"Alexa! What the hell is wrong with you?"
"I couldn't breathe." How did we get back to the apartment?
"I don't get it. You're breathing fine. You didn't choke on any food. Nothing's blocking your airways. You're fine." And he's right. At least now he's right, but before I really couldn't breathe. I don't know why he doesn't believe me.
"I can't join Sabertooth."
"Excuse me? This is supposed to be an exciting surprise. If you don't want us to be together just say so."
"No! That's not it. I want us to be together. I can't join your guild though."
"Well I'm certainly not joining your sorry excuse for a guild."
"You don't have to. I have a totally out of the box idea. We could all go to Lamia Scale. I just need to speak to Lyon. I'm sure it wouldn't be difficult, and then we could be together in the same guild."
"Who the hell is Lyon?" I don't understand how we've been dating for four months, and he still doesn't remember who Lyon is. They've met at least twice, and I know I've spoken about him plenty of times over the years.
"You know my friend who's an ice make wizard who grew up with Gray?"
"Oh. Him." I don't like the way he talks about Lyon so dismissively. "You're kidding me, right? Us going to Lamia Scale?"
"It's the second strongest guild in Fiore. With you and Rogue it could become the strongest in no time."
"I'm already in the strongest guild, babe."
"But this guild has a wizard saint." If he knew Jura he would be jumping at the chance.
"Look. I'm tired and it's been a long day. I'll see you Wednesday."
"But, I thought you were staying the night."
"Yeah, well, so did I." And he's gone, and he didn't slam the door, but he might as well have, because I messed up big time. Why can't I do anything right? What happened to me in the restaurant? Why can't I just go to Sabertooth? I just want to make him happy, but I can't go there. I ran away from stuff like that. I just can't.
So much for the romance and staying up late for a very good reason.
At least Merek's waiting for me when I enter dreamland.
"Want me to go after them?" We're sitting in that up-scale restaurant and looking at the river.
"Who?"
"Sting and Rogue. I can haunt their dreams."
"Haunt their dreams?"
"You know do the scary ghost routine. I can get Rogue to stop being a jerk, and Sting to come back and apologize. I'll show up with my face half falling off and scream ''I am the ghost of your nightmares! Apologize to Alexa!" Maybe I'll make some scary sounds. Stuff like that."
"Um. Thanks, but no thanks."
"You're right about Rogue by the way. The guy can't stand you."
"Oh, thanks. I met that woman you used to have a crush on."
He looks a little shocked. "You met Penelope?"
"Yeah, and I know why she wasn't interested in you."
"I know too. I mean I was a young guy with no experience."
"Merek, it wasn't that at all."
"So, what was it? I don't think she even knew I liked her."
"She did, but the thing is you weren't her type."
"Why is that?"
"You were too male."
"I know I'm male. Oh wait. You mean- no. You're kidding."
"I'm not. She tried to pick me up after the show. She's seriously creepy too. If a woman was interested in me she could have at least been someone normal and nice like Tamar." I'm not really interested that way, but that's not the point.
"Okay, well let's get back to work. Show me what you've been practicing on with Sting and Rogue, and I'm serious about the offer." Which I don't take up on, because I'm handling my messes myself, and it would probably prove that Merek really isn't a ghost, but a product of my imagination and I kind of like the idea of him being a ghost and visiting me. Okay that sounds a lot creepier than it really is.
Then I'm with Sting and Rogue and I've joined Sabertooth, but I've messed up, as I always knew I would. I'm standing in front of the entire guild in my bra and panties, and Jiemma is throwing rotting tomatoes at me. I start throwing them back and yelling.
I wake up sweating; almost expecting to see and smell the tomatoes and get up to take a shower. If it wasn't already clear earlier, it is now. I can't join Sabertooth.