Two

Chapter Two      
In which Sarah has problems…

As you can imagine, when I returned home that night, it was late.
Mom and dad were assumably asleep. At least, I thought they were, until the second I walked through the door and quietly shut it behind me, I saw mom peek her head at me from the kitchen. At once, I saw a look of sheer relief flood her expression as she sighed calmly. Naturally, she tried to cover this, but I knew her far too well and made a face at her as I arose and advanced towards the kitchen.
"How'd it go?" She asked nonchalantly, as she fiddled around with some leaves for a salad.
I raised an eyebrow at her and leaned against the side of the entrance frame, crossing my booted ankles. "It went as well as it could've."
She glanced. "Didn't find any aliens?"
-_-
"Nope. Unfortunately." "Well, I'm glad you at least decided to come back home."
I had already removed the harness and camera and hid 'em inside the Beetle to avoid explaining why I had such things, so I didn't have to explain why I had such things, cuz at the moment, I had no such things. So this conversation was going a lot easier and faster than it would've been and that was good, cuz I was tired. "Of course I came back home, all my stuff is here." I answered sarcastically.
"What about Molly?" "Her, too."
She nodded. "Was anyone out there tonight?"
I tensed my shoulders uneasily, trying to think of an explanation, one that didn't involve the part where Dumb and Dumber had a gun pointed at me.

"Well..a couple of alien hunters showed up and started searching, so.."
She jerked her head and whipped it at me. "What?!"
"No sweat, ma, I took care of 'em. They were a couple idiots, anyhow."
"Well that isn't friendly." "I'm not friendly."
She went and pulled out the bottle of ranch dressing from the fridge whilst giving me a disapproving look, and began to pour it onto the salad.
"Anyone else?" "Welllll, they left..then a young guy came by and-"
"OHHH" She whipped her head back at me and made a face that made me instantly regret my existence. "A young guy?! How old?!" I couldn't roll my eyes any harder.
"MA, please!"  "Was he cute?" "Mom!"
"Did you talk to him? He liked you, didn't he?" "NO! I mean, yes, but NO!"
"Yes, no, what?" "YES, I talked to him, NO, he didn't like me, in that way, and for God's sakes, mom, I'm not gonna meet my future husband in a park, whilst searching for aliens!"
I facepalmed so deeply.
"What's wrong with him? Not liking you.."
I looked back at her, solemnly. "LOTS of guys don't like me. I think we've already established my type has been proven to show no interest in me."
I grumbled as I went in the fridge to pull out a water for my terrible headache.
"And probably never will." I drank.
"Oh, don't start that. You'll find the right one for you, who you'll think is handsome and you'll love him and he'll think you're beautiful, which you are."
"For the last time, mother, I am not-" "You're beautiful, hush."
Easy for you to say. You're my mom. >:(

Ma shifted in her fluffy bunny slippers as I held my forehead, wincing in pain.
She didn't even turn around to face me, "Another headache?"
I grimaced, painfully. "Yep..."
She was silent for a moment, before she continued.
"Don't lose hope, Sar. You'll find him. You've got years and years for that to happen, hand me the juice." Mmph. Now you know where my quick-change-of-the-subject comes from.
I jumped off the counter I had just climbed on and went back into the fridge.
"Maybe you'll meet him on one of your little adventures." She said just as I handed her the juice and leaned back. I laughed. Mostly in great doubt.
"Yeah..it'd probably have to take an adventure. I'd most likely have to bribe him through some kinda life debt or something. That or.."
"What? You'll settle?"
I rolled my eyes to her. "I don't settle for anything. You know that."
I drank more water and sighed, "I'll stay alone."
Mom sagged at this. Really sagged. Turned away, sadly finishing her salad preparations.
I went quiet, she went quiet, the room went quiet.
I quietly sipped my water..then remembered how gross that is, so I chugged it from then on.
Very Viking thing to do, chugging.
After a moment of quietness, quiet became uncomfortable, so I made a noise and went for the exit. "I'm going to bed. Love ya, ma."
"How are you feeling?" I stopped in my tracks.
It took me a few minutes to come up with an answer, but I finally turned, clearing my throat.
"Much better." "And anymore weird dreams??"
I rolled my tongue slowly along the inside of my cheek, then shook my head gently.
"No.." It was soft and unconvincing, despite my best efforts.
It might fool others, but mom saw right through it.
"I'm okay, mom." I tried to reassure, but she had her answer.
She stepped back, sighing to herself, taking hold of her bowl.
"You seem distant..something about you just seems so far away and I can't figure out why..I'm just sad..." She fiddled with the leaves with her fork.
"..That report today scared me..something's not right about it..I feel a change.."

