The Ogre and I

Ch 2

Leah settled herself down on the couch as she listened to her friend's story. "It was a night like any other when he came. I was asleep in my bed dreaming of the two of us meeting when a bright light flashes over the park but vanished. The next day I was just walking by myself listening to music when I heard him moan and was curious. Other kids had ran away but was amazed when I didn't. It turns out we were meant to be together. A weird aura glowed around my body and he smiled. He was the only one not afraid of me because I'm… disabled.

I took him back here while my family were out and we've been friends ever since." Carley told her smiling. "Awesome! But how come when you e-mailed me the last few times, you never told me about this?" Leah replied. "If I had, you probably wouldn't believe me unless you saw for yourself, right?" Carley said. "Yeah you're right. He's been quiet for a while. Is he mad because I'm with ya?" Leah told her.

She shook her head at that. "Nah he just needs to get to know you like when he and Donkey first met." Carley answered. Leah then heard her phone ring and answered it. "I gotta go. It's dinner time, okay?" Leah said smiling. "Sure. Come back later. We're having a sleepover, remember?" Carley replied to her. Leah smiled at that. Leah's and Carley's parents were going away for the weekend and Carley and Leah were on their own but Carley's sister Molly was spending the weekend at their grand parent's.

Karen had made lasagne for dinner. It was Carley's favourite. She saw a sad look in Shrek's eyes as she closed and locked the door. "Don't forget about me just because Leah's next door." He said softly. "That's what's up with him! He's a little jealous because of Leah. But just because she moved next door doesn't mean I still can't be friends with him. I'll talk to him later." Carley thought as she ate. Karen had left a checklist of the stuff she could and couldn't eat because of her Diabetes. She also left her mobile phone number in case something happened.

Carley smiled as they left the house. She then unlocked her door. Shrek was in the tent she's set up already like an army one. He saw her crawl in and helped her. "You okay getting in?" he asked her. "Yeah but I wanna talk to you, okay? I know Leah and I are friends but it won't change the relationship we have. There's one thing you do that Leah can't." she told him. "What's that?" Shrek asked nervously. "You're my Guardian Ogre, there to help me and to be a true friend just like Leah. Besides you and her are my only friends. Without you, I'd be lonely. You understand that I'm not weird or a freak just because I like making things like the stories we create or stuff for Aria. You also make me feel better about being disabled when other kids make fun of me." she reassured him. He then hugged her. "Thanks for reminding me of that. It's just I get a little jealous when new friends enter your life. It scares me." he said softly. "But I have Love in my heart for all my friends especially you and Leah. Do you think you can give her a chance?" she said hugging him back.

"Sure I'll try for you." he told her. "Thanks Shrek. You rock." Carley told him but she noticed he was still worried. "What's wrong?" she asked. "It's... just I've never had a sleep over before and I'm just a little worried." he admitted. "Don't worry it's my first one too." she told him as the door bell rung. "It's probably Leah." she told him as she got out of the tent and went to answer the front door. Leah was standing there. "Hey Carley! Is he okay?" she asked her friend. David was standing outside and heard that. "What did she mean by that Leah?" he asked her. "It's nothing. Go back into the house, okay?" Leah replied to him. He walked back into Leah's house. Carley smiled as they walked into her flat. "Where is he?" Leah asked her. "I don't know. Before you came, he was in the tent. Maybe he's playing a trick." Carley answered. They then saw Shrek walk into the flat wearing alligator skin pyjamas and a night cap. "Sorry I didn't mean to get you guys worried." he told them.

"Nah it's okay. This is Leah. Don't worry she's nice like me." Carley said gently. "Um... hi. I'm just a little worried. Making new friends is a little hard for guys like me and Carley. What's that around your head?" he told Leah. "It's a Naruto head band. Let me guess you're not into manga or anime, right?" she answered. Shrek looked bewildered at that. They mostly played on the Wil for most of the night but at midnight they decided to get into the tent so they could talk. Carley was eating an apple, one of the snacks she could have. "Do you miss your world, like the swamp and stuff? How do you deal with home sickness?" Leah asked Shrek gently. "There are times when I get like that but then what that happens, Carley and I start reading fairy tales or folk lore and that makes me feel better. Only this world wouldn't accept me the same way they don't accept Carley for being different." he answered with tears in his eyes.

Carley then got an idea as she saw the picture of her friend;'s swamp. "We're moving this sleepover!" she said happily. "But where?" Leah asked her curiously. "To the swamp we go!" she whispered. The friendship bracelet her ogre friend had given her glowed and the tent disappeared with all three of them inside. "Where're we?" Leah asked her. Shrek was smelling the smells of his swamp home. "Get out of the tent for a second and look." Carley said with a playful smile on her face. "Okay here goes!" Leah said as she opened the tent zip and stared at the swamp house. She smiled as she closed the zip. "I get it! You brought us here to his swamp because he was feeling sad because he was swamp sick." she told her friend.

"Yep.she did. Thanks amigo. You're an awesome friend!" Shrek said as he opened the zip and got out for a while along with Leah and Carley. "What're you doing?" Leah asked as she and Carley brought the sleeping bags with them. Shrek then belched out fire to light the wood. "Cool you made a camp fire! That way we can enjoy the great outdoors!" Carley said lying down. "Yeah that's right." Shrek replied looking up into the night sky tracing the constellations. Leah was doing the same but Carley wasn't because she couldn't see the wonders of the night sky. She listened as her ogre friend weaved stories about the constellations until they fell asleep without realising it. "To home we go!" Carley said in her sleep as the tent, the sleeping bags and she and her friends glowed and disappeared. They then appeared back in her flat.

It was ten in the morning when they woke up. Shrek smiled at Carley as they ate breakfast in the kitchen. "I'm sorry we didn't wake up there but we can sleep over there tonight." she said. "Great idea! I can't wait for tonight!" he told her. Carley and Leah laughed at that. They didn't know David was watching them...