CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE – DREAM
Stella's breath caught in her throat. She couldn't move; she couldn't think. The temperature of the room was rising, and this wasn't helping her breathing problem. She grabbed her blanket tightly, trying to hold on it, as if she were about to fall from her bed at any moment. Her breaths quickened, and the growing sensation inside her made her head spin, even though her eyes were closed. She had turned off the lights before going to bed; she knew that much. The windows in her room were more than enough to let in the morning light. So, was it morning? Her eyes were closed. But what was this sparkling thing? Like the sun. A quiet moan escaped her lips; she was so lost now. What was happening?
The sensation grew, now making her body shudder from head to toe. Stella bit her lip, an action that caused things to tremble, and the sun suddenly became blurry. Was it ending? No, she didn't want it to end. She had no idea what was happening, but man, she wanted it to last a little bit longer. "Please," she moaned, and now it was desperate because she didn't know why she said that. Would everything be easier if the sun went down and she could open her eyes? But the sun was so shiny; she would feel bad telling her to go down. Yes, the sun was a woman in Stella's eyes. Literally.
"Brandon," she let out another moan.
What? Brandon? Where? Her brain wasn't helping her at all, this was too much to handle. She felt her toes curl and her head was thrown back. This was so good. And she could maybe shut her mouth so it would last a little bit longer. Her breasts itched, and Stella thought maybe her hair was touching them; that's why. But why was her hair inside her bustier? Her hands moved to her collarbones to fix the itching problem, but there wasn't any fabric there to help cover her upper body. She was naked. Just as Stella was about to argue about it, like a final push of birth, something hit a spot of her she didn't even know existed.
"Fuck," she moaned. "Brandon!"
A relief passed through her body, now satisfied. Stella felt like she was swimming up in the clouds; that's what the feeling was about. But when it ended, it was just like falling from those clouds without a parachute or maybe a spaceship. She didn't know; she didn't want to think of anything but the heat between her legs.
"You liked that sunshine?"
Stella's eyes popped open, now rising from her bed breathless. She was soaking wet; the drops of sweat were flowing down. She looked at her surroundings, trying to figure out what was going on and where Brandon was. Her hands were still clutching the blanket tightly, as if she had grabbed it in fear of falling, and that had happened somehow. "Oh my god," she breathed. Her heart was racing, and her thoughts were consuming her. "Oh my god, did I just…" She closed her eyes, only to open them again to test the situation. She looked towards the clock, the red neon telling her it was 4:53 AM. "Please, please be gone, please be gone." She stood quickly, not caring that her head was spinning because of how fast she had moved. Reaching for the door, she opened it slowly, trying to hear any voices coming from the house. Her parents had their door open, and it was dark, so they probably left. Stella took a deep breath and let it out as a relief. She was probably moaning in her sleep, and her parents hearing her say Brandon's name while moaning wasn't really heartwarming. Running towards her bathroom, Stella quickly removed the clothes she definitely didn't have in her dream and got into the shower.
"What?" spat Bloom's voice on the phone. She didn't check who was calling, and she didn't care who it was, even if it were the president of any country. Even Narnia.
"I'm going to kill you," spoke Stella, attempting to brush her hair, but her hands were still shaking, making it an unsuccessful task. "Can't you wait until I'm awake on my own?" She could kill for some sleep right now, just give her some knives.
"I am. Going to. Kill ya!" said Stella, adding a little sarcasm to her words at the end.
Bloom's eyes opened. She looked at her phone, seeing Stella brushing her hair and looking flushed. She got up immediately. "What happened to you at five in the morning, Stella? Why did you wake me up at five in the morning?!"
Stella turned to look at her, Bloom's face now showing on the screen. She was Facetiming the ceiling when Bloom first answered the phone. "It's all your fault!" she spat again.
Bloom rolled her eyes. Clearly, she wasn't going to get answers until Stella let it out of her system. "Why, dear? I didn't have your charger of your iPad nor my name's Rachel, so why so mad?"
