You'll Always Be Mine

by Verne, Lara

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

  For those who supported me from the beginning

  CHAPTER ONE - LIZA

  “She lived a good life,”

  “Why would anyone want to do this to her?”

  “She was just a teenager,”

  “There are some real psychos out there,”

  “I’m moving to Canada,”

  The whispering was starting to get to me. I snapped my book shut and let out a much-needed exaggerated sigh. “Can we go home now?”

  My best friend of three years, Katie, raised her head from her magazine but still did not meet her gaze with mine. “I still have a few pages left,”

  I leaned back in my chair and opened my book to where I left off. I tried my best to ignore the whispers but it was very hard. I had thought the public library would be an escape from the news circling around town, but I was anything but right.

  The news spreading around town was that Ellen McHannon was murdered. Ellen was a senior. Three weeks ago, she turned eighteen. As far as I knew, she was liked by many. Nobody knows who would want to kill her. Of course, the police have made connections to similar murders but they do not know for sure.

  Don’t get me wrong, I felt bad for Ellen. I didn’t know her well but I knew her well enough to not want her murdered. The thing that annoyed me the most was the whispering. People seemed to care a lot when you are dead.

  “Katie,” I implored, glancing down at my watch, “It’s getting late, you know Jeremy is going to kill me if I get home past my curfew.”

  Katie slammed her magazine down on the coffee table. “Jeremy is away on a business trip, don’t try to fool me. Besides, we’re going to the movies tonight,”

  I gave her a courtesy laugh, “Making plans without consulting me?” I questioned.

  “Oh, come on,” she whined, “I want to get out of here and have some fun.”

  “No one is stopping you,”

  Katie quirked a brow, “I can’t have fun without my best friend,” she paused to think, “We can even invite Sean if that’s what’ll make you go.”

  I closed my book and set it on the coffee table. “Inviting my boyfriend will not make me want to go to the movies with you.” I poked the inside of my cheek, not wanting to give in.

  “Fine,” she spat, leaning back in her chair. “I guess I’ll be the one keeping Sean company.”

  My eyes bulged, “No you will not!” I yelled with a hint of jealousy.

  Katie wiggled her eyebrows, “How are you going to stop me?” she teased, inching forward with a huge grin on her face.

  “By going to the movies with you,” I muttered under my breath, sinking into the sofa.

  “Now that sounds like my Liza,”

  “Oh shut up,” I snapped at her, grabbing my keys from my back pocket and twirling it around my finger. “What are you waiting for? Let’s go.”

  “Don’t have to tell me twice,”

  ▪▪▪▪▪

  “That was the worse movie I have ever seen!” Sean complained, snaking his arms around my waist and pulling me towards him.

  “Oh, really?” Katie questioned, “I could have sworn you cried over that one--”

  “I was allergic to the perfume in the theater,”

  She scoffed, “Just admit it. You enjoyed it.”

  Sean shook his head, “The only part I enjoyed was seeing Kristen Stewart somewhat naked,”

  I playfully punched him in the shoulder, “Watch it,”

  He raised his hands in defense as he continued to walk beside me. “Babe, I have to stop by the grocery store before I go home so I’ll see you tomorrow at school.” He leaned in and planted a sloppy wet kiss on my cheek.

  “Gross,” Katie commented.

  I ignored her as always and waved Sean goodbye as he ran across the street, getting into his car.

  “You and Sean are perfect together,” Katie said, “I mean he loves you, you love him. It’s almost like puppy love.” She pouted and furrowed her brows, imitating a puppy.

  “I guess you can call it that,” I said, biting my lip. “I need to go home,” I changed the subject, “Do you think you’re going to be okay or do you want me to take you home?”

  She thought it through for a moment, “You know what; I’ll just wait until my brother gets off work. He’ll give me a ride.”

  I flashed her a small smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Turning on my heel, I headed for my car. I crossed my street and accidentally stepped into a puddle, getting my feet wet. I sputtered profanities as I took off my sandals and continued to walk barefoot.

  The wind blew harshly against my brunette hair. I heard crunching noises that came from behind me, slightly becoming closer. Somehow, I could not shake the feeling that something or someone was watching every move I made. I turned around, looked over my shoulder and stared into the distance. I narrowed my eyes, trying to see farther in the midnight darkness. I fished inside of my purse for my cell phone and watched the screen roar to life.

  11:39

  I knew my brother was on a business trip but I also knew that he had ways of knowing where I was at all times.

