-August 16, 1987-ten days remain-

"Wake up."

My eyes flew open and I sat up in alarm as the voice threw me from my sleep. Of course. The one night I was actually capable of finding enough peace of mind to even get to sleep, someone had to go and wake me up.

Elizabeth sat on the edge of my bed, perched there, wearing a sunny smile, black skinny jeans and a pink off-the-shoulder shirt. As usual, her clothes were that of up-to-the-minute fashion. She already had her black and white converse on.

"Wake up," she repeated. "We're going shopping. I got my parent's permission to go over to Williamsburg for the day."

I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and shoved back the celery green comforter. "I don't have any money," I pointed out. Elizabeth shot me an 'are you serious' look.

"Don't worry about it," she assured me. "My dad gave me his credit card."

It was an hour drive from Middlesex to James City; we were planning to hit up the Williamsburg outlet there. Elizabeth kept the stereo up loud, singing along as she sped down the highway.

We reached the mall, and Elizabeth eased her Daytona into the nearest parking spot she could find.

I'd only ever been shopping once in my life. My mom had taken me to buy some longer-sleeved clothes after a particularly vicious beating from my dad, lest the neighbors see the scrapes and bruises lining my skin.

Shopping with Elizabeth was how I'd always imagined it would feel to have friends. See, back there I'd never really been very social. Less friends equaled less questions about why I wasn't allowed to do anything like the other kids, or why I wouldn't wear any skin-reveling clothes.

Still, I'd had my dreams, and Elizabeth had proved to meet them all.

She bought me practically an entire new wardrobe consisting of all the latest fashion- although I'd gotten a bit of input.

The big ticket item was the dress that Elizabeth had found. It was black, with a wide purple sash around the waist and hanging off to the side a bit. Like the dress I'd borrowed the night before, it too came to just above my knees. Needless to say, it looked stunning on. I caught myself wondering what Donnie would think of it, then shook the thoughts away.

We got back to the house and I carried my things up to my room. I laid them all out across the bed and just stared at them. A few stray tears fell from my eyes. I wiped them away quickly and turned around.

The Darkos were the most wonderful people I had ever met. I would've stayed with them forever if I could have. But I knew that that was impossible. Eventually I was going to have to leave them. In my heart I knew that sooner was better than later.

The sky was a breath-taking shade of orange and pink. Clouds hung low, almost low enough to touch them. I stepped out of the shadows, towards the source of the light, of all the light.

"What do you want with me?" I asked her unsurely.

The fairy queen didn't smile, didn't give me any sign of comfort. Her eyes were like black ice, like endless vortexes leading me down to my death.

"Have you ever seen a portal?" She asked me. Her voice sent shivers up my spine. I shook my head slowly, my eyes never leaving hers.

"There are only nine days left," she said to me. "You have to save the world."

"How?" I replied desperately. "How can I save the world? I don't even know how to save myself."

"You will," she assured me. I sighed deeply. Maybe I had no idea what the hell she was talking about. Maybe I didn't want to save the world. And, just maybe, I was taking these dreams way too seriously.

But in my heart, deep inside, I was nagged with the feeling that these were more than mere illusions of my sub-conscious. That this was reality and that it was up to me to keep this world intact.

"Okay," I whispered. "Okay."

-August 19, 1987- Seven days remain-

It was noon by the time I rolled out of bed that day. I'd had a hell of a time sleeping the night before, not to mention I'd been hanging out with Elizabeth and Donnie all day the day before.

Donnie and I had barely spoken since our intimate little moment on the porch three days previous. To say that it was eating me alive would have been the understatement of the century.

I sauntered down the hall to the bathroom and started the water for a shower. Slowly and groggily I stripped out of my pajamas. For several minutes I stared at the girl reflected in the full-length mirror.

I was barely fifteen but could have passed for sixteen with ease. It was in the curve of my hips and the way my shadowed eyes screamed out experience. I had walked through hell, and it showed.

I pushed a hand through my scraggly brown hair and climbed into the shower.

When I emerged twenty blissful minutes later, it was in a refreshed state. My hair now hung in wet strands among my scrubbed-clean face. I reached for a towel and began to pat myself dry.

I slid into some clothes- a new pair of jeans and a black v-neck tee with a silver and green butterfly coming up the side. I ran a brush through my hair a few times, but didn't bother to style it.

I emerged from the bathroom and headed down the hall towards my room. I passed Donnie's room; as was standard, the door was closed. I found myself pausing, wondering if he could feel my presence through the door.

I reached out and wrapped my fingers around the handle. It was cool in my hand. So many thoughts rushed through my head, but I toned them all out. There was little point in sitting on the sidelines, waiting for someone to put the game into play. I had to make the first move myself.

I twisted the handle and opened the door. Donnie's eyes flew to the doorway where I stood, traveled up and down my body and then finally landed back on my own eyes.

"Hey," he merely said.

I felt my chest heaving with each and every breath I took. This was it, the only chance I would have. In a week I'd been gone, I'd probably never see him again. I had to make the most of the time I had left.

I didn't speak for fear that my voice would give out, but in three quick strides I was standing directly beside his bed, looking down into his blue eyes. They reminded me of the ocean; I could have drowned in them just as easily.

I swallowed hard. Thought about running out. All the while Donnie was staring up at me, mixed emotions playing out across his face.

"Donnie," I whispered, hating how my voice quaked. Hating how broken I sounded.

Donnie reached up to take my hand. An electric jolt ran through me as he laced his fingers into mine. A second later I was being pulled down onto his bed.

I fought to regain my balance, sitting up. Less than a foot separated us. Donnie reached out to finger a strand of my hair, which was still dripping wet.

In one easy motion, he moved his hand behind my neck. "I am going to kiss you," he murmured in a low voice. My breathing faltered.

And then he did. He pulled my face to his and our lips collided, his mouth moving feverantly against mine. I pushed my body as close to his as I possibly could, sending us falling backwards onto his bed.

Donnie rolled me over with ease so that he was lying on top of me. Our tongues brushed and I moaned, arching my back against his chest.

Eventually he broke away- much too soon in my opinion- but made no motion of getting off of me.

A contented sigh escaped my lips. "Donnie Darko, I think I may be in love with you.'

The words poured out of my mouth before I paused to think about the consequences. My heart was pounding so hard in my chest I was positive that he could feel it right through me.

For what seemed like an eternity I lay there, unmoving, waiting for something, anything to happen.

And when it did, it was the most unexpected, the most beautiful thing that had ever happened in my life. A smile came over his face as he lowered it to kiss me once more- just a gentle peck, barely even touching my lips.

"Alyssa Hamilton, I know I am in love with you."

We descended the stairs hand in hand, not caring who saw us or what they thought. At least I knew I wasn't. I was lost in bliss. At long last, I was sure, I had found my prince and my castle in the clouds.