The Shadows Within by faze1315 (reading strategies book .txt) 📖

me and I wrapped my arms around his waist. I placed my head onto his chest and listened to his deep voice lull me into sleep. Dark, inviting sleep.
I woke up to a killer headache and my leg killing me. It took awhile, but my memory eventually came back to me and I slapped myself in the head. Did I really tell Neal he smelt like manly flowers? I crept towards the door and slowly opened it up to the hallway.
Not remembering where how we got up here, I wandered around until I found a set of stairs to my right. Taking two at a time, I made my way into the kitchen where Neal stood shirtless. "Morning," I squeaked.
"Morning Alex," he sat a plate of eggs on the table and carefully watched my movements. Staring back at him, I sat down and devoured the eggs. "How was your sleep?"
"Beautiful," I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arm against my chest. Why did I feel a breeze? I looked down at my clothes from yesterday. Leather pants and vest, how could I forget? "I will be upstairs changing."
I sprinted out of the kitchen and up the stairs. I couldn't remember how many turns it took to get to my room. Ten minutes later, I get fed up and started opening random doors. Most of them where closets, but one held a large piano.
Making my way into the room, I noticed other instruments like the trumpet, a violin, cello, and many more. But my interest was still focused on the piano. I sat down at the piano and ran my finger across the cool keys. "Do you know how to play?"
I jumped, but quickly settled when I saw it was just Neal. "Not really, I learned to play the guitar, but I always wanted to learn the piano. Do you?"
"I know some," Neal made his way over to me and scooted me over, so both of us were sitting on the small bench. Neal played a few keys and asked me to do the same. We went over it a couple of times until I got the hang of those few notes. Then Neal played another set, telling me to do the same.
For hours, Neal and I sat on the bench. Him playing a few keys and I coping. Some times he had to correct me, but most of the time I got it. "Now play everything I taught you together."
I realized it was 'How to Save A Life' by the Fray. A beautiful song that I only heard a few times, but just now recognized it true beauty. I looked down and realized I was still in this stupid leather outfit. Neal must have noticed as well because he cheeks flamed into two tomatoes. "I guess I should leave," we both stood up at the same time, knocking each other both down.
"I'm sorry," he helped me back up.
"It is fine, just my butt." I laughed and it quickly faded when I saw the fire in Neal's eyes. His fingers lightly brushed my cheeks, pushing hair behind my ears. The movement reminded me so much of Casey. My Casey.
I pushed him away, tears falling. "Alex?"
"I'm fine," I pushed past him, running out of the room. Why can't things be simple? Chapter Five

I stepped over a fallen tree and rose my bow and arrow. The feel of the string and the ressistance from pulling back the arrow felt good after the past days of sulking in Neal's house. Behind me I could hear the creek I pasted an hour ago and by my right the coo of a bird.

Turning in a 360 degreee rotation, I made my way back to the creek, where most likely an animal would be. It has been two hours since I left the city and I haven't seen or smelt an animal or mythicla creature. It was definitaly unuasal because when Neal was taking me to the city a week ago, the forest was swarming with creatures.

"All the animal are hidding from you," a voice called out from behind me. Turning around, I came face to face with Casey. A swarm of emotions took hold of my heart and was playing tug-o-war with it. "That thing you killed a week ago has your scent all over it. You will be lucky enough if a animal comes fifty feet from you."

"What are you doing here?"

"Oh, you know," Casey leaned on a tree and smiled at me, "enjoing the view."

I held my bow and arrow up and pointed it towards his chest. The green spots were appearing before my vision again and was giving me a major headache. "You came back to finsih off what you started?"

Casey's eyes flickered towards my bow and his smile fell, a flicker of sadness passed his face. "I didn't mean for that to happen. I swear it wasn't me."

"What you're saying was someone controled your body and was trying to kill me?"

Casey's eyes flicker to the ground, "exactly."

My heart beated stopped for a few seconds. I wanted to rush over to him and comfort him, but I still wasn't sure if he was true to his words. "How do I know if I could trust you? You could be setting a trap for me again. There could be a group of angels behind me and I wouldn't now it."

"There is not a group of angels behind you, but you can trust me. I am only a gaurdain angel, which means that there are groups of angels more powerful than me. If they are ranking higher than me, then any of them could posses my body. Even my angel could posses my body," Casey stepped forward and reached out his hand. "If I was going to hurt you, you would have been dead by now."

"That is reasurring. How did you find me?"

"Once you left the parking lot, they beat me up a little bit, but let me free. I made sure no one was following me before I followed you. I knew you would come out sooner or later, so I waited."

"You waited for me?"

"Yeah," Casey lowered his head, a deep blush forming on his cheeks.

"Why did you come?"

"Oh, right." Casey stepped forward, but this time I didn't protested. It has been so long that I have seen him, that instead of the one step I was planning to take, I was running towards him, jumping bushes and flying through the air. I jumped into his arms and he swung me around. "I am so sorry."

"I guess it wasn't you fault," I shrugged, the feeling of laughter bubbled inside me. "I missed you."

"I missed you too, Alex," he pulled me in for another hug and kissed the top of my head. "So, tell me about this demon school."

"It is actually fun. I made like two friends out of the thousands of demons, but I am having fun."

"Good, and they are not working you to death?"

"I haven't done anything yet."

"Why not?"

"Because I-I," Looking down I shrugged my shoulders, "just because."

"Alex?"

"Yeah?"

"What are you not telling me?"

I pulled my hair apart and showed him the scar I got from the accident. "I might have been caught under some boulders. But don't worry, I didn't die."

"Good to know," Casey chuckled. He wrapped his arms around my waist and I put my arms around his neck. He started to hum a sweet melody and swayed us back and forth. Together we moved through the forest, the only music guiding us was nature's music and Casey's humming.

We both stopped when we heard my name being called from our right. I looked at Casey and back to the thick forest. "Meet me back here tomorrow?"

"Of course, " I smiled and untangled myself from him. I started to walk away, but Casey tugged my arm and pulled me back. Running his finger through my hair, he pulled me in for a mouth watering kiss. It was short, sweet and everything I needed to get me through tomorrow.

Opening my eyes, he was already gone and Neal was walking though the bushes. "Are you alright?"

"I am perfect," I smiled and linked arms with him. "Come on, we are going to miss dinner."

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Publication Date: 03-03-2013

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