New story~ The Handsome Shadow

Hey guys!  Here is my new story.  I hope you read it, and don't forget to follow!  I already have the intro's pics done, so I'll probably have it out tomorrow morning already :D.

Final Feedback

I just want to know what you all thought of my story and if you had any tips for me for my next story.  You can answer it however you want, but I compiled a survey that I'd LOVE for everyone to fill out.  I appreciate it, I love all of the comments I've gotten <3.

Please vote in the poll too!  Yes, you have to choose.

1. Did you like the amount of pictures compared to the text?
2. Did I go into a sufficient amount of detail, or would you have preferred less?

3. Did I take the story too fast or too slow?

4. Do you have any final comments encompassing the story as a whole?

If anyone is interested, I'll be uploading the family (Shelby, Ray (her bf), Candace, mom, dad, Jezabelle, and Reese) in householf form sometime today.  I'll start a post in my blog Sims of Every Flavor (it's linked with a few of my blogs on the side of my posts).

Chapter 32

I stared at Reese for a minute, unbelieving.  Why was he still here?  He had to go back to the future-it's his home, why would he stay here?

"Reese..."

"Jezabelle..." He raised an eyebrow.  He was being sarcastic with me.

"Reese!  What, did something go wrong in your time travel?"

"Well...not exactly.  I was thinking I might not wanna go..."

"Are you crazy?  That's your home!"

"Yeah...there's nothing there for me.  Both of my parents died from...a fatal accident when I was young..."

"What fatal accident?!"

"You wouldn't understand if I told you.  It's not something that would happen in this day..."

I raised an eyebrow.  "Okay, so you might be able to understand it, but I'd rather not talk about it."

I tried to take this slowly, "so...that's why you stayed here?  Because you don't have parents to go back to..."

"Eh...kinda.  It's been years, all the friends that I had will be long gone."

"Alright...so if they're not a reason for you to go back...then what about your...task that you came for in the first place?"

"Since Ian did most everything, they won't need me.  It's him that had to go back, not me.  They wouldn't care what I do as long as I keep it to the down low.  If I went back, I would never be given permission to come back at all...so I just didn't go..."

"Why didn't you tell me?"  No wonder he was so quiet when they were leaving.

"I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to go through with it."

"Tell me how it went."

"When we went into the basement, I teleported with them to get Leonora-she was still unconscious by the way-and then when we went back to the basement to go back home, instead of using my portable time machine I just teleported here."

"But..don't they want to know where you are right now?  Can't they just come back in time to before then to explain the situation to you...?"

He shook his head.  "No, I'm not important enough for them to travel back in time to.  It's a very delicate thing...and as long as I don't become a renowned scientist, I'm good."

"Alright, so why did you stay?  I mean, besides that you have no one to go back to?"

He shrugged.  "I like it here.  I can just relax..I have all the money I need for a lifetime.  Why should I go back and work?  It's much simpler here...and I like it. Plus, I can still teleport and everything."

"I see..."

"Yes, and speaking of teleportation...I want to show you something."

He took my hand and we teleported.

We arrived in a very dark room with a single light.

I looked around and shivered, glad that I was with Reese.  It was startlingly black.

"Um...Reese, where are we?"

"This is the basement."

"What do you mean the basement?  The basement has no furniture..."

He raised his eyebrow and looked at me. "That's what they want you to think."

"Who?"

"Well, it's not they, but he.  Ian."

"Reese...what are you talking about?"

"Yeah, that's right.  Clyde and I have been sleeping in here ever since you were brought back from virtual reality.  We used to sleep in your room, but that was when there were two beds."

I laughed uncomfortably. "So...you slept in here while I've been sleeping in your guys' room this whole time?  I thought you had another house..." I was so confused, why would Ian lie?

"We were only given one house when we came here.  Ian never told you that we all had the same house because he didn't want you to feel uncomfortable. He had good intentions, but when you boil it down, Ian lied to you about something as big as this!"

My eyes bulged.

"It's alright, Clyde and I just come here to sleep then we would go somewhere around town for food and entertainment.  We have the money."

"Yeah, but...I stole your room!"

"It's not a big deal, it's just a room.  This room is nice and dark to sleep in anyway."

I shivered, this room wasn't fit to be a bedroom..."

"So what, these beds were moved out before you guys took me in here...?"

"That's correct."

I looked around the room and scoffed.  Reese touched me and we teleported somewhere else.  

"Why are we in Ian's room?"

"Alright, two things.  Notice how this room is quite small?"

I nodded slowly.  I realized that Ian's room was smaller than mine was a while ago.

"At first he took this smaller room because he had his own room.  But then when you came along, he didn't switch rooms and give you this smaller one, but he gave you the bigger room.  Ian was in love with you for a long time, you know."

I nodded slowly.  That's what I figured.

"But he was blind by his love!  He did weird things, he changed his personality for you.  Like, he is truly a slob, he never made his bed.  He went in to dust your room sometimes, but he didn't care about his own."

He went to a dresser and brushed his finger on it, showing me the dust.

