowy velvet in my voice, but pressed on,"It's me. It's Katherine."

Silence. I didn't even know if she was breathing until she whispered, desperation in her voice,"Kath? Are you coming home?"

I sighed. I should have expected this. "No, mom," I corrected gently,"I'm not sure if I can come home." I had to stop for a second to decide how to tell her the truth that I already knew. After a bare moment of thought, I decided to just tell her. "Mom, I'm not coming home. Ever. I can't face what waits for me there. But I need you to do something for me."