Lullaby

Chapter 20 - Scars

 “We should get going” I noted

“Awww but it’s still light out” he moaned

“Yeah… and by the time we get back it will be late… so scoot” I said, rising to my feet

“So demanding when you want to be, aren’t you?” he mocked as he mirrored my action and did the same

“Yes, quite demanding… now quit mooching and shift!” he laughed at my demand, nudging me gently as he marched off to the car ‘So sweet.. old and yet so young at heart’ 

“You gonna stand there all day or are YOU gonna move your ass!”

“Yeah I’m coming!” I took once last glance around; embedding a memory in my head that I hoped would last forever before walking off to the car and dumping the shit in the boot, I began to walk to the passenger door when I felt something was watching me, it made the hairs on my neck rise up and my body to stiffen but I shook it off, opened the door and slid in… I don’t know what the hell that was but it didn’t feel nice… and it didn’t feel friendly...

“What’s wrong?” Leo asked his face masked with concern

“I… I felt something just then” he didn’t say a word, just continued to stare at me “I felt like I was being watched… stalked even” still without saying anything he pulled his seatbelt on and started the car, driving off with a massive push that flew me back into the seat

“Seatbelt” I held onto the seat with one hand and yanked the seatbelt around me with the other

“Slow down!” I yelled “You’re gonna fucking kill us!” he turned to me, with eyes so sharp it actually felt like it pierced me “LEO!” as we reached the turning he finally slowed down “What the actual fuck! What was that for!”

“ You said you felt like you were being watched… I’m not taking any chances” his voice matched his stern expression

“It might not have been true”

“Look, you tapped into the other side of your soul meaning your senses got heightened… it’s a good thing you told me” I knew arguing was pointless in this matter, I was not going to win.

  Giving the occasional direction I turned my attention outside the window, the moon was half-mast in the sky and the stars were clearly visible… it was beautiful, truly tranquil.

“Jen…” I ignored him, didn’t really feel like talking “fine…” he mouthed under his breathe, probably thinking that I didn’t hear… why the hell was HE pissy? I shifted in my seat; turning further away from him “Acting like a child is going to get you nowhere you know” he mused

“Bother you does it?” I replied, sarcasm spilling off my lips intentionally

“Not at all” he chuckled

“Ok”

“Jen, don’t be like that…” I felt his hand on mine… I turned my head towards him, the stern expressions had vanished and his eyes glistened… I grabbed his hand and began to smile

“I’m sorry”

“Don’t be…look we’re almost there… do you want me to stay the night again?” I pondered on the thought for a moment, thinking about the night before and how he couldn’t keep his hands off me

“Sure… I’ve got something to show you anyway…”

   We reached my house, getting out of the car my face was hit with a slash of cold it, it literally took my breathe away and stung my lungs ‘I hate this time of year’, my hair flicked and flew in my eyes as I turned to close the door and bid Leo a short farewell even though I would see him in about 10-30 minutes. I walked slowly up the path slowly taking in the moon’s radiance and beauty… it was very rare you actually got to see the sky here… it was always bloody raining! Once inside my house I took in how quiet it was, was dad not home? I walked into the kitchen to see a note planted on the table

Dear Jennifer

Food in the fridge if you haven’t ate… work called me in, I will be out all night… be safe and don’t open the door to anyone…

I love you and shall be home as soon as I can

Take care

Dad

xxx

P.S please do all your homework and clean your room if you have a chance.

So I had the house to myself, I pulled my phone out and looked at the time… it was only 7:15pm… I thought it was much later than that… wow! Realising I hadn’t had a drink for most of the day I walked over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of O.J, grabbed a glass from the cupboard I poured some in and returned the juice to its slot in the fridge… I thought about what I had learned today… how I tapped into the other side of my soul… how we both found out that I was an angel of fire and earth… now that was impressive to know… but what could I actually do? What abilities did I actually possess? Would Leo teach me everything or would he hold back? So many unanswered and annoying questions that whizzed and whirled around and around in my head… I grabbed the glass from the counter and chugged the O.J down, feeling its cold but bitter taste run down my throat, I shivered.

  After grabbing another drink I made my way to my bedroom where I was surprised to find Leo already sprawled along my bed

“Make yourself at home why don’t you?” I smirked, raising a brow

“Of course… you don’t mind do you?”

“Mind what?”

“Just waltzing in here… I can stop if it makes you feel uncomfortable”

“NO!” I said too quickly “I mean… I don’t mind...” my cheeks flared scarlet “Now get your shoes off my mind!” scowling under his breathe that I was mothering him he kicked his boots and socks off and held up his hands in a ‘there ya happy’ gesture before holding out his arms and beckoning for me to hug and hold him… I shook my head

“What?” he questioned me, his arms slowly falling to his side… disappointment evident

“No… it’s nothing like you think… I was going to tell you something, remember?”

“Oh… go on then”

“Well… its better if I show you… but promise… promise me you won’t think differently of me”

“… I won’t, that I can promise you”

“Ok… give me two minutes” I grabbed my dressing gown and darted to the bathroom

“Don’t be long...” I heard him call as I entered the bathroom, pulling my top and jacket up over my head and pulling my jeans down I was left standing there in my underwear… walking over to the mirror I faced my demons and stared at my hideous body… I felt repulsed… bile filling my throat I turned to the toilet and upchucked… I hated my body... hated every aspect of it.

  Taking deep breathes I pulled the dressing gown around my body as tight as it would go, closed my eyes and began to walk back into the bedroom. Upon returning I saw Leo was now reading one of my fiction books, smiling and fully entranced he didn’t noticed I had even come back until I was hovering next to him

“Oh hi..” he mused

“Now I’m forewarning you… it’s disgusting” I swallowed hard and closed my eyes, took a deep breathe in and opened my eyes again before exhaling

“Easy… you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do”

“I know… but I need to do this” I turned toward the window and dropped my robe… I heard a gasp and so I slowly turned around to where Leos face was widened with what I interpreted as shock or horror, I looked down… tears threatening to sting my eyes… I reached down and grabbed my robe

“I’m sorry… this was a mistake” but as I started to walk away I felt his hand on my wrist “Don’t I know I look disgusting… these… scars… I hate them… they make me physically sick” I couldn’t look at him, I couldn’t face the pity in his eyes

“Don’t” that was all he said, reaching up he gently took the robe from my loosening grasp and pulled me close… he didn’t pull me down on top of him… instead, he began kissing my stomach tenderly and tracing a thumb over the scars

“I can’t feel much there…” I whimpered, tears began falling from my eyes

“Well… I guesse I’ll have to kiss them twice as hard then…”