Chapter 10- Dreams
"I tell you guys not to ditch me in a book store and what do you do? You ditch me in a book store!"
They were back at there "hotel" and Jessica was going on and on about the others leaving her and Jonathon at the book store and going to get ice cream ten blocks away.
"Hey Dess said it was an "ice-cream social". We had to check it out, we'd of told you but there were only so many free ice creams left." Melissa counteracted.
Jessica just rolled her eyes, "Oh yeah because free ice cream is so important."
Rex joined in, "Well we evaluated the situation, and discovered that it was just a normal ice-cream social. We were very disappointed, isn't that enough?"
Jess smirked, "No it is not. Dess what do you have to say?"
She turned to Dess who could not have been paying any less attention. Her face was buried in the book she had bought at the store.
"Dess." Jess attempted again, "DESS!"
Dess jumped, "May I help you?"
Jessica bit her lip, annoyed. "Never mind please continue."
"Okay? Next time, you know what just don't talked to me I need to know if Sam survives the fire!"
Jessica gawked at her, "Oh yeah I'll try to contain my pissed off attitude so you can enjoy your book!"
Dess nodded, "Thank you." then stuck her head back into the book.
Jessica gave up with a deep sign, "Okay you know what just forget it let's move on!" Everyone rolled their eyes,
"Jess we moved on like thirteen million years ago." Melissa said putting her feet up on a stool.
Jonathon walked back into the room putting his cell phone back into his pocket. No one had even noticed his absence, "Okay that was just my uncle. He said him and David where at his apartment and are just going to chill tonight."
"Ten bucks he throws a party with a three year old." Melissa muttered.
"I'm not betting against that." Dess admitted.
Jonathon ignored their comments and sat down next to Jessica.
Melissa took a bite out of her apple, "So what's the plan for tonight?"
Dess blew the hair out of her face, "Um not die."
"Good plan, but I was hoping for something a little more, structured."
Dess shrugged and went back to reading. Melissa looked at Rex who was making shadow puppets against the wall with his flashlight.
"Rex!" Melissa called, he jumped dropping the flashlight.
"Can you focus for like 2 minutes?"
Rex picked up the flashlight, "Sorry it's just Jessica has such a short attention span, I can't help it!" Melissa rolled her eyes, Jessica nodded,
"I was really bad at staying focused. Actually I just realized how much better I am at it, paying attention I mean."
She gave a small giggle and looked at Jonathon. Melissa noticed Dess flinch,
"Just make sure you put your new attention skills to good use don't, waste it."
Jessica eyed Melissa, getting the "joke".
"Maybe we should just try and teach each other how to use each of our own talents, that way tonight we have a foundation." Jonathon suggested, Dess put down her book. "Wow, smart thinking Brain Boy, so here's what you need to know. Don't screw up and don't insult my talent or I will hurt you."
Melissa whispered to Jonathon, "Don't need to be a mindcaster to know she meant that."
She turned to Dess, "Well Dess I think it's obvious, don't touch anyone or anything that may have strong emotional baggage. And tonight we'll need to be on the look out for darklings, so concentrate on vague inhuman thoughts, strong but not really complex. Do that and we may survive."
Dess nodded, "Wow thanks Melissa?" Rex stood up and walked over to Jessica,
"What do I need to know Jess?"
Jess spoke without looking up from Jonathon, "Point the flashlight at darklings, watch them blow up. Don't point it at yourself and make sure it's on before you go charging towards them."
Rex nodded taking it seriously, "Got it." then went back to the corner.
"All right Flyboy, whatcha got?" Jonathon actually looked at Melissa.
"Well you always feel weightless so all you really need to concentrate on is keeping your feet on the ground. Controlling flying or walking, it just takes some thought. And we'll wait on the more than one person thing later."
Melissa ruffled her hair, "I can do that, I'd better be able to do that."
Jessica looked at Rex, "Do I even need to know anything?"
Rex pondered for a moment, "I can't think of anything life saving at the moment." Melissa cut in, "Just admit your talent is boring Rex." Rex snapped his head at her, "It is not!"
"Whatever."
Rex gave her a sour look, Dess added, "Come on Melissa we're all walking 13 miles in each others shoes the least we can do is be cooperative."
Melissa raised her eyebrows and had her eyes wide at Dess, "So now you're the peacemaker?"
"You guys let's not start anything!" Jessica cut in, "Just let it go."
Melissa relaxed. Jessica added, "You guys we haven't slept like in forever I think we should try and get some before tonight." Everyone nodded in reluctance, but it was true. They were all exhausted. "Oh yes let's become the first group of nocturnal goth nerds!" Melissa said before lying down on the couch. The others acknowledged her comment but quickly took their positions, ready for some sleep.
