Chapter 15
“I can’t believe this happened. This is so unreal. You must have been terrified. I knew I should have gone home with you that night,” Malaya said miserably combing her fingers though her dark, silky hair. She watched Lily who was reclined on Malaya’s white bed stroking the silky, pink bedspread underneath her.
“Lesson learned. If you have a gut instinct, do what it tells you to do. So how did your Aunt take it when you told her you could hear thoughts?” Malaya was twirling a small section of hair around the barrel of a curling iron.
“I didn’t tell her,” Lily replied with a sigh. She knew she needed to, but she wasn’t sure how her aunt would react. Would she think she was crazy or just made it up entirely? Would her aunt actually believer her? What if she thought she was a freak of nature? What if she didn’t want a freak living in her house? Or worse, what if she was putting her family in danger? Once her aunt knew what Lily could do, would she still have a home?
“Lily, you can’t keep this from her. You’re in danger. That guy is still out there somewhere biding his time just waiting for the right moment to strike. You aren’t safe,” Malaya said seriously.
“I know.”
“If your aunt doesn’t know, she can’t help keep you safe.”
“I know you’re right, but that doesn’t mean it will be easy or that I want to do it. Will you come with me? I need backup desperately,” Lily pleaded.
“Of course, what are best friends for?” When Malaya had curled the last of her hair she grabbed her white shimmery bag. She dug around searching for her peachy shimmer lip gloss. Lily shook her head at Malaya primping in front of the bedroom mirror.
“It’s just movie night, you know.”
“I know, but Landon’s coming, and I don’t want to look frumpy.”
“So I look frumpy?”
“I didn’t say that,” Malaya said apologetically.
“I know,” Lily said teasing. Lily glanced at herself in the mirror. If Landon was going to crash their movie night, he was going to have to put up with her unpainted face and her flat, lifeless hair. Her opinion of him had improved considerably after he had saved her from that maniac, but she still saw him as only a friend. It wasn’t that he wasn’t good looking, because he was. First of all, Malaya liked him, and in Lily’s mind that meant he was already claimed. Secondly, she just didn’t have room in her head for boys right now. She was too busy keeping up with school, mind reading and almost being kidnapped by a psychopath. How did he find out about her gift anyway? She ran her life since the accident over and over though her mind; she just couldn’t remember having seen him before. She had no idea who he was. How could he have possibly known what she could do? This puzzled her to no end. The doorbell rang downstairs. Malaya jumped towards the doorway, and bounded down the stairs.
“Come on,” she yelled behind her. Lily worked her way slowly down the stairs. It was so slow that she almost considered scooting down them on her rear end, but seeing how Landon would most likely be waiting at the bottom, she instantly decided against it. When she finally reached the first floor, Landon was waiting there carrying a load of cheese puffs and lemon lime soda.
“I come bearing nourishment,” Landon said proudly.
“I wouldn’t consider powdered cheese covered corn puffs and carbonated liquid sugar nourishment, but thank you for your offering,” Lily said bowing slightly as if she was a queen accepting a precious gift.
“I’ll go find a bowl for the cheesy goodness,” Malaya said over her shoulder heading towards the kitchen.
“Oh, and get cups,” Lily reminded her. “The living room is down that way,” she said to Landon pointing down the entryway.
“Ladies first,” he said grinning. Once they had all settled onto the brown leather couch, snacks within reaching distance, Malaya started the movie. Landon sat in the middle with the girls on either side of him. They were all yawning by the time it was over. Malaya clicked the power button on the remote.
“Star Wars movie three complete,” Landon said as if he were checking off a to-do list.
“Three down, three more to go.” Lily yawned.
“I guess we should start the movie a little sooner next time,” Malaya offered.
“Yeah, I guess so,” Landon replied. “I better get going, Lily do you need a ride?” Usually Lily would have spent the night, but she was so much more comfortable in her own bed, so the only time they had sleepovers anymore was when Malaya came to Lily’s house.
“I do actually, thanks,” Lily said smiling.
“See you tomorrow, Malaya,” Landon said sleepily.
