January Dreams

by Carrigan Richards

  “Vincent.” I take his hand, squeezing it. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. Is she okay?”

  “She’s fine. They were just administering tests. Do you forgive me?”

  “Yes, of course. I wish you would’ve called or texted though. This whole time I thought you hated me or something.”

  He shakes his head, and his eyes are fixed on me with an intense look. “I could never hate you.” He gives a crooked smile. “Besides, if you didn’t see the same thing as me, you would think I was some freak.”

  “Maybe we both are.”

  He smiles wider. “I like that.”

  “Promise me something?”

  “Anything.”

  “Don’t keep me on edge like that. If you need to talk or whatever don’t be afraid of me. I’m here for you.”

  “You got it.” He kisses my forehead and takes my hand. His thumb caresses my hand sending warmth all over me. We walk inside the school and he escorts me to my locker.

  He gazes into my eyes and I almost melt. I love the dark blue color of his irises. It’s my favorite color. “You are beautiful, Megan. You shouldn’t hide such beauty.” He kisses me with enough heat to set my insides on fire and in my mind, I see myself running into Vincent’s arms as if I haven’t seen him in ages. He wraps his arms around me and holds me tight.

  We pull apart, panting. “What was that?” I whisper.

  “What?”

  “It felt like I hadn’t seen you in forever.”

  “I know.” He plants one more kiss on my lips.

  “We should get to class.”

  He grins. “I’ll see you later.” I make my way to history class in a complete daze and sit next to Cherry.

  “Are you okay?” she asks. “I mean, I take it from the huge grin on your face that you’re fine, but where were you this morning?”

  I giggle. “Vincent.”

  She laughs and playfully punches me on the shoulder. “You two are good then?”

  “Yeah. It was all a misunderstanding.”

  “Good. When are we double dating?”

  “Whenever you want.”

  I finally found a distraction from the dreams.

  Chapter Eleven

  Days merge into weeks, and before I know it, it’s the last week of school before Christmas break. Vincent and I are still together and I’m falling. He makes me happy, and I love being with him. He fills my heart with joy. Vincent and I have spent many nights on the phone or hanging out writing out my story. It’s weird, but I like it.

  My dreams still continue, but Casper and I haven’t said a word to each other in weeks. Just the way I like it.

  Jonathan and I are going to see our dad, and while I’m excited, part of me is sad because I have to leave Vincent. But maybe the whole distance makes the heart grow fonder is true. Things have been amazing with him.

  “I can’t believe you’re leaving me for three days,” he says.

  I squeeze his hand as we stand by my car in the school parking lot. “It’ll be okay.”

  He turns to me, his blue eyes pinning mine. “Let’s skip today.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Because I want to hang out with you before you leave.”

  “We have school though.”

  He shrugs. “Come on.” He kisses my neck, warming my body.

  “You know I’ll get in trouble.”

  Vincent lets out a sigh. “You don’t want to spend time with me?”

  “That’s not it at all. We have school. And my parents.”

  He rolls his eyes. “No one’s going to care if we miss today. And you have work tonight, so I’m not even going to see you before you leave. Just please. One day? I need to get away for a while and I just want to be with you.”

  Biting my lip, I agree.

  Smiling, he leads me to his car, and soon we’re driving on the interstate going north.

  “Where are we going?”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  Nerves hit my stomach. “I can’t be too far from home. I still have to work tonight.”

  “Would you just relax? I promise it’ll be worth it.”

  Taking risks. That’s what being a teenager is all about, I remind myself. “Okay.”

  An hour later, we arrive at Noccalula Falls. I haven’t been here since I was a kid. I don’t really wonder why he brought me here, because once I see the water, I’m eager to get out of the car. The falls are at the start of the park. We get out of the car and walk across the wooden bridge over the falls. There’s an iron statue of Noccalula attempting to fall.

  As we round the fence, we find a spot and with him holding me from behind, we gaze at the beautiful, flowing water as it cascades down into the creek. A little rainbow forms at the bottom.

