Chapter 1: Mixed Emotions
Arriël finds herself frantically searching her room looking for her backpack along with her wallet. "Alexia have you seen my bag and wallet?" She yells from their room panicking even more.
"No, Ari look underneath your bed I think I saw it there yesterday" Alexia replies the sound of annoyance is strong within her voice. Finding my things, Arriël slides down the banister with her mother catching it.
"Ari I told you about doing that, now please get to school before you and Lex are late," Mom said kissing her youngest daughters cheek and handing her a sack lunch. Poor Mom she wastes her time giving me a lunch I always end up buying. Arriël thought to herself
Heading off to school, Alexia of course decides to take the back roads, which takes off five minutes from their normal route giving the girls ample enough time to relax and talk about what's been going on with school and their social lives. Although they do that at home still it gives them something to talk about on the way to school, that and they have always been close.
"So how goes things with Eric?" Lex switches on the stereo.
"Um...ok I guess I mean I can't really say much about that other than I'm still totally in love with the guy, and he doesn't even know I exist. But you know I think its going to happen" Arriël said sarcastically while rolling my eyes.
"Well here's your big chance to find out, go talk to him. He's at the usual spot waiting for you" Lex winks at her little sister, while Eric walks towards their car.
He is a six-foot walking ken doll with gorgeous green eyes, and dark brown hair all the girls want him and all the guys want to be him. Eric seems like the sweetest guy that ever walked the face of this earth, he's friends with all the guys including the not so popular ones, donates things to charity, and volunteers on the weekends at the old folks home. Over all he is perfect, so why can she not get him to notice her?
"Hey girls what's going on?" He asked his voice is like butter.
"Not much I'm headed over to Thompson's class right now and Ari here has Eller's." Alexia said smiling. Leave it to my sister to put me right in the middle of everything. Arriël rolls her eyes.
"Great let's go Ari I've got Eller too so we can walk over together," happily Arriël gets up and smiles at my sister. "So are you going to the dance this Friday?"
Finally the words she has been longing for him to ask her. "Uh...yeah I wouldn't miss that for anything I hear the DJ is going to be off the hook. How about you" remaining calm and cool on the outside but inside feeling as she is going to explode.
"So do you have a date?" This is it the question that Arriël has been waiting to hear since her sophomore year. "Cause if you don't I'd love to take you, uh hello Ari?" Finally, her big moment and she is totally frozen. The big moment and I freeze what is this.
"Huh? Oh yeah that would be great I'd love to go with you, pick me up at my house around ten?" Arriël asked smiling showing her pearly whites.
"You got it I'll see you then hey tell Eller that I'll see him next period alright," Eric said walking away. Now I feel stupid I should have known that he did not have Eller until third period, but what makes it sweet is that he is going to be late for class just because he wanted to ask me on a date. Arriël smacked her head shaking it with disapproval of herself.
Their day went on as planned school, classes, and home. She has already picked out the dress for tomorrows dance and is so happy. Things could not be any better I am going to the dance with the guy of my dreams, and on Sunday Alexia and I are leaving for Montana for spring break by ourselves.
"I so do not feel good Mom I'm going to go lay down in my room," Arriël said leaving the table.
Normally Arriël is ok but as of late she has been getting these strange dreams, which are so realistic when she wakes up she is either crying or sweating profusely. Laying down Arriël finds herself thrown instantly into this dream world. These dreams are different the people in them are different. A young man about her age if not a little older is standing in this strange woodland area. It is peaceful there, and then suddenly the light around them dims and instantly they are in sheer darkness. Seeing this strange man falling into her arm's blood trickling down his back, she can feel him. He has been hit by an arrow with his last breath of life he whisper to in her ear amin mela lle Arriël, he closes his eyes and she feels the life leaving his body. Awakening in a sweat, the young Arriël begins to cry, but why is the reason she does not understand. She does not even know this guy or does she? Why does she feel as if she knew him and loved him?
Looking at her clock it is just about to go off; right now, she cannot think about this weird dream. Telling herself that she has to focus on the matters at hand, like the dance that is tonight and their trip. I'm so excited Lex and I are flying up there and staying the whole two weeks, that's a nice perk to going to a private school we get longer breaks because our parents pay, but it sort of evens out when you have to go two weeks longer than public schools. The sister's day started normal, classes went by fast today, which is good, and the school football team won the championships. Eric made the winning touch down and now is like the town hero, they have won the school rival team JFK High.
"So how does it feel?" Arriël asked Eric as we slow dance.
"How does what feel?" Eric responded with a question Arriël hates when he does that.
"To be the town hero, to have made the winning touch down and defeat our rival team" she asked smiling.
"It'd be better if I had someone to share the fun with, but I'm glad that I'm with you Arriël you make me happy, and I want to make you happy" the song ends and he laces his fingers with her own.
Him feeling the same way I do about him, us dancing, him holding my hand everything I have ever wanted with him is happening this is it. So why do I not feel the same way I did when I held that guy in my arms in my dream. Why do I feel so empty? Eric makes me happy but not that same feeling that I felt from that guy. My heart about gave out when he died the even crazy thing is that I do not even know him, but somehow I feel as if we have known each other for the longest time.
"Ari are you ok?" Eric snapped his fingers at her, coming back into reality she comprehends what he has just asked.
"I'm so sorry Eric I can't," letting go of his hand the look on his face could have killed her, kissing his cheek she apologizes once more, grabbing her coat Arriël begins to walk home it's a good three miles but she'll deal with it.
Sweet Eric though always thinking of others before himself offers her a ride home. I could have said no but it's the least I can do, not to sound conceded but I did hurt him I think if some guy ever did that to me I'd hire a hit man to off him. Not Eric he is still the sweetheart that I know and have grown to love, just not the love that he wants. The whole car ride home he was quiet, taking the long way to her house Arriël doesn't mind, she held his hand hopefully it was a comfort and not an awkward time. Pulling into her driveway, he turns off his car.
"Hey Arriël can I ask you do to me one favor" His voice innocent and sincere she nods. "Can you give me my first kiss, I know you don't feel the same but I always wanted my first kiss to be with a girl that I really cared about," his words made her cry nodding and smiling leaning in we kiss.
"You know what's funny Eric if this had been two weeks ago I would have been the happiest girl in the entire universe, but I've meant someone and he makes me feel so different. I have never felt this way about any guy we're not even together and I feel this strongly about him." Eric promises Arriël that they will always be friends no matter what, that he will always be there for her no matter what, that he will always love her.
"I know how you feel about this guy because that's how I feel about you, but I would rather have you be happy with him than miserable with me bye Arriël, don't forget about me?" He said shrugging his shoulders.
"Never," Arriël lets go of his hand and gets out of the car, his headlights switch on and she waves bye to the one boy that I has ever truly felt something real for, all for a guy that she does not even know or met. "All I have to say is that he had better be worth it."