“Alright, see ya tomorrow,” Malaya responded walking them to the door. When Landon pulled up to Lily’s house a few minutes later, he jumped out to open the car door for Lily. Instead of holding it open for her as she got out, he moved forward blocking the opening entirely. He placed his hands on the door frame and leaned toward her slightly.
“What are you doing,” Lily asked. Her pulse quickened in response to the unexpected entrapment.
“I’m not kidnapping you, so calm down. I just want to talk to you for a minute.”
“Well you don’t have to trap me in to talk to me.”
“I didn’t think you would want to talk about it.”
“Try me,” Lily countered staring him in the eye. Landon took in a deep breath before he spoke.
“So are you going to tell me why that guy was after you last night?”
“Oh that.”
“Yes that. What was he talking about Lily?” Landon’s voice wasn’t angry, but he was clearly irritated at not being told vital information about the situation he had found himself in.
“I don’t think you would believe me if I told you.”
“Try me,” Landon challenged. It was Lily’s turn to take a deep breath.
“You’ll think I’m crazy.”
“Probably not.”
“Okay, I’ll explain everything, but I want to do it tomorrow when I’m more awake.”
“Fair enough,” Landon replied a little disappointed he wasn’t getting any answers right away. He backed away from the door opening and extended his hand to help her out of the car. She was grateful for his help through the darkness of the night and the security she felt when he was with her. He helped her up the porch step and held open the front door for her.
“Whatever is going on, I’ll believe you Lily,” Landon said sincerely before leaving. “And I’ll do whatever I can to help you.”
“Thanks,” she said hoping it was the truth. He said goodnight and was gone as soon as she shut the door and locked it.
***
The following morning Lily found herself sitting at the kitchen table half-awake staring into a glass of orange juice. Today was the day of truth. Today she would finally tell her aunt everything, and Landon would know why he risked his neck on her behalf. She closed her eyes and wished the day were already over so she could go back to her warm bed and hide from the strange, terrifying world she now lived in. After her fall she had hoped that life would go on as it always had, calm and quiet. Now that she contained within her mind something so contrary to the course of nature, she could no longer be a silent nobody. She was now an active participant in her allotted lifetime. She was slowly accepting this truth, but she wasn’t enjoying it. Now that she was becoming a visible member of the world she had always been a spectator of, Lily realized how much she actually liked being invisible. Being invisible might not have been as bad as she had once thought. The doorbell rang, and Ruthie sprang from her seat at the table.
“I’ll get it,” she sang as she ran to the door. When she returned, Malaya was with her already wide awake and ready to face the day.
“So are you ready?”
“Will I ever be ready? Can’t we wait a few hours,” Lily responded sleepily.
“The longer you wait the harder it will be.” Lily knew Malaya was right, but didn’t want to admit it.
“Fine, at least let me finish my breakfast first.”
***
“So how are we going to do this? You know she’s not going to believe me. I’m a trustworthy person, but what we’re telling her is pretty unbelievable regardless of who says it,” Lily whispered standing just inside her room with Malaya at her side. Her aunt was sitting in a brown striped wing backed chair in the living room going to town on a Sudoku puzzle. Jackson and Ruthie were out playing with neighborhood kids until lunch, so they had the house to themselves.
“Don’t worry about a thing. I’ve got it all planned out,” Malaya declared confidently.
“So, are you going to fill me in on your big plans?”
“Nope. You’ll just have to trust me,” she said smiling her “I’ve got an amazing secret” smile.
“I don’t know,” Lily said hesitantly. She didn’t know if she was ready for this.
“Whoa, don’t chicken out on me now. Come on, let’s go,” Malaya commanded dragging Lily down the hallway. They stopped in front of Jenny and stood in silence until Malaya jabbed Lily in the ribs.
“Um, Aunt Jenny?”
“Yes?” She didn’t look up.
“I kind of have something to tell you.”
“Oh, sure. Have a seat in my office,” Jenny said waving her hand to the sofa. She laid her puzzle in her lap and stared attentively at Lily and Malaya, who sat down together on the sofa.
“Well, you know how I kind of fell down the stairs at school?”
“I’m well aware of that fact, yes.”
“Well, when I was in the coma, I saw my parents.”