"I can't think of any other examples, Jezabelle, but I know there are more.  Ian was different around you...I don't know who he is anymore: is he the man that he acts around you, or is it his old self?"

I sighed, I never thought that Ian could be any different than what he made himself out to be.

Reese walked closer to me and looked at my hair.  "Why don't you ever put it up in a ponytail anymore?"

I touched my locks and realized he was right!  It's been a while since I've bothered putting it up.

"Do you have a ponytail holder?"

I felt in my pockets and realized I did.  I took my time and put my hair up in a nice ponytail, and quoted a show I sometimes watch, "how do I look?"

"There ya go, the Jezabelle I know and love!  I missed you in your ponytail, it's cute."

I smiled at him.  Ian never complimented me.

Reese touched me again and we teleported for the third time.

He teleported us onto my bed, and I was surprised.  I was laying on the bed and he was lounging beside me.  I've never been teleported on a bed before, at least not like this.

"Ah, comfy.  Nice room you got here, Jezabelle."

I looked around, and he was right.  Leaning by the nightstand near me, I brushed my finger on it and no dust came.  Reese was right, about everything...

"Yeah, this is a nice room, and it's clean..."

"Yup, Ian has image issues.  Before his genetic modification, he was a complete nerd.  When his looks were changed he tried to change his image a little.  Since he found you here, and apart of his task too-he told himself that when you came out of the "coma", he'd treat you right, and to him that was changing his whole personality so you'd like him."

I nodded slowly.  Suddenly I wasn't so interested in Ian being gone.  I didn't want to shed another tear.  I looked at Reese and smiled.  Really, now that I think about it, he's cuter than Ian.  I just never had the eyes for it because I was blinded by Ian's deception.

Ian saw me smiling at him, and he smiled back, scooching closer to me.  We stared at each other for a minute.  Reese had bright green eyes which reminded me of my father's.

Then he leaned over and kissed me.  I couldn't help but compare it to Ian's.  His were my first and last, but Reese's were the beginning, so they were also sweeter.

We layed by each other for a while in silence, and it was just so nice.

We got up and Reese hugged me.  "I had no idea, Reese..."

"Well, believe it Jezabelle.  Just like Ian grew to liking you, so did I."

Unlike Ian, Reese seemed real.  He was sarcastic, and not so perfect...

"I'm sorry I didn't help you with getting you on your feet like Ian did...I just couldn't interfere.  He grew to be the leader of our group, and I couldn't budge into what was his.  But now he's gone, long forgotten about you-true in it's literal form, but not the other form."

I managed to laugh a little.  Reese has a good sense of humor.

"Hey, how about we end the deception from your parents?"

Before I could utter another word, Reese touched my hand.

Then, we were in my parent's dining room.  Reese teleported us right to where they were sitting!  He was seriously delusional.

I gasped because I could tell that they noticed that one moment we weren't there, and the next we were.  Reese was just smiling...

"Oh, so I see you popped in..." my mother said.

For a moment, my mom was whispering something to herself.  "Oh, so this isn't a dream?  How can this be...people don't just pop into rooms."

Dad looked at her, "I know, I did that too.  This isn't a dream..."

My dream freak parents looked at each other for a moment, looking equally stunned.

We sat down as I gave Reese a questioning, frightened look.  He just nodded, giving me the okay.  I figured that meant that he would handle this.

"Don't tell me you know Leonora?"

At first, I thought I heard wrong but when I looked at Reese, he looked equally stunned.  I heard right...

Lucky for me, Reese was handling this like I thought he would, "yes, we know Leonora.  How do you know her?"  I was pretty sure that she didn't just go into town showing her real face, so few people must know of her true identity.

"Well, once she copied my DNA and made a clone of myself..he had my same experiences up until I was about twenty two, when we found him.  He continued to experience my life when he was locked away..."

I looked at him and gasped.  I knew he couldn't be lying because I was aware that she could do incredible things...

"You have a clone?!"

"Yes...he hangs around everywhere because we can't be known as the same person.  He's not my twin, so we don't want to risk the side effects of people thinking one is a fake and the other has a genius makeover consultant or anything...We speak telepathically our bond is so strong.."

"Oh my llama..."

Then mom started speaking, "oh...um, who is this young man you're with, Jezabelle?  What happened to Ian?"

I looked at Reese.  He nodded and motioned to himself. "Ian was my friend and accomplise.  You see, we're from the future..." Reese went into his whole side of the story.

"Oh, no more Ian, then.  He was such a nice boy..."

I shook my head, "no mom, he just seemed like a nice boy."

"Okay... What about your life Jezabelle?  What really happened?  Surely you weren't raised by an old coot.."

"No, I wasn't.  I was taken by Leonora and she put me in this fancy virtual reality for years and made me hate guys and only trust girls while in there.  When she was sure it was complete, I came out of it and Ian rescued me.  He spoke with me through an internet personality I knew as 'giggler'.  So I've only been living in the real world for a few months."

Mom's mouth fell open, but it quickly shut.  "Your father and I met through our dreams.  If it weren't for them I would've never married him."

