The Misunderstood

Not Again!

Levi's POV

What is she doing here? Levi wondered to himself. He watched as she came through the gate, giggling at the two little dogs dancing at her feet. They had gone from ferocious guard dogs to two goofy pups in no time flat. He couldn't help but chuckle too.

Paige stooped and attempted to pet them. Sending them into a frenzy of hassles, tongues slinging, and tails whipping every which way! "I didn't know you were coming over." He stated as Paige stood and faced him. "My mom ran errands on this side of town and decided to come by last second." She replied. "I didn't know we were going to come see you guys until just a few minutes ago." She added. Levi nodded in response.

"So... What were you doing back here?" Paige asked him. Levi looked down at the ground and replied simply, "Nothing." He didn't want to tell her all that had been on his mind. He didn't want her to think he was crazy. She surely would never understand. He figured, like with everyone else, he should just keep his mouth shut on the matter.

"So is your mom inside?" He asked, changing the subject. Paige nodded and sat on the grass amongst the leaves that had begun to fall. Squeakers happily jumped up into her lap and allowed her ears to be rubbed. Stubbs looked up at Levi, wagging his tail. Willing his boy to pet him too. Laughing at the silly little dog, Levi, joined Paige on the grass. And held Stubbs too.

Miranda's POV

As the words left her mouth her heart rate became more rapid. The atmosphere in the room was definitely heavier. At the back of her neck, Miranda, felt the little hairs stand on end. Goosebumps raced up her arms and a chill crept up her spine. It was as if she had breathed life into her unspoken fear as soon as she allowed the words to escape her tongue. She was looking at her friend perched on the edge of her stool across the kitchen island from her. She could see the curtain flutter above the sink behind Angie's head. Her breath caught and her heart seemed to freeze mid beat, when in the corner of her eye she saw a shadow move. Both women turned suddenly to the far wall, eyes wide, and watched as the broom fell with a loud thud!

They turned to look at each other as the light above them flickered. Somewhere in the house Miranda began to hear random knocks and scratching noises. She quickly stood and ran to the window. She sighed in relief when she saw the kids sitting with the dogs outside. Safe and oblivious, for the moment. The random knocks and bumps continued.

Miranda took in a deep breath, steadying herself. She closed her eyes and cleared her mind to recenter her being. Every one of them were responding to her emotional state. She maintained a delicate balance within her home by maintaining balance within herself. The spirits that resided here fed off of her energy. She had to restore the energy in the home. And she had to do it quickly. She couldn't risk the kids seeing or hearing this mess. Their fear over the matter would only heighten the problem of negative energy. Creating a problem that could quickly spiral out of control.

Then she opened her eyes and arms wide and said, "Enough, be still!" As quickly as the random noises started, they stopped. "Well at least they still listen." Miranda stated. She looked to her friend who nodded her head and replied, "Yes. But these spirits are agitated. It seems that what you said upset them. You know you can't be afraid. If you are right, it will feed on it. But the question is, How? Is it even possible?"

Miranda didn't know how or why. But something was off with the balance in and around her home. She turned to Angie who appeared to be deep in thought. When she realized Miranda's gaze was upon her she quickly nodded her head and said, "Miranda, tomorrow call me as soon as Carlton and Levi leave for the day. I'll come first thing and we can talk more about what's going on with Levi. And hopefully go ahead and nip this thing in the bud. Okay?"

Miranda nodded her head in agreement and glanced over at the clock on the wall. It was after 4:30. Her husband would be home soon. As if reading her mind Angie stood and announced that she needed to get home and get her family fed and tended to. The women hugged each other goodbye. Miranda walked her friend out, once in the yard Angie called for Paige to say goodbye and come along.

Levi's POV

They were sitting with their backs to the house in a comfortable silence. They had been friends since they met when they were four years old. Levi remembered when Paige and her family moved into the old mobile home just down the road from the log cabin he lived in with his mom and dad.

As he watched her stroking Squeakers brown fur, he thought about the first time he had laid eyes on her. At that time in his life he had little use for any girl other than his mom. Girls were bossy and boring. No fun at all. Of course at four his experience with girls was limited to his two girl cousins. Gracie, who was 4 years older than him, only ever wanted to tell him what to do. Or tattle on him and her little brother, Shane, when they tried to have fun. And Alexis, who was a year younger than him, just cried all the time or wanted to put her cooties on his things. She always made Levi and her big brother, Kyler, have to wait for her or watch out for her when they went outside to play.

But right from the beginning, Paige was different. The first thing he noticed about her was her beautiful red hair. She was the first person besides himself, that he had ever seen with red hair! On top of that, she was covered head to toe with mud! And she wasn't crying!! He watched eyes wide and jaw hanging open as the little mud covered angel rode her bicycle through a puddle, squealing with delight. He had never imagined that such a girl might exist! Or that they were destined to be the best of friends.

Levi's mother had seen the young woman and her children moving in the day before and had baked cookies for them. From that first meeting they were inseparable. He thought about the first fight they'd had. He smiled, thinking of how a year after Paige had moved in next door to his old house, she had announced that she was going to marry Levi. They had been jumping on the trampoline. Levi called it a jump-oline. Well, when they got thirsty they asked Ms. Angie for some juice. As Paige's mother poured their juice Paige stated with a smile on her face, that she had decided to marry her friend Levi. Her mother had chuckled and asked when they thought that might happen. Paige informed her mother that they were getting married as soon as they finished their juice. And had then asked her mom where her white sun dress with little pink flowers was. Levi almost choked on his juice listening to Paige tell her mother her plans. He had quickly informed her that he couldn't marry her. She asked him why not? To which he had replied, "Because you're my best friend. You can't marry your best friend. It's just weird. And when I do get married, I am only going to marry my mommy! Because I only love her!" That angered Paige and they had argued back and forth on the matter.

But Paige had become inconsolable when her mother pointed out two problems with her daughter's plans. One, it was too cold out for her to wear her sundress. And two, it was illegal to marry a boy when you were less than 32 years old. She had cried big ol' crocodile tears. It hurt Levi so much to see her cry. He had hugged her and begged her not to keep crying. Then he had promised that if she would just not cry any more, that he would marry her when they turned 32 years old. But she would have to wait her turn. Because he would probably marry his mommy first. He remembered how she had looked at him with her tear filled green eyes and made him pinky promise before drying her eyes.

Levi was snatched from his memories by Ms. Angie's voice calling for Paige. His friend snapped her head around and called over her shoulder, "Coming, Mom!" Before quickly setting Squeakers down on the ground in front of her and jumping to her feet. Levi sat Stubbs off his lap before standing and following her to the side gate. He told the dogs to get back, held the gate open for Paige, then followed her through it. As they walked over to the driveway where her mother waited at the car, Paige turned to Levi and said, "Levi, I'm glad we got to stop by and see you guys. My brother told me last night that when I talked to you again that he hasn't forgotten your birthday coming up. And he wants to know are you still wanting him to come over this weekend to go camping? Levi nodded his head in response and told Paige to have her brother call him to make plans later after his father got home from work. With that Angie and her mom loaded up into their car and drove away.