Here is chapter nine! It goes past all the boring, sitting in bed and healing. There is no way I could ever make that interesting.

So here is Leila, healed. And how all this has affected her. Hope you enjoy ! :)))))

Chapter Nine- Invisible Scars.

Many months had past, and I was finally all healed up. I had a pink, jagged scar running across my stomach, and little pink slashes along my legs and arms. The smaller scars would heal, but the wound on my abdomen would haunt me through the rest of my days. I sat on an old quilt on the beach in front of the school with Mantha, Mickey, and Monaco. The wind rustled the feathers of my wings and cascaded down my back.

The giggled and laughed, and I smiled. Everything has been almost perfect since I woke up. Almost.

No one has heard anything from Thatch. I finally let myself love, only to have it lost. I wouldn't let anyone get close to me, knowing how it would affect me if I lost another loved one. I looked off into the mountains along the horizon, and let myself fall back into yet another day dream.

I was back inside the dim caverns. The walls were lit a little lighter, and the air a little bit sweeter.

"Why did you kiss me?" Thatch whispered shyly.

"I have no idea." I replied truthfully.

"Will you sing for me?"

I rested my head on his lap, and began my song.

"What do you think, Leila?" Monaco's voice broke the veil between my dreams and reality.

"Hm?" I replied wistfully.

The three girls laughed, and I smiled back to them sheepishly.

"Do you want to go to lunch tomorrow?" Mickey asked.

"Yeah, okay." I grinned crookedly, and looked at my hands. I knew the only way I would be happy again was to find him, and that was exactly what I was going to do.

I looked up at my friends with a determined look in my eyes. They were startled by my aggressive movements. I have been moving slow and softly for far too long. I want my heart back, my mind back. There was no way I would go another minute with this heavy feeling dragging at my heels.

"Leila?" Mantha questioned. She gave me a worried look and ran a hand through her blue hair.

"I want to find Thatch." I announced bravely. I hadn't mentioned him to anyone since the first day I woke up. Sure, people asked; I never responded though.

The three girls made little o's with their mouths, but nodded.

Monaco grabbed my shoulder and smiled. "I'm glad you finally asked."

"This is like a romance movie!" Mickey squealed.

"Where do we even look? No one has seen or heard from him since the accident." Mantha pointed out.

"Mantha, I need to find him. I don't even care if he has fallen for another girl, just as long as I know. I can't keep wondering where he is, or what he is doing, or why he really left. I just need to know." I babbled. I felt a weight lift off my chest. I never talked about it, and it felt good to let my friends know what was going on.

As we packed up our picnic, I sighed. I am going to find you whether you want me to or not. I almost could hear him laugh at my classic stubbornness.

I walked inside of the vast school and made my way to science class. I winked at my friends as I always did, and separated from them. Mr. Burns was one of my favorite teachers, not because he was a good teacher; because he always blew himself up. I thought it was hilarious to watch him mix dangerous chemicals, without realizing how they would react with each other. Love is a lot like that; two different things combining will either come together to form one, separate, or just explode.

I sat at a desk in the back and smoothed out my grey skater skirt and pulled at my blue cardigan. While I tried to check my shoe laces, I accidentally kneed my desk, causing a little piece of paper to fall from the bottom. I scooped up the paper and unfolded it to see who it was for. I began to read.

Casper,

I recalled that Casper usually sat here in next period. Why would he be getting secret notes? I became extremely curious. I know it would be wrong to read, but this is Casper. How bad could it be? I looked around nervously. I looked back down at the paper and sighed. There was no way I could NOT read this. Curiosity always gets the best of me.

I'm fine. Everything here is going okay, as much as you would expect. I'm really glad to head that Leila is doing alright. I need you to make sure she is really okay. Be there for her, because I can't. I swear to the underworld if you do not keep her safe I can and will pound you.

Thanks Sheet Boy.

-T

I forgot how to breathe. This had to be from Thatch. Anger began to bubble inside my stomach and I fought the urge to scream out. Casper is so dead. Again.