Yes, my mom gets feelings about stuff. Right before they happen. I have this, too, in a way.
Just not as strong, unfortunately. While I didn't believe that what was taking place was bad, I did feel a strange change. A sense that something was about to go down.
But I didn't wanna talk about it. Not yet.
I stepped back, curling my lips back.
"Well...we'll talk about it tomorrow..love you."
She didn't even look up at me. Just stared at her bowl. "Love you, hon.."
That ended the conversation.

I swung around, sped up the stairs and hurried into my room, shutting the door behind me.
There, I climbed the stairs leading up into my room above and shuffled across the floor to my bed. Letting out a sigh of relief that I made it out alive, I reached behind me and pulled my gun out from under my shirt. As soon as I tossed it on the bed, I fell upon the blankets and laid there, exhausted, closing my eyes for just a brief moment to take a breather.
It had been a strange day, to be honest, and I didn't know what to make of it.
But before I'd settle for bed, I had to honor what I told Spencer dear boy.
It'd been awhile since I left the park, so, I decided to try and contact him to see if he was home by now. If not, I'd catch him during his little alien scan.
Either way, it was a sure-fire guarantee that I'd be able to contact him.
I pulled out the paper he gave me from my pocket and sighed tiredly as I trudged over to my computer. There, I opened my FB, Twitter and email and shot him a message on each.

Hey, Spence.
It's me. Just checking with ya. Hope to hear back soon.
Sarah

I raised my arm up and rested my chin against my open palm as I stared at the monitor before me. I almost went blind with how bright the screen was, being in the dark.
I played with my bottom lip with my thumb as I continued to wait for an answer.
I sat there, being as patient as possible. I glanced at the clock..
It had already been 10 minutes.
I decided to give him a bit more time as I leaned back against my chair.
What if he just got home? What if he was sleeping?
Busy with his important tech?
Yeah...any of the above sounded good.
It was pushing to midnight, after all. Actually, pushing to 1 and beyond, so..
Sleep sounded like an attractive idea. My birthday, after all, would be coming in roughly a day now.
I needed to prepare and not stay up until 5/6 in the morning, like usual.

Sooo, I reassured myself that I'd probably wake up to a message from him, so it was all good.
My mind settled. I stood up, rubbing my eyes tiredly, muttering a quiet, "Sleep it is".
And I let myself fall upon my bed once more. After pulling my blanket over me, I closed my eyes and took one last long breath of exhaustion before my mind drifted from the burden of living and passed on to darkness. A darkness which turned into a vivid dream full of characters and excitement.
I have so many character dreams, it's not even funny.
But hey, at least I had a chance to be with them there.
Unlike real life, here, they were very much real. And we had the best of times.
It was, truly, an escape.

○ ○ ○

And then.. I was brought back by the warden.
The warden named Life.
My eyes fluttered until they were wide open, me literally feeling my pupils constrict, and every sense in my body was on a high. A curtain-shaded light had replaced the darkness in my room. A vibration ricocheted in my ears as I slowly woke up, gaining back full consciousness, and I gradually began to pull myself up. As I sat up, I rubbed my still tired face and rolled my eyes to the clock.
9:30
Wut. Body. Why you up so flipping darn early.
This wasn't natural. 10:30, no sooner. Get the memo already.
"Why must you.." I muttered aloud, sitting at the edge of the bed, now unsure of what to do.
Oh well....

My memories went ahead and returned to the situation I dealt with just hours before.
Regarding Spencer. ah yes.. I arose, stretched, and groggily slugged on over to my chair in front of the computer. "And hellooooo, Spen-" I froze.
.....there was no reply.
I blinked. I refreshed the page. No reply.
My face crinkled. I refreshed again. No reply.
What in the even heck.
Um..maybe he was working? Maybe he was still sleeping?
Something was not right, though. I just..felt it. Something was off.
I got up, went down to get the phone from the hall outside my room and hurried back up to the paper laying on my table, where I started pushing the numbers I repeatedly glanced at in a hurry.
As soon as I was connected, I sat back down and waited as the beep fest drew out, making the wait even more lengthy. But my heart sunk as..
 "your call has been forwarded to an automated voice-mail system"
I swallowed. Hung up. Sat the phone down. And stared at the screen in front of me for several minutes, feeling rather uncomfortable.
"C'mon Spencer..one little word to let me know you made it home..don't let my mind take me places.."

