Owlings and Demons by T. Richardson (polar express read aloud .txt) 📕

next to me as usual.
“Ew,” I muttered.
“What?” he asked. “They said they liked my bad boy act from yesterday.”
I smiled pretending that I felt happy for him. What bad boy act was there really? Truthfully, though, all I really did was envy him, I felt so much jealousy it could’ve torn me apart. No one had really liked me before and with him not talking to me as much anymore was killing me. I found a seat in a corner and began to weep.
I had a sudden feeling for attention that I could not bear. I wanted to embarrass myself or even throw a tantrum. I told myself to calm down.
What if I wore lipstick and makeup? Would I be as well-known as him, but what was the point if my lips were naturally a makeup color? My eyesight was perfect, my hearing was excellent but the book I was reading stunk. I pulled it from my book bag and threw it at Jonathan's head. He rubbed it for a moment wondering what had just happened.
I laughed, and took it as a joke. It made me feel so much better I could hardly believe it. I threw another book. He turned around and looked at me laughing in the corner.
“Erica,” he said. “What are you doing?”
I shook my head and frowned knowing that he could not take a harmless joke. Class was dismissed and we had a 10 minute break between classes. He came up to me. “What was with the throwing of the books in reading class today?” he asked me.
“Oh nothing,” I said. “Just enjoying myself.”
He frowned. “When you are hurting me, it makes your time more enjoyable?” he asked. "Then I guess it's pretty damn hilarious."
I frowned as well. I hadn’t thought of it like that. I knew I should’ve but I was never a child of wise words. “I’m sorry,” I apologized. “Please forgive me.” I said. “I hadn’t thought of things and how it would be like in your perspective, but the truth is I wanted attention like you, I wish

I were

you.” He seemed surprised. “If you want, you can go to your own classes now that you know what you’re doing and you're organized and no longer scared.”
He was silent and walked away then came back again. “You want to go and get some lunch?”
I shook my head suddenly aggrivated. “You don’t understand!” I yelled. “I envy you so much that it’s killing me slowly and I don’t want to be seen with you!” I could feel my eyes change colors. “I’m sorry.” I said. “I don’t mean to pour out any information on anyone; I just wanted to let you know how I feel." I took a deep breath". I mean, if you make me want to explode, but you still want me to stand beside you, kill me and carry my body in a suitcase for God’s sake.”
He nodded. “I will try to ruin this perfect life of mine for you because obviously you want me for your own!” he yelled.
I backed up. “Leave me alone,” I commanded. I walked away. “And don’t ever talk to me unless it's urgent.”

The next morning when I was getting ready to walk to the bus stop my doorbell rang. “Hey!” Johnny yelled out shamelessly. “A flower for you.” He handed me a daisy, a three lb. chocolate bar, a teddy bear, and um an invitation? The last thing I saw of him was him driving off in a car. The invitation read…

Dear Erica,

Anyways, I was wondering if you’d like to go to dinner with me tonight since you’ve rejected me asking you to come and eat lunch with me. (A little disappointing) Restaurant will be Dine~ Revesuiar at nine maybe. Just tell me if you’re coming, or if you feel a little uncomfortable like I do right now then you can write it down in a letter. Oh and I also promise no incidents this time. I just wanted to also tell you that I wanted you to count this as a date, and also a first. Bye 

To me this letter felt very uncomfortable and I hoped that he hadn’t left; this would be a lot easier to get in contact with him. The worst part about it is that he gave me all the things I truly loved, picked out my favorite restaurant and picked a perfect time. Another terrible thing is that I was totally ecstatic.