“That must have been a nice dream.”
“It wasn’t a dream it was real. I actually spoke to them, and they spoke to me. I couldn’t see them, but I heard their voices. They told me that when I woke up from the coma that I would be different. They said I would have a gift that no one else has.”
“Okay,” her aunt said nodding her head. Lily wasn’t sure if it was a “yes, I agree with you” nod or an “I’m listening, but I don’t know what you’re talking about” nod. In that moment she wanted nothing more than to dig a hole and crawl into it, but there was no turning back now.
“When I woke up, I didn’t notice anything at first, but the past few weeks I’ve realized that I have been given an ability of sorts.”
“So what is your ability?”
“I can hear other people’s thoughts.” The room went silent. No one spoke. Lily thought she could hear a door slam next door, or it might have come from a couple houses down, she wasn’t sure.
“Okaaay,” her aunt said drawing out the word farther that it would have been if she had believed Lily’s explanation.
“I know what you’re thinking. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s the truth.”
“Lily, honey, I don’t know what you’re trying to accomplish by telling me this story, but it’s not going to work.”
“She’s telling the truth. I’m a witness.”
“You’re also her best friend and would stand by her even if she said she could fly.”
“Let us prove it to you,” Malaya challenged. “Just give us a few minutes of your time to show you what she can do.”
“Alright,” Jenny replied. She was clearly annoyed that they would tear her away from her quiet morning alone for some teenage fantasy game they were playing with her. Malaya led them out to the front yard and stood in front of the freshly planted flower beds lining the house. Jenny had spent hours planting them a couple weeks ago and had religiously cared for them ever since. Lily’s aunt had never been the extensive gardener that her mother had been, but she always took pride in her flower beds that ran along the front of the house. Aunt Jenny folded her arms across her chest and raised her left eyebrow impatiently. Malaya marched over to the nearest flowerbed and proceeded to pull out every flower she could get her hands on. Aunt Jenny’s eyes bugged out in shock. Her hands formed into fists and her jaw clenched shut in anger. Before the words could escape her mouth her mind was going a million miles a minute.
“WHAT IS SHE DOING? I just planted those. She’s gone crazy. I can’t believe she would do this to me. I’m going to make sure she pays for this. I don’t know what these girls think they’re doing, but this has gone too far. I’ll make them pay for this.” Then she found her voice.
“WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING,” she finally screamed. Malaya turned to Lily looking for a confirmation that she had what she needed. Lily nodded hoping it would be enough to convince her aunt.
“Sorry about your flowers,” she said timidly. “There may have been a better way to show you, but it was the only way you would believe me. I promise we will replant them or replace them entirely if needed.” Her aunt seemed to simmer down slightly, but she still looked like she might explode if pushed any further.
“What is this all about Lily,” her aunt demanded.
“Before you said anything out loud, you had thoughts running through your head. I know because I heard them.”
“So I’m evil, huh,” Jenny snapped.
“No, but some of your thoughts were wishing for payback, which is a natural tendency, but not kind and forgiving. Revenge is never good and so I can hear any thoughts wishing revenge or for something bad to happen to someone else. Just because you think a bad thought doesn’t make you an evil person. We all think bad thoughts sometimes.”
“Well, if you put it that way,” Jenny responded. “Wait, how did you know I wanted payback?”
“That’s not all. You were also thinking how you had just recently planted the flowers and how Malaya was acting crazy. You also were thinking that we had gone too far in whatever we were doing.”
“But, how…”
“I know, it’s hard to believe, but it’s true. I really can hear people’s thoughts.”
“Okay what am I thinking right now?” Her aunt still sounded dubious of her claim. Lily focused, but couldn’t hear anything other than the birds chirping.
“I can only hear bad thoughts, like if you want to harm something or someone.”
“Oh, that’s right. Alright, how about now?” Jenny closed her eyes in concentration. Lily heard the now familiar buzz and her aunt’s thoughts flowed into her mind like a winding river into the ocean.
“I hate that dumb dog from across the street. If he wakes me up with his relentless barking one more time, I’ll be calling the cops. Better yet, maybe I’ll just take Jackson’s baseball bat and….”
