The Witch and the Boy who Loved Her

Week 3+ The Beginning

When I was 7 I was sent to live with my grandmother in a small town. I was told my parents were killed in a car accident and I had no other family. I remember pulling up the drive way to the old, two story house with graying sides. It had curtains hanging in all the windows blocking any light, a shabby looking porch, grass uncut, weeds growing where flowers once bloomed, a large tree shading most of the yard, and tire swing was mossy with age. I remember the social worker telling me not to be scared. That my grandmother was a nice woman. Different, but nice. I stepped out of the old car she drove and she handed me my one suit case. I wasn't allowed to bring anything else. She walked up ahead of me to knock on the door. As I walked with shaky strides up to the porch I spotted something out of the corner of my eye. I stopped to look harder. Squinting in the after noon sun I could see the outline of another child in the grass at the far end of the yard.

"Layla, don't make your grandmother wait now! Get up here!" The social worker hollered at me. I turned quickly and headed up the porch. As I took the final step up to the porch the door swung open. I remember seeing my grandmother for the first time. She wasn't near as old looking as I had imagined. The only indication of her age was the gray through out her once dark hair.

"You must be Layla." Her voice was soft.

"Yes ma'am." I almost stammered.

"No need to be so formal dear. Were family after all. Grandmother will do just fine. Come inside. It's dreadfully hot out here." As she spoke the words she wrapped her arm around my shoulder and ushered me inside. "If that is all of her things that will be all. Thank you." She smiled as she dismissed the social worker.

"You don't have any questions for me, Mrs. Merriwell?" My grandmother gave her a curt wave and nod as she closed the door in the social workers face. As I stood in the entry way I was unsure of what would come next. Would she hate me? Why had I not met her before? So many questions whirled through my head.

"Well, now that she is gone we can really get to know each other." Her warm smile reassured my frighten child mind. "You must be hungry. Let's eat and then we'll talk and I can show you around. You'll have a lot to learn. Witch craft doesn't come easy. Follow me." She spun on her heel and started into another room. I followed as quickly as I could. A million questions swirling through my mind. Did she say witch craft?

After eating a simple sandwich and ice tea her phone rang. The old rotary phone was so loud it gave me a start. My grandmother gave me a slight laugh and pointed toward the back door.

"This may take a few minutes. Why don't you go outside for a bit and look around? I'll come get you when I am done." With that she answered the phone and turned away from me. Not wanting to eves drop I headed out the door. The yard was big. I could see an over grown garden and what looked like something moving in it. Curiosity got the better of me as I slowly approached. I could see the outline of the kid I had seen earlier. It looked like he was playing some kind of game by himself.

"I can see you, ya know?" He was still crouched in the grass.

"No, I didn't know. What are you doing?"

"I always play here. What are you doing? Why are you here?"

"My grandmother is on the phone. She told me to come out here. My parents died in a car crash. I came here to live."

"Really? I mean, that sucks your parents died, but your gonna stay?"

"Well, yeah. I don't have any other family." As I said that he shot up. He was closer than I had realized. He grabbed my hand and pulled me into the grass where he had been crouching.

"Look, I found them. I am trying to build them a better nest." He pointed at a small group of eggs nestled in the grass. He was rustling the grass around them making sure they were out of sight. "There. That should do." As he said that he stood back brushing his hands off and admiring his handy work.

"What are they?"

"I think they are chicken eggs, maybe goose. I am not to sure. My name is Peter. Let's be friends." He thrust his hand at me and smiled.

"I am Layla." I shook his hand gingerly. I didn't know what to do. I had never had a friend before. I had only had my parents. None of the kids in my old school liked me at all.

"Come on, lets go play pirates!" He shouted as he grabbed my hand and drug me behind him with a laugh.

I'll never forget that day. That was the day Peter became my best friend. We spent all our free time together. When my grandmother wasn't teaching me craft, I spent the rest of the summer outside with Peter. He taught me how to climb trees, how to play catch, and how to be the best pirate. We were inseparable.

One evening we were playing in our tree fort we had built when he got suddenly very quiet. The look on his face was solemn. "Hey, Peter are you okay?"

"We will be friends forever, right Layla?" his voice was so small.

"Of course Peter. Forever." I grabbed his hand as I said it. I don't know why I did it. It just seemed like the right thing to do at the time.

"You promise?"

"Yes. I promise."

"Okay, good. Hey! I wanna show you something! Come with me!" With that he jumped up, pulling me along with him. We jumped down from our tree fort and ran along the tree line to an open field just on the outside of the fence. We stopped in the middle of the neighboring farmers field.

"Here, lay down with me!"

"Okay. This is crazy Peter! What are we doing? Won't the farmer be mad we are in his field?"

"No one will see you once you lay down." His mischievous smile was always convincing. I grinned and rolled my eyes as I lay down next to him. The sun was setting and night was starting to settle over the field.

"Shouldn't we go? It's getting late."

"Just wait. Just a little longer. I promise it will be worth it.....Please Layla." I think he knew I wouldn't be able to say no to him.

"Ok, just a little longer. I don't want my grandmother to worry." He moved his hand over to mine and held it gently. I could have stayed that way forever. Just the two of us, watching the stars slowly come out. I had to admit it felt nice to have him there.

