Daughter of Ipswich

Falling Down the Rabbit Hole

Once Upon a Dream

I restlessly rolled over on Caleb's bed, holding his nice warm blankets close to me.

I hadn't been able to sleep at all. For all that fear about Chase had grown severely, making me start to question everything around me. I was becoming very very paranoid. Too paranoid for my own good. So paranoid I'm sure it was unhealthy.

The light drizzle of rain upon the window only increased my anxiousness, making me think each noise I heard belonged to Chase. But I should have known better. After all I was staying the night in an old house. And old houses make noises all of their own.

I overheard Caleb grunt quietly to himself in his sleep, from where he slept upon his large couch, where he insisted to sleep.

But I didn't mind much. I just felt bad he had to give up his bed for me. But in the end it was his life, and this was his decision.

I glanced over at him from my spot on the bed. He was sound asleep, or at least he looked to be. I only envied him for this.

But it still bothered me, even more, that he ignored me when I asked him my questions earlier about what had happened between him and Chase. That was infuriating, and I ended up giving him the silent treatment as well.

Yet another creek of the floors made me roll over onto my other side to see if there was anyone behind me.

But body begged for sleep, as I looked out the rainy window. Yet my mind was racing with thoughts of danger and worry, making it impossible for me to even take a small nap.

Then a loud thud of something outside this bedroom made me squeak quietly, as I sat up and ran over to Caleb. Like a child would when they had a bad nightmare. But metaphorically speaking, I was in a bad dream.

I grabbed onto his shoulders and shook him, trying to wake him up.

Have I ever mentioned that Caleb is extremely heavy to move? It took a lot of energy for me to even give him one simple shack.

"What?" Caleb tiredly inquired, as he rubbed his eyes with the back of his hands.

"I heard a noise," I lamely answered. "Outside the bedroom. Maybe you should check it out."

But that same thud noises repeated itself, making me silently jump again, and announced to Caleb, in a scared tone," See! That's the noise!"

"It was just the heater, Celeste." Caleb opened his eyes and looked up at me, with a rather tired expression, looking like he hadn't slept a wink, just like me. "It always makes that kind of noise, when it is turning on or off."

"Are you sure?" I trilled in worry, as I retracted my hands from him, and nervously crossed my arms.

"Yes," Caleb took a deep breath, still he seemed groggy," I'm sure that's what it is."

I sighed in defeat, and began to trudge back over to his bed, only to hear Caleb grunt," And you really need to get some sleep. All of your tossing and turning is keeping me awake."

"Really?" I asked looked back at him, sort of surprised he had been awake.

"Yeah," Caleb rubbed his temples with one of his hands, while he kept his eyes on me. "So please just try to sleep."

"I can't," I lamely answered once again, turning around to face him. "I keep hearing noises, and frankly I am getting really…paranoid."

Caleb was silently for a second, before I saw him push his back against the back of the couch, as if was making room next to him. "Come here, Celeste."

I looked back up at Caleb in shock for a second, trying to see if he was really offering for me to lay down next to him, or if I was just imagining things.

I crept closer to the couch, only to see Caleb lift up some of the blanket he slept under, as if he was actually telling me to lay down besides him.

"Are you sure?" I asked again, this time more quietly, with a more shy and meek voice. After all, this was probably the first time I had ever slept next to a guy, in such an intimate setting. Plus we were both in our pajamas.

"If it makes you stop moving, and makes you fall asleep," Caleb smiled through the darkness up at me, making me remember the Cheshire Cat," then yes."

So, without a second more, I got underneath the blanket, cuddled closer to Caleb, while his arm lovingly lowered the blanket on top of me, leaving his arm draped over my body.

I curiously glanced up at Caleb, who was adjusting himself upon the coach, and actually pulling me closer to him.

Caleb then closed his eyes, and whispered in a low but smooth tone," Now try to sleep."

"I'll try," I whispered back, only to feel his lips press against my forehead, letting a wave of reassurance go through my body.

I smiled to myself, leaning closer to Caleb, letting my arms shyly and naively wrap around him.

But I doubted Caleb was bothered by it, for in return he wrapped his other arm around me and intertwined our legs with one another.

I closed my eyes, letting this feeling sink into me. I really did feel protected, safe, cared for, and loved. And oddly enough, all of those paranoid noises seem to stop, and the rain's drizzle no longer irritated me.

It was like the world was almost perfect now. Almost like I could see to top of the rabbit hole, and just missed reaching the top by mere inches, maybe even centimeters.

"Better?" Caleb murmured, as I heard sleep beginning to take over his voice.

"Much better," I smirked to myself, resting my head against his chest.

I guess this was the Wonderland I had been looking for all along.