I raised my eyebrow. "Mom..."

"I'm serious.  We have shared dreams all of the time...we think it's because we're so alike.."

Reese and I exchanged a look.  I have never felt so close to my parents...

Then he whispered, "I couldn't let you deceive your parents.  Since they too know about Leonora, they won't blab, the one and only people you can trust for sure is your parents."

I smiled at him.  Why was I so blind before now?

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I'm sorry everyone, but this is the end!  I don't have anything else to add.  I would appreciate it if you filled out my last comment survey and leave your final comment for the story here.  I will be posting my new story's link here when I have it up.  It will feature the kid of Reese and Jezabelle.  Thanks for reading :).

Chapter 31

After crying for a while, I got up because I decided there was no point in crying anymore.  Besides, it felt like I was running out of tears.  It's like...I wanted to cry, and at first that was an easy task, but it ended up getting harder and harder.  I kept going back to the same thoughts in my head over and over again.  Like, how could Ian make me think he was staying here forever?  I mean, it sounded like he'd leave eventually...but he didn't make it clear enough.  It didn't help that I refused to think about it....Why does he have to leave this soon?  I just met my family, and I was officially told that I have a job.  Oh crap, I actually have to go in today for that.  Shoot!

After I finished wiping away my tears and my breathing became even, I got up.  I figured I should just go to Landgraab's Science Facility and just get it over with.  I didn't have much time left anyway.

Soon, I arrived at Ian's old car.  I felt my pocket while I was crying earlier and I felt something hard.  Curious, I looked to see what it was.  It was a driver's license...Somehow Ian had slipped me a licence.  I did know how to drive since I did it earlier in my life in 'virtual reality' (I still can't believe that it wasn't truly real).  I suppose it was the same as the real thing...But, I didn't really know how licenses went here in the real world.  My way could've been scewed.

I had found the key on a hook when I entered the garage.  I was playing with it with my fingers as I stared at my car.  I was legal so that part wasn't an issue...it's been years since I've driven, though.  But I have to get to the Science Facility, so not driving wouldn't be an option.  I'd rather try driving then calling for a cab.

I looked at the key once more, sucked in my breath and got in the car.

When I got in the car, I was delighted to find that I quickly remembered how to drive from when I had my little car earlier in life...  It felt the same to drive as my little car had, but there was a lot more feet room.  But, the amount of traffic was vastly different from what it was on the moon.  Lucky for me, I watched Earth television shows and sometimes it showed the traffic and I picked up what to do in certain situations involving abundant cars...It was lucky I had since it actually went to good use.

I was lucky that when Ian and I went to the facility earlier that we had driven so I had at least an idea of which way to go.  I was an idiot for not googling directions..I haven't really been on the computer much since I had been here.  I didn't need it, I was with 'giggler' the whole time.  Oh, how I miss my Ian!  A few tears slid down my cheek, but I didn't let myself get choked up anymore because I have to look good when I go into the facility.

After a while, I did find myself lost.  I thought I had to go one way, but I went another.  Lucky for me I remembered a few landmarks and made my way there.  I was starting to panic for a minute there-I had never been independent before, so I didn't think of doing something as simple as googling for directions.

At about two o' clock, I made it to the facility.  I left about an hour ago, and this trip should've taken half that!  I learned my lesson the hard way....

I stood on the pavement for a few minutes until I went in.  My heart was pumping really fast, and I found myself breathing really hard because I didn't want to die of suffocation.  This is that time when you know that you're breathing fine but you're so nervous that you breath faster anyway.

I pushed my nerves away and just started moving.  Just standing there wasn't going to help me in any way.

When I made it inside, I waited a few minutes for my boss to come.  It was stupid, on seeing him I totally forgot his name.  So, I decided not to even address him, "Um...hey, it's Jezabelle..."

I had no clue what to say.  I knew what I was here for, but I just couldn't think of anything else better to say.

"Oh, welcome Jezabelle!  Glad to see you made it.  As for work attire, I will give you a lab coat on your first day of work.  Later on you may need more professional attire, but that is for another time."

I nodded in response since I couldn't think of anything else to say.

"When can you come in for your first day?"

I sucked in a breath and my heart was pumping fast.  This was really happening. "Um...how about Monday?"

It was Thursday, so that would give me a little breather until my first day.

"That would work.  See you on Monday, then.  We can further discuss your hours then.  For Monday, come in at eight and your day will end at five.  Have a nice day Jezabelle."

I nodded again, but I stopped myself.  "Hey, before you go...do you know how to get to Longview park from here?"

He gave me the directions in a few minutes and then I was on my way.  I was glad that was over-it didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would.

I walked out of the building and went to the parking lot to find my car.  I wiped my brow when I realized that I remembered to lock the car and my keys weren't inside.  I turned on the ignition and followed the directions to the park.

This time, I had no issues getting there since I asked for directions.  Well, now that I messed up badly once, I won't make the same mistake again.  That's the good thing about being a human!

When I arrived at the park I parked on the side of the road, put some money in the meter and got out.