“I know you wouldn’t hurt that dog,” Lily said interrupting the stream of thoughts. “You love animals. I know you would have a dog yourself if you had the time for one.” Lily’s aunt stared at Lily with astonishment.
“How can this be true?”
“I don’t really understand it myself,” Lily offered shrugging her shoulders. “Oh, and that dog has never woken you up, you sleep like a log,” Lily added with a slight grin.
“So you’re a human lie detector too then?”
“I don’t know. I’m still kind of figuring it all out”
“Wow, this is pretty unbelievable.”
“Well, it gets worse,” Malaya piped in.
“I don’t see how,” Jenny said heading back towards the front door to escape from the imminent heat wave.
“That guy who showed up at the house the other night,” Lily said wavering. “He was after me.”
“After you? I thought you didn’t know who he was. I thought he was some creep off the street. Why didn’t you tell me you knew him?”
“Because I don’t know him. I heard his thoughts. That’s how I knew he was coming for me. That’s why I called Landon. He also bugged the house and was sitting in a car several houses down for who knows how long.”
“He what? So he could be hearing everything we say?”
“I’m afraid so. On the bright side, because I was able to hear his thoughts, I knew he was coming and was able to get help. If it hadn’t been for Landon showing up when he did, I probably wouldn’t be standing here right now,” she said with a shudder.
“If it hadn’t been for your hearing other people’s thoughts, you wouldn’t even be in this mess,” her aunt pointed out not seeing any good in the situation whatsoever. “Who is this guy anyway? Is he with the government?” Aunt Jenny was pacing the front porch in short calculated strides. Her face was filled with worry lines. Aunt Jenny was usually so calm and collected in the face of stressful situations. Her training as a nurse had given her a certain degree of calm in the midst of any storm that came along, but it wasn’t kicking in at the moment. Lily had never seen her so anxious before.
“We don’t know who he is or who he’s working for, but the one thing we do know for sure is that he isn’t interested in having a friendly chat with us. He wants Lily for something and he wants her now,” Malaya said in attempt to drive the conversation towards a plan to protect Lily.
“We have to call the police,” Jenny said not knowing what else to do.
“We can’t go to the police, don’t you see? They won’t believe it,” Malaya said. “Besides, what will they do anyway? Maybe send a patrol car by every once and a while? They can’t protect her the way she needs to be protected.”
“You’re probably right,” Jenny said after thinking it over for a while. “A bodyguard would be ideal in a situation like this, but I doubt I can afford one.” Jenny plopped down on the porch steps next to Lily who was already seated there.
“I think the best thing we can do is make sure she’s never alone,” Malaya suggested. “That guy didn’t seem to want anything to do with Landon, so he will probably wait until she’s alone again. Landon and I can be with her at school and anywhere outside of school while you’re at work. Whenever we aren’t there though, you’ll need to be with her. Oh, and I wouldn’t leave her alone with the kids anymore,” Malaya warned. “It might put them at risk.” Jenny’s worry lines only deepened at the thought of her children being mixed up in all of this. She sighed and slapped at an ant crawling onto her foot.
“I guess we will just have to be on guard all the time,” Jenny said gazing out at nothing in particular.
Lily wished with every cell in her body that all the precautions they planned to take would keep her out of harm’s way. It was becoming more and more apparent to her, however, that she probably wasn’t ever going to be truly safe again. If it wasn’t this guy after her, it would be someone else. In her heart she knew that it was really only a matter of time.
***
“So?” Lily was on the edge of the park bench awaiting Landon’s response to her explanation and demonstration.
“Wow, I mean, you got what I was thinking exactly right. There’s no way you could have known those things about my dad.” Landon stood from his seat on the bench. “It’s pretty extraordinary, but I believe you. So what are we going to do about that guy? It didn’t sound like he was going to give up easily. He’s in this for the long haul, and we’re going to have to come up with some sort of system so you’re not alone. I don’t think he wants to deal with an extra hostage.”
“That’s exactly what I thought,” Malaya exclaimed, a little too excited. “We’re going to take turns being with her so she’s never alone, if that’s all right with you, and Lily’s aunt will be with her whenever she’s off work,” Malaya explained.