  “You know the story, right?” he asks.

  “I vaguely remember. It’s been a while.”

  “Legend has it, she was a Cherokee princess. Her father arranged a marriage between her and another man from a neighboring tribe. But she was in love with someone else. Her lover was driven away, and her father demanded she marry the other man. Distraught, she jumped into the falls, killing herself. Her father, remorseful, named the falls after her.”

  “I remember that. It’s so sad.”

  “Mm-hmm.” He holds me tight, and I feel like something’s wrong. “Please don’t leave me,” he whispers in my ear.

  I twist around to face him. “Why would I leave you?”

  His eyes are serious yet sad. I lean back against the fence, loving the sound of the waterfall.

  “It’s just…” He tilts his head back and closes his eyes.

  “What? What is it?”

  He opens his eyes and looks at me as if he’s afraid to tell me. “I feel very strongly toward you. And I’ve got demons from my past that I’m afraid will come back to haunt me.”

  “Demons like what?” I ask slowly.

  He watches me as he speaks, I guess watching my reaction. “Megan, I used to do cocaine. And heroin.”

  “I know a lot of people who have tried drugs.” I shrug.

  Vincent hesitates. “I used to be addicted.”

  I’m not sure what my face looks like, but inside I’m shocked. He’s only sixteen. How can someone so young have already been addicted? “D-do you still do them?”

  “No. I was in rehab for a while. Which is probably why you don’t know me. I started at this school in ninth grade, but I hardly went and in tenth grade I was even more messed up and my dad forced me into rehab. I’ve been clean since June. I don’t want you to worry that I would involve myself in that again. I’ve got a new addiction.” He meets my eyes.

  I’m not sure that’s healthy either, but I don’t think about it too much.

  “Sorry. That was bad. I was trying to lighten the mood.” He lets out a short laugh.

  “Vincent, I’m not here to judge you. You’ve decided to make your life better. You’re a good person,” I tell him. His eyes are fixed on me for a moment and he crushes his mouth to mine. I love the feel of his lips and I love that when he kisses me, it’s always so passionate.

  “Thank you,” he whispers. “You’re so amazing, mon trésor. I got you something for Christmas.” He hands me a black, velvet box.

  I open it and gasp. It’s a silver necklace with a snowflake pendant made of crystals. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.” I kiss him.

  “Merry Christmas.” He clasps it around my neck, and I smile.

  By the time we get back to my car, lonely in the parking lot at school, it’s almost time for my shift at work.

  “Are you sure you have to work?” he asks.

  I smile. “Yes.”

  “Can’t you call in?”

  “I wish.”

  “What time do you get off?”

  “Midnight.”

  He groans. “What am I going to do?”

  I give a wicked grin. “I’ll give you something to think about.” I unhook my seatbelt and climb over the console and into his la
p, straddling him. I press my mouth to his, hard, and find his tongue. He softly moans and I smile on the inside. His hands are all over me and I move to his neck and nibble on his ear. He grips my thighs and tenses up. His breathing picks up and inches his hand up my skirt.

  I stop his hand and kiss his forehead.

  “I’m definitely going to need to take a cold shower tonight.”

  “Vincent.” I playfully slap him on the shoulder.

  He brushes his lips against mine and wraps his arms around me tight and lets out a relaxing sigh. “Thank you for today. I needed it.”

  “Of course.”

  His lips travel down my jawline to my neck and my heart responds quickly. “You’re mine.” His hand moves up my sweater and traces beneath my bra sending heat to spread throughout me.

  When his mouth is on mine, a vision hits me and I see Vincent above me, naked and panting, as we make love in the glow of the candlelight. He lowers his mouth to my ear. “I love you, Megan. Don’t leave me.”

  “I will never leave you. My love is only yours.”

  I pull away from Vincent, breaking the vision, and we’re both out of breath. I’m so hot and worked up from the vision of us actually…making love. These visions are too much. If I’m not careful, I’ll let it consume me and I won’t have any control over my actions.

