I heard my alarm going off under my pillow. I reached underneath and attempted to swipe across the screen and turn it off. I was desperately swiping at the screen before pulling my phone out from under my pillow, squinting and swiping my alarm off.
The warmth of my bed sheets pulled against my arms as I try to lift them off. I stepped out of bed and walked towards my mirror. It's long, oval shaped wooden frame stared back at the distraught mess of my hair. It lay a foot upon my shoulders, extruding its light brown yet frizzy complexion. Strong, thick eyebrows matching my hair, green almost blue eyes and blushing red cheeks completed my appearance. A thin, grey t-shirt lay loose upon my shoulders, purple trackies hid my legs and my bare unpolished toes adorned the world. I unconsciously paid attention to every detail within the mirror, before having a shower to eradicate all the self-conscious doubts crowding my head.
My bright red docs, faded blue jeans and maroon knitted jumper dignified the mirror this time. I tied my hair back into a plait before grabbing my backpack and headphones.
I bounced down the stairs towards the kitchen to grab lunch, sneaking a peek around the corner to see if James or Mum was in the kitchen, but thankfully the coast was clear. I grabbed the sandwich I had made the night before and some snacks from the pantry, shoved them in my bag and put my headphones on, blasting my 90's R'N'B playlist while I locked up the house.
I decided to walk to school this morning, the sky was clear and the sun was warming up my cardigan. I was matching my feet with the beat of the music, adding swagger with each step as I went. I started really getting into the beat, bobbing my head and singing along...
"Wendy!" I'm bobbing my head and start to swing my hips, "Wendy! Oi! Wendy".
I turn around and Tara was running up behind me, her blonde hair was billowing behind her as she puffed with exhaustion. I lowered my headphones around my neck as Tara bent over panting heavily, her hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath.
"Geez, were you trying to ignore me?" She joked. "Sorry, all in my head". Tara looked at me confused but knew not to pry, just yet.
"What were you listening to? Let me guess, 90's or...90's" She laughed. I laughed in response "Yes, I like 90's music" I humorously stressed.
Tara caught her breath, and joined my side, matching my steps as we walked up the main street to school. Tara was busy on her phone and still hadn't asked me what was going on, which was kind of a relief, but I also desperately wanted her to keep prying until I broke and told her about my dream.
"Soo...what's going on? You know I'm just I'm my phone until you're ready to share" She said, looking over at me with raised eyebrows.
I exhaled, "It's nothing, just another weird dream".
"Like the one where you drown? Again?" I nodded.
"Why do you think they keep happening? Was anything different this time?'. We had reached the front of the school yard now and found an empty spot on the concrete pilings to sit down on.
"It was pretty much the same, but it felt like someone reached and grabbed me on the shoulder. They were shaking me. I know this sounds strange but it really felt like there was someone there. I figured maybe it was mum but she wasn't there when I woke up". Tara looked at me confused, and worried.
The bell rang just as I saw Tara's lip's part, probably about to say something I didn't want to hear. I know I should talk to a professional about it, but it's nothing. Just stupid dreams. Doesn't mean anything.
We walked into class together. I was thinking about what Tara might have said, and the image of the cold crashing waves made me shiver. Just as I did, I looked up and saw him. Ugh, again.
I looked away and grabbed the nearest seat I could, putting my back towards him. Tara grabbed the seat next to mine, and gave me look. "What's going on?" She looked behind me and then back at me, "Oohh" she said suggestively.
I rolled my eyes "Ugh, no. Don't even think it. He's a creep. He was stalking me all yesterday".
"Oh really. Why? He looks new, is he a new kid?". She looked at him back and I wacked her on the shoulder.
"Ow!" Said Tara. "Don't look at him" I warned. She smiled cheekily at me. I rolled my eyes again before the teacher called the class to hush.
I raced out of my class as soon the bell ran, pulling Tara in tow.
"So, what's going between you two? Is this why you were so MIA over summer break?" She asked.
"No, no I just had a lot of stuff going on with mum, you know, the normal boyfriend drill. I don't know what his problem is. He is in my history class but seemed to be following me everywhere yesterday. I just want to avoid him as much as I can". As I said that, I looked around and reassured myself he wasn't lurking again.
"Pretty sure stalking is boy code for in to ya" Tara said, nodding her head.
"Oh, seriously stop".
"You're blushing! Ha you like him!" She teased.
"Tara. Stop" I looked at her dead on. "Come on, he's a creep. He was literally following me around all day yesterday. I want nothing to do with him".
"Okay" She nodded. "I get it, I'll back off". Although I knew she wasn't going to let it go.
Tara and I walked home together and crashed in my bedroom, blasted some tunes and ate popcorn while flicking through the trashing teen magazines my mum bought us. They're so cringy and yet somehow, we kind of like reading the articles. We lay on my bed, holding the magazines over our heads, pointing out the laughable or interesting facts they had included with the free nail polish and nail buffers.
"Wendy, I'm a little worried about these dreams" Tara said, sitting up. "I know they're just dreams but, what if they are trying to tell you something. Or they're showing you your future?". Tara was really into Tarot cards and palm readings, and while I was totally fine with that, I didn't think my dreams were predicting my future.
"Tara, they are just dreams. I don't like them but they're not trying to tell me anything. Maybe just something the me in another life went through" I suggested.
She nodded, unconvinced. She headed home shortly after; I could see our conversation was still lingering on her mind. I knew there was nothing to the dreams. They're nothing, just dreams.
I got changed into my pj's and climbed into bed, pulling the blanket up and tight over my shoulders. They're just dreams, they don't mean anything.
I checked my alarm was set for tomorrow, scrolled through Facebook for a little while before I felt my eyes starting to carelessly close on their own. I put my phone on my bedside table and tucked my arms under the blanket. I tried to keep my eyes closed and not think about the shapes and shadows that I couldn't help but imagine were all over my room, staring right at me.
I tried thinking of my day at school, talking to Tara about my dreams no don't do that! Think of something else! That stupid boy with his piercing green eyes, ugh no gross...
The beach was so beautiful, tall coconut trees created a dense wall of forest behind me, with almost clear blue water lapping against the sand a few meters in front of me. I stood up, looking around in disbelief of its beauty. I could hear birds squawking as they flew above me. I was taking in the warmth of the sun, and the sand sifting through my toes, feeling so at peace, and at home...but then the waves rushed towards me and enveloped me.
They surrounded me, crushing my chest and stealing my breath, it's happening again! I claw at my throat trying to rip the water away but I'm just slashing through the water, feeling my nails gash into my neck. Then I woke up. I was gasping for breath and could feel my back was soaked with sweat. I felt the nail marks on my neck. I looked around panicked and confused, then I stopped.
I saw a shadow in the corner of my room and I blinked, repeatedly. I tried to wipe my eyes. They were damp with tears and I thought maybe I was just imaging the shape. But then it moved, ever so slightly, but it moved.