I walked through the park a little bit smelling all the smells.  When I eyed the bench, I went over and sat on it. It was the same bench that Reese and Clyde sat on when I met them for the first time since my 'I hate boys' syndrome was over.  Clyde and Reese were so nice and good-hearted.  I felt better thinking about them than Ian since I wasn't so attached to them.  Plus, I wasn't confused on how they felt about me, I didn't like them so that wasn't an issue.  They were just my friends only because I knew Ian.  But, they liked me with or without Ian, I could tell.  It wasn't a 'just friends when you're with our friend' deal.

Suddenly, I found myself frowning because I missed them.  They were so polite to me even when I hated them as was Ian.  But somehow they seemed more real.

I scoffed at the other people in my park with a full on view of my rushing emotions.  I just wish I was alone in this park.  Too bad that's not possible.

I turned my attention to the fountain, trying to change my thoughts.

I closed my eyes to listen to the water fall.  It soothed my thoughts a little, and for a moment I was thinking about my life at all.  Not Ian, or my family, or even Reese and Clyde.  I just listened to the pure serenity of the fountain.  Then I heard a bird squawk and it was all over.

I got up and decided to listen to the fountain closer.  I wasn't really caring what anyone was thinking at the moment-it was just so beautiful and since it was getting my mind off everything, I couldn't help but love it.

I went to touch the water, to feel it's coldness.  I wasn't even caring that I saw algae at the bottom at all.

Suddenly I was knocked out of my trance because the air around me felt slightly cooler.  Feeling paranoid, I looked around.  There were people behind me, but I could tell they didn't do anything.  I looked at the trees and didn't see any wind blowing their leaves...I just shrugged it off, figuring it had to be nothing.  What could it be?

I turned around once more for good measure, and before my eyes I saw a man standing in front of me.  Wide eyed, I blinked and realized this man wasn't just some stranger-it was Reese!

"Hello Jezabelle.  Sorry to frighten you..."

I gaped at him. What is he doing here?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ha ha, who thought that this would be Reese in this situation?  I bet none of you!  That's what I live for, you guys not guessing right xD.

Also, there is only one chapter left for sure as I've taken all the pics for it!  I'm sorry it'll be over, but I'll link when I have my new story up.  It'll be like this story in that it's unpredictable-at least I'll try.  Again, not your every day story :).

Chapter 30

After breakfast, Ian and I decided it was time to leave.  For some reason he told me he wouldn't tell me what he was going to tell me last night until we were alone again.  I figured that us leaving was the best way to do that-by morning I became so curious about what he wanted to tell me!  No longer was I too tired to care.  

I figured that I could see my family any time-I was already at their house a whole night plus more time, so that should be good enough for now.  I need time to breath at my house.  Sometimes I'm still pinching myself when I'm in the presence of my parents and sisters.

When we left the house, they all told us goodbye.

"Make sure to visit again soon!  If you don't come within a week I'll stalk you!"  She laughed.  My mother has a strange sense of humor.

Of course I gave her my cell phone number and address, so that's what she means by 'stalking'.  I haven't volunteered to show her my house since Ian seems to be frowning on it.  Maybe there are clues there to his not being from this era?  I wouldn't know, I don't look through his things, and in a way I never lived in this time to know what would be considered apart of his era versus mine.

When we got back from the decently long trip (maybe the last time we'll be in a car again until I see my parents again?), Ian invited me to sit on the island.
"Um..I think it would be best if you sat down."

"Ian, what is it?"  By the look in his eyes-or maybe it was a lack of emotion in them-my body shivered and I could feel my heart thudding faster.

"I have to go, Jezabelle....I can't be here any longer.  I have to eventually bring Leonora's body back to the future, and though I can wait forever, I don't think it would be such a good thing for me to go back when I'm so old...I have to do this.  My life isn't here, it's there.  It's where I belong, Jezabelle.  I love my job-creepy may it be, I love it.  And though Leonora is one of the many vampires loose in a certain point of time, I have to do this.  One could make all the difference..and however small I'm helping, I have to do this..."

I had been fearing this all along.  I never truly believed that Ian would leave me, but I hadn't put it across as impossible in my head either.  I couldn't let myself think about it...it makes me too sad.  I'm such an idiot!  I should've realized this all along.

He saw me getting teary-eyed and stood up.  He put his arm around my shoulder and I got up.  He put his arm around me and took my hand.

"Oh, Jezabelle.  Ever since I have talked to you through giggler I have loved you.  I love you still, but I couldn't let myself do anything about it.  It would only make it harder for me to go.  But I still had to help you get on your feet...and now you'll have a job and a family.  You don't need me anymore."

I was doing the whole 'I can't help but frown even if I try not to' thing.  A tear rolled down my cheek.

"Ian, I never loved you when I knew you as giggler, but I thought you were a girl!  I love how I could talk with you about anything and you never made me feel uncomfortable.  Ever since I came back to reality-literally, I have slowly fallen in love with you..."
"Jezabelle, I'm so sorry I led you on..."

