Who: Lydia Martin and Lexi Branson What: A shopping trip in which something odd happens Where: The mall When: Backdated to the same exact time abouts that this happens. Rating: PG for odd supernatural stuff Status: Complete
Since her boyfriend was gone for the evening and was staying at his office over night, Lydia pretty much had the whole house to herself. Which was fine and everything, but she realized that eventually she was bored. There was only so much she could do by herself. So eventually she called up Lexi and asked her if she wanted to hang out and do something. She wasn’t quite sure what they could do, but she was sure they could think of something.
Figuring that they could meet at the mall, she grabbed her things and headed there. Maybe they could get something to eat and do some shopping. Maybe get a massage or something. She could use one of those. Parking and waiting inside, Lydia checked her phone for messages at the entrance to the mall.
When Lydia had called her, Lexi agreed to meet her at the mall, wanting to look for something for Huck for Valentine’s Day anyway. She hadn’t spent a night just hanging out at the mall in awhile, since she’d been helping Elena out for the last week or so, not that she minded of course. Elena was her friend and she wanted to help Elena in her quest to become independent. Reaching the mall, Lexi headed inside, texting Lydia to let her know where she was.
Oh right. Valentine’s Day. Actually Lydia hadn’t thought much about it. Maybe she should do something about that. She didn’t know exactly what John would want though. Nothing that is in the mall probably. She spotted Lexi as she read her texts and gave a wave. “Hey,” she greeted with a smile. “Thanks for meeting me. I just needed to get out of the house. I was alone.. and really bored off my ass.”
Lexi smiled when she saw Lydia approaching her and slid her phone into her purse, “Hey. No problem. I know how boring parents can be,” Lexi was unaware of the fact that Lydia didn’t actually live at home anymore or that she had a boyfriend at all. Lexi had been so busy over the last couple of months with Stefan and Rebekah’s wedding then Thanksgiving and Christmas and now what was going on with Elena and Damon, plus work that she hadn’t really kept up much with her friend, which was another reason she’d agreed to come out and meet Lydia tonight.
Ah right. “Actually I moved out of my parents house. I’m.. living with my boyfriend. I have a boyfriend.” It wasn’t like she went out and told a lot of people, considering how old John was. And the fact that she was still only seventeen. “He’s a bit older than me though. That’s why I haven’t really been um.. talking about it too much.” Lydia looked slightly sheepish. “So are you looking for anything in particular? Because I just as soon just walk around and look at shoes.”
“Lydia Martin!” Lexi exclaimed, grinning, “You’ve had a boyfriend and didn’t tell me?” Lexi couldn’t help but he happy that Lydia had found someone, considering the time they’d gone to get massages, the redhead had been so upset about the scars she’d gotten from her dreams and was convinced she’d never get a boyfriend now. Lexi wasn’t one to judge anyone when it came to age, considering there was almost a ten year age difference between her and Huck. Lydia might have been seventeen, but she was almost eighteen and was very mature for her age. “I’m not really sure. When it comes to Huck, I usually see something and just know.” It wasn’t that Huck was hard to buy for, but that she never came to the mall with anything in mind. She just knew when she saw something. “So, lets walk and you can tell me about your boyfriend.”
She laughed and nodded her head. “Yeah, sorry. I guess it’s been a long couple of months.” It was nice that Lexi was happy for her. She had been in a bit of a panic about her scars, and there were less so. John didn’t seem to care that much about them, and had never said anything to her about them. It made her forget she had them, until she looked in the mirror. In any case she was much happier now. That was pretty easy to see. “Okay sounds good.” She started walking down the length of the mall, glancing at the stuff in the windows. She was looking for something fun. Maybe she would buy John something. What would John like? “I don’t think what I want to get for John is in the mall. He likes bugs? Bugs are his thing, so I’m going to find him something nice. I don’t think they have bug stuff in the mall. John’s an entomologist.”
It was very obvious that Lydia was happier now and it made Lexi smile to know that while Elena was having problems with her relationship, Lydia had found someone who made her happy. “Bugs?” She’d asked as Lydia went on, which explained why her boyfriend was a fan of bugs, “Right. Yeah, I don’t think that the mall has anything screams entomologist.” At least nothing that Lexi could think of off the top of her head, “Does he had like bugs around the house?” That would be just a little creepy.
Lydia was pretty happy, and she was glad that things were going so well for her. At least for the most part. Besides the weird ass dreams. Those she could do without. She laughed a little and shook her head. “I’ve never been any place besides a museum that has anything for bug people. I’m probably going to have to send away for him. I actually uh.. moved in with him. He’s at work and I’m alone at home so.. I’m here.” Had she said that before? Maybe. It was hard for Lydia keep things straight lately. “Not live ones, but yeah. Ones in cases and stuff. I don’t mind too much.”
