Revamped!

[I will be working on this story so hard during the break]. [2019: Why was I like this?]

Courtney Brown: Her Tears

Britney takes a seat on a swing and begins swinging on it freely as if nothing has happened and this is all just another normal day in the park. Landon and I stand to the side observing her like scientists when, in reality, she looks like she could be our babysitter.

"Do you think she's emotionally stable?" I ask Landon. I don't bother to whisper since I doubt Britney cares about her feelings. "I don't think she is."

"I don't know," Landon shrugs. "I just met her and not to mention that she's your imaginary friend."

"You are being no help right now," I tell him.

We hear Britney fake laughing loudly, on purpose. If she says my magic will attract bad people, she hasn't heard her fake laugh. She shoves her feet in the sand, stopping the swing and she gives us both a smile as she pushes her hair back.

"You two are really cute," Britney says, stopping herself by skidding her feet against the ground. "I remember when I was once like that."

"What happened to you?" Landon asks.

"I met my father," Britney admits. I didn't expect her to be so straight-forward with it. "I went my whole life not knowing who my parents are and when your life is like that, even though you're with people, there is still this empty burden in you. That longing and curiosity as to where you came from and why your life isn't like everyone else's just because that one important element is missing."

"Why did he send you?" I emphasize 'he' because I don't want to say the name Loki in front of Landon to avoid a reaction. "Why choose you and not himself?"

Landon probably assumes that the 'he' we're referring to is Britney's father because she mentioned him. Smart on her part if she planned it like that. There are so many questions I need to ask but I can't ask them right now.

Britney sighs. She looks to the ground and takes a breath before finally looking back at us. I can see that she's struggling to admit an answer to what I just asked. Her lips quiver and tears begin to form in her eyes.

"You can't run away from yourself," Britney admits. I remember she's said that before. A tear rolls down her cheek (again with the emotional instability but who am I to judge?) "I told you that when you cried in my arms. I thought I could, but I can't, no matter how hard I try and want to."

Britney looks off into the distance. I don't want to ask about her past anymore since it seems to be a sensitive topic for her. I know that I don't really like talking about myself and my past, so why would I make her do the same? Her life is so much like mine, in a way, with the fact that she hates the big parts her past yet is so curious about really understanding it. I glance over at Landon and hope that he asks her something random yet useful.

"Where are you from?" Landon asks. Oh yes, that's a good question. Why didn't I think to start from the basics?

"As of right now, New York," Britney replies. Of course, Loki sends someone from New York. "I've been there for about four years."

"How'd you get to Spain?"

"I honestly just appeared here."

Landon and I look at each other. Maybe she's playing a joke on us? I could infer that Britney used her own magic to get here.

"Do - " I am hesitating whether to ask this or not. " - do you know who my parents are?"

Britney looks up at me and she gives an expressionless smile. "I do."

I wasn't really expecting that kind of response from Britney. Why didn't she seem excited about telling me that? I remember a bunch of orphans who would be ecstatic to hear that their parents exist. Why isn't she happy? What if my parents were bad people? What if that's the reason I got abandoned?

"If you want a part of the truth," Britney says getting up from the swing, "and I am being a hundred percent honest, I'm here to help you and look for your mother."

I can feel a part of me lift up because I remember Loki saying something about how Thor is looking for my mother before he finds me and now Britney is doing the same and helping me. Could this all be a part of something bigger?

"My mother is here?" I ask.

Again, Britney doesn't seem happy. "Yes."

"Is my mother is looking for me?"

Britney begins shaking. "I'm sorry, I really am."

In an instant, Britney begins running off. I watch as she runs too fast for Landon and me to catch up. Landon asks me if we should run after her and I immediately say not to. I just let her go.

-o-

"Landon," I start as we begin walking home, "if you were an orphan living with a foster family and someone told you that they know who your real mom is but that she may not be a good person, would you, if you had the opportunity, go and leave all you have to go venture out?"

"I might," he states, looking down and kicking a small pebble. "Does that mean you're leaving?"

I shrug. "What if my mom is bad and that's why Britney's looking for her? What if I'm in danger?"

"It can't be that bad."

"What if I'm forced to leave? No, don't answer that, I'm going to stop thinking about this." I think of a way to change the topic. "So, what did you think of Britney?"

"She looks like she's been through some things," he replies. "I also think she's pretty, but that also means you're pretty because let's not forget that you two are almost identical."

I bite my bottom lip. I'm all filled with fluff now.

"Almost," I quote to emphasize.

[Okay y'all, I had some sort of epiphany and planned out the next, I don't know exactly, but it's a lot of chapters. I personally think they'll be my favourite chapters so far]. [2019: They really were my favourite at that point in time. And in the revamped versions, they're even better].