Hey guys, Perky-Thief here, bringing you the second installment of Dreams & Beyond. I know it's been a while, but I honestly forgot that I had uploaded this story. So, without further ado, here is Chapter Two.

Let me know if you like it. Enjoy!

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Dreams & Beyond

Noreen was nearly 15, and her parents had been getting on her case about 'growing up.' Their arguments proceeded as such:

"Please leave me alone," Noreen would say, whining. "I don't wanna change my room. Just let me keep it the way I want."

"But you must change it," her father replied, the same as always. "You're too old."

"No, I'm not. Mommy, please don't make me do it."

"I'm sorry, my darling," Mrs. Marin would say sympathetically. "I have to agree with your father."

Mr. Marin smiled smugly. "There, you've heard it from the lips of your own mother. You're going to change it and that's final."

A look of depression fell over Noreen's face, weakening her father's sternness. "Look," he would say. "If it makes you feel any better, you can redecorate you room all by yourself." Silently, he would walk out of the room.

But Mrs. Marin always smiled kindly. "Sweetie, there are certain things in life you just can't escape: puberty, friendships, falling in love. Growing up is also one of those things."

"It makes no difference. I won't change my mind." Noreen always chose to withdraw from the conversation at that point in time, leaving her mother with a hurt look on her face.

Noreen did not wish to abandon her happiness nor Selene, for Selene had told her about what would happen if she stopped believing, and Noreen didn't want to lose her as a faerie or a friend.

Yet, in the end, Noreen knew that she must grow up at one time or another, so she gave in. A painter came along with an interior decorator and her room was transformed into a sophisticated room befitting a young woman. And she planned to tell her sad decision to Selene that night when she came.

Noreen sat on her bed, darning an old dress when she heard the soft tinkle. She glanced towards her window and saw the faint glow of Selene's translucent wings about ten paces away.

When she reached the room, Selene took her usual place, sitting on the right end of the bedpost. She opened her mouth to speak but then noticed Noreen's grim expression.

"What's the matter?" Selene asked. Looking around the room, she realized that everything appeared different. The fantasy pictures no longer hung on the newly white-painted walls. The canopy was taken off the bed, and the storybooks were piled neatly in cardboard boxes. "What's going on? Why did you change everything?"

Noreen sighed. "My parents want me to grow up." She paused seeing the shocked look on Selene's face, but then continued a moment later. "At first I refused; I didn't want to. But then I realized that they were right. I'm 15; I need to grow up sometime."

Selene sat stone-like, her tiny mouth partially ajar. "How could you say such a horrible thing? I thought we were going to be friends forever. Now you suddenly want to grow up?! I won't – no, I don't believe you."

Two single tears crawled down Noreen's cheek. "Selene, try to understand. You don't know what it's like having to go to school and constantly be made fun of for years just because you still believe in unicorns and that nonsense. It's not fair – not to me. You'll never know what I went through, and you have no right to judge me!"

Selene fought back the crystalline tears, which had gathered in the corners of her eyes. "Fine," she muttered deeply. "If that's the way you feel, then grow up. I wash my hands of you." She dramatically wiped her hands together in a 'swishing' manner.

Selene flew wobbly to the window, no longer attempting to hold back her tears. When she reached the shutters, she turned to face Noreen. "I hope you like nightmares, Noreen, because there's no one to protect you from them now." With that, she turned on her heel and dashed out of sight.

Noreen slammed her head into a white lace pillow, crying hard. For that was the last time the young girl, Noreen, ever saw Selene.

Well that's it for the second installment. R&R