  Slowly I turned around, walking forward with my sandals in hand. A cold gust kicked up, wrapping around me like a winter coat. I reached my car, pressing the unlock button on my key and got in. Turning the key in the ignition, I sat back in my seat waiting for the car to heat up. These winter nights sometimes got the best of me.

  Just as I was about to reverse out of my parking spot, my cell phone’s screen lit up, indicating I had a new text message. I glanced down at the screen and smiled sheepishly to myself at the caller ID. Pressing ‘read’, I watched as the message soon filled the screen. I read it repeatedly until I finally decided it was time to get out of here.

  ‘ I love you Liza –Sean

  CHAPTER TWO - JACOB

  “Just give me ten shots of the hardest thing you’ve got,” I said nonchalantly. I was sure bags hung underneath my eyes and my hair was a tousled mess but I didn’t care. I have been going through this for years now and I still couldn’t find the one. Where was she? I was tired of waiting.

  The bartender handed me a glass of an unknown substance. I didn’t bother to ask and I didn’t bother to care. I gulped it down. Slamming the glass on the counter, I turned to face the television. They were broadcasting the news on Ellen McHannon. I sighed to myself. I didn’t need any more reminders on how she broke my heart.

  She should have just loved me.

  If she loved me then we would not be here. She wouldn’t be breaking news and I wouldn’t be getting drunk. If only she knew that, I just wanted to care for her.

  But she made it so difficult.

  I tore my gaze away from the television and stared blankly at my empty glass, “Keep them coming,” I said hoarsely.

  The bartender obeyed and refilled my glass to the rim, “Having a rough night?”

  I forced myself to look at him, my eyes burning from the movement. “You can say that,” I replied.
<
br />   He nodded, “Everything always works out. Getting wasted is never the answer.”

  I glared at him, refusing to let myself blink. “Keep them coming,” I said bitterly, finishing the glass. I really didn’t need advice from someone who worked in a bar.

  “Don’t drink yourself to death, now,” he warned, refilling my glass.

  I ignored him. He wouldn’t understand anyway. I fished out a hard twenty and placed it on the counter in front of him. “Have a pleasant night,” I said, sarcasm dripping from my words.

  I eased off the bar stool and walked out of the bar, feeling somewhat satisfied. I began to walk out on the sidewalk when a teenage couple caught my eye.

  The male was an average jock. I could tell by the way his shirt fit tightly around his muscles and the arrogant smirk that seemed to be plastered on his face. The female, however, was beautiful. She had long brunette hair that ended at the midst of her back. Her porcelain skin was complimented with soft enchanting cobalt eyes and a well-rounded, slightly upturned nose. Her full pink lips stretched out into a smile as she looked at her boyfriend.

  She was perfect.

  The male planted a kiss on her cheek and ran off while she was left with what I was guessing was her friend. They talked for a bit until said female walked across the street, leaving her friend behind.

  I was too intrigued by her beauty that I decided to follow her, hoping to get a closer look at her. She stopped to take off her shoes then began to walk again. I slowly crept behind, being careful not to get too close.

  She stopped in her tracks and looked over her shoulder but I hid behind a nearby boulder, not allowing her to see me. She stood like that for a moment before she began to walk again and got inside of her car. She sat inside for quite a while before she actually reversed out of the spot and drove off.

  She was the one.

  CHAPTER THREE - LIZA

  I got home just minutes before midnight. Just as I suspected, Jeremy was home with his legs crossed on the coffee table, waiting for me.

  “Where have you been?” he asked.

  I threw my purse on the sofa and walked into the kitchen. “I was out with Sean and Katie,”

  “Where?”

  I sighed, opening the refrigerator, “We went to the movies. I’m not a kid anymore Jer, I don’t need a curfew.” The first thing I saw was an apple so I settled on that and closed the fridge.

  “You’re my little sister, Liza.” he began, “I swore to Mom and Dad that I would take care of you--”

  “When I was eight,” I finished for him while taking a bite of my apple, “I’m seventeen now.”

  He shook his head, “My point remains the same.”

  “Sorry,” I apologized, “But aren’t you supposed to be on your way to Turkey by now?”

  “Change of plans,” he said vaguely, “I’m leaving tomorrow so I’ll leave you some money to last a couple of weeks.”

  “Cool,” I agreed, plopping down on the couch and turning on the TV. Ellen’s face immediately filled the screen. “Not this again,” I groaned.

