As Sarah prepared for her day she kept thinking about her realistic dream. Everything about it seemed so vivid. The sight of the dancers and their detailed splenor. The sound of the music was in perfect pitch and volume. The very feel of the satin of her dress and not to mention the softness of a gloved hand in hers. All of it resonated in her memory. It all seemed too real, but it was a dream, wasn't it? Sarah kept asking herself that all morning long.

She made her way down to the kitchen. Last night's grounding had forced her to skip supper and therefore she was ravenous this morning. She was helping herself to a second bowl of cereal when Karen and Toby came into the kitchen. The tension between the two women filled the air. Toby himself didn't know what was going on but he could sense that his mother and sister were not getting along again. Although he was only three, the boy was familiar with the spats that Karen and Sarah often got into. He didn't like to see his mommy and sister fight, it made him upset. Sometimes he wished that they would just be friends and everyone would be happy.

Although Sarah looked like she was concentrating on her bowl of cereal, she was debating in her mind. The teenage girl was weighing the pros and cons of taking the high road and apologizing to Karen. If I apologize perhaps they will let me go to the prom tomorrow night? Sarah was stubborn and very seldom apologized, especially to Karen. Even though she could be hard headed she did not lack the ability to reason.

Sarah cleared her throat in an attempt to gain Karen's attention.

"Uh, Karen, what I said last night was inappropriate and I want to apologize to you. I went too far."

Karen straightened herself and stared at her stepdaughter. The older woman knew that Sarah was not one for apologies. What she also knew is that Sarah was cleaver. Instantly her mind went to the confines of the grounding to the young woman. She knew that Sarah really wanted to go to the dance. It was an all American tradition, a right of passage to usher through towards adult hood.

In spite of all of their bickering Karen had genuine feelings of care for the obstinate teen. She wanted Sarah to have the same experiences as any child would have had. Despite the fact that Sarah appeared to be normal adolescent, Karen soon learned that Sarah was withdrawn and escaped into the world of fantasy and fought anyone who interrupted her. Karen didn't know how to be a mother in the beginning of her marriage with Robert, Sarah's father. Especially to a person who didn't want a mother to begin with. After Toby was born her mothering instincts kicked in but she also longed for her care free ways. Robert liked active and vivacious women like Karen and his previous wife LInda. He thus began to mollify Karen's desires to be in the social scene. He didn't want to end up alone with a small child again, just like Linda did so many years ago when she left both he and Sarah. So Sarah became the ever watchful big sister against her will. Therefore animosity grew between the two females and the battle of wills grew.

Karen really wanted to stand her ground but knew that Sarah wouldn't ever let it go that Karen was the reason that she missed her prom. The blond headed woman knew she had to back down. Afterall soon Sarah would be leaving home and headed away to college. These battles would soon be over.

"Very well, I accept your apology, and I will speak to your father."

Light danced in Sarah's eyes. Both she and Karen knew that Robert would cave in. He couldn't stand the bickering between the two women either.

"Thank you Karen!" Sarah said elated. With that the teen deposited her morning dishes in the sink.

"By the way Sarah, we need you to sit Toby tonight."

"Sure thing."

"You didn't have any plans tonight did you?"

"Uh, no, not really, just studying, finals are coming up. "

"In that case I will leave you some money and you can order pizza for you and Toby tonight and maybe rent a video for Toby, so you can study."

"Thanks Karen, that would be great. " Sarah beamed.

Realizing the time, Sarah ruffled the little boy's head, "You hear that Squirt? We're havin' pizza tonight!"

Toby's eyes lit up, "Yay! Pizza! Movie too?"

"Yup!