Melissa dreamt she was in the blue time back in Bixby, except there was a strange tension in the air. She began to walk down the street knowing she was close to her house. As she turned the corner she noticed two kids walking down the street. She quickly put her self against the walk of the house and watched them. They looked about eight, the boy was a little talker and she could tell he was wearing glasses. The girl had dark hair it went a couple inches below the shoulders.
She was wearing cow boy pajamas. No way. Melissa thought.
Then the young Melissa talked her voice seemed to echo against and invisible dome, "So you've been here all along and you never wondered if there was anyone else?"
The younger Rex just shrugged,
"I guess for a while I just thought it was all a dream, but I'm kinda glad it isn't now." Melissa cautiously walked closer, the younger Melissa continued,
"Wow that's really nice." Melissa could see their faces; the younger Rex smiled shyly, "Did you do that with your talent?" Younger Melissa sighed,
"You call it a talent, I call it a curse. I hate all the voices I wish I didn't have this talent!"
Younger Rex's eyes filled with understanding, "Well if you didn't then we wouldn't have met." Younger Melissa nodded, "Okay so there's one good side."
Melissa smiled at the memory then her eyes grew wide knowing what came next. Then younger Rex innocently lifted his hand grabbing hers. The moment his hand touched her skin she began screaming. Melissa put her hand over her mouths so she would not scream along with her younger self. She remembered seeing the tarantulas practically feeling them crawling up her own bare skin. She watched her younger self rubbing her arms trying to get them off. She remembered seeing Rex's father putting them him telling him to be a man. Melissa felt tears coming as her younger self backed away from Rex complete horror in her eyes.
"Melissa." He pleaded but she just shook her head,
"No, Rex I'm sorry stay away from me!" And with that she started running back to her own house never turning back to Rex's broken face. Melissa wiped her eyes and went down the street to her left. That night had been one no matter how many times buried would always come back to haunt her.
Jonathon got up off the couch and looked around the room, everyone was still sound asleep their breath even and deep. Then he noticed the deep blue color bled into the entire room. He realized the shudder of the blue time beginning must have woken him, he went into the old kitchen. The paint was peeled and he could smell the mold gathering in the corners. Sitting down on one of the stools he reached for his ham and cheese sandwich he had made before they had all crashed. He didn't even have a chance to pick it up before he heard shuffling back in the other room. Getting up he made his way wearily back to the room where the others slept. He sighed when he saw it was Jessica, she was standing looking out of the window.
"Hey Jess did the blue time wake you up too?" Jonathon said with a half-hearted laugh. His smiled was whipped away when he saw Jessica's face, it was filled with terror. "Jessica what's wrong?" He said rushing over to her, Jonathon reached for her hand but she moved it before he could touch her.
"Look" she whispered motioning for him to look out the window. Jonathon's eyes went wide when he saw the cars slowing making its way down the street, the seas of people walking alone the sidewalks calling for taxis during the blue time.
"What the hell." He muttered, Jessica just shook her head,
"I have no idea." Jonathon turned back towards the others still asleep, before he could say anything Jessica started to walk into the kitchen.
"Come on let's go up to the roof and check things out."
Jonathon didn't argue but followed Jess through the kitchen to the stairwell that led up to the roof. They cautiously approached the edge of the roof.
"It looks like no one even notices. You don't think there's another rip?" Jessica asked. Jonathon looked at her,
"I hope not I doubt there's any lightning around."
Jessica barley smiled, "Yeah." She said automatically.
"Did you hear that?" Jessica said jumping.
"Hear what?" Jonathon said,
"It sounded like someone was on the ledge." She said as she approached closer to the edge trying to get a glimpse at the side of the building.
"It could have been anything there are lots of sounds in New York City." But right as he said it he and Jessica realized that there was no other sound. The roar of the city was on mute even with the cars and people there was only and uncomfortable heavy sort of static feeling in the air.
"This is too weird, what's going on?" Jonathon muttered half to himself half to Jessica. She wasn't paying attention to him, she was still edging her way to look down the building.
"Jessica please be careful." He pressed, but she had edged herself as far as she could go her toes hanging off the edge. Jonathon walked towards her, Jessica went stiff Jonathon stopped dead. Suddenly Drake's head popped up from the edge of the building a gun pointed at Jessica. Jonathon remained unmoving as Drake lifted himself onto the roof. Grabbing Jessica's waist he turned her to face Jonathon, he was a mere feet from her but it was still enough time… Jonathon didn't let himself finish the thought.