“Okay,” Landon said nodding seriously.
“So we will need to cover every day but Tuesday and Sunday. Those are the days Lily’s aunt will be home. I’ll take Saturday, because Lily and I usually spend Saturdays together anyway.”
“Why don’t we do every other day? I’ll have Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and you’ll have Thursday and Saturday. It divides unevenly, but Saturday is a longer day because there’s no school, so it all evens out in the end.”
“Sounds good to me,” Malaya said beaming. Lily could tell she was celebrating inside over her bonding moment with Landon. Her happiness was interrupted by a high pitched tune coming from the back pocket of her jeans. Malaya glanced at the caller ID before flipping open the cell phone.
“Hi mom,” she said a little annoyed. “Oh, I totally forgot about that. Yeah, I’ll be home as soon as I can. Bye.” Malaya snapped the phone shut and shoved it back into her pocket. “I have to go help my mom make dinner. I forgot that my aunt is in town and she’s coming over for dinner. I guess I’ll see you both on Monday,” she said before jogging to the parking lot to her father’s beat up pickup truck. It was practically hers, but her parents insisted that if she wanted a vehicle to call her own, she had to pay for it. So the pickup was considered more of a loaner. Lily and Landon watched her pull out of the tiny neighborhood parking lot and drive away. Landon sat in the empty space on the park bench next to Lily.
“So I guess it’s just you and me.”
“I guess so,” Lily replied.
“What would you like to do now?”
“Hmm. I don’t know.” She really didn’t. She hadn’t ever really spent one on one time with a guy before. All of a sudden she felt nervous for no apparent reason. She stared at the ground not knowing what to say or do.
“Lily, are you okay?” It was him, the boy. He was talking to her. She had to say something and fast, but what? Her brain seemed to be fogging over.
“Um, I guess so.” It wasn’t really true though. She hadn’t really been alright for a year.
“Are you sure,” Landon asked clearly not believing her response.
“No, not really.” She wanted to tell him everything, but she wasn’t sure how to begin. She glanced sideways to read his expression, and what she found there was the warmest, kindest face she could have imagined. Her eyes quickly scanned his handsome face. He had a strong jaw line and smooth tanned skin. His mouth looked like he wanted to say something more, but was restraining himself. When she came to his clear blue eyes she nearly became lost in their brilliance. She had never understood why people always said the eyes are the windows to the soul, but now she did. His eyes beckoned to her soul. She held his gaze for what seemed like forever until the spell was broken by a screaming child in the nearby playground area. Lily quickly jerked out of whatever trance he had held her in, and stared at a grey feather lying lifeless on the sidewalk in front of her.
“You have very nice eyes, you know,” she blurted out awkwardly.
“Thank you,” he replied, a wide grin spreading across his face. “But don’t change the subject.” Lily sighed and turned to face him again. She didn’t really want to talk about all her troubles to someone she hardly knew, but a voice coming from her heart told her to trust him. “My life has been in turmoil since my mom died. I lost my mom, and then on top of that I’ve been dealing with broken legs for months now. Then there was the accident at school, and then the coma. Oh, and let’s not forget this so called gift that I’ve been given. A curse is more like it. Not much good has come out of it. I mean, I might be kidnapped at any moment and who knows what else because of it. Of course I’m not okay.” She hadn’t intended for her words to come out in anger, but they did. She wasn’t angry at Landon at all, but she was so frustrated with the situation that it all just spilled out. Landon hunched forward and rested his elbows on his knees.
“You may be frustrated and angry at the way your life has gone this past year, but anyone who has been through what you’ve been through would feel exactly the same way. It’s completely normal. I’m sure it will get better over time. I don’t know much about some of the things you’re going through, but I know what it’s like to lose someone you love. My dad left us a few years back. He would show up once in a while, but we haven’t seen him in over a year. I don’t think he’ll be back any time soon.”
“I’m so sorry Landon. I guess we’re both missing parents right now, huh.”
