Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Beyond the End ❯ Earie white tufts ( Chapter 5 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Chapter Five

Janis's mind reeled in shock. This boy, Livi, wasn't human. He wasn't even from this world.

“Then…how can you look human?”

Livi snickered.

“I can look any way I like. Here, I'll show you.”

He closed his eyes and willed himself to change. Janis's eyes widened in shock as she looked down at an exact replica of herself, right down to the small mole on the side of her neck. She watched as he shifted again, this time into a small girl of around eight with waist-length black hair and dark blue freckles coating his—or was it her?—nose.

“This was Katiana,” he said, looking up at Janis with his now-forest green eyes. Janis smiled.

“She was very pretty.”

“And this,” Livi said, shifting a third time, “Is my doctor. But it's weird. I mean, he doesn't even have white tufts growing out of his ears!”

“Do doctors on…erm…”

“Nitere.”

“Nitere all have white tufts?”

“Nah. Most of them are women. My grandma is a doctor, actually. Given Katiana's clumsiness, this is rather fortunate.”

But I guess I don't have to worry about that anymore…he thought sadly.

He said `is'…does he still have family left?

“So you do have family left?”

“Just my grandma Yvonne and my cousin Raien. But I doubt they'll notice my family is gone. We only see them every few months. We're not exactly…close to Yvonne. She's a bit too overbearing,” Livi said.

And that's being kind…

“But what will they do when they figure out that you haven't come back?”

“No idea. But knowing Yvonne, probably nothing. She doesn't really care for me. And Raien only cared for Katiana, so she won't come to find me, I'm willing to bet.”

“That's too bad. I know I'd be distraught if…”

If I lost you…wait, wait, WHAT??

“My family isn't like you.”

I can see that…

“But I'll miss them anyway. Even Yvonne,” Livi said with a sigh, his form melding into a woman of about seventy-five with cropped silver hair and pale blue eyes. The face was slightly wrinkled and had liver spots on the forehead and around the eyes. The entire thing was covered with make-up to try and hide the fact that she was aging. Janis smiled.

“She doesn't look all that evil.”

Livi grinned before replying, “Well, make-up does help.”

“So without it, I'm going to say that she's probably terrifying.”

“Yeah. Katiana was always scared of her. It was kind of weird, since Yvonne was always nicest to her. That and Katiana was scared by very few things; just Yvonne, spiders, and the dark,” Livi said, morphing back to his original form.

“How do you do that? Shifting, I mean,” Janis asked, curious.

“Well I have to concentrate really hard on what or who I want to change into and…well, I just shift into them. I can't really explain it. I guess it just comes naturally to me.”

“Huh. That's cool, Livi. I kinda wish I could shift like that.”

“No you don't. It's a pain, especially when your cousin mistakes you for Erqi. She hates him, and she's also a martial arts master…”

“Ow.”

“Yeah. Quite literally, it's a pain. It's also really, really bad when you're kidding around with your sister and shifting into one of your parents and the other one walks into your room. Not good. Really…not…good,” Livi said, shuddering slightly, “I have my fair share of disturbing memories from one experience of that alone.”

“Your parents were romantic with each other, I take it?” Janis said, stifling a giggle.

“Ugh, you have no idea.”

Laughing softly, she replied, “I think I might, actually. And, given this, you're right. I should be glad I can't shift.”

“Ah, it's good being right about something,” he said, lying back on his pillow.

“Listen, you look exhausted. I mean, you've had a long day. Get some sleep, and I'll be back tomorrow afternoon. My mom wants me to work for a little while in the morning.”

“Yeah. See you, Janis,” Livi said, eyes closing, looking peaceful.

Thump…thump…thump…Janis's heart pounded as she smiled at his resting form.

“Good night, Livi.”

“Alright, I've worked it out with Chief Rasmann. Livi can stay with us only until another family adopts him or his real family finds him. Then he has to go. If the family is reasonably local, you can visit him any time. If they're not, though, you have to let him go and find another way to keep in touch with him rather than seeing him every other weekend. Is that acceptable for you?” Helen said as Janis climbed into the passenger seat of the car.

“Yeah, that's fine mom. He can really stay?” Janis asked, her eyes wide with excitement.

“Yes, he can really stay. Just…Janis, I don't particularly want grandchildren just yet,” Helen said, looking a bit sickened at the thought.

“Mom!”

“I'm just saying…”

“I've only just met him!”

“Well, that doesn't stop some people…”

“I'm twelve.”

“So is Rebekah Anthony, and she's having twins.”

“Yeah. That's because she and Nathan weren't careful.”

“So just be careful, Janis.”

“I'm not going to do THAT with him! Eysh…”

“Well, that's good, dear.”

“You have a very sick mind tonight, mom.”

“Must be Aaron rubbing off on me.”

“No, I think this is all you. Officer Reicker isn't nearly that bad.”

“Well, in all honesty, he doesn't have to worry about grandchildren for a long time. If ever.”

“Mark can always adopt.”

Mark was a boy in Janis's music class. He was Helen's partner's only son, and had just announced the week before that he was gay. Janis, who had known for much longer—even before Mark knew it—wasn't surprised. They'd been best friends since they were in diapers, and that hadn't changed in the slightest with his coming out. The only difference was that Janis could now ask Mark for advice on boys without worrying about him getting jealous.

“Yes, well, that won't be for another several years, I would expect.”

“Just like me. I don't want kids `til after high school. You know that, mom.”

“Yes, yes, Janis, I know.”

“Then what's with the whole `no sex on my watch' talk?”

“Well…Livi is a guy. And guys have certain…needs. That and we only have two bedrooms.”

Ew…I can't believe my mom is thinkingthat way!

“So he sleeps on the couch.”

“Janis, have you seen a couch in our house since you were six?”

“Umm…” Now that Janis thought about it, she hadn't seen any manner of sofa in the house other than her futon since she had crashed headlong into it and broke off two of her teeth and given herself a concussion.

“Exactly,” her mother said, “He can sleep in your room, but he's getting a sleeping bag and a stern talking to.”