Author's Note : Chapter 3! 2 chapters in the same day, wow! I guess I was just really excited to write this one. I did have a lot of ideas for it. I do have a reviewer now too :D!! Thank you 'Riku Kingdom Hearts'. Your criticism hopefully made this chapter better? Depends. I think it's suitable. Thanks for reviewing

Chapter 3 : Dreams and Fears

"Or is she trying to give me the slip?"

Everything was white. It didn't smell, it wasn't decorated, it wasn't full, it was just... Bland. Lauriam stood there, no emotion showing. He looked like a doll. It was like he didn't have a conscience. " Lauriam, right? " A familiar voice rang. Lauriam's eyes immediately glinted.

Life rippled through him as he regained his thoughts. " ..Mhm. " He murmured. Was this supposed to remind him of something? It surely felt like that. The same situation over again. Was he giving himself a chance to restart?

Strelitzia's voice didn't come. She didn't hurry Blaine, she wasn't even there. It was just Lauriam. And that figure a few meters ahead of him. Is this.. Showing what should have happened?

" I'm Blaine. I'm sure your sister told you about me, right? " The figure smirked. Now known as 'Blaine', Lauriam huffed. 'Of course you're dreaming about this.' He thought. Try and get out. How could he? He was stuck in this white space, face to face with his imagination.

" Well? " Blaine pushed. Lauriam shook his head. 'It'd be easiest if you just went through it, it'll end soon enough.' Ah. That sounded good. " Strelitzia likes to talk about you, yes. " He replied to the figure. Blaine smirked. " Well then, what does she say? " He asked.

Lauriam's stance shifted. Going that way, huh? " She talks all about you. How nice you are. Carrying her books everyday, fixing her hair when her ribbons fall out, even staying after school to study with her. You really are a saint, huh? " He crossed his arms. Kind as hell, but Lauriam expected that. This man was a snake, and he unexpectedly found that attractive.

" Oh, I'm flattered. " Blaine chuckled. " Don't you wish I did that with you? " The figure said. Ah. Lauriam froze. Goddamn, his mind really liked playing tricks on him. " Yes. Yes I do. " Lauriam sighed.

Better to admit it then resist. " What if it isn't a dream, Lauriam? What if I was using Strelitzia just to be with you? Don't you think a sneaky bastard like me would do that? " Blaine echoed.

Lauriam's eyes widened. He didn't think he'd muster that idea in his mind. " I.. Then I'd consider you a horrible person, and lose my interest. " Lauriam replied, narrowing his glaring gaze. " Ah, my dear Lauriam, emotions don't go away that easily. " Blaine laughed. " I'd love to see that, though. " He snorted.

Lauriam hated his interpretation of Blaine. He hated this side. Was it Blaine? Did Lauriam really think this of him? He didn't want to know. He didn't care anymore. He just wanted to wake up.

" Nothing's ever that easy. You'll see soon enough, Laur. "

Blaine stated. And disappeared. " ..What the hell does that mean? " Lauriam said to himself.

And then shakily woke up.

O-O-O

" Lauriam? Are you feeling better now? " Strelitzia sat at the edge of her brother's bed, giving him a worrying look. " You usually don't get sick, " She said, frowning lightly. Lauriam blinked. Still trying to recover from that dream, he sat up.

" I'm not sick, I don't think. " He put a hand to his forehead. " Just.. Exhausted.. " He sighed, shaking his head at Strelitzia. She smiled weakly. " You're not easily exhausted, either. " She scooted onto the bed, sitting criss-crossed next to him.

" Blaine left, he said Ventus needed help of some sort. " She shrugged. " Oh, he also told me that he said he hoped you're okay. Isn't he just the sweetest? " She giggled childishly. Lauriam scoffed, narrowing his gaze.

Bastard. Winning him over by wishing he was going to be alright. Fuck! He put his head in his hands, groaning. Goddamit.

" Laur? Are you sure you're okay? " Strelitzia doubted him. He had been acting strange lately.. What was going on? " Lauriam, I don't like this side of you. We're siblings, we never hide things from each other.. Just tell me what's wrong. " She pouted, putting a gentle hand on his arm.