My room was silent and I still felt uncomfortable.
I looked back down, took a deep breath, and snatched the paper from the table,
stuffing it back in my pocket. I'd try again later. He was bound to answer then.

In the meantime, it was my birthday eve. No sort've job, no hoodlums, no idiot alien hunters, no adult responsibilities, just me going out and treating myself.
What a time to be alive.

I changed into a suitable, comfortable outfit--
Camouflage pants that were baggy and easy to move around in, black leather boots, fingerless black leather gloves, my black hoodie underneath my black leather jacket, and my Emily the Strange t-shirt.
I tightened my hair in a tall ponytail (or at least, as tall as it could go).
Now just because I'm not girly, doesn't mean I can't bling it up a little.
As you know, I have a purity ring, a bulky silver band with "Love" and "Amour" inscribed into it.
Loop earrings, which are my fave, a choker necklace, a dog tag, a faded Batman bracelet and a sister band sent by a dear friend of mine.
The most precious of these, of course, is my purity ring.
Now, I might have given you the impression that purity rings mean you're restricted from dating, which is not correct. You can date. Just not have any..intimacy, we'll say.
Me, I've chosen not to bother at all with romance. Especially after seeing all the negative consequences of having multiple relationships. 'Tis a hard and lonely road, but I knew..I know..there's someone out there for me. And it wouldn't be right focusing my time on someone I won't even be staying with.
Taco.

After I got dressed, I decided to go ahead and give an update to my blog, Welcome to Mystery.
Name is a work in progress, trying to find something better.
Anyway, I like to tell it things. About my life in general, all my obsessions, what fictional bad boy I was currently fangirling about, humor, pictures, GIFs, things and also my writing projects.
I have a nasty habit of starting a story and never finishing it, mostly cuz I get too busy and lose the satisfaction, so there's always something new to tell to the blog.
I felt despicable for this, but alas..stories have never seemed to turn into what I want.
I lose interest and chase another idea. 'Tis sad.
I also share the famous desires of my heart, as if anyone listens to a word I say.

Ok, a few do. My good internet friends.
My besties, who also are on the internet. But that's rude of me, for they are only allowed to be addressed as long distance friends. Cuz internet friends makes them sound like robotic offspring of the digital realm. They are all precious, each and every one of them.
In my update, I gave as much detail as I could about my UFO experience, including what Beavis and Butthead and the fantastic Spencer of whom I messaged with,

I'm flinging trash about you on my blog, hurry and put a stop to it!!

I briefly snickered. That'd be good bait. 
Of course, all I had to say about Spencer was good things. He was a good guy.
Just..a little slow at communication.

As soon as I was done, I published the post and went on the blog to review it.
Scrolling down, reading over everything I said, my eyes abruptly caught sight of the pictures floating on the sidebar. Ones of my dear fictional crushes..and my fave villains to go along with them.
And a smile escaped from me as I began to stare dreamily. And sigh about their beautiful, evil perfection. Master..Moriarty..Evil Pan..blah blah blah..among my fave baddies were Joker and Bane.
The ones in question being the most recent portrayals. As of 2014, of course.
John Simm's Master, Andrew Scott's Moriarty, Heath Ledger's Joker, Tom Hardy's Bane, and of course, the one and only Evil Pan, Robbie Kay's Peter.
There were a few others on the list, but these were the more significant ones to mention atm.
I've had a lot of bad boy crushes over the span of my 19 years.
I must note that I hardly ever have a hero crush.
It's an issue and I'm aware of it.
It's just..ya know..heroes are never my type? If they have a dark brooding fighter who has slight bad boy tendencies and is attractive but not too attractive and dark hair and lots of sass and likes to dress in black and is into dark things, sure, I'll be all over 'em, but there's no such thing.
GIVE ME THAT, AND I'LL STOP CRUSHING ON THE VILLAINS, A'IGHT?
FAIR DEAL.

But for reals, I remember as far back as 5-6 years old, I was crushing on the baddies.
Not a very good, wide selection back then. Over the years, they just mysteriously started getting cuter?? Now, it's like..they're considered "hotter" than the heroes. -_-
Ain't a very easy road for the fangirls. Makin' us question our morals.