I looked at the floor for a minute.  This was getting to be too much.

"I had no idea, Jezabelle.  I'm so sorry."

I nodded slowly because I knew if I said anything else, I would burst into tears.

Ian swooped me down catching me off guard.  I was so surprised that all of the tears were knocked out of me for a moment.

"Jezabelle...I feel like I owe you this much."

Ian looked at me dismally, but I saw he had a sparkle in his eyes.  He leaned down and gave me a hard, passionate kiss.

When he pulled away after a few moments of total bliss, he leaned in so close to my ear I almost thought his lips would press up against it.

"Jezabelle, when I came here I never expected such a wonderful girl like you to come into my life.  I thought I would only be dealing with hate...but I dealt with love, too.  My own love that I had to keep locked away for my sanity.  But apparently the feelings were reciprocal."

He pulled me closer and kissed my cheek and once more whispered, "I was such an awkward boy before I came here.  I was twenty when I came here, when you were sixteen.  Before I had my genetic operation, I was an awkward, ugly boy.  The operation made all of my features symmetrical.  I was such a loser, Jez."

This time I leaned in to his ear. "You are not a loser, Ian, and I'm sure you were not nearly as ugly as you say you were.  You are the nicest guy I have ever known.  Sure I haven't truly known that many, but I don't think it would be possible for a man to be so nice."

"It's not so hard to be nice to you, even when you didn't like me.  My love for you took over."

Ian pulled me closer still and gave me another sweet kiss.

I didn't want the moment to end, but of course it did.  When we started to pull away, we heard footsteps.  Suddenly I noticed Clyde and Reese by the door. Dang teleportation...

Clyde was oblivious to the whole ordeal.  He was smiling. "Hey Ian, you ready to get going?  I can't wait to get back to my life."

I looked at Reese and he was looking sadly at the ground in a daze.  He was feeling sad for leaving I guess, unlike Clyde.

Reluctantly, Ian and I peeled from each other to go talk to Reese and Clyde.

As I walked to them, I began seeing colors and I felt like I was going to collapse.  I was going into shock.

Clyde was still acting ignorant, "man Ian, I can't wait to get back.  I mean, they miss out on so many cool technologies here...What I can't wait to get back to the most is freely teleporting without having to go to inconspicuous places."
Ian was speaking in a neutral tone, "yeah, it'll be nice to teleport again..."

Reese wasn't totally in the group, he seemed to be staring into space.  I bet that neither of them wanted to hear Clyde's blabbing-they just wanted to go and get it over with.

A few tears rolled down my face as I talked (I knew that would happen), "how are you guys going to get back? It's not like you just have a time machine laying around?"

Clyde looked at me, "oh, we'll get back the same way we got here!  We have these tiny portable 'time machine' things in our pockets.  It's hard to describe them, and they don't look like a time machine how you'd think they'd look...it's complicated."

Clyde was talking with way too much enthusiasm for my liking.

"Can I at least watch you guys leave?"  I sighed and tried my best to keep the tears to a minimum.

Ian held me for a minute and whispered in my ear, "I know, Jez."

Then each of them touched me and took me to the place that they'd, apparently be leaving from.

Suddenly we were in a very dark room.  The only light was a small dim light above my head.  It was hard to tell the size of the room because everything was so dark.  It seemed like the light was in the middle of a vast room, but we could've been on the side of the room too, for all I could tell.  I couldn't see the walls at all, which was funny since there was some light in the room.

Again, Clyde spoke, "this is where we will be leaving and this is where we also arrived."

When he didn't hear a reply, he continued, "It has to be in a dark room because time travel ignites a lot of light and would blind someone unless you're in a pitch black room.  When we leave this light will turn off."

The only thing I could get out in reply was, "light?"

"Yup.  Time travel generates a lot of light but teleportation doesn't.  Weird, right?"

"So...where are we?"  Suddenly my curiosity took over my sadness.

"This is the basement.  It's the best place to travel in time-at least in our past-so that no one sees anything and questions it.  Those questions could be catastrophic..we just don't know."

I forced myself to nod.  It made sense.

Once again, they all touched me and we teleported back to the front of the house.

Ian looked at me with tears falling down his face.  I tried my best not to let a single tear fall.  I wasn't going to let him think that I was going to be miserable here, he needs to know that I'll be fine without him!  I owe him that-if it wasn't for him, I don't know what would've happened to me.

Ian's voice was surprisingly even, "when we leave, you can still live here.  It's all covered..you don't have to worry about taxes or anything...I hope you have a good life.  I'll always think of you..."

I nodded.  "I'll miss you Ian."
He looked hurt that I said that I would miss him, he probably felt a twinge of guilt.

Then Clyde and Reese said goodbye to me.  They said goodbye how'd you'd say goodbye to family-a nice, friendly hug, and a 'see you later', but you know they only care a little if they see you again.  And in this case, I would never see them again.

"Bye Jezabelle, have a nice life.  We'll fix up the world of the vampires-Clyde, Ian and I.  We'll do our best!"