  But they’re so addicting.

  I press my lips to his and he responds with the same urgency as me. I have never thought about wanting to lose my virginity, but I do now. I want Vincent. I slip my hands under his shirt and feel his smooth stomach. Hands are everywhere. Our kisses turn messy. We both moan at each other’s touch and things are starting to escalate. I want him, but not like this, and he seems to sense that.

  I pull back slightly, resting my forehead against his. “I gotta go.”

  “Call in tomorrow.”

  “I can’t.”

  He kisses my neck. “Please. I miss you, mon trésor.”

  “What does that mean?”

  He kisses my cheek. “It’s French for my treasure. Sorry. Do you not like it?”

  “I love it. Do you know French?”

  “A little. My family originates from France.”

  “How am I just now learning this?”

  He shrugs.

  “It’s kinda hot when you speak French.”

  He smiles. “Je veux être avec toi pour toujours,” he whispers in my ear sending chills down my spine. “Call in tomorrow. I just want more time with you.”

  I can’t resist. “Okay.”

  Vincent widens his smile and kisses me once more. I slide off his lap and get out of the car.

  “Hey, Megan?”

  I turn back as he hangs his head out the window. His eyes rove up and down and he looks at me with desire. “You’re sexy as hell.”

  I blush, rolling my eyes and reluctantly get inside my car completely drunk on happiness. I laugh at how much I’m smiling, but I can’t help it. Now if only I can dream about Vincent instead of Casper.

  I’m supposed to work a few hours before Jonathan and I leave for my dad’s, but instead I meet Vincent at IHOP. He doesn’t ever seem to want me to go to his house, which I wonder if he’s afraid of letting me see his mom or vice versa. Do his parents even know about me? It’s a mystery.

  When I arrive, I give him a hug, but he seems distant. He looks exhausted, almost like he’s hungover or something. “What’s wrong?” I ask.

  “Kinda left me high and dry last night and now you’re leaving town.”

  I’m taken aback. “What?”

  “It’s nothing. Come on, let’s eat.”

  I hate that he’s upset with me, and I want to make it right. When we get to our table, he stares at the menu. My heart is pounding.

  “I’m sorry.” I reach for his hand across the table.

  “Where’s your necklace?”

  I absently touch my neck. “I left it at home.”

  “You don’t like it?”

  “No, that’s not it. I’m not used to wearing jewelry and I forgot to put it on.”

  He gives me a pointed look. “When a guy gives you a necklace, you wear it, Megan. If you don’t like it, I’ll take it back.”

  “I love it. Why are you being like this? I didn’t mean to leave you high and dry last night. I had to go to work.”

  “Like always.”

  “But it’s true.”

  “Was there someone at work that you’d rather spend time with?”

  Where is this coming from? Why is he being like this? What have I done? “No. Why would you think that?”

  “Well you were in a hurry to get to work and now you’re not wearing your necklace.”

  Damn my forgetful memory. “I’m sorry.”

  “Just order.”

  I swallow hard and the rest of breakfast is awkward and tense. I shouldn’t have forgotten the necklace. I don’t want to bring it to my dad’s, and something happen to it. Last time Vincent acted like this I was going to my dad’s. Does he hate it that much when I leave? He gives me a one-armed hug and tells me goodbye, leaving me completely mystified.

  All weekend at my dad’s, the only thing I can think about is Vincent and how I upset him. I haven’t heard from him at all, and I don’t know what to do. I can’t even enjoy myself, and it makes me sad and guilty. I love spending time with my dad, Kim and Olivia, but now I just want to go home so I can see Vincent and hash this out.

  “Men and their secrets,” Kim says to me in the car. We’re on our way back from the store and I’ve told her everything that happened. She’s a lot younger than my dad, and maybe that’s why she and I get along so well. She’s only seven years older than me. “They never tell you the whole truth.” I can’t help but wonder if she’s really talking about my dad, but I don’t ask to elaborate.

