Hidden Close (Jr. Year)

Chapter 49

Part 49 Of The First Draft

Her tears didn't do her enough justice. The sky has fallen down in Lana's world, and I was the one who wished to bring her peace. Fail as I might, I continue to urge her one thing,

“Keep this between you and me. Lana, what a woman does with her body should be her secret.”

Lana, ignoring me, explained,

“I just wanted to go back home. Clara mentally and verbally abused me. She offered me the chance to come back home and I had taken it. I sold my body for my freedom, Mindi! I hate what I've done!”

I made my message clear once again,

“Hate yourself if you will, I still love you, and I always will.”

Lana couldn't resist my charms. She smiled beneath her tears , and mentioned, herself confessing,

“I’ve never slept with a girl before. You know....it wasn't bad. You might hate me for saying this, but it's always the consequences that are the burden that comes from carnal behavior.”

How true were Lana's words. I couldn't agree with her more, and that is why I'm saving myself for my wedding night. As Lana laid down on her bed, I reminded her,

“The others will want to see that you're safe. Also, Lana, tell me....did she give us the answer we wanted ?”

Lana got up on her bed, and nodded, explaining,

“Serah, Carlie, Josie are all part of a project to create super witches. They were all removed from governmental funding when they ran away from the research facility. Serah, I mean....mom, could have told you all this, or that is at least what Clara said. Clara, meanwhile, was not part of the research project. She was nothing more than a woman with some information to sell. She mentioned that the evil demon Ignitro had captured Josie and Carlie. He brainwashed them and had also intended to capture our mother as well.”

What she had revealed to me weighed heavily on my heart. They were after my mom, just as I had expected. One thing didn't quite add up, though.

“Lana....what exactly is mom and dad?”

Lana, not knowing the true answer, ventured forth this, as  she started to recline on her bed for the rest of the evening,

“They are people who care. They love more than anyone else, and I'm happy they can put up with all of my nonsense. We're lucky, Mindi.”

Thanksgiving day was tomorrow, and I stayed up late, long after Lana had turned in, trying to sort my growing madness. I contemplated every word she had said, and realized the bitter truth, that Lana’s time with Clara was in complete vain. I didn't want her to suffer in the first place, and now, she has to face Brad. I don’t think she'll say a word to him, as she was more than less forced into the act. Either way, she feels she has cheated on him, and that is the hardest thing ever for a couple that is loyal to one another. Unfortunately, I don't think we've seen the last of Clara. Whatever hypnotizing magic she uses, she truly is worthy of the name of siren.

My mom prepared most of the food for our family on Thanksgiving, and both Perry and Brad had joined us in our home to share in the meal. Lana was nervous around Brad, but still did not let her forbidden truth spew forth. I enjoyed my time with Perry, and took him outside after the meal to makeout with him. (Thank goodness for breath mints!)  After our lips unlocked, Perry mentioned,

“Your mother is a good cook.”

I jested with him, enjoying the moment thoroughly,

“Why don't you tell her? I'm not my mother!”

Perry laughed, and expressed,

“I understand. I'm just happy....”

Those words have never crossed his lips before. I don't know what I've done, but I've made the most grim boy of Knoxville Central High smile and feel the joy of living. This made me feel so good about myself. I now feel as if my existence isn't....well, pointless. It's one thing to be in love, but it is quite something else to realize there is a reason for living. Now, I feel more complete, and it's all because of him.

“I’m happy, too, Perry, and, yes, you're the one to blame...”

We kissed once more, as time stood still all around us. I'm not even seventeen yet, but I already know for sure who I want to spend the rest of my years with. To think, forever is a long time, and I could not find someone better than Perry to spend the rest of the aeons with. Will we be around forever? I don't want to to think about that now. I just want him to hold me in his arms and whisper sweetnothings in my ear. He was the one who held me in the dark and made me feel good about myself. He is the one who has taken careful steps to rid me of my pain. Simply put, he is everything to me.

“Perry, we have to go.”

Brad had announced the inevitable. Perry got up, and brushed himself off. I had pawed at him that bad. He joked with me upon leaving, that smile from before still there,

“Next time....it’ll be Christmas together, our first. That is, if an evil supernatural creature doesn't do us in first.”

Do us in....hmm. I couldn't help but find a underlying truth in his seamless joke. I smiled at him, and told him exactly what I wanted to say, not hiding my adoration for him,

“I love you, you sexy stud. I'll see you this weekend, okay, babe?”

“You got it, Mindi. By the way....I love you, too.”

He never says it enough for my liking. Oh well, typical male for you there. All a woman really wants to know is summed up in two things. One, is that they are beautiful, and two, that their partner loves and appreciates them. I know what Perry thinks of my appearance, but sometimes, in the past, I felt like I was a burden to him. However, after I have proven to him that I can fight on my own and give him the support he needs, Perry has fully accepted the fact that I am worthy for his hand. I won't ever let him go, as I love him more than he ever could know.

My mom found me later on, after we had cleaned up. She nonchalantly asked yet another one of those question she already knows the answer to,

“So you found out the truth about us , huh?”

Carlie entered the room, and we all sat down, me expecting a long story. My mom started,

“I wasn't ever meant to have a family, so you know....”