I went off to my bus stop and sat in a seat that I could find. I was silent the whole ride since Johnny wasn’t with me. I finally reached school and Johnny sat in a different seat then usual so I sat beside him. He wandered his eyes away from mine.
“Yes?” I said as a question but actually just answering his

question.
“What?” he asked nervously still facing away from me. “Yes, to your invitation,” I said.
His eyes widened. “Um… ok.” He said. “9:00 remember,” he said still facing the other direction. “I was really hoping we wouldn’t have to discuss this and that you’d write it in a letter.”
“Why are you hiding your face?” I asked. I turned his face towards mine; he was wearing an eye patch. “What happened?!” I asked concerned.
“Adam,” he replied grimly. I stood up ready to give him a peace of my mind, but then Johnny pulled me back down to my seat. “I’m not a child, I could’ve handled him myself but remember I-I mean we can’t do these things or you’ll lose your education.”
I nodded, but stood up anyway. I came out of the classroom no longer having anything in my mind but Adam. I turned a corner into another hall and Adam was with his friends, and Kelly. “Hey Erica!” he yelled and Kelly stared and waved to me slightly.
“What’s going on?” I asked. “Why did you hurt Johnny?” Kelly looked away for a moment. “You don’t understand,” she said. “You don’t know what Johnny is.”
Adam nodded.
“I know what Johnny is!” I yelled. My eyes changed color again.
Adam, Kelly, and his group backed up. “Well,” Adam started. “Well we definitely know what you

are.” His friends began to laugh including Kelly and they became serious again. Anger and disappointment began to fill my head to the top and down to the bottom.
“Kelly please stop this,” I said. “We don’t have to make fun of each other, we can stop fighting and get serious other then you bullying him and getting away with it. And the only reason you’re getting away with it is because the dean wants to see how we both will react to it.”
The bell rang. Students flourished out into the halls as usual, and Jonathan stood beside me. “Come, let’s go,” He said. For some reason he always said that when we were in a mixed up situation.
“No,” I said. “Show them your eye.”
He pulled off the eye patch. Underneath it was a perfect looking eye. “I can’t see out of this eye until next week, I’m half blind at the moment.” He covered his eyes with his eye patch again.
I bit my nails a little freaked out. “Uh… so how did this happen?” I asked.
“Well,” Johnny started. “My shoe accidentally fell of my foot and hit Kelly’s head, and Adam charged at me with a needle.” I gasped. Adam was looking around.
“Uh… let’s go, we can go now.” I held his hand. I knew that even if he was immortal, it wasn't impossible for him to feel pain.

It was Friday and I was getting ready for my date. I cut my five inch long nails until they were only two. I cut my hair to my back but then watched it grow to my thighs again. As usual, there was no need for lipstick if I had already had pure red lips.

I put on my shirt that said, “I Love France!” I also put on a matching French skirt that came along with it. (I only wore these items because we were going to a French restaurant.) My Doorbell began to ring. I ran to the door and Johnny was out there waiting for me.
“I’m healed!” he yelled as I opened the door. He gave me a huge hug and spun me around. “Let’s go!” I guess when he said he was healed he must’ve meant his eye was repaired because how else would he be able to drive here?
“Wonderful!” I said.
As we drove in his car he asked me “Where is your mom?”
I shrugged, I truthfully had no idea. We reached the restaurant which was packed. “Oh my goodness.” I said. “It will take forever to get in.”
“Not unless you have reservations,” he said smiling. I stood blank for a moment. “We have reservations!” he yelled to a man.
“Come here!” the man yelled back to him.
“We have a dinner for two,” Johnny said.
The man nodded. “Right this way.”
He then escorted us to our table. I sat down in our seat. To many people, when you are just friends, there are plenty of things to talk about, when you are on a date like this after you’ve met the person, you can never find anything to talk about. “So…” I said. “You look nice.”
“So do you,” he said. I felt uncomfortable. I wish I hadn’t said yes to this date. It could ruin our whole entire "friendship" at this point. For a couple of seconds we did not even say a word. We just stared at random things like the wall. “Where were you born?” he asked me.
“Um… I was born in France actually,” I said. “Don’t have an accent because my parents were American.”
He nodded. “A question I have always wanted to ask is,” he began. “Do you think other countries talk about America as we talk about them for education?” What kind of question was that?!

Well there were some times when I did ask that question.
“I am pretty sure they do… what are you? Some geologist?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Just thinking.” He said. He was being all serious as usual.
“Thinking is good, very good,” I said.
He stopped talking for a moment and looked straight at me. “I apologize for my silence.” I nodded. “I think you should just stop looking at me and look around and see what you can see,” he told me. “By the way, you’re beautiful.”
I smiled slightly trying to