“Yeah, you mentioned that. What do your parents think of that?” She asked as they continued walking, Lexi’s parents wouldn’t have been too pleased when she was seventeen if she’d said that she was going to move in with some older guy she’d been dating. “That’s got to be pretty creepy, even if they aren’t alive.” Not much spooked Lexi, but bugs were one of those things what made cringe just a little.
“My parents aren’t exactly caring. They make too much money and I don’t think they ever wanted kids. They didn’t seem to care much when I said I was moving out. They just said ‘well if you think that’s best dear’ and then gave me a bunch of money. I think they were happy I got out. I would have been moving out anyway for college.” Lydia had graduated early, thankfully. They probably didn’t know how much older he was though. “It is a bit yeah. But he keeps them all in one place.”
Lexi’s brow furrowed slightly at the reaction by Lydia’s parents and she was glad that she’d always had parents who took an interest in the things she did, but she wasn’t about to bring that up to Lydia. “Well, now you’re out so there probably isn’t much they could have done anyway.” Lexi just wondered what Lydia would do if her relationship went south. Would she go back home? “And that’s good. I wouldn’t want them all displayed randomly around the house. I’d feel like they were watching me even if they are dead.”
By now it was just one of those things that Lydia just kind of accepted. There was no point in trying to change it. She took really good care of herself. “Nope, probably not. It is what it is. I’m good by myself.” And if things did go south with the relationship, then she’d find somewhere else to go. Or go back home. It wasn’t awful at home. But it wasn’t good either. “Yeah it’s a bit creepy. As long as there aren’t spiders.”
Lexi cringed, making a face, “Ew spiders. Ew all bugs actually. Except butterflies and lady bugs. They can stay.” She brushed her hair over her shoulder as they walked. “So, how long have you been dating and how did you meet him?” Lydia had already mentioned his name, so Lexi didn’t ask that, but there were still many more questions that she could ask about Lydia’s boyfriend.
Lydia laughed and nodded her head. “I feel pretty much the same way, but I’m trying not to be judgmental. I can live with it.” The way he had to live with her freaking out all the time and waking up in strange places. “I met him on the boards. Back in September. We started hanging out when I got attacked. Just friendly, nothing ever really came of it. But then I went missing for those two days, and he came to see me in the hospital. And it just sort of happened. We’d been flirting and the mutual attraction hadn’t been going away and it turned out he didn’t care that I was only slightly illegal.” SIgh. When she said it out loud like that.. “So about three months.”
Lexi smiled as she listened to Lydia talk about her boyfriend, her brow furrowing ever so slightly when she was reminded of the phone call from Lydia’s parents, asking if she’d seen their daughter when she’d gone missing. They’d only been friends for a couple of months, but Lexi hated when any of her friends were upset or in trouble regardless of how long they’d been friends. “Huck is about ten years older than me and I was nineteen when we started dating, so I’m not one to judge anyone on their relationship as long as you’re almost eighteen.” Of course she knew that Lydia’s boyfriend could still get in trouble if anyone found out, but Lexi wouldn’t be the one to squeal, that was for sure.
For her her parents were barely on her mind much anymore. It sucked that they were too busy with their own lives to remember her, but then her sister had moved out ages ago and it was just her. The kid that was probably an accident. “I promise that I am. Just a little while longer and I’ll be eighteen,” she assured her. It wasn’t like she and John ever did anything in public. She wasn’t that dumb. Lydia had read up on all of the laws that pertained to California, just to make sure. “So shall we go in here? I could use some new make-up.”
Lexi smiled and slid her arm through Lydia’s as they reached the makeup store, “Of course. Every girl needs new makeup.” Lexi had so much makeup, but she could probably afford to toss some of it if she bought something new. “I like how this went from looking for something for our boyfriends to, lets buy makeup for ourselves.”
Intertwining her arm with Lexi’s, Lydia headed into the make-up store. “Damn right. We should go into Lush. I love that store too. I could use some bath bombs.” And a bunch of other stuff. She went over to one of the racks and started to go through some of it. “Let’s face it, we’re way more important than they are.”
"Oh my god. I buy way too much stuff from Lush. Our tub is perfect for a bath. It's funny when Huck goes to use the shower and there is glitter all over the bottom of the tub," Lexi grinned as they went into the store and she started looking around for her favorite brands, "But he does like some of the stuff I buy from there. The stuff in the men's line mostly, but I've caught him using the body wash."
Lydia laughed and nodded her head. “I totally get that. I didn’t always have a tub, but when I did I used it all up. I love that place.” Maybe they should go over there later on. She picked up a couple of things, and then gave them the once over, trying to figure out if she liked them or not. Maybe she’d have to get some of this stuff. “Maybe I’ll have to buy John some stuff from there.” There was something odd happening, but she didn’t know what it was. The longer they stood there, the more urge she got to… scream? She swallowed and shook her head. Maybe she was getting sick.
Lexi selected a few different items as well, a new eye shadow palette that recently come out, eye shadow primer, to replace the almost empty tube she had at home and a few other things to contemplate, “I love their body scrub. And body conditioner. Who am I kidding, I love it all.” She grinned as she glanced over at Lydia, but it faded slightly as she watched the redhead, “Everything alright?”
