Escape the Covenant || Shawmila [Completed]

Chapter 5

Today is a lazy day. Earlier I helped my grandma with some chores, but now I just want to relax in the sun. Sipping an iced tea, I sit on the porch stairs while reading my mom's grimoire. I say grimoire, but it's more like a diary. Every spell is coupled by her thoughts or her intentions, a lot of pages are covered with doodles or little poems and, now and then, there are also a few dried flowers. This book has trapped her essence and it's the only thing that can bring her back to me. I've never had the chance to know her, since I was still a baby when she died, so her grimoire is all that's left.

I love to see the differences between us, her mindset was completely opposite to mine. Since she was a child she was interested on the beauty of life and on human feelings, ignoring completely her rationality. As a teenager, she wrote about her first crushes, the weird feeling of the butterflies in her stomach while she was looking at certain boys, and the heartbreak she had dealt with regarding our family curse. Even if it hurt, she never stopped herself from experience her emotions. My mom is a stranger to me, I can't understand her or recognize anything in me about her personality.

I flip the pages, but I suddenly stop when someone steps in front of me covering my body with their shadow. My eyes widen when I see who it is. «Whatcha doin'? » he asks playfully raising his eyebrows.

I quickly close my mom's grimoire and stare at him with stern eyes. «Why are you here and what do you want? »

«I was bored and I really had nothing to do and, since you're the only person that I know, I came here. So, what are you doing? ». This boy is weird. Why is he talking to me like we're friends?

«But we don't know each other! I barely know your name and we spoke only once» I retort.

He sits beside me, closing his eyes to feel the sunrays on his face. «Ok, we can know each other right now, it's not that difficult».

I take a deep breath in order to keep calm and then I speak, my voice harsh. «Shawn, I don't have time for this. You might be a nice guy, friendly and so on, but I'm not interested. So, if you'll excuse me, I would like to be left alone»

He turns his head to face me and looks at me with pleading eyes. «Come on, I'm not asking for a lot. I really don't know anyone here and, even if I'm acting super confident and shit, I'm not good at making friends. I just want to spend some time with someone the same age as me, but everyone here doesn't even dare to glance in my direction. You are the only one that I've talked to and I'm begging you to please let me be your friend»

The urgency and vulnerability in his voice jab straight to my conscience and now it's impossible to turn down his pleadings. I scoff then I stand up and take a few steps forward. «Okay, follow me. I'm giving you a tour of the city».

A smile full of hope make its way on his beautiful face. «So it's a yes? Are we going to be friends?»

I nod, praying for my decision to be a good one. I can't stop thinking of how cute his reaction was and how my heart begun to race after seeing his expression. As we start to walk, I begin to talk. «Given the fact that you keep on coming back to this town since you were four, I assume that you know where the city center, the theater, the church and the shops are. But I could show you some cool places where you can chill out and be alone»

«I don't really like to be alone...».

«Well, I go there with that purpose, but maybe we can go to my secret places together sometimes».

«Yeah, that sounds great! »

We slowly stroll on the streets until we reach the city limits. I see the cotton field in the distance, but I just point at it. «As you already know after your stalking session, that field is one of my favorite spots. If I'm not at home, I'm probably hiding over there».

He nudges my shoulder jokingly. «I didn't stalk you! I was sincerely worried about your safety».

We laugh and we continue down the road. We hear a gurgling and in less than a minute we stop near a small, almost dried, river. «And this is my absolute special place. It's not easy to find a stream around here, and this water source is like a little miracle. It's a very peaceful spot and I never really saw anyone in this area, so you must feel honored to be here».

Shawn looks around him, amazed. The water sparkles under the bright sunlight and the grass around it is incredibly green. Here and there, there are a few trees that provide a shield from the summer heat, but except from that there's nothing more. «I think I just found my favorite place in the whole world! I'm sorry for you, because from now on you'll never have this place only for yourself. I'm considering moving down here with a tent and start a new life away from society! »

A wild thought crosses my head as I let my mind wonder what would be like to stay here with him. I immediately shut out this nonsense as I scold myself. I  must focus and remember that I'm not allowed to give away my heart.