Ah yes, it was ritualistic staring-of-the-cute-villain-pics-on-my-computer time.
The part of the day where I stare at cute villain pics on my computer.
don't judge me.
I know I'm trash.
I mean, I do worse, like staring at them with a blanket concealing most of my tiny body except my eyes and spending two hours in the dark searching for more pics.
why am I saying this outloud, these are things you don't tell people.

Moving on, I love these boys, with all my heart and soul. I don't care if they're villains, they are my precious ones and I will protect them, fight me, this is not moving on.

Changing from the subject, I got up from my computer and started getting ready.
I approached my mirror to inspect my outfit, straightened my ponytail and made sure I looked awesome cuz I've got a reputation. But as I stood there and actually noticed myself..
ya know..that moment..when you start to realize your existence little by little and not just check in a mirror. I began to look deeper. At me. At my reflection. I peered into my own eyes and my head tilted at the strange, goofy looking girl before me. That feeling of change was returning.
Something in me was about to be different. Or perhaps be fulfilled. I didn't know.

So many people jokingly think I'm crazy. But really.. I am crazy.
At least...I'd be crazy by the world's standards, if they knew what I believe in.
Everyone thinks you're crazy when you don't believe the same as them.
The peculiar life of Sarah Demens..oh right, Demens...yep..on the internet, I go by Sarah Demens.
I intend for it to also be my pen/stage name. Demens is basically Latin for crazy.
It fits me quite nicely.

But come now..I know you've experienced it. That urge, that need for an escape from ordinary life.
That wish to turn your head and have Peter Pan waiting for you by the window, ready to take you to Neverland..for Batman to pull up next to you in the Batmobile in the middle of the night and order you to get in..for the Doctor to snatch you by the arm, tell you to run and be chased by monsters to the T.A.R.D.I.S...an Autobot to turn out to be your new car and you end up fighting for Earth..Mario to pop out've a pipe and offer you a mushroom......you get the idea.
Point is, deep down, we all want change.
We want something more. We're just forced to give up that want and settle for..this.
Settle...I hate settling. I never settle. I'm stubborn like that.

I was told my high level of imagination would die down when I got older.
Well..hate to break it to them..it only got stronger the more I aged. So, childhood imaginary friends?
Try LIFE LONG imaginary friends.
Taco.

I finally snapped out've it and shook my head of the thoughts, then moved away from the mirror and grabbed my backpack (a rather small little black thing) and headed out.
I got some money from my long distance relatives for my birthday, so I decided to go out and put it to good use. I told my mom goodbye and left for town, leaving the Beetle behind.
Here, I went to Dairy Queen. ♥
I needed a Mint Oreo Blizzard and I needed it immediately. Delicious as heaven above.

I sat alone, of course, waiting for the employee to bring me my icecream, tapping a random rhythm on the table with my ringed fingers, humming a tune as patiently as I could.
There were maybe 2-3 other people in there, so it was thankfully a slow day.
Within a few minutes, the employee came, holding my blizzard upside down and bringing it back up before handing it to me, which is what they usually do.
I nodded and thanked him, as the entrance's door was opened and closed simultaneously, a tiny bell alerting the restaurant of a new arrival, and I heard soft steady footsteps approach from behind.
I naturally expected the person to walk past me and order an icecream up front at the counter..or a meal, the food is actually pretty good here..where I'd get a chance to see what he looked like.
Cuz even though I don't like people, I like to watch them and study them.
........that didn't sound weird at all.

However, they gave me a surprise by stopping right next to the booth to my left and immediately seated. They were just a few feet from me in distance. I didn't wanna seem rude and stalker-like by looking, but I was too curious and something in me had to look, so I looked.
And in that very instance, my heart stopped beating, my breathing cut short, and my mind ceased to function. Because of this, I started gaping like an idiot. My eyes, which are already pretty big, enlarged to the size of saucers.
THIS PERSON BEFORE ME WAS GORGEOUS, I DIED.
He was like, he was, kdjdkwdjwjdjwkdjjdkw
Everything about him may make other people roll their eyes, but to me, he was perfect, like..
I just, dkjsjdsjdjdjw
I didn't know what to do, and I needed to get my mind off of the no doubt very-much-taken man to my left, so I started hastily cramming icecream into my mouth.
The struggle is real, the struggle is real, the struggle is real
SAVE ME
BRAIN STOP
HOW DO SINGLE

I got a brain freeze, or several, and icy chills running up and down my spine and I squeezed my eyes shut cuz now my heart started working again and I felt like I was being drowned.
This was a very uncomfortable rush.
Ya know, icecream attacks, heart attacks, oxygen attacks and attracted attacks all at once.

