Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Friendship Runs Thicker than Blood ❯ Begin Again ( Chapter 9 )

CHAPTER NINE: BEGIN AGAIN

Sira was still annoyed at Seda when she hung up with her. True, she was at home and in one piece, but the short flight alone through that windstorm had scared her. To take her mind off it, she went to her computer and went to a fanfiction site. She found one she had been reading during their stay in Williamsburg. When she clicked on it, she realized that there one only one chapter, instead of eleven.

“Dammit!” she whispered. “It hasn't been written yet.” With all her fanfics behind by several weeks, Sira had nothing to do but go to bed.

The next day was stressful for her. She and Leo called each other practically every hour, to check if Seda had called the other yet. Her call didn't come until three in the afternoon. She called Sira first.

“Well, they're gone,” she said when Sira answered. “My brain patterns are perfectly normal. I have no more superpowers at all. I convinced my parents to take me to the mall. Wanna meet me there?”

“Sure,” said Sira. “I'll just get my mom to drive me. Do you want to call Leo, or should I?”
“I will,” said Seda. “I have a feeling there's something he wants to tell me.”

“Heh, yeah,” said Sira. “Bet you five bucks he waits to tell you in person.”

“You're on,” said Seda. “See ya.” They hung up.

“I'm gonna lose five bucks!” Sira realized with a groan. “Oh, well.” She figured that Seda wouldn't take the money, anyway. Sira went downstairs to get her mom to drive her to the mall.

 

Leo couldn't focus on anything all day, waiting desperately for Seda's call. The instant his phone rang, he snatched it up.

“What happened?” he demanded in greeting when he saw who was calling.

“Hello to you too,” said Seda. “You'll be pleased to hear, Mr. Pushy, that my brain waves are normal and the Feds are contacting the hospital to tell them to check their equipment.”

“That's great!” said Leo distractedly. Then, unable to restrain himself, he added, “Seda, there's something I need to tell you.”

“Sure, Leo,” she said. “What is it?”

“I—promise you won't laugh?”

“I promise.”

“I've had a crush on you since before we had to run away,” said Leo very quickly. “I've liked you practically since I met you.” There was a slightly awkward pause. Leo began to wonder if he should have elaborated.

“I have only one thing to say to that,” Seda told him in a neutral tone. Might as well play with his mind once more, she thought.

“You're going to tell me you don't feel that way about me, right?” He felt like he was going to cry at the very thought.

“No, that's not what it is. I was going to say that I wish you had told me sooner, so that we could have gotten together before now.” He heard her words, but he took a few extra seconds to process what they meant.

“You mean—” he gasped.

“Yes, Leo. I like you too,” Seda told him. She laughed. “Sira's going to be so pissed.”

“What do you mean?” Leo asked. A suspicion dawned on him. “She told you, didn't she?”

“No,” said Seda. “She didn't have to. I knew. You really need to be more careful with your thoughts around a telepath.”

“You read my mind?” he demanded, outraged.

“Of course not!” she assured him. “I didn't have to. We spent so much time in close proximity to one another, and your thoughts were practically shouting it out. I couldn't help but hear it.”

“Oh,” said Leo, appeased. “Well then, sorry I accused you.”

“You're forgiven,” she said. “Oh, Sira and I decided we should all meet at the mall. Can you come?”
“I won't be shot at again will I?” he joked.

“Don't bring that up, please Leo?”
“All right, all right. Sorry. I think I can come. I'll see you there?”

“Yeah. In about half an hour,” she estimated. “See you soon.”

“Bye.” They hung up.

 

All three of them met at the main entrance to the mall. Leo got there first, Seda a close second. Sira got there as the other two were hugging.

“Oh, please,” she said. “Why did I even bother to come?”

“I think you owe me five bucks,” Seda informed her, holding out a hand. Sira sighed and handed over the money. “Well, should we go see a movie without the Feds chasing us this time?”

“Okay,” said Leo.

“As long as you two don't start making out,” said Sira. She grinned mischievously as she dodged Leo's punch and Seda's kick. They headed over to the movie theater, and got tickets for the other movie they had wanted to see in their other reality.

Seda and Leo sat next to each other. They did not make out, but Leo put his arm around Seda and she leaned on him. Sira, seated on Seda's other side, made a gagging noise, but her friends ignored her.

The movie ended just as it was starting to get dark outside. The three friends slowly ambled back to the main part of the mall. Leo and Seda were holding hands, a fact which Sira carefully ignored.

“I like this version of events much better,” remarked Seda, smiling up into Leo's eyes.

“Yeah, me too,” agreed Leo.

“That's `cause you didn't get shot,” said Sira.

“Gah! Will you people just leave that alone!” exclaimed Seda. Leo put his arm around her shoulders, and hers went around his waist. “I'm still very sorry about that,” she added.

“Don't be,” he said. “You saved my life, after all.” He leaned down and kissed the top of her head.

“Don't get all sappy on me!” Sira ordered. “I like this reality better too, except for one thing: I have to wait weeks for new chapters on my fanfics!” Seda laughed so hard that Leo had to take her by the shoulders to keep her from falling over.

“Only you, Sira,” she said fondly when she could speak again.

In that way, laughing and talking, the three friends walked into the rest of their lives as normal teenagers.

END

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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