Effy

Matt hadn't spoken a word since he offered to take me to my room; the offer was innocent, of course. I know this because firstly, a dream (or figure of my imagination) can't move you from room to room. Secondly, my neck just really hurts from where I fell asleep and my pillows would be a nice comfort right now. It's just nice to know that my 'dream guy' would offer an impossible idea to make me feel... cared for? It's rare for me to feel such a way. From my mother taking vacations just to get away from me to my classmates purposely talking about how great their lives are whilst I'm in the vicinity, having someone just acknowledge I'm there is amazing enough.

Though only one person does acknowledge me, why she does is beyond me, so I call her my best friend. Can you call your only friend the best when there's no one else to compare them with? Tough, I do it anyway. She's the most popular girl in school, gets along with everyone and every male worth his balls is after her. Her name is Celeste, though everyone refers to her a C, and she lives on the opposite side of the village from me. We've been 'friends' since I started high school, it was the most random encounter I've had, but I'm glad it happened.

It was my first week at secondary school and I hadn't made a good impression with the rest of the kids (and this was when I cared the about things around me). My fourth day between my fourth and fifth periods at lunch was the worst and the last time I got bullied by the 'awesome' kids. I had just entered the lunch hall and I received a so-called slushy facial, I'm pretty sure I don't need to explain that one, and after holding back my tears at my hair and new outfit being ruined, it was the first time it happened so I tried to continue as though I though of it as a joke. But as I sat down at my regular table to eat, still covered in slushy, I had my chair rocked about and messed with while I tried to politely ignore my situation and eat my food. This obviously ended up with my cooked meal being thrown everywhere and I almost ended up hungry, if it wasn't for her. C couldn't stand the way I was being treated and slammed one of the chair rocking guys against the wall next to me and, after death glaring the facial guys, she took me to the nearest bathroom and gave me some spare clothes she had in her bag.

She also bought me more lunch. After that we hung out almost all the time.

My father was pleased to see me make a good friend that was willing to stand by me and, even now, when I hardly speak to her or even respond, she'll sit next to me and talk to me about the funny things I missed and how she wants to come over to mine and watch a movie as if I was the same person she had first met. She asked if I wanted her to stay over at mine whilst my mother was off on holiday, though I refused she still comes to see me at regular intervals during the week. I'll tell the world I don't want any company, and she'll be the only one left in this world that knows that I'm lying.

During the end of that train of thought I felt a small, almost unnoticeable pressure against my back, spreading over my body until I felt my head reach that same force. It was soft, but it was there, I came to the conclusion that my body must have slipped on the sofa and I was officially lying down flat on it now. I decided to see if my talking companion was still willing to talk to me. "Matt?" I called, more or less a whisper.

"Hey there, Ef, are you alright? How's your neck?" Of course he would be concerned for me first; as if a dream would act any different. 'He' even called me Ef; no one's really cared enough to give me a nickname before.

"M'good, my neck doesn't hurt as much anymore"

"Heh, that's why I put you on your bed, isn't it?" Chyeah, I was totally laying on my bed right now. Right.

I was about to thank the current imaginary friend out of politeness when white and pink tinted surroundings turned to black once again. I screamed out of reflex but large hands pinned my arms and covered my mouth, I started to thrash as the grip holding me got tighter until my whole body jolted upwards and...

I was in my room? And in front of me was a shocked looking redhead with piercing green eyes, one of his hands were hovering just in front of my mouth whilst the other was held defensively in a karate-chop way.

"Please don't try ato hit me again," his left eyebrow raised as his hands slowly settled into his lap, "remember me? Matt? Me no hurty, 'Kay?" I closed my eyes and started to let out a breath I didn't realise I was holding.

"Yeah," I said as I breathed out, opening my eyes with a deeply apologetic expression on my face. "Sorry, I just got... got scared" I tried my hand at an embarrassed smile. After watching the redhead's face turn from cautious to relaxed, albeit half-amused, I noted he accepted my apology and relaxed myself. "You are...?"

"Matt silly," he spoke it softly but he grinned, ruining the intent, obviously more amused.

My jaw literally dropped. Matt laughed at my dumbfounded look and rolled onto his back (giggling) from where he had been perched at the side of my bed, slightly facing the window. All this time I thought he was just part of my imagination, that I finally managed to create to stop those horrible nightmares and perhaps give me some comfort for once while I slept. Apparently that was a dream in itself.

I frowned, brought my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arm around them, watching as my green-eyed visitor collected himself enough to sit up again and but not enough to stop laughing. "Sorry," he burst out, "I've just never actually witnessed a jaw drop so dramatically before." I grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it at him (actually aiming for his head but missing anyway).

"Not funny," I mumbled, more to myself than anything, but he heard. He leant forwards, face apologetic, and held my hands within his. His hands were warm in comforting way, not the clammy kind that make you want to shudder, and enclosed mine completely with a firm grip, not letting me try to move away. "I'm sorry, sincerely I am. I never meant for my jesting manner to be taken as anything other than a... well, a jest." His voice was just a soft as it was when he spoke to me in my dream. Can I still call it a dream? Though there's no other word for it that I can currently think of, especially when those piercing green eyes of his are looking directly into mine. I looked down to our combined hands, wiggling a few of my fingers to distract myself. He moved back a little, hands still around mine, and his remorseful expression turned to that of concern at my lack of response.

I sat up a little more, now kneeling on my bed with Matt still watching me for a reaction. I leaned forward myself, slowly bringing my eyes up to look at his face, taking my left hand away from his and resting it on his cheek. Our eyes, finally making contact; his holding surprise and mine confusion, I had no idea what I was doing anymore.

So I kissed him.