"Laayylaaa! It's time to come in dear! You need to practice your astrology!" My grandmother's gentle voice came floating over the grass ruining our moment under the stars.

"Peter I have to go. I don't want her to be angry."

"I know Layla, I just don't want you to go yet."

"Peter, are you okay?" He tightened his grip on my hand.

"Yeah, I am fine. I am just not ready to go home yet." I wasn't convinced.

"Laaaylaaa!"

"Peter, I will see you tomorrow. I really have to go." With a heavy sigh he stood up.

"Okay Layla. I'll walk you back to your house. My mother will probably be expecting me too and she will whip me if I don't make sure you get home safe." I liked having a best friend. It was the best feeling in the world. I didn't want to go home but I knew it was time. As we approached my front porch he paused.

"What's wrong Peter? You have been acting weird all day?"

"Nothing. It's nothing. Just..I'll see you later Layla. Oh, and this is for you." He reached up and pulled off his necklace. I had asked him about it once before and he just told me his mother had given it to him. A silver ring with a beautiful spiral design all over it on a beautiful silver chain.

"But, wait, I thought..."

"Just don't forget me okay, Layla."

"Peter, how could I forget you? I am going to see you tomorrow?"

"I know, just take it and promise."

"Okay, Peter I promise." As I slipped the chain over my head he turned and ran off down the driveway towards his house.

The next day I after my lessons I waited for Peter to show up. I checked all of our usual places. Our tree fort, the tall grass in my yard, the garden, the farmers field, and finally when I hadn't seen him I walked down to his house. Had I have known the night before Peter was leaving I would have at least said good bye. That must have been why he was acting so strange. He knew he was leaving. Why didn't he say anything? Why? I tired to run back home but I tripped in the farmers field landing sprawled out. Instead of standing up and I just laid there sobbing. Meeting Peter had been a Godsend. After the weeks I had spent in the orphanage waiting for the social worker to locate my grandmother, the nights spent crying myself to sleep wondering why my parents had left me, and why they had to die. I had found a friend. Someone that helped me forget. After seeing his empty house I just wondered why. Why did my parents have to leave me? Why did Peter have to leave me? I didn't know what else to do so I just lay in the field a sobbed till I couldn't any more. I must have been there for quite some time because I remember my grandmother coming to find me. She didn't know what to say so she just sat with me while I cried myself to sleep.

10 years later...

"Laylaaaaaa!" I groaned as I heard the Ashley's shrieks coming from the kitchen. Being the one in our small circle of friends with a car she reveled in waking me up early.

"Come on Layla! It's the first day of Jr year! I wanna get their early! "

"Uuhggg." I groaned but made no attempt to rise from my comfortable bed.

"Layla, if I have to come in there I am bringing the cold water!" I knew she would do it. It wouldn't be the first time. I could hear her and my grandmother giggle.

"I'm coming, I'm coming! Keep your skirt on!" I shouted without any enthusiasm. More giggling coming from the kitchen. Most people in town were a little scared of my grandmother and I. Mostly my grandmother, but Ashley came from a family that practiced the Craft too. Though my grandmother was a solitary witch she was in the good graces of the local coven.

I finally pulled myself out of my bed and made my way to the bathroom. Standing at my sink I brushed my teeth. I had laid my outfit out the night before. I slipped on my jeans and my fitted t-shirt. I'm about 5'6". I have slight curves. I'm not one for showing everything but I like to wear fitted clothes. I pulled my long raven hair into a pony tail. I put on some eye liner and mascara to bring out my sapphire blue eyes. I casually meandered down the stairs.

"I'm all set. Are you ready?" Ashley was perched on the kitchen counter chattering away at my grandmother.

"Yup, lets go!" She looped her arm through mine as we headed out the door.

"You girls have a good first day!"

"We will!!" We yelled back over our shoulders and we hopped in her jeep. Her parents weren't poor. They had bought her the jeep when she got her permit but she hadn't been allowed to drive it until her 16th. We had 2 stops before we could get to school. We picked up Katie and Curtis. Our circle was small but it was everything.

"Don't forget after school were meeting at Katie's to rehearse." Curtis reminded us all. We had started a band freshman year and were finally getting to where we played in sync. We were hoping to be able to play at prom this year.

"Did you hear there's a new guy this year?" Ashley chided.

"How did you hear. We only just got here." Katie giggled as she asked.

"I know everything. Don't you already know that." As Ashley was talking I saw the motorcycle pull up right next to us. Being a very small school. 200 kids, maybe. Anything new stood out and oh boy, did this guy stand out. A sleek black motorcycle, leather jacket, and all black helmet. He was the epitome of bad boy. I rolled my eyes as I saw my friends positively drooling before he had the chance to take his helmet off.

I saw the cheerleaders headed towards him. Oh great, here they go. No one would have a chance to get to know him now. I watched as he stood and moved to remove his helmet. As he pulled the helmet away and shook out his shaggy hair I sensed it. Being a witch I could feel things before I could see them. I knew this guy in front of me. As his eyes came up and fell upon me I knew instantly who he was...

"Peter?"