Stella let out a frustrated yell, making Bloom jump. "Okay, no jokes, got it. Can you sit so we can talk at five in the morning, Stell? Please, I insist."
Finally done with her hair, Stella looked at herself in the mirror and turned to Bloom. "I'm going to do my skincare now." Skincare was a relaxing task for her, so sitting and talking would help less, and she might snap at Bloom more.
Bloom nodded her head, confused. "Okay, for my safety, I guess? Okay, I'm closing my mouth; you go."
While applying her routine, Stella started to tell her dream. She definitely wasn't looking at the screen because she knew what Bloom looked like. Bloom was biting her lip, trying not to scream, but some squeaky voices were obviously unstoppable. "You horny blonde!" Stella looked at her, silencing her without saying anything.
"Why is this my fault?" she asked, trying to calm her a little. Or maybe herself, she didn't know.
"You mentioned sex, you put all those thoughts in my head. All night I was thinking about what step I should take or what kind of move I should make. And here I am soaked! Bloody soaked!" Bloom giggled at her friend. She was flushed and probably embarrassed too.
"Stell, your brain is just telling you what she and your body wants. Okay, maybe I did put those thoughts in your head," Stella huffed. "Maybe," she whispered, annoyed.
Bloom smiled, "Yes, maybe, because you did have them, you know. I'm no matchmaker; Brandon was pulling you towards him and vice versa. The tension was dense; anyone passing by you would just start making out, charmed by it."
Stella's eyes were fixed on her reflection in the mirror. Bloom was right, she knew those things, but the feelings she felt... Her eyes closed; she wanted all those things, but again, those feelings really shook her.
"I get it, you're frustrated. It happens. I still shake like a leaf every time Sky touches me." Walking inside her bedroom, Stella sat in front of the window, holding the phone in her hand.
"I still am shaking. I don't know what to do," Bloom looked at her friend's uneasy face. "You should give him a chance; that's all you have to do right now," she said, hoping she was being helpful. "But he's not asking for a chance," said Stella, unsure if she should say more. "He is confusing me."
"How so?" asked Bloom, not really getting what Stella meant.
"He's telling me his secrets and personal stuff, like family situations. But nothing else comes from his lips. Like, we don't even have each other's numbers. We're not hanging out unless something is up or someone's midway. He's not asking for anything, but he's doing so much…" Stella let out a breath; Bloom could see why she freaked out about the dream. Brandon wasn't making any steps, and Stella was dreaming of him in a way she would be lost if those feelings were not mutual. Her anger flaring, she leaned closer to the phone, speaking quietly so her parents won't hear.
"I'll talk to Sky for Brandon's number. You call him and ask him to meet you. Talk to him, Stella. You were always an open person, not hiding and not waiting for anything. Why would Brandon be an exception? I'll talk to my mom; maybe I can arrange something, and I can come to the city for a few days."
Stella's face lit up, "You really would do this for me?"
"Of course Stell, but," she inhaled deeply, "If you wake me up at five in the morning again, I swear to you the next dream would be the last of yours, Stella Bella."
"Yes, Mom, I will," she rolled her eyes; now this was too much. She was only going out for fall shopping. Yes, every year, no matter the time and month, as soon as the shelves were filled with decorations and stuff, she was out there shopping. After all, it was her favorite season. Even though she didn't like the cold, the cozy sweaters were there for a reason.
"Honey, you call us as soon as you get home. Your father and I will be late tonight. We're invited to a dinner. I would ask you if you want to come, but..." Stella cut her mother's words, "Thanks, Mom. Cheri's was an exception, but I don't really feel comfortable at business meetings," she said.
Luna rolled her eyes, like mother, like daughter. "Yeah, Cheri's was definitely an exception for you that night." Stella felt her cheeks blush. Even though she understood her mother's implication, she didn't respond to that. "See you at night then, Mom." Sending noisy kisses to her mother, she closed the phone. She checked herself in the mirror for the last time before she took her tote bag and went outside. Her Jeep was with her; her father had brought it for her along with some more stuff from Gardenia. Taking a deep breath, Stella smiled at herself. Finally, shopping time for her. Her bruised arm was healing every day a little more. Now she had no trouble holding things, especially shopping bags.
