Inexperienced Heart

Chapter 2: Suspicion

Landa told herself, "I'd better get ready. I want to look my best in front of my true love." She put on her beautiful white dress that went to her ankles. She put on white tights and red glass slippers. She cleaned her face and sprayed perfume on herself. She combed her long chestnut brown hair and let it fall on her back. She looked at herself in the mirror and said quietly, "I look like a princess."

Then, she started to sing in a voice, that if you heard it, it would break your heart because it is so beautiful. No one, not even Mira, knew she could sing so well. Landa had never told anyone. Elliot once asked Landa to sing for him and she refused. Landa had told him she was not a good singer, at least, she didn't think she was. Elliot told her he'd be the judge on that and she said no.

As Landa sang her silly, little, love song, she also danced very gracefully.

I think I'm in love,

Don't know what I can do.

I just am in love;

Can't, can't, can't

Say no!

I think I'm in love,

I don't know what to do.

I'm so anxious,

And I feel like I'm forgetting something.

I just am in love;

Can't, can't, can't

Say no!

I know I'm in love;

I feel myself blushing

At his sight:

The way he looks at me,

The way he smiles at me,

The way he talks to me,

The way he holds me.

I just can't, can't, can't

Say no!

Then, she heard her parents and stopped singing. She strolled out to meet them.

"Hi, Landa dear. You look extra gorgeous today. Going somewhere?" teased her father. He was a handsome man of about thirty-five. His black hair was sleek and combed back neatly. His features were soft and gentle. He was wearing a grey suit for his job. He worked at a bank, the Union Safe Bank.

"Yes, father. A boy asked me out. Can I go?"

"Who is it? Which boy?" asked her mother, suddenly put on guard. Her mother was beautiful and looked like Landa. Her hair was brown and their faces had the same structure. Her mother was wearing the same grey suit as her father because they worked at the same place.

"Elliot Surfer. From school," clarified Landa.

"Elliot Surfer? He seems like a nice boy. Yes, you may go," replied her mother.

"How do you know him, Mother?" questioned Landa.

"Oh, we met him and his parents at a store today. Elliot said he knows our daughter and her best friend. He seems really nice."

"I thought I heard someone singing. It was very beautiful. Was it you, Landa?" asked Landa's father.

"No," lied Landa.

"Hmmm. Must've been hallucinating," her father said suspiciously.

"Probably," she joked. "I guess I'll go to Elliot's house now. Bye!" continued Landa. She hugged her parents and hopped into her blue convertible beetle car. It was a warm day, so she put down the roof of her car.

She turned on the country channel and without even realizing it, sang along with every single song. She noticed that almost everyone was staring at her. "They probably think I'm weird," she thought to herself. She just ignored all the stares and kept singing. But that was not the true reason at all. They were all staring at her because her voice was truly amazing. One man, wearing all black robes, tried to get her attention, and called, "There's the next Taylor Swift!" As she turned onto Skyview Road, she turned off the music. She parked her car on Elliot's driveway and knocked on the door.

Elliot answered the door and invited Landa in. She thought Elliot looked kind of weird wearing a button shirt, a tie, clean black shoes, and wide tan pants. She had never seen him wear such ridiculous clothes. At school, he always wore skinny jeans, a T-shirt, and worn-down shoes. Landa thought he was cuter at school than here.

When Elliot answered the door, he bowed to Landa and said, "You look very beautiful, Landa."

"Thank you," responded Landa quietly.

"So my parents are on a business trip. They won't be here for a while, so we have all the time to ourselves. So here's what I thought we should do: we should talk here for a while, then go to a restaurant, then explore the woods near here, and finally, return home. What do you think of it?"

"The Haunted Hoots Woods?" questioned Landa.

Elliot nodded happily.

"Sounds great to me, Elliot," replied Landa, getting a little suspicious of him. "He talks a lot and he wears weird clothes. Elliot from school doesn't do either. I don't know him super well, but I do know what he wears and about how much he talks," thought Landa.

"So, how are you? Tell me about yourself," said Elliot.

"This is weird. Elliot knows me pretty well. He wouldn't ask me to tell him about myself," thought Landa uncertainly.

"Well, I'm doing well. My friend Mira is well. You know her, right?" asked Landa.

"Yeah. Most popular girl at school. She's smart and beautiful. I know who likes her."

"Who? Is it Peter Crange?" asked Landa, getting excited.

Elliot nodded. "Peter told me he likes Mira. Peter and I are best buddies. But you know, I don't like her-"

"What? She's my best friend!" cried Landa incredulously.

"Calm down, Landa. I meant I don't love her. As a friend, I like her. But to me, you're more attractive than Mira. And I love YOU!"

Landa didn't really know what to say, so she blurted out, "I love you, Elliot!"

"Let's go to Ed's Homemade Pizza," said Elliot, grabbing Landa by the hand.

"Where exactly are you taking me? We're going the wrong way to get pizza. You're going towards the woods, Elliot," stated Landa worriedly.

"Don't worry, dear Landa. I know where I am going. Anyway, we're practically here," responded Elliot.

Landa was really worried now and she was getting more and more suspicious of Elliot. Landa realized he just lied to her. He said they'd go to a restaurant, but here they were, in the woods! This was not like Elliot at all. Elliot was always such an honest boy.

As Landa got out of the car, she caught sight of Elliot smiling. She asked him why he was smiling so widely.

"Because you're here with me," replied Elliot sweetly.

"Do you realize you just lied to me? You took me to the woods, but said you were going to take me to a restaurant. I do not like liars, Elliot," said Landa severely.

"I changed my mind."

"You could have told me," said Landa, but she felt like he was lying.

"Let's take a walk," said Elliot, putting his arm around Landa's shoulders.

When they were in the middle of the woods, Elliot was acting very strangely. Landa had already figured out that this was not the Elliot she knew. This Elliot grabbed her with his strong hands and tied her up. Then, he left her and ran away.

But before he left, Landa managed, in her surprise, to ask, "Who are you?"

"I'm not telling you, but I'm not Elliot," he said, laughing.

"You can't do this to me," screamed Landa.

"Yes, I can. Good-bye, poor little Landa," he bullied her. Then, he dashed away and let Landa continue screaming.