No matter how hard I tried to stop myself and get away from gross hormones and emotions, my mind was stuck on the shaggy black hair that partially came over his eyes, his pale skin, youthful but handsome features, and pleasant subtle bone structure???
And his eyes, his eyes were so green, they shimmered.
He was obviously mixed with something that was hinted within his handsome features and wasn't just a straight up pale child, I could tell. Especially cuz of the black hair.
Black is perfect and ideal cuz all guaranteed dark haired children,
WHAT WAS I SAYING, MORE ICECREAM, UMF

I crammed another spoonful, which was a mistake, because I was suddenly choking.
In the corner of my eye, I saw him. He had lifted his head up and was glancing at me,
Td7tddtidsyi8syiysyissisydi
THAT JET BLACK HAIR, THOUGH
AND HIS EYES WERE A FRIGGING INTENSE GREEN
I HAVE NO WORDS TO EVEN SAY

As I recovered, I could see, despite him apparently trying to conceal it, that he kept on glancing at me. He looked a little serious, maybe even nervous or worried, and he kept taking shaky breaths that he was trying to control, as his eyes continuously flashed back to the menu board. . . then back to me. My eyes were soon gravitating back and forth between him and my icecream, me chewing all the while... but at least I was TRYING to remain conspicuous, unlike him. He looked away again, towards the ceiling, and his tongue rolled along his teeth, no doubt serving as a thoughtful nervous habit, and he suddenly pulled his phone out from his pocket and began typing hurriedly like there was no tomorrow.

And I caught myself staring.

My eyes were glued to him, researching all I could about him. I couldn't help it.
He had a black jacket over a grey hoodie, a black t-shirt with an alien symbol, black cargo pants, heavy duty black boots, I love this boy, he had a few dull silver ring bands on his fingers, and I have never been more attracted to a male before in my life. He was a wingless angel. and then there's me.
paper jam dipper.


paper jam dipper

 I look like a monkey, who also happens to be a werewolf, who also happens to be a pig, who happens to be a pickle. That married a lemon. And a rock. Clam. Pineapple. Shoe. 
The point is, I'm ugly. As sin. Blegh.
So why did he take such an interest in me, of all people???
There were much more prettier individuals around us. I mean, him. And me.
We..separately. noodle. Valentine. Canada.
HE NEEDED TO BE STOPPED, AT ONCE.

But as I continued to stare, I realized something.
I had seen this guy before. 
He was familiar...but..I couldn't make out why..??
Just why?
"Sir, are you lost?" I whispered to myself...but his head turned to me.
I was taken off guard. My heart stopped again. He heard me.
...I went back to cramming my mouth. More..and more..and more..
Not making eye contact..until boom..I heard it..
"Your call has been forwarded to an automated voice-mail system."
I dropped my spoon right into my cup and froze..wait a minute..
At once, my eyes flashed, and lord almighty, HE WAS GONE.

I nearly choked in shock and swung in my seat to catch the tail end of the mysterious beauty walking out the door and fleeing the scene. I snatched my backpack and cup and scrambled up, running as fast as my unusually long legs could take me, throwing my empty cup into the trash before making my exit. I hurried out and looked left, then right, and cursed myself. He had disappeared.

Already out of breath, I ran around the corner of the building and looked around, hurrying back.
There was no trace of him. It almost felt like I imagined him.
And I felt crazier than I already am. My body sagged and I sighed heavily through huffs and puffs, squinting my bright eyes due to the sunlight. Everywhere I turned, frantically, trying to catch something I missed. The truth was clear, however. He was gone.
~ ~ ~

I had enough of this. Something was going on, something weird, and I was going to find out what.
I walked to one of the last standing pay phones in America and angrily inserted coins into the slot, then pulled out the paper from my pocket and looked at it, typed in his number, and awaited as I was connected. After a few long, brutally boring, agonizing minutes, I heard clearly..
"Your call has been forwarded to an automated voice-mail system."
WHAT IN THE EVEN HECK

This time, I let the message beep come on and once it did, I said stuff.
"Spencer! Where the heck are you?! I've called and sent you messages and you haven't answered, weird stuff is happening and I'm legit confused and I need to make sure you're ok. Please get back to me. Bye." I hung up.
My hand held on for a minute as I stared at the phone box for a minute.
When I was finished with that, I turned right around. And I booked it out've there, hands in pockets. Even then..as I walked..eyes set straight ahead..I felt watched.