Chapter 1 - Sketches of the Heart -

She twitched in her sleep, her dreams erotic and frightening. A loud buzzing coming out of nowhere invaded her dreams and the dreamer slowly awakened. Groaning she rolls over and beats the offensive alarm clock into submission, pulling the blankets over her head, and wishing for three more hours of sleep. Six in the morning was way to early to have to get up. Pulling the covers from her face she turns her head and gives the alarm clock a less than loving look. Groaning once more she crawls out of bed and stretches, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Sighing softly to herself, the dream still occupying her mind, she goes to the window and opens the drapes instantly blinded by the intensity of the early summer sun. "GAH!", she says to herself, her eyes still recovering from the shock of the sudden light. Shuffling off to the bathroom she takes a quick shower, still trying to shake the remnants of the dream from her still sleepy mind. 'My therapist would have a field day with this last one.', she thinks to herself. Turning off the water, she steps out of the shower and covers herself with a big fluffy purple towel. Water still dripping from her body she walks out into the kitchen to see if any coffee has been made. "Good Morning Kirra!" She cringes at her sisters' cheerful greeting, answering back with a soft growl. Moving over to the cabinet, she opens it and pulls out her favorite coffee cup with "Touch my coffee, I'll eat your liver" written on it and pours herself a cup, leaning against the counter sipping it silently.

"You know Kirra, you don't have to be so rude in the mornings.", her little sister whined over her bowl of froot-loops.

"Yeah well I'm nocturnal and I don't do mornings. You should know that by now. You've been living with me for what? Four months now?", inhaling the life giving scent of caffeine and taking another sip she gives her little sister a tired grin.

Giggling in response her sister tosses a dry froot-loop at her. "I keep forgetting that you're not even remotely alive when you haven't had your coffee yet."

Bats away the froot-loop and starts laughing. "You got that right sister!" Setting down the coffee cup, and leaping over the little dining island in the kitchen, makes a grab at her sister. Both of them falling to the ground laughing. Tickling her little sister Sadie relentlessly, the two of them roll around on the floor for awhile mock fighting, before Kirra looked at the clock and sighed. "I've got to get ready for work or I'll be late, and you little girl need to get your butt off to school." Playfully shoves her sister towards the door, stopping to pick up the towel that fell off of her during the play fighting and put it back on.

"Do you have your key? Because I'm going to be late tonight. I have that appointment remember?" Sticking her tongue out, Sadie grabs her backpack and heads out the door. "You forget I'm a big girl. I'll be fine. And yes I know where all the food and emergency numbers are. Just don't forget your cell phone this time, ok" "Ok, ok I'll remember it. Sheesh forget my phone once and you don't let me forget it. Now go to school before you are late. I'll see you later tonight. And for the love of god, no arguing with the teachers! I don't care how right you are!" Giving a cross eyed look to her big sister, Sadie closes the door and heads off to school.

Leaning against the door she sighs and goes back to the kitchen to retrieve her cup of coffee before even contemplating getting ready for work. She still had another hour and a half before she had to go, but wanted some quiet time before hand. Moving to the living room and settling down on the couch, she grabs her sketch pad and goes to work on an image from her latest dream. Carefully her pencil moves across the smooth paper, drawing each strand of his hair lovingly and patiently. Pausing to look at the basic outline she sighs and turns on some music before going back to her task. Each curve, each line that makes up his sleeping form perfect and gentle. The lines that make up the sheet barely covering his pale body delicate and soft. Finally she moves to finish the face. Each stroke of the pencil lovingly placed. The soft line of his cheek, the full pout of his lips, the long lashes on closed eyes. She looks at the picture with the realization that she's never seen this mystery mans eyes open. Sighing softly she looks at the clock and mumbles to herself. 'Well it's not like I can't play hooky. It is my store. I think the florists can survive a day without me.' Smiling to herself she picks up the phone and calls her store and calls in sick. It's not like they can argue with her. She is the owner.

Standing and going back into the kitchen to pour another cup of coffee she muses over her dream lover. Leaning against the counter she closes her eyes and smiles. Picturing every detail of this mysterious purple haired angel that haunts her dreams. Even now, hours from waking, she can still feel his skin, hear his soft even breath as he sleeps deeply, the way his silken hair falls from her fingers when she caresses the beautiful tresses. Lost in thought she almost drops her coffee cup when the shrill ring of the phone pierces the silence of the small apartment. Cursing silently to herself, a little upset at having her daydream ruined, she puts down her coffee and picks up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey Kirra?"

"What happened?" Sadie winces at her sisters' miffed tone.

"Nothing, nothing. I was just wondering if you would come and have lunch with me. I called the store, and they told me you were at home sick. So, I'm assuming you're playing hooky from work."

Kirra nods and then realizes that can't be seen over the phone and says, "Yeah. I had a bad night, and didn't feel like dealing with the general population today. What time is lunch?"

"Gee and you always get on me for skipping school. Great example you're setting for me sis. Anyway, lunch is at twelve thirty. So you've got about three hours to get here."

Kirra looked at the clock and blinked. Had she really been drawing for almost two hours? Well as they say, time flies when you're having fun. Or drooling over your dream guy. A small blush creeps into her cheeks at her private thought glad her sister wasn't there to see it. "Yeah sure I'll be there. See ya then sis. Oh! What would you like me to bring?"

"Oh the standard. Surprise me. See ya soon!" She holds the phone in her hand for a second listening to the dial tone before placing it back on the receiver. 'How does she do that? So damn cheerful all the time.'

Grumbling to herself she decides to get dressed, and seeing how she's playing hooky today she can go casual for once. Walking back into the bedroom, she tosses the mostly dry towel onto the bed and goes to the closet. 'Looking for something to wear can be such a nightmare sometimes.' Finally choosing a very pale lilac silk t-shirt, and brand new black jeans, she gets dressed. Standing before the mirror she smiles. Running a brush quickly through her long ruby hair, and applying just a touch of mascara and light pink lip gloss, she smiles approvingly at her image in the mirror.

Looking at the clock she sees she still has time and decides to work on her latest picture a bit more before meeting her sister for lunch. Getting a fresh cup of coffee she goes back to the couch and starts work on the colors. Just purple. His hair, god his gorgeous hair. She can feel it now. Thick and soft, falling through her fingers like strands of liquid silk. Laying back on the couch and admiring her work, gently touching the picture, feeling him in her mind. Never has she seen him, nor does she know if he exists, but still she knows every detail of his body. Every feel, texture, scent. She knows his body like she knows her own. Tears well up in her deep grey eyes, threatening to spill over onto her beautiful dream. Holding the book close to her chest she cries, her heart breaking as she realizes she is in love with a man she will never know, never hold, never even see. A man that probably doesn't even exsist outside her own mind. The tears fall, trailing their way down her cheeks, until no more tears can be shed. Holding the picture even tighter, she cried herself to sleep...

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AN - Chapter 2 is in progress, however I am suffering a fit of writers' block so please forgive me if it takes awhile. I swear Chapter 2 will be up here.