  “I trust Vincent, though. He’s been very truthful to me.” I left out the part where he was addicted to drugs, but who would come out and tell someone that if they didn’t want to be completely honest?

  “Well, maybe he has a lot on his mind with his mom.”

  “That’s true.” I know it’s probably on his mind constantly, and I don’t think about it because it isn’t happening to me. Guilt falls over me. I haven’t been fair to him. It’s Christmas, and I can’t imagine what it must be like to have a sick mother, not knowing if she’s going to survive. I send a text wishing him a Merry Christmas and letting him know I’m here.

  Chapter Twelve

  Casper and I laugh and play and chase each other until we collapse breathless in the tall grass. He smiles and leans over me, holding himself up on one elbow. The desired look lingers in his brown eyes. I grab his shirt, pulling him to me, and kiss him. He slides my white top down, exposing my shoulder, and his lips graze against my shoulder to my collarbone. He travels to my neck and the spot behind my ear, his touch hot against my skin.

  “I love you,” I whisper. “I’m yours, forever.”

  Casper crushes his mouth to mine with an edge to his kiss. His tongue licks my upper lip and he tugs on it with his lips. He kisses my cheek and nibbles my ear. I feel his hand touch my side through my navy dress and it sends a rush of passion throughout me. My fingers curl around the front of his shirt, finding the buttons. I unbutton them and graze my hand across his smooth chest. I feel him shudder. His mouth is all over me. My lips. My neck. My jaw.

  “I love you so much, Megan. I will keep you safe,” he says.

  When I open my eyes, I gasp at the moon. A shadow slowly passes over it.

  An eclipse. Except, it’s not.

  Casper and I untangle ourselves, holding each other tightly.

  “Is that a…”

  “Dragon.”

  I hold Casper tight, refusing to let go. The Sprites have declared war and sent dragons. I want it to end. For them to stop chasing us, so we can be together. But I know it will never stop. Not unless I do something about it. I will do anything to be with Casper. He is my heart and my soul. He is what home fe
els like.

  “We have to go,” he whispers and pulls me to my feet.

  A screech echoes in the night causing us to cover our ears. Fire erupts from the mysterious flying beast above. We hear a loud explosion off in the distance and both turn our heads in the direction. The same direction as Casper’s home.

  I gasp at the dragon above us with wisps of dark smoke. In the distance, I hear more cannons and guns and orange illuminates the sky. A war started by our love. And we’re running again.

  I want to skip school today, but the way my parents are, I know better. Plus, it’s the first day back after Christmas break. It’s been two weeks, and I still haven’t heard from Vincent. It makes me sad.

  Dragging myself out of bed, I reluctantly slip a maroon sweater over my head and slide on some jeans. I brush through the thick, long tangled mess that is my hair and put on makeup. My eyes are bloodshot like I have been awake all night or cried all night. Or like I spent the entirety of my dream running through a forest. Every time a cannon fired, I woke up. And when I fell back asleep, I returned to the dream like I never left. Needless to say, I’m exhausted.

  When I meet Cherry at school, I put on a brave face, but every time someone slams a locker, I jump. I keep looking around thinking I’m going to see an orange sky in the distance or a dragon.

  “Are you okay? Why are you so jumpy?”

  “Dreams.”

  “Ugh. You’re still having them? Have you written down the story at all?”

  “Yes. I’ve written everything. Even Vincent and I came up with ideas and created this elaborate world, but I’m still having the dreams.”

  “I take it Vincent doesn’t know you’re dreaming about Casper.”

  I give her a pointed look.

  She throws up her hands. “Hey, just asking.”

  “It doesn’t matter. Still haven’t heard from Vincent.”

  “Ugh. What is up with him?”

  I shrug.

  “Least you remembered to wear the necklace today. Maybe he’s just going through a lot and isn’t used to having anyone to talk to about it.”

  “Maybe.” But a small part of me wonders if he’s using drugs again. Or is there someone else? My stomach twists at the thought. Did something happen to his mom? I have to trust him.