Yay second chapter! -does happy napkin dance- ... I found me and My friend, Sakura Ishimoto are going to be paralleling stories, -does another round of happy napkin dancing- so go read hers... once shes put it up, I even made sure everything was correct before she made hers final.
Enjoy, Vas :3

Chapter 2

Laurey's Dream

---- Two Weeks Earlier ---

Virginia stood on the side of the platform alone as she watched the groups and couples dance to a jaunty tune. She let the ghost of a smile cross her face as she watched the people dance, wishing that she could be out there too. Only that she was one of the less fortunate ones that was never asked to the box social, boys never really had much of a reason to look at her.

She moved over to one of the crates and seated herself on it, and then she pulled her knees put to her chest in a very unladylike fashion and rested her chin on them. None of them had even remotely come close to asking her for a dance, and she was not exactly the type that would ask a man first. Virginia waited with baited breath for anyone who would show her the slightest shred of interest, but alas her hopes were dashed. Even one of her closest friend, Mike Belford would have been a contender to ask her for a dance, but she had not seen him since the evening started.

Virginia sighed as she let the cool breeze that had started to pick up wash over her lithe figure. The red dress she was wearing was ruffled slightly by it. She wanted to see a friendly face right then, but a quick scan of the crowd brought her no answer, even though she was acquainted with everyone, she rarely made much conversation with most of them.

"Ginny!" She heard a voice to her left shouted.

Turing her head to see who called her she found Anna, her arm hooked with the farmer by the name of Slim. She came bounding over to Virginia dragging Slim behind her. She smiled at her friend who was seated on the crate.

"Why dun you get out there an' dance?" Anna asked her as she hugged Slim close to her body.

Virginia shook her head as she lowered her eyes to the ground.

"Naw, no'uns asked me yet," she said.

She felt Anna grab her arm and pull her up off the crate, up onto her feet. She hooked her free arm with her friends and hauled her after her; Slim was coming for the ride. He had a look on his face that clearly showed he did not want to be dragged around all night by Anna.

Anna pulled her behind her out into the center of the dance floor and in the middle of the crowds that danced joyfully. She spun Virginia around and shoved her into someone. That 'someone' she had hit turned around to look who had hit him or her, and Virginia saw for the first time that evening, Mike the cowboy.

"Wow," He said, "Virginia… you look stunnin'…"

Virginia smiled and looked away hoping that the traces of red that rushed to her face wouldn't be noticed by him. She suddenly felt very self-conscious about what she was wearing and about the red dress that she thought made her look much shorter than she actually was.

"Thank you…" she managed to squeak out.

The Music shifted to a much slower song. Virginia and Mike were still staring at each other. The cowboy moved his eyes and looked to the sky that hung overhead. He smiled as he brought his gaze back to the blonde woman in front of him.

"Wanna dance?" He asked as he raised his eyebrows.

Virginia nodded, as he came closer to her and put his arms around her waist. She slowly placed her hand in his and they started to dance together. Anna was obviously satisfied that her work here was done and disappeared with Slim into the crowd to go start her own dance with her date.

They continued dancing till the end of the song when they stopped and stood rooted to the platform. Slowly, but surely Mike and Virginia drew closer to each other. She was so close that she could feel the warmth of his breath on her face. The two stood suspended in that moment for was seemed like an age.

"Ginny!" A female voice called to her.

She snapped back to reality and both her and Mike turned away from each other with lightning speed. Aggie, a tall but stocky redhead with blue green eyes, came runny up to her. She paused when she saw that Mike and her were with each other, than turned to Virginia.

"Ginny, Laurey's lookin' fur you…" She said with a smile as her eyes darted from Mike to Virginia. The blonde woman shook her head at Aggie.

"Please, Dun call me Ginny…" She begged.

Aggie shrugged

"Whutevuh you say," Aggie said.

The red head then grabbed Virginia by the upper arm and dragged her away from Mike, whose smile seemed to falter for a few moments as Virginia watched him mold back in with the crowd. Aggie wormed her way through the mass mob of people to the side of the platform where she saw Laurey accompanied by Armania and Kate.

"I found her, Laurey!" Aggie said as she dropped Virginia off at Laurey's feet.

Laurey smiled.

"Girls," she said "Could I talk to Virginia; Privately"

The Mood dropped as the three sulked away at the thought of them being rejected by their friend. Laurey and Virginia watched them go into the crowd as she made sure that none of them would try to sneak back and listen in.

"Ginny, I'm sorry I dragged you 'way" She apologized.

Virginia shrugged.

"Nuthin' was happenin' anyway…" Virginia lied.

Laurey smiled. She hooked arms with her friend and lead her to the stairs that led off the platform.

"Ginny, I have somethin' to tell you… I'm not sure your gonna like it, but it concerns you…" Laurey said nervously.

Virginia looked up to her with a weird expression.

"Continue," she hissed in Laurey's ear.

"Well, I bought that Elixir of Egypt from the peddler man, you know that." Laurey shifted her weight from foot to foot as she told her story.

"I used some of it tonight, and it really worked. I had a dream…" She stalled "This probably sounds really strange…"

Virginia shook her head.

"Naw, Laurey," The blonde woman took her friend's hands. "Jist go on…"

Laurey smiled nervously

"Well I had this dream, and Curly and I, we was together. We had come back from the social arm in arm. We had everything and soon the wedding was coming up. It arrived and I was walking down the aisle, white gown and all. I got to the end happy to find that Curly and I were finally gettin' married. But when I got to the end, I found myself staring into the eyes of Jud Fry…" She stalled as she bit her lip.

"Go on, please" Virginia coaxed

"He took me in his arms and suddenly I was in one of those saloon places. With all the fixin's. Including them dance-hall girls, they came and started drawing Jud in with 'em. If you know whut I'm getting' at. I was standing there and I looked to one of the dance hall girls… and… and…" She took a breath before she continued.

"It was you, the dance hall girl was you. You looked horrible, and was dressed in sich a depressin' color blue. I tried to get away but right before my eyes I saw you draw Curly in with you and…" Laruey's eyes darted about as she stumbled for the right words to communicate this to her friend.

"You were goin' at it with him. I tried to tear you away from him, but Jud blocked me from going on. Jud had this crazed look in his eye. Suddenly Curly came from nowhere at Jud with a knife, the two men fought. And Curly, he was… he was…" Laurey's eyes had started to tear up as she looked to her friend. Virginia placed a hand on her shoulder.

"He was killed by Jud, and the last thing I remember 'fore I woke was you cryin' by Curly's side."

Virginia looked into Laurey's eyes.

"Believe me, Laurey. It was only a dream…"

Laurey shook her head.

"It seemed so real…" she sobbed.

"Naw, I can tell you. From my experiences, dreams nevuh come true…" Virginia said solemnly.