All right, you guys, here it is, the second chapter of my screwed up story! JAS, this one will be longer, and it will have some plot to it, not just Leah-angst. Although, there should be some more of that coming up soon as well...;) Anyway, here goes absolutely nothing.
Chapter Two-Oh, Joy-Leah
When I saw the kids in bad magician costumes come into the main room, my entire body stiffened. Cursing my cerebral palsy, which made me jump, I scrutinized their faces. Yes, they matched. This was it...
As I listened to Marco make his "witty" chat, my mind was already formulating a strategy. I needed to speak to James. He would be our leader, and a good one.
But would he accept me as one of the Animorphs? I had never spoken much with any of the others. Collette and some of the others had tried to be friendly, but I had shunned them. I couldn't bear knowing them. I suppose I was a coward, but I knew what was going to happen. How could I be a friend, knowing?
I would hate myself to the end of my days for my cowardice and stupidity, but I could not dwell on it. When James and the kids came back out to get Timmy and Kelly, I joined them.
James smiled at me. "Guys, this is Leah."
I breathed a sigh of relief. He would let me stay. I had underestimated him.
Some of my surprise and relief must have showed in my expression, because James looked at me for a long moment, a look that clearly said, "we'll talk later."
Watching morphing for the first time was absolutely disgusting. Every time, it was different, and it seemed more grotesque. I wished Timmy and Kelly would just accept it as true so that I wouldn't throw up all over the floor.
When the others were finally convinced, Cassie brought out the Escafil device. Each of us put trembling hands on a surface. When a zap of energy seemed to blast into us, I took my hand away. "So now I'm an Animorph. Oh, joy," I said.
"Yes, joy," said Marco. "You get to get yourself killed fighting evil aliens from outer space."
"Something tells me you and this girl would make a perfect match, Marco," said Cassie.
"What do you say, Leah?" said Marco. "You...me...the parking lot...perhaps a burger from McDonald's?"
I had forgotten how annoying that guy was.
Cassie looked shocked. "I'm sorry, Leah. I wasn't watching what I said. And neither was Narco. You're sorry too, right, Marco?"
Had I said *Marco* was annoying? That stupid little nauseatingly good Cassie was almost more than I could bear. I grinned at the others. Seeing her discomfort, they smiled back.
"I don't know, Marco. What would your mother say?"
"She'd be thrilled."
"I bet."
Marco smiled at me, and produced a pigeon from his cape, which promptly proceeded to poop on him. Everyone in the room burst out laughing, more of a release from tension than anything. I was struck by a flash of deja vu. How many times had I read a scene similar to this?
But it did not matter. I knew I couldn't dwell on the fact that I had thought these people were characters in a book. Right then, I had to help them.
We all went outside to morph the pigeon. The books had said that flying was wonderful. They didn't know the half of it. When I morphed the pigeon, I felt free for the first time in years. I felt like myself again, a person that I had forgotten even existed. I didn't join the others in their gushing. Instead, I ignored everyone and flew high, passing the clouds. Up, up...up further, and then....
(Leah! Come on, we have to get to The Gardens.)
It was James. Embarrassed, I wheeled around, rejoining the group.
(Don't worry. It gets to you.) Jake. These were the first words he had spoken to me, personally.
(Thanks.) I replied.
Chapter Two-Oh, Joy-Leah
When I saw the kids in bad magician costumes come into the main room, my entire body stiffened. Cursing my cerebral palsy, which made me jump, I scrutinized their faces. Yes, they matched. This was it...
As I listened to Marco make his "witty" chat, my mind was already formulating a strategy. I needed to speak to James. He would be our leader, and a good one.
But would he accept me as one of the Animorphs? I had never spoken much with any of the others. Collette and some of the others had tried to be friendly, but I had shunned them. I couldn't bear knowing them. I suppose I was a coward, but I knew what was going to happen. How could I be a friend, knowing?
I would hate myself to the end of my days for my cowardice and stupidity, but I could not dwell on it. When James and the kids came back out to get Timmy and Kelly, I joined them.
James smiled at me. "Guys, this is Leah."
I breathed a sigh of relief. He would let me stay. I had underestimated him.
Some of my surprise and relief must have showed in my expression, because James looked at me for a long moment, a look that clearly said, "we'll talk later."
Watching morphing for the first time was absolutely disgusting. Every time, it was different, and it seemed more grotesque. I wished Timmy and Kelly would just accept it as true so that I wouldn't throw up all over the floor.
When the others were finally convinced, Cassie brought out the Escafil device. Each of us put trembling hands on a surface. When a zap of energy seemed to blast into us, I took my hand away. "So now I'm an Animorph. Oh, joy," I said.
"Yes, joy," said Marco. "You get to get yourself killed fighting evil aliens from outer space."
"Something tells me you and this girl would make a perfect match, Marco," said Cassie.
"What do you say, Leah?" said Marco. "You...me...the parking lot...perhaps a burger from McDonald's?"
I had forgotten how annoying that guy was.
Cassie looked shocked. "I'm sorry, Leah. I wasn't watching what I said. And neither was Narco. You're sorry too, right, Marco?"
Had I said *Marco* was annoying? That stupid little nauseatingly good Cassie was almost more than I could bear. I grinned at the others. Seeing her discomfort, they smiled back.
"I don't know, Marco. What would your mother say?"
"She'd be thrilled."
"I bet."
Marco smiled at me, and produced a pigeon from his cape, which promptly proceeded to poop on him. Everyone in the room burst out laughing, more of a release from tension than anything. I was struck by a flash of deja vu. How many times had I read a scene similar to this?
But it did not matter. I knew I couldn't dwell on the fact that I had thought these people were characters in a book. Right then, I had to help them.
We all went outside to morph the pigeon. The books had said that flying was wonderful. They didn't know the half of it. When I morphed the pigeon, I felt free for the first time in years. I felt like myself again, a person that I had forgotten even existed. I didn't join the others in their gushing. Instead, I ignored everyone and flew high, passing the clouds. Up, up...up further, and then....
(Leah! Come on, we have to get to The Gardens.)
It was James. Embarrassed, I wheeled around, rejoining the group.
(Don't worry. It gets to you.) Jake. These were the first words he had spoken to me, personally.
(Thanks.) I replied.