Okay, this has to be one of the saddest things I've ever written.
I just wanted you guys to know that Odd isn't having a good sleep at night. Either he doesn't sleep, or he has a nightmare like the one described in this chapter. I'm not quite sure why i'm explaining it to you... but then again i'm not giving away much.
Just so you know, it's a nightmare. Nightmares usually don't make much sense. Don't expect this to.
So anyways now, on to the story.
(Odd P.O.V.)
I found myself sitting in a pew, near the front of a chapel. It is a nice chapel, lavishly decorated for the wedding to come. Or well, I think it's a wedding. There's a couple guys in tuxes standing near the front, and quite a few ladies in dresses opposite them. A pastor was standing center, with a table behind him, and he's holding an open book. Suddenly, everyone turns to look at a small girl walking up the isle. She has a basket of flowers and is spreading them liberally on the isle between the pews.
Suddenly, the organist starts playing the wedding march, and a guy near the front visibly stiffens. He's in a really expensive tuxedo, he must be the groom. I look along the row of best men and I see Jeremie in a tux. Yumi and Aelita are standing with the women in beautiful dresses. The doors at the back of the chapel open and a woman walks forth holding the arm of Ulrich. My eyes open wide as I see the bride.
"Avery…." I whisper to myself. The person next to me shushes me and I give them a dirty look. Avery reaches the front and stands next to the groom, whom I don't recognize.
"We are gathered here today to celebrate the bonding of this couple." The pastor says. "Before we begin, I would like to ask if anyone has any objection to this couple being wed." He says, and I find myself standing.
"Avery!" Everyone turns to stare at me.
"Odd, sit back down!" Someone next to me hisses. It's Sissi.
"Avery, who is this guy?" I yell. Avery turns and looks at me confused.
"Who are you?" She asks forcefully.
"Avery! It's me, Odd!" Avery shakes her head, as if she doesn't understand.
"I've never met you before."
"Odd, sit back down." Ulrich says, turning to glare at me.
"Yah Odd, you had your chance." Aelita says loudly.
"Ulrich, Aelita? You know this guy?" Avery asks.
"He used to be our friend." Yumi pipes up angrily.
"But he turned into a jerk and fell for every girl he met." Jeremie says, also glaring at me.
"Don't you remember Avery? You used to know him too." The groom says. Avery seems to realize who I am and I smile despite myself. Avery then turns back to me and glares.
"You! I remember you now! You were that jerk who said he loved me within a week of meeting me! And I hated you!" My face blanches, my legs start shaking like mad.
"Go away Odd, I never want to see you again!" She yells at me, her face horribly distorted. I run over to her quickly and grab her arm.
"Avery, you've got to come with me, this is all horribly wrong!" I say quickly and pull her wrist. I hear a crack and turn around to see Avery on the ground cradling her arm.
"Ah! My wrist! He broke my wrist!" She begins yelling. Everyone starts running towards me with angry looks on their faces.
"But I didn't mean to!" Before anyone could get to me, Avery stands up, furious.
"You ruined my wedding day!" She yells. She slaps me hard across the face and everything goes black.
I sit up quickly in bed and in a cold sweat. I find myself back in my room, safe and sound. My clock says 2:58, and Ulrich is asleep in his bed. I remember the events that had transpired earlier and find myself shaking.
It's okay Odd, it was just another nightmare… just another nightmare…
I rise from my bed to find myself fully clothed. In my hurry to fake sleeping before Ulrich got back, I forgot to change. Even though I got maybe three hours of sleep, I'm not tired.
Or maybe I just don't want another nightmare... no! I'm just not tired… that's all.
I stand up and walk to the door, but stop to look back at Ulrich.
"Thanks for the offer," I say really quietly, "But no. I don't feel like talking about it."
I walk outside and down the hall. As soon as I reach the bottom floor, I walk around the corner and see Jim escorting some girl I don't recognize back into her room.
"Now I want you to stay there, no more wandering around after hours." He says as the girl closes the door. Then of course, he turns to see me standing there stupidly.
"Not another one! Della Robbia! What are you doing out after hours!"
"Uh, uh, uh…" I say but I can't think of a good excuse. "What are you doing up Jim?"
"I was just escorting Miss Jones here back to her room because she was out after hours. She got an hour of detention after school for a week and I think that's a fine punishment for you too." He says walking towards me.
"But uh, I was just getting a drink!" I say, seeing the nearby drinking fountain.
"Well, why didn't you go to the one on your level?"
"Because uh, it's broken." I lie quickly.
"Well, hurry up, get your drink and go back to bed." I quickly walk over to the fountain and take a long drink. As I walk back up the stairs, Jim follows me.
"What are you doing Jim?"
"I'm going to make sure you go to bed. And stay there." He says. I roll my eyes and continue upstairs. I walk upstairs and quickly back to my dorm.
"Della Robbia!" I grimace and turn around.
"Yes Jim?" I ask innocently.
"Does this look broken to you?" He's running the fountain and it's working perfectly.
"It was broken when I tried to use it!" I say defensively, but I know I'm not getting far.
"Yah right. Now go to bed," I open the door and walk inside, "and that's another hour of detention for lying to me!" He says. I slam the door shut and plop down on my bed. I lean my head back against the wall and close my eyes. I know sleep won't come, but I can try.
"Odd! What's all the ruckus? It's three in the morning!" Ulrich says sleepily. I roll my eyes underneath my eyelids before opening them.
"Nothing Ulrich, go back to sleep." I say with a sigh. Ulrich gives me a glare but lays back down and goes to sleep anyway. I give an involuntary shudder.
That glare was exactly the same on in my nightmare…Knowing I can't go back outside, and I can't sleep anyway I settle in for a long wait. Students are allowed back out of their dorms at 5:30.
Have you ever heard the phrase, it's always the worst before it gets better? That definitely applies to this. But it isn't at it's worst yet.
I'm going to shut up now before I give away any more of the plot.
435. Footprints in the sand of time are not made by sitting around.
429. My imaginary friend thinks I have mental problems, and my real friends know I do.