“Yeah, I guess so,” he replied kicking some pebbles around in the dirt at his feet. Lily knew as bad as a parent dying was, it was almost worst to be abandoned by one. Her parents didn’t want to leave her, but Landon’s dad chose to leave. He didn’t want to be in his life anymore. It made Lily very sad for both Landon and his father.
“I know you’ve had a really hard time of things lately, and I’m sorry for the part I played in making you so miserable,” he said regretfully.
“I didn’t mean to take out my frustrations on you. I’m not mad at you at all, and I don’t blame you for any of it,” Lily quickly said not wanting him to blame himself for things that were not his fault.
“I would blame me. I’m the one who practically pushed you down the stairs.” Landon stared off into the distance at nothing in particular. Lily could tell he was filled with remorse for what happened in the hallway that day. She wished she could convince him to forgive himself and let it all go, but she didn’t think any amount of words would resolve that right now. If he still felt so responsible for everything that happened, did that mean that those feelings were affecting everything he did in relation to Lily? Was the reason Landon was being so nice to her because he was trying to right a wrong?
“Is that why you’re here,” Lily asked candidly.
“What do you mean?”
“Is that why you’re spending all this time watching out for me? I don’t want you to feel obligated to do something you don’t want to do,” Lily said.
“No, that’s not it at all,” Landon said jerking around to face her.
“I’m here because, well, because I like you.” As he spoke, a light shade of pink spread across his cheeks from his nose all the way to his ears.
“You like me? Like me as a friend,” Lily paused and then forced out the words she was uncomfortable saying, “or as something else?” Lily’s heart was beating faster than its normal rhythm. Her head told her to hope for friendship because she knew how much Malaya liked him. Her heart on the other hand, hoped for something more. She had rejected the idea of even being friends with him for so long because of who she thought he was. Over the past few weeks though, she discovered that he was a really nice, charming, funny, totally cute guy. Although she didn’t agree with all his actions over the past few years, she had seen enough of his true self to know all those things weren’t really him. When she turned her attention back to him, Landon was observing her. Her eyes drifted to his gorgeous blue eyes, and in them she found her answer.
“Lily, I think you are one of the most amazing people I’ve ever known,” Landon’s genuine voice spoke. “You’ve been dragged nearly to death and back and still you have this peaceful kindness that can be seen in everything you do. You stand up for what you believe in. You stood up to me, and that couldn’t have been easy.”
“I think you have a higher opinion of me than I do,” Lily said a little uncomfortable with his praise.
“Sometimes it’s hard to see how we really are when we’re in the middle of the storm. I know I don’t feel like I’m a very good person. I’ve hurt a lot of people. I’ve tried to make up for it and help as many as I can, but I still think I’m a jerk at times.”
“Maybe,” Lily said with a sideways smile. “When you’re at school, you try to fit in with your friends and sometimes do things you wouldn’t do if they weren’t by your side. I’ve seen you when you’re not at school in the middle of those guys. You aren’t like them. You can be kind and generous if you choose to be.”
“Exactly,” Landon said making his point.
“You got me on that one,” Lily said with a smile. “I see what you mean. Everything is clearer when you’re looking at it from a different perspective.”
“Anyway, what I was trying to say is that you are an incredible, beautiful person and I want to be around you as much as possible,” Landon said as he gently grabbed a stray strand of her hair that had escaped and tucked it behind her ear.
“I’ll understand completely if you don’t feel that way about me.” He paused and waited for some sort of response to his declaration. Lily wasn’t sure what to say. She wanted to tell him she liked him too, but what about Malaya?
“Lily, I cherish your friendship, and don’t want to ruin it, so if you don’t like me just say so, and I’ll never bring it up again.” Lily decided that she would just have to be honest with him.
“It’s not that I don’t like you, because I kind of do actually,” she said shyly smiling. “But I can’t be more to you than a friend right now.”
“Why?”
“Malaya.”
“Does she…” Landon started a little surprised.
“Yes,” Lily said interrupting him.
“Hmm.”
“She’s my best friend, and I just can’t hurt her like that.”
“What if you talked to her? Maybe she would understand,” Landon suggested.
“I don’t know.”
“Well, I think we have two options. We can just be friends, or you can talk it over with Malaya. It’s your choice.”