When Reese came to hug me, he didn't say anything.  I didn't get a goodbye or anything.  I couldn't exactly read his face, but it didn't look like he was so happy to go.  He hadn't said anything for the whole day.

They gathered together and Clyde said, "bye Jezabelle.  Good luck with your life.  You can't officially tell us goodbye because the room in the basement we leave from doesn't have a door or stairs-it only works if you can teleport, and since we're leaving.."  Reese and Ian looked at the ground for a moment and nodded sadly in agreement.  Then they all disappeared to go into the basement.

Sadness swept through my veins and I went to the dining room table and sat on one of its chairs until I knew they were gone.  I listened for a noise or any sign that they were gone, but after five minutes still nothing happened.  I knew that they were gone though, to get Leonora and then to go back home.  They left no trace of having left, and I didn't hear or see anything just like Clyde said.

I got up from the chair and I made myself move my legs.  They were heavy as rock and the only reason I even bothered to get up was to go into my room.  This is my house now and I don't even care!  I want to live here with Ian!

I slumped on my bed and looked down at my toes.  Tears were now fully flowing now that I was in my safe room.  Technically all the rooms in the house are 'safe' rooms but I'm just so used to someone else being there that it's still natural for me to go into my room.

So now I don't have Ian, but I do have my family and a job.  Shouldn't that be enough?  It's all that I've ever wanted, and now I have it-all thanks to Ian.  I'll never see him again.  It doesn't even matter if he's thinking about me now in the future since technically he's not thinking of me now.  Time travel is a weird thing.  

I looked at my toes and realized they were unpainted. Oh, my feet are so ugly, but who even cares about my feet!  Without Ian, I feel alone.  Now I'll have a family...but I'm without a friend in the world!

I didn't even care to look out my window, to hear the birds sing.  I was in too much despair.  I wanted this all to be a dream!  How could Ian have made me care about him?  I would be much better off if he never befriended me, if I was still with Leonora!

I was too sad to think logically.  I just knew one thing: that I missed Ian dearly.

Chapter 29

I'm sorry for how uneventful this story has been lately...I will be getting there soon!  Also, I appreciate all the comments I've been receiving.  I especially love the ones from new people <3.

"Jezabelle, what have you been doing all your life?  Why have you waited until now to attempt to find us?  We have tried, sure, but nothing came up.  We figured you were gone forever...anyway...?"

My family and Ian were gathered in the living room after Shelby said bye to her boyfriend.  I wonder what he had been thinking...now his girlfriend found her lost sister!  Ha, I can imagine it now: ugh, so now Shelby has a long lost sister, where does that leave us?  Will she have time for us anymore?  How long will this honeymoon last?  Well, I can't help feeling a teensy bit sad for him, but only a little since I want a boyfriend. Ian! What is his deal?  Speaking of Ian...let me get back to the present.

Ian answered my mother for me, he began blinking hard, "Oh...Jezabelle had amnesia and didn't remember anything about her past life...she lived at...Mrs. Roswell's house growing up and she was over protective...not letting her leave the house, and she never tried to help her figure out the past...when Mrs. Roswell passed away, I met Jezabelle at the coffee shop and we instantly fell in love..."

Well, I was glad that Ian was saving my butt, but we haven't fallen in love though I'd like to.  If he doesn't find it appalling to say so, why can't he make a first move?

Mom answered, "Oh...um...I see.  That's quite unfortunate, Jezabelle.  Why couldn't Jez answer me?"

This time I stopped Ian from answering for me again, "because it is quite painful for me to talk about..."

"Well, you're lucky to have a boyfriend like Ian.  He seems very sweet."

She turned to him and smiled.  Great, now I have to lie not only about my past but also that Ian is my boyfriend...

"So mom, what have you been doing with your life?"

"Glad you asked." I already had a brief idea since Ian told me a little about her from a few articles, but I wanted to hear it from her. "I work as a second grade teacher.  I love my job, my kids are so good to me.  Kids are a joy to me...that's why I had two other kids when you left.  I always wanted two kids..."

Silence encompassed the room for a few moments.  Of course thoughts passed through my mind, but I couldn't blame her for having two kids since I had disappeared for what seemed like forever.  Oh, so just because I was no where to be found you just had to have two more kids and forget that I exist? But I'm a logical girl, I knew what I was thinking was silly.  But the funny thing about logic is..your thoughts usually aren't logical.

"Anyway, mom.  Anything else?"

"Oh, yes.  Now keep an open mind about this next part...I'm really into lucid dreaming and dreaming in general.  Lucid dreaming is a dream that you know you're dreaming while in the dream.  I've presented in a few dreaming conferences."

I nodded.  Sure that's kinda weird, but in a sense I had been living in a lucid dream my whole life except I was never lucid...so I was living in a dream.

Then Shelby spoke up.  Candace, Shelby, and Dad have been pretty quiet this whole time.  The fact that Dad was so quiet and mom so not makes them a perfect couple.  It's funny...