There were some things that she needed to replace as well, but then things she thought she might want to try out. A new shade of lipstick or something. “Oh yeah their body scrub is the best. I don’t think I’ve ever tried the body conditioner. I’ll have to give that a try.” Especially if they went over there. “Hm? Oh.. um.. yeah. I just feel a little weird.” She didn’t know how to explain it. “Sorry.”
“Weird as in sick? Do you wanna go home?” Lydia didn’t look sick, but there was definitely something off about her, “Or do you wanna go sit down somewhere?” It was a little strange how suddenly this had come on, but then again Lexi couldn’t rule out the possibility that this could be dream related in which case, it wasn’t out of the ordinary for it to come on so suddenly.
Taking a deep breath, that urge to scream was getting bigger and bigger. “No, I don’t feel sick. I feel like I have to..” Lydia suspected it sounded more like she needed to pee or something. “Let’s just buy this stuff and get out of this store. Maybe it’s all the scents or something..” she swallowed a bit. She could hang on. Just a little bit longer.
Lexi nodded and led the way to the register. She hoped that Lydia would be alright once they got out of the store. After paying she moved aside to let Lydia pay then headed out of the store, “Do you wanna get a drink or something?” Not knowing exactly what was wrong with Lydia, Lexi was doing her best to try and help.
Following her to the register, she paid for her stuff as fast as she could and then left with her. There were people around, but she wasn’t going to make it outside. Lydia just shook her head. “I don’t.. I don’t know..” and then.. she screamed. A high pitched, blood curdling scream like she was about to die. Everyone turned around to look.
The last thing Lexi had been expecting was that. As Lydia screamed, Lexi brought her hands up over her ears, hazel eyes staring intently at her friend. It was anything but a human scream, which solidified that Lydia was anything but human in her dreams. She knew that she should probably get Lydia outside, but she couldn’t take her hands away from her ears as long as the redhead continued to scream.
After it was over, Lydia just kind of stared straight ahead and swallowed a bit. Everyone was looking at her. Especially Lexi. It looked like she had possibly hurt her ears. “Oh god I’m sorry.. I’m so so sorry..” She allowed Lexi to finally carry her out of the mall, just looking more than a bit stunned and completely confused about things. “I don’t know what that was. I have no idea what just happened.”
When Lydia finally stopped, Lexi removed her hands from her ears and led the way out of the nearest exit, shooting daggers at anyone who continued to stare at them. “Are you alright?” She asked when they were finally outside and Lexi led Lydia to a nearby bench, “That wasn’t just a regular scream. You haven’t done that in the dreams?”
Once out into the air, Lydia took a deep breath and nodded her head. “Yeah, yeah I’m okay now. I.. I’m not even sure what happened.” She sat down on the bench and tried to remember her dreams. “It wasn’t? I’ve had them in my dreams but.. but I assumed they were normal. I mean.. well I woke up once in my dream and I was just screaming for no reason. And I don’t know what that was. It was .. I couldn’t control it. I have no idea what just happened.”
Lexi sat down next to Lydia, listening to her and trying to figure out what could have possibly caused what had happened, “You know, it was almost like a banshee.” Either that or one of those mandrake root things from Harry Potter, but she doubted that Lydia had anything to do with those, “You said that you felt weird right before it happened. Was it like….I don’t know, could you sense something?”
Her eyebrows raised and she looked a bit.. well a bit like Lexi had two heads. “A banshee? Seriously? There’s no way. There’s only vampires and lizard men in my dreams. There’s no such thing as a banshee.” RIght? That was just what she needed. Lydia thought about it a moment. “There was.. whispering. I could hear voices. But that’s nothing.. unusual for me. I mean I was hearing and seeing things when I brought Peter back from the dead. But since then it’s been.. different.”
Lexi knew nothing about banshees aside from the scream so she had no idea about the whole whispering thing and what that meant, “I don’t really know. It just seemed….how do you feel now?” Considering Lexi dreamt about being a vampire, she knew very little about most things supernatural and she wished there was more she could do to help Lydia.
“I feel fine,” she admitted and looked back over at Lexi. “I don’t know what it was. That’s just weird. I’m going to have to do some research. Maybe I can find something.” And really hoped that it wasn’t anything serious. “I’m glad you were here though. I don’t know what would have happened if you weren’t. So thanks.” Lydia got up to her feet. “Let’s go to the Lush store and then just.. get some coffee or something and get out of here.”
“I’m glad I was here too. Otherwise you might have had some mall cops after you,” Lexi tried to lighten the mood a little as she placed a hand on Lydia’s forearm, “Lush and coffee sounds like a good idea. Let me know if you feel a scream coming on again though and I’ll get you to the bathroom or something before it happens.” She was a little worried about Lydia now and hoped that something like this wouldn’t happen again while she was driving or something.