"Pay back time lover boy." Jonathon remained stiff but he looked right at Drake afraid to look into Jessica's terrified eyes.
"What do you want Drake?" Jonathon asked barley moving his mouth. Drake's eyes glared at him,
"There's nothing you can do you're screwed, say goodbye to you're precious flame bringer."
Jonathon looked at Jessica she was looking at him her eyes filled with tears. And with that Drake aimed the gun from Jessica to Jonathon.
"No one to catch you now Flame-Bringer."
Then he took he's feet and swept Jessica's off the edge of the building. Jonathon lunged forward he reached for Jessica's hand, but as he grabbed her fingers his own went right through hers. Jonathon's mouth dropped open as Jessica continued to fall. He turned back to Drake and evil grin spread on his face the gun still pointed at him.
"Surprise.", he said and pulled the trigger.
Jessica seemed to come out of staring into space, as her eyes came into focus she noticed that a party was going on. No one seemed to notice that she was there, even though she was in plain sight and many eyes past over her. Jessica dismissed it and looked closer at the party. It was for a little girl she was about six; she was wearing a pink frilly dress and had on a plastic birthday crown. A woman whom Jessica assumed to be the girls mother came out with a birthday cake, and they started to sing. When she looked closely she noticed that the woman was her mother and that little girl was her.
Jessica looked at the younger versions of her friends they were so innocent then. She found her dad holding baby Beth, and Jess admitted her sister was a cute baby. Then Jess remembered the birthday she was experiencing from all those years ago. But as it played out she suddenly remembered the not so happy part of this birthday. As her mother handed out the pieces of cake Jessica decided she would change the accident that was about to happen.
Her mother left the cake unguarded as she went over to hand a piece to her husband and Beth. As her younger self stood up tall on the chair to get another piece Jessica made her move.
"Jessica, me, stop you can wait for mom to come back and ask her to get it for you." But her younger self paid no notice and reached for the cake. For a moment Jess was in shock but that was to long.
"Jessica!" Her mother called, the young Jessica spun around making the over large table cloth that draped over the chair she was standing on wrapped around her making her lose balance. She fell on the cake and the table cloth was pulled to the ground taking all the others pieces of cake, drinks, and candy with them. Jessica could only watch as it all fell on top of her six year old self.
"Oh Jessica!"
Her mother called, her dad put Beth on the couch and hurried over. The other kids had started to cry as her parents dug her out of the rubbish. She was soaked with soda and her dress was covered in cake and candy. Tears welled up as her mother rushed to get a towel. The scene blurred and Jessica turned around. That had been the worst birthday ever, of course her friends forgave her and told her it was ok as they got older, but Jessica had never really gotten over it.
Well until she had moved to Bixby, when there had been much more important things to worry about. But the dream continued each a bad memory and each time and the same thing always happened she would go right through like she didn't belong or exist. And then Jessica realized there was nothing she could do. All these things had happened to her for a reason even thought just going through them Jessica saw how many bad things had happened. But she could always find something that made it worth it. Destiny was written, and there was nothing she could do. She had moved on from all the events she was never depressed forever. She also knew that she would know when it was the right time to change it.
Melissa, Jonathon, and Jessica all seemed to wake up at the same time.
"What's eating you guys?" Dess said. They all turned, Dess has her feet up on the couch and was eating a sandwich.
"Well you're eating a sandwich." Jonathon said. Melissa and Jessica looked at him, "Really Jonathon?" Melissa said. Dess turned on the television, it had terrible picture. "So did you guys like have all the same dream I was almost weirded out when you all woke up at the same time."
Melissa ran her fingers through her hair, hopelessly messy, "I had a dream about me and Rex."
Dess held in a laugh, "To much information Melissa."
Melissa through a pillow at her, "Not like that!" Jessica rubbed her arms as though they were cold, "I had a dream about my sixth birthday party, the worst party I ever had."
"Wow, did your mind like totally blow it out of proportion and turn everybody to zombies and they were trying to kill you with plastic knives?" Dess said in excitement. Jessica shook her head, "No it played out just like I remembered it."
Dess sighed, "Well your no fun at all" Jessica stuck her tough out, then turned to Jonathon, "What was your dream?" Jonathon was taken off guard he didn't want to tell her his dream.
"The usual, flying during the Blue Time you know."
Melissa smiled, "Where you flying with Jessica?"
"No." He muttered annoyed. Dess sighed and turned off the television, she reached over and turned on a dim light and took out GONE. Jessica crossed her legs, "What was your dream about Dess?"
"Didn't have one, or just don't remember it."