'I wish I could tell you, Strelitzia. You wouldn't understand.' He sighed. " I'm fine, Stre. " He lied. Strelitzia was not buying this. " You don't act like this! Stop lying to me! " She glared. Ah. What was this side? Lauriam's eyes shot up to her.

" Listen, Strelitzia, I'm just stressed. From- Everything. I don't know. Stop worrying, I'm okay. " He told her sternly. " Stressed? Has work finally caught up to you? Do you need a break? " She questioned, leaning on him.

He chuckled. " ..Probably, " It would give him time to recover from these feelings. Maybe start focusing on something else? " I could run the shop! " She beamed, nodding.

That could work, but- Could Strelitzia run it all by herself?

" Don't you have school, though? " He questioned her. " It's just college, I can tell them that I'm doing some religious thing, I dunno. " She shrugged. " I've been present every other day this year. " She shifted.

Lauriam let a breath out. " I guess you could, " he shrugged. He didn't like the idea of her missing college, but he knew he wasn't going to convince her. " You might need some extra people to help you, though. " He quirked an eyebrow up.

'Please don't say Blaine- Strelitzia, I swear to Ms. Ava's book store if you say Bl-' Lauriam cursed. " Yeah! I can invite Blaine and the others to help! " She brightened. 'God fucking damn it, Stre.' Lauriam placed a fake smile on his face. " That'd be.. Great. " He said, quite forced.

He didn't want Blaine to step foot in his house until he cleared his mind. But, yet again, he had fallen deeper into Blaine's trap.

" I'll go ask them if they can help out! You keep resting, 'Kay? " Strelitzia hopped off the bed, nodding to him, and leaving his room.

" If I can.. " He mumbled, running a hand through his hair.

O-O-O

" Lauriam! Good news! Everybody can come! " Strelitzia burst through his door, grinning widely. " Except for Ephemer, of course. " She added.

Lauriam nodded lightly. Placing the book he had been reading down, he stood up and walked towards her. " I'm going to have to give a rundown to everybody so they don't break anything first, though. " He smirked. Strelitzia laughed.

" Noted, Captain! " She saluted him playfully, beaming up at him. " First, that nickname's a no, second, when exactly are they coming over? " He crossed his arms in front of her.

Strelitzia looked down to her phone. " Ventus is going to be the first here. He said 6:30 is the earliest he can come. Skuld's going to be here at 7:00, Elrena and Blaine are coming together at.. " She squinted. " 7:45. " She finished.

" Lord, I didn't know Ventus could wake up so early. " He murmured. Strelitzia pushed him. " To be honest, I didn't know either, but it's fine. All that matters is that he's helping. " She put a hand on her hip.

Lauriam nodded. Yes, but what was going to happen? Dread washed over him as he realized Blaine was going to be at his house for most of the day, for however long Lauriam was 'recovering'. Strelitzia looked up.

" You good? You look scared. " She broke his train of thought. " Hm? Oh- Yeah, I'm okay. Just wondering what'll happen. " He smiled weakly back at her.

Strelitzia smiled. " Everything's gonna go great. It'll be best for you, because you get to stay in the whole day, relaxing. " She pat his shoulder gently.

'Relaxing. Yeah right.' He rolled his eyes. " ..That is exactly what I'll be doing. And you guys won't ruin anything, I'm certain? " He raised an eyebrow.

Strelitzia saluted him once again. " Sir, yes sir! " She let a chuckle escape her. " You can count on me! " She nodded.

Lauriam smiled. " Good. Glad I can depend on you. " He ruffled her hair. " Now, sleep. I'm sure we're going to have a long day ahead of us. " He stepped back into his room. Strelitzia winked. " Mhm. Night, Lauriam. "

" Goodnight, Strelitzia. " He trailed back into his bed, knowing he wouldn't get any sleep tonight. Knowing that tomorrow was going to be pressuring. Knowing that tomorrow was going to be a day he didn't want to live through.

Yet, it was coming. And he wasn't sure he was close to being prepared.

O-O-O

Author's Words :

Chapter 3! This was the best one so far. I'm happy how it turned out! Thanks to my reviewer for helping me edit and become better already!! I loved writing this chapter.

I think I need to take a break, now.

Chapter 4 will most likely be out tomorrow because I'm impatient as hell and I love writing.

Anyways!! I'm gone ;)