"Oh...can I talk now?"  Looking amused, mom nodded.  "Alright.  I will be going to college soon...and I'm not quite sure what I want to major in yet.  But, I'm thinking psychology.  I'm not sure what part of psychology, but I'd love to help people sort out their problems."  I tried to supress a grin.  Sure I don't really know my sister that well, but she didn't seem like the 'confront your feelings' type.

Then Candace looked over at me and spoke, "I am not really sure what I want to be yet, but I'm only a sophmore in high school, so I have time.  But I do get really good grades and I actually try in school.  Right Shelby?"  She rolled her eyes.

Then there was a beeping that interupted our conversation.  I looked down at my pockets and realized that my cell phone was ringing.  I looked at everyone and said, "oh, it can wait."  But I took it out to see the caller ID. Landgraab Science Facility. I gasped to myself and said, "oh, scratch that, I actually better take this."

I walked to the front area and pressed talk as soon as I gained composure of myself.

"Hello."

"Hello, Jezabelle.  I have called to inform you that you are hired as a lab assistant at Landgraab Science Facility."

I sucked in a breath.  "When will I have to come for my first day?"

"Come over anytime today or tomorrow to fill out some paperwork and we'll make it official.  We will also discuss proper work attire and go into more detail as to what your job will entail."

"Thanks so much.  I believe I'll come over tomorrow to fill out the paperwork.  I'm quite busy today..."

"Sounds good, Jezabelle.  See you then."

"Ok, bye."  I hung up the phone.

After putting the phone in my back pocket, my heart was thudding really hard.  Oh my gosh, I have a job!  My first job!  I can't believe it.

Then I whispered to myself, "I can't believe it...I have my first job!"

Then I heard Ian sneak up behind me. Ugh, talking to yourself and Ian surely heard it...

But Ian didn't even mention it, "congrats on your first job, Jezabelle!  You're just lucky you skipped a step, well actually two steps.  You didn't have to have a fast food job, and you didn't have to go to college."

I raised an eyebrow.  If this position usually required college, why was I exempt?

I decided to say my thought aloud, "Um...if this position usually required college, why am I emempt?"

"Oh, like I told you before, I have connections.  I know that you can do it with all of your chemical experiments, and because of that, it was enough."

I raised an eyebrow but didn't continue to ask.  I guess I just can't question luck and genius.  Ian works in mysterious ways.

"How about we go back to your family and tell 'em the good news, eh?  I'm sure they'd like to know."

I nodded and followed him.

We went back into the living room and sat back down. "So, what happened?" Alex said.

I smiled.  "I got a job!"

"That's great Jez!  What is it?"

"I'm going to be a lab assistant!"

Lucky for me, mom didn't ask about prior experience, "well, I'm so happy for you!  Is this your first job?"

I nodded. "It's not as bad as you would think.  My first job was at KFC.  It was okay, but being a lab assistant for your first job is tremendous!  You must've worked hard to get there."

I nodded slowly.  Not really...

Then mom looked at Candace. "You should try to get a job!  I would tell Shelby that, but she's going to be signing up for college soon and that needs to be a priority.  You should start some applications.  My parents made me get a job at your age."

She nodded slowly.  "But mom, I want to achieve my goal of becoming a valedictorian!"

"Valedictorian shmaledictorian.  You do quite well in school, but you always have so much free time.  A job would be good for you."

She half smiled, defeated.

"It would be good for you to have the experience."

"Yeah, I guess so..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later, mom and I were making dinner together.  I know I didn't have to help, but it was time that I tried my hand at cooking.  Everyone is always making food for me, so the least I could do was help.

Dinner was going to be lobster thermidor.  I've never had it, but mom told me it's really fancy and she bought it especially for my homecoming.  She left the house earlier just to buy that so we could eat it...I'm a very big deal.

While she was seasoning the lobster I was trying my hand at some rice.  It seemed simple enough and I have to start somewhere, right?  We cooked together in my parents' amazingly large kitchen.  If someone were to pass us as we chopped and seasoned, we would've been fine without having to move over.  

"It's so sweet of you to make lobster...I'm sure it'll be delicious."

"Well, you're worth it, Jezabelle.  My oldest daughter has finally come home!  You'll love it.  That's a promise."

"I'm sure I will..I love trying new things."

Mom laughed. "What's so funny?"

"Oh, it's just I'm so picky I hate trying new things.  But don't let me sway you."

I laughed.  Yeah, she isn't an ordinary mother.  At least I think?  I've never known any other mother (I rhyme!).  Harah doesn't count.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later we all sat in the dining room while dinner was cooking because 'I'm just so worth it.'  I get fancy lobster and to sit in the fancy dining room-I'm so important.  Mom was still watching the lobster and rice cook, and she insisted that I sit with the rest of the family.

"It's alright, I got this.  It's your day, you don't have to be working the whole time!  Go sit with everyone else," she had said.  "Alright mom, alright..."

When I went to sit on the table, I figured I should ask dad about his life.  I just realized that everyone else said something about their life except for him.  Ian didn't go into his past, but I don't think it was the day for that.  I'm sure that he was greatful.