Jessica rolled her eyes and looked around the room. Squinting she put on Rex's glasses, "Where's Rex?" Dess looked around and shrugged, "Who knows he wasn't in the room when I got up." Melissa sighed and forced herself up, "I'll find him." She said taking her sweatshirt off her face covered in sweat. She walked out of the room and through the kitchen opening the door to the roof. When they heard the door slam close they looked at each other.
"So." Dess dragged Jess and Jonathon looked at her
"Beats me, what time is it?" Jonathon asked.
Jessica looked at her watch, "its 11:30PM we slept like the whole day."
Dess sighed then smiled at Jess, "So what did happen at you're party?"
Jess rolled her eyes and leaned on Jonathon's shoulder, "It's a long story."
Dess raised her eyebrows, "We've got time."
Melissa opened the heavy door that led to the roof, fixing her cami she looked around the roof top for Rex. She spotted him on the other side of the roof. She sighed and slowly made her way to him. She could feel her sweat turning cold as she reached Rex. He was sitting with his legs hanging off the edge of the building a light breeze ruffling his hair. Melissa sighed and sat down facing the inside of the roof top, "Hey."
She said, Rex didn't look at her,
"Hey." He replied.
Melissa bit her lip, "You missed it we all woke up at the same time well except Dess and Jess had a dream about her sixth birthday party. Can't wait to hear that story. Dess said you were gone before she got up, what have you been doing up here?"
Rex shrugged, "Just thinking, about some stuff." Melissa turned side ways and put her hands behind her. Leaning back she let the cool breeze air the sweat from her hair.
"Thinking about stuff like what?" She pressed, Rex finally turned to look at her, realizing she wasn't going away.
"You know how all of our talents got mixed up?"
"Of course didn't you hear Jonathon's amazing theory." She said sarcastically. Rex shook his head,
"I'm serious Melissa. I had hoped even for a second that because the powers were swapped, that I wouldn't be…"
Melissa licked her lips, "That you wouldn't be a Halfling anymore." Rex sighed deeply, " Well when Jess didn't disappear at the end of the Blue Time, I just thought, hoped that I wouldn't be… dangerous anymore…"
"You'll always be dangerous Rex, and that's what I love about you. That you've always been able to handle it, and I don't want you thinking that what you are will get me killed or push me away, I'm not going anywhere." Melissa wrapped her arms around her legs tilting her head, she smiled, Rex swung his legs over to the concrete rooftop.
"I can still feel it in me and I'm afraid I'm just going to crack."
"Then while you're walking down a dark alley during the blue time darklings will jump you and turn you back into one of them for good."
Rex looked at her.
"Sorry." She said and blew a strand of hair out of her face but it wouldn't budge. Rex leaned forward and moved it out of her face, he stayed close. "Thanks." she breathed the cold sweat stinging her arms and neck. Her legs slid off the ledge and she leaned in the rest of the way. It was the first time she'd kissed him without being a mindcaster, yet still his touch made every nerve jolt. A pleasurable shiver went through her but she was no longer cold, it felt nice just her thoughts letting her own mind wander. Rex leaned in a little more wrapping his arms around her. She lifted her head and took a breath then leaned in again. Rex let his arm's run down Melissa's they both smiled in bliss, this was no dream.
"Five more minutes until peace." Dess said rubbing her temples.
"I have to admit you don't complain nearly as much as Melissa. She's probably been exaggerating it this whole time." Jessica said putting her hair into a ponytail. Dess put on her gloves, "No not really." Dess said. Jonathon put on his sweatshirt and ruffled his hair, "Where are Melissa and Rex? Hope they didn't fall off the roof."
Dess shook her head "can't tell you at the moment to many thoughts." She groaned putting on her own jacket.
"Well I can they're right there." Jessica said gesturing toward the kitchen,
Melissa and Rex walked into the room. Dess took a step back and used her hand as a fan, taking her jacket off she began walking into the kitchen, "Wow have fun you two, need some water Melissa cause I sure do."
"Yes please." She said blushing,she looked up Jessica was staring at her.
'What?" Melissa asked, Rex walked past them into the small bedroom,
"Darkling weapons are in here right Dess?" Rex called,
"yeah" Dess said walking back into the room with two glasses of water she gave one to Melissa and took a sip from the other. Rex came back out with the black duffle bag.
"OK let's get going." They all nodded, Melissa pulled on her long sleeve back shirt and they all put their shoes on.
"Yeah let's go." Jonathon repeated.
*AUTHOR'S NOTE- um sorry 'bout the Twilight moment peeps but let's face it; it had to happen sometime. I'll have more soon as possible! If you didn't get the point of that chapter then good! If you did smart you! lol :)