Everything's Finally Perfect

Karen

I opened my eyes. My head felt bizarre. I had never felt so much like I shouldn't have to move. But…something was wrong. Something happened that shouldn't have. Or something didn't happen that should have. How was I supposed to know?

I looked around. Was I in the infirmary? How did I get here? I slowly pushed up to a reclined position and looked at my hands. They actually were hands, not dragon claws. Then I remembered what happened. I had defeated Xana, all by myself. That turned me back into a human. And I'm still alive? So what did the blackness at the end of my dream mean?

Wait…I hadn't had any dream just now. Whether I was asleep or unconscious, I always had my future-predicting dragon dreams. And yet I didn't have one before waking up this time. That was what didn't happen: my dragon dream!

"So you're awake now, are you? What did you dream?" I looked again at the person whose presence next to me I hadn't registered in my mind until then: William.

I looked down at my chest. Someone had gotten me into actual clothes while I was asleep. I looked up again and answered, "Nothing. My dreams are gone. How long was I out?"

He grinned. "About two days." Then his grin vanished. "We were all worried about you. I was positive you were dead, and Aelita could only barely find a heartbeat."

"I thought I would wake up dead."

That got him to laugh. "How would that even work?"

I shrugged. Then I set my hand to my head. "What's wrong with me? I feel so…"

"Sleepy? Is that it?"

I stared at him. I had never felt even the slightest bit sleepy in my life. Was that it? "Probably. I've always woken up all at once." Then I grinned sheepishly. "Did Principal Delmas have anything to say about me?"

He sighed dramatically. "He said that whenever you came out, you would have to spend four hours studying what you couldn't study as a dragon. Oh, and that reminds me:" he reached into a drawer next to me and pulled out two sparkling white objects, "you had these on when I found you. I think they're all that's left of your dragon form."

I took them from him and studied them. They were perfect white dragon-skin gloves. I looked at him and smiled. "Thanks. I was hoping I would have a way to remember the time I was a dragon. It was fun, if you leave out the part where I couldn't socialize."

He grinned again. "You'll have to catch up on the news outside this place. Everyone misses you – why didn't you tell me you're the most popular girl in the school now?"

I grinned back. "You were under Xana's control the whole time, how could I tell you? So, is Sissi still feeling sore about that?"

"No, actually she's part of our group now."

I stared. "Who asked her?"

"Odd."

"And she accepted?"

He shrugged. "Apparently she's always liked him and didn't want to admit it. Speaking of people liking each other," he grinned at me yet again, "had you set up what's happening between Ulrich and Yumi, by any chance?"

I laughed. "I couldn't stand the way those two were acting, so I threw a challenge at Yumi, and they've been together ever since."

William looked like he was about to say something else, but the nurse looked in right then. "You need to get to your next class, William, and Karen needs to rest."

He sighed. "Okay." He got up and started to leave. Then he came back and gave me a gentle kiss on the lips. "Get your strength back soon, Karen. I'll see you after school."

When he left, all I could do was stare after him. He hadn't commented on the fact that my dreams were gone, but it didn't seem to matter to him. And then there was that kiss. I settled back again and sighed happily. Well, now surprises, good friends, and a boyfriend were in my life. Everything was finally perfect.