Shadow-Land by Heather Parsons (best books to read for teens .txt) 📕

/>
Outside the terminal Sierra knew she was in the right place because of the rain. Squinting up at the sky and sighing. She took a deep breath not so sure now if she could do this. Dropping her suitcase at the same time the driver spotted her. He walked over, picked up the suitcase and put it in the back of the car. She took a step back, his sudden movement scaring her. Pulling out her phone, she needed a reassuring voice to tell her everything would be alright. The phone only rang once before it was answered.

"Carmen, she hasn't called yet!" Dean's voice sounded irritated.

"Dean it's Sierra. I'm almost home and I just wanted to call to say I'm fine." She hoped he'd believe her because it was a lie. She's not fine and never will be again. She did however manage to smile to show everyone around the airport that what she'd said was true. But she couldn't explain the tears and the look on her face.

"Sierra is it really you?" His voice was shaky and she couldn't believe he didn't believe her. She took a few breaths before answering. Calming herself first.

"Yes it's really me and I'm at the Medford airport now." Her phone started beeping, low battery. "I have to make this quick before my phone dies. Please tell everyone I love them and I will

come back. I just don't know when. Could you tell Travis I'm sorry and not to worry about me, I'm okay." The phone was beeping more and more. "Be safe and take care of everyone. I love you guys and I'm sorry I left the way I did. Please understand that I do love you all." Finally it died and her heart broke a little more. She dropped her head and closed her eyes.

♥`♥`♥

AFTER the phone call ended with Sierra, Dean couldn't stop his eyes from tearing up. Hearing the sadness in her voice made him miss her more. This house, this place will never be the same without her smiling face and cheerful attitude.

"Dean, who was on the phone?" Joseph's voice caught him off guard. His hands flew to his face and quickly wiped the tears away. Dean turned his body slightly out of view from Joseph so he couldn't see him cry. No one had seen him cry, ever.

"Sierra just called. She's almost home and she says she's fine but I don't believe her. I could hear in her voice that she's been crying. We shouldn't have allowed her to do by herself. Joseph we've known about this for awhile, someone should have gone with her. We should have insisted on it." Dean couldn't believe he hadn't thought of this before.

"Don't you remember, she did ask if we wanted to do. I don't think anyone answered her though." Joseph sat down on the chair, shaking his head. "After what happened last night, I'm sure she want time alone. We just have to sit by and hope she comes back." Dean could see that he didn't fully believe his own words. And he couldn't help but have doubts too.

"Yeah your probably right. Sierra said she would come back but doesn't know when. Also she told me to tell everyone that she loves them and to take care of ourselves." Dean took a deep breath these words weren't only affecting him. He could see the tears in Joseph's eyes as well. "Hey do you know where Travis is? I have a message to tell him from Sierra." Dean searched from where he was sitting. Looking everywhere possible. Well inside the house that is.

"He left, saying he wanted to be alone. Maybe you should wait to tell him, he really doesn't want to hear anything else from us." Joseph stood wiping the wetness from his eyes and walked out of the room. Leaving Dean alone with his loneliness and the softly shuffling from upstairs.

Dean stood up, being in this house without Sierra just didn't feel right. He starred down at his hand and realized the phone was still there. At the same time he looked at it, it rang.

"Hello," Dean said unsure of who would be calling.

"Hello, Dean is my son there? This is Mr. Williams, his father." He sounded very calm yet anxious at the same time. Maybe Travis took Dean's advice and called home. This is what he was thinking after he heard who it was. Happy for the first time today to see that Travis actually did care where Sierra was.

"Oh hey Mr. Williams, I'm sorry he stepped out." Taking a deep breath before asking, "have you heard from Sierra?" Dean started worrying because of his hesitation.

"No we haven't heard from her. Why has something happened?" His words were coming out in a rush, Dean started panicking.

"I have to go find Travis. I'll call you back or have him call. Bye!" Dean hung the phone up and ran from the house. Having no clue as to what direction Travis would have gone in. He started running north first. It was barely nine in the morning but the sun's rays were hot. Slowing him down a lot but he wasn't going to stop, more determined than ever to find him. Something was wrong and if it had to do with Sierra, then they were all involved in it.

♥`♥`♥

"MISS we need to go." The driver said rather loudly and with a hint of annoyance in his tone.

"Yes your right and I'm sorry for making you wait. I really appreciate your willingness to come and pick me up. Thank you." She looked up at him and wanted to at least try and sound friendly. Although she didn't think he was buying it so she smiled her fake smile before climbing into the back seat. Once he climbed in, she pushed the intercom. "I am truly sorry for making you wait, please forgive me." Her voice broke all over her words.

"No it's alright. I'm the one that needs to apologize. I'm sorry for treating you like that. Are you okay?" He had turned around in his seat to look at her before driving off. The tears were still falling from her eyes. She couldn't lie to him after him seeing them.

"It's been three years since the last time I was here. And what I have to do today only finalizes the death of my parents. I just didn't think I'd have to do this alone, that's all." This was not the only reason for her tears but her heart ache was just to personnel. She wiped the tears off her face as more fell. Her arms still longing for Travis' gentle touch so instead she tried holding the pieces to her heart together. After today she thought that she could and probably would fall apart. Laying her head back she sighed quietly to herself before closing her eyes and dreading the events still to come.

"Miss Michael, I am truly sorry about your loss. Is there something I can do for you? Take you somewhere maybe?" The driver asked. Sierra opened her eyes seeing his in the rear view mirror. They were sad and full of remorse.

"Please call me Sierra and yes if you wouldn't mind. I haven't eaten since yesterday but only if it's okay with you. I don't want to get you into trouble." Just then if by cue her stomach growled and she let out a little laugh. Just the sound of it was strange to her. She hadn't laughed in quite some time.

"It's fine by me and no you won't get me into trouble because I work for you. Is there someplace you have in mind to eat at, Sierra?" She watched as his eyes sparkled and he smiled just a little. Normally she's not this informal but right now she needs of a friend. If that means having a complete stranger be her friend then she's all for it.

"Well since you work for me then you pick the restaurant and I'll pay." She smiled to him. Dreading more than ever having to be in public with how her past is in this town.

"I can't let you pay for me. It just doesn't sound right." He glanced back at her.

"That's the least I can do since you'll be driving me around all over. I have to keep your strength up for that." Sierra heard him laugh and soon she joined in to. Her laughter was weak at best. Something she'll have to work on if she ever does it again.

"Hm....Okay I have the perfect place in mind to eat." He answered after awhile of thinking about it.

"I'm sure where ever it is and whatever they serve will be fine with me." Sierra sighed at that. The smile on her face was as fake as her telling everyone that she's fine. Far from fine and if the driver would have known her better, he would have picked up on that. So right now she's glad he doesn't know her that well.

Uncomfortable silence followed and Sierra's mind wondered. Thinking about Travis again. She closed her eyes and saw his face. The same perfect face with his kind and gentle eyes, his devilish but heart stopping smile, the face she fell in love with. But soon the picture changed and his eyes showed nothing but hatred, and rage. No matter how much Sierra pleaded with him, he didn't care. Ripping her heart out and throwing it in the dirt because she didn't matter to him. Sierra sat in the corner, crumpled on the ground, crying for him to stop and listen. His words were so harsh as they took everything she had ever said and ripped it apart.

Her eyes shot open and pulling her knees to her chest. Sierra put her head on them and cried. Remembered a quote from her past, 'I can close my eyes to things I do not want to see, but I cannot close my heart to the things I do not want to feel.' This was all so true, no matter what he had done or said, she will always love him for who he is. This was her ultimate downfall.