Stella now was looking around for a place she can have her coffee. Maybe Krispy Kreme? No, it was too crowded there. Her eyes laid on Tchibo's sign, the taste of coffee she drank with Brandon was still on her palate. She turned the car towards the spot of take away and ordered her flat white with almond milk and a triple shot of espresso. No one can make her drink any festive drink; they were too sweet and a lot spicy. But Stella always envied those who can drink it.
"Thank you so much, have a nice day." She greeted the barista and secured her coffee cup on the coffee holder spot she had in the car. "Yes, now shopping!" She exclaimed happily. She parked her car in front of a huge mall. Now scanning the area, this was a shopping center that was designed for every store to have its own cottage. It looked like a small village, with a lot of fall season decorations and beautiful stores around. Stella sighed; the city was getting into her already, and she was starting to like the city more than the small town she grew up in. And this didn't even make her feel bad. Getting her cup from the holder, she took her bag and walked to the first cottage she had her eyes on. She, of course, had a lot of clothes; she wasn't spoiled even though her parents made a lot for this to happen, though she would never say no to a new sweater. Or some new sweaters, plural singular, why would that matter? Smiling, she entered the first boutique.
Stella knew her shopping time is never short, though this time she was too surprised to see she had spent only two hours for shopping. This was her Everest for a short time. Her phone's ring cut her appreciation she was preparing for herself. "Yes?" she replied while trying to put her bags behind her car.
"Where are you? I texted you like millions of times, I sent you Brandon's phone number," After putting all the bags inside and making sure there won't be any accident if she didn't see any bumps while driving, she closed the back door and held her phone more securely to see what Bloom wanted.
"What did you say? I didn't hear you the first time."
"The neighbors heard me Stella. How did you not?"
Stella rolled her eyes; her friend's level of drama was infinite. "Can you just repeat? Please. I was shopping and you called the moment I was putting the bags in the car." She sighed, 'This girl's making me talk too much.' She thought.
"Okay, I said, where are you I texted you like a million times. But now I know where you were, so we can pass that." Rolling her eyes again, Stella tapped her foot on the floor impatiently. "Oh and I said, I sent you Brandon's phone number."
Her foot now stopping she stared at the door handle of her car. "Really?"
Why did she need to question this wasn't really clear for her either. "No, I like to joke about these stuff, you know, playing with your emotions and hurting you is my hobby."
"Did you drink too much coffee today?" asked Stella, forgetting everything Bloom just said and focusing on her friend's bad habit of caffeine. Ah well, who is she to judge?
"No, I woke up at five in the morning, did you not know that?" she spat making Stella laugh. She got into her car realizing her mouth was dry, "I'm not going to apologize; we can say we're even." Bloom nodded her head, even though she knew Stella didn't see her. "Fine," she said.
"So are you going to call him or?" she asked.
"I don't know, should I?"
"No, keep the phone number as a souvenir baby. That's how things work you know." Both of the girls now rolled their eyes at each other; why is this conversation still going? "I'll call him to say what exactly? Hi Brandon, I wondered if you had lunch, do you want to join me?"
Bloom paused, and Stella waited for her response confused, "Yeah, do that, good idea." Bloom responded. "You serious? I can't do that!" Her cheeks had already turned red.
"Why the hell damn bloody Lucifer not? Those are nothing, just like inviting a friend for lunch, no feelings no attachments and no emotions!" Stella sighed, knowing Bloom had used synonyms of a word to make a sentence. "Your vocabulary…"
"You're just talking so you don't have to deal with the number and its owner. Don't be such a baby, call him. Bye, love you!" she hung up on Stella, leaving her all cloudy. "Fine." She murmured to herself, "I'm calling a friend for lunch."