  Jeremy shook his head in disagreement. “That’s exactly why you need a curfew. This could have been you,” he pointed towards the TV, “I would have never been able to live with myself.”

  I smiled, “You’re not getting rid of me that easily,” I stood up from the couch, “I’m going to bed, see you when the sun comes, big bro.”

  ▪▪▪▪▪

  The news about Ellen had died down the next day but police officers came to the classrooms to give us a brief safety lesson. Apparently, Ellen McHannon’s death was similar to that of Candice Simmons, another teenage girl who was also murdered in her home. I am not familiar with the other murders but they said that it was the same person, which meant he was still out there.

  “It sucks to know that someone actually died here,” Katie said, “It makes me feel unsafe now.”

  “No kidding,”

  Katie ran her fingers through her orange hair and flashed me a toothy smile, “So how are you and Sean?”

  “We’re doing great,” I smiled to myself while wrapping my fingers around my coffee cup, allowing the heat to warm my hands. “I’ve never felt better.”

  “That’s good!” she exclaimed, “You deserve him and more.”

  “I’m not so sure about ‘and more’. I’m just trying to survive high school,”

  “Aren’t we all?”

  I stared at Katie and she stared at me. Almost simultaneously, we broke out in laughter. “We’re so not ready for the real world,” she said in between laughs.

  “Not a chance,”

  Katie’s phone vibrated inside her pocket. She reached for it and stared blankly at the screen. “My brother is running late. Do you think you can give me a ride home?”

  “Of course,” I agreed without hesitation. “I’m supposed to say goodbye to Jeremy before he leaves so let’s hurry.” I grabbed a hold of Katie’s wrist and pulled her towards my car.

  ▪▪▪▪▪

  “I put six hundred dollars into your account and the fridge is stocked up on the necessities like milk and such,” Jeremy swung his backpack over his shoulder, “Don’t forget to always lock the doors and don’t stay out too late. I will be emailing you every day. I expect you to respond to my emails as soon as possible,”

  “Got it,” I said impatiently, “I’m a big girl, remember?”

  He cupped my face in his hands and kissed the top of my forehead. “I love you, Ellie.”

  I felt my cheeks turn red from the remembrance of the childhood nickname I was given. “I love you too, Jer,” I pulled him into a hug and played with the hair at the nape of his neck. “Kill ‘em, tiger.”

  He pulled away and grabbed onto the handle of his suitcase. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” he warned me before he finally stepped out of the door.

  I smiled peevishly at the closed door and folded my arms across my chest. “You can come out now!”

  Sean opened the pantry door with a childish grin on his face. “I’ve come to put you out of your misery.”

  I couldn’t hold back a smile. “My knight in shining armor.”

  He came up from behind and wrapped his arms around my waist, beginning to trail soft kisses down my neck. “What do you want to do first, love?”

  “We could watch a movie,” I said absentmindedly, too distracted by how soft his lips felt on my skin. I turned around quickly so that I was facing him. “Or we could do something else,”

  He smirked, “Don’t do anything that your brother wouldn’t do.”

  “Oh shut up,” I playfully slapped his cheek, “Letters to Juliet?”

  “No,”

  “It’s your favorite movie.”

  “You’re kidding right?” Sean raised an eyebrow, “That chick flick?”

  I placed my hands on my hips. “I remembered that you cried during--”

  “I had something in my--”

  “You bought the soundtrack,” I placed my hands on my hips.

  Sean pressed his lips together, “…it was a good soundtrack…”

  “You aren’t fooling anybody.” I said, holding the collar of his shirt and tugging him towards me. “How about we ditch the movie and you can just kiss me?”

  “Sounds like a plan,” he smirked before he crashed his lips on mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he wrapped his around my waist.

  Reaching down, I pulled at the bottom of his shirt, intending on getting rid of any barriers. He smiled against my lips as he assisted with taking his shirt off. His lips were back on mine, grazing over my bottom lip before his tongue slid right in my mouth. I didn’t deny him entry and let his tongue massage mine.

  He slid his hands down to the hem of my shirt, slowly beginning to take it off until he had completely slid it right off me. I deepened the kiss, pressing my almost bare chest against his bare one.

  Sean pulled away shortly, staring hungrily into my eyes. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

>   “I--” I stared down at the floor. Did I really want to give myself to him? Yeah, I loved him but I didn’t have to rush it. “I’m sorry.” I said, pulling away from him and picking my shirt off the floor. “Maybe another--”