"So dad, tell me about your life.  Mom went into it..."

"I am the manager of Billy's Tunes.  I used to be a door to door salesman, but now the old manager/owner is getting so old that he just lets me run everything.  The man is like eighty five now!  My goodness..."

"So, you like your job?"

"Yeah, I suppose.  It gets the money on the table, and I'm good at it. But my passion is dreaming-just like your mother."

I guess I should really start paying more attention to my dreams-from skimming a few articles my mom has written....it sounds interesting.  But, I'm not going to put all of my energy into it.  Sometimes noobs have to or it doesn't work out...I don't want dreaming to be a priority in my life.

Later, we got to dish ourselves the delicious meal-or should I say buffet!  Mom cooked up so many delicious sides, including the rice of course, but also noodles and biscuits.

I took my first bite and smiled happily.  "Wow mom, this is so good."

She smiled showing her teeth.  "Thanks Jezabelle.  I'm glad that you love it."

I laughed to myself-I just realized that neither of my parents have called me any pet names.  Of course, I was glad about it because I always hated when Harah called me something other then Jezabelle or Jez, so I wouldn't want my real parents to call me pet names either, but I would be willing to deal with it.  They're not creepazoids like Harah-sure they're weird, but they're real weird.  As in real and they're weird...real isn't an adjective for weird.

And of course, mom had to question my little laugh, "what, did I say a joke or something?"  She changed her voice to sound extra girly.  Alright, so this time I really laughed.

"It's just that you're calling me Jez or Jezabelle....not some other name."

"What other name would we call you?"

"Oh, come on, you know what I mean."

At that moment she decided the joke was over, "right, that's because I was annoyed when my mother called me a pet name so I don't do it for my children and they don't seem to mind.  You don't, right?"

"Oh, you bet.  I hated that when.... Mrs. Roswell called me pet names."

"Yes, it's official.  Children don't like to be called pet names.  Usually."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After dinner, we played uno.  A lot. Today I just learned that my parents love games a lot.  It's funny, I don't really remember playing games in my youth-but of course my youth had been messed up.  It was fun: and Ian creamed us all.

Later, mom took us upstairs to show us our room. She insisted that we stay over for the night.  'I can't bare not to see you tomorrow, or I'd wake up thinking it was all just a dream.  Please stay over'.  How could I deny her? Yup, because she thinks we're boyfriend and girlfriend, she's going to make us share a room.  Frankly that didn't disappoint me too much.

The hallway was rather roomy, and by the stairs you could see down to the first floor just like at Ian's.  I love that house placement.

We walked to the end of the hallway, last door.  "Alright, this is your room.  Come into ours, next door, if you need anything.  See you guys in the morning."

We went into the room, and I turned around to see mom go, but she was already gone.  Talk about giving us privacy.

I looked around and smiled.  It was a very nice tan room.  It wasn't decorated fancifully, but it was perfect.  The room smelled fresh.

I looked awkwardly at the bed and realized that there was just that- a bed.  I wouldn't mind sleeping with Ian...kinda.  But isn't that going a bit far for now?  It's not like I could tell mom that I couldn't sleep with him-then we'd have to come up with an alternate answer about who he was, then she'd ask about my life.  And I canNOT do that.

For a few minutes, we didn't say anything.  We just stood there staring at the room.

To ease the awkwardness, I took a pillow and whipped it at Ian's waist.  Quickly he took another pillow and whipped it at me.  Once our little pillow fight got messy, we decided to quit.  I don't want to explain to my mother tomorrow why she has to buy new pillows...We want to sleep on pillows with feathers still in them.

After that, I took a deep breath and layed on the bed.  My face looked chill, but my heart was pumping so fast.  Alright, now- "Ian, why don't you lay by me?  This bed is very comfy."

"No, Jez...I can't..."

I gave him a look.

"Jez, I can't.  I just can't...I'm going to go to my house to get a sleeping bag."

Before Ian disappeared, I went over to touch his hand.  I just realized that I needed my pj's.

In under ten seconds, we were in Ian's room.  He went under his bed to grab his sleeping bag and I skittered to my room to get my pj's.

"Jez, why'd you have to come?"  He sighed.

I held up my pj's for him.  He nodded lightly.  "Ah."  Ever since suggesting he come on my bed he has been acting very unamused.

"Well, let's get back.  We don't want your mom checking on us only to find we're gone.

"Right..."  I touched his hand and we teleported back.

"Jez, I have something to tell you...I'm sorry...I'm just sorry for the way I've been treating you."

I yawned.  I was so tired that I didn't care what he had to say.

"It's okay-I'll tell you tomorrow.  Goodnight, Jez."

"Night Ian."

I went and layed in the bed alone.  I was sad-I figured that I was finally going to be able to snuggle up against Ian while I slept.  But who was I kidding?  He dissed me.  He doesn't want me at all, we haven't even kissed yet!  That probably won't happen.

But as my final consciousness of the night came, I became very curious by what Ian was going to say.  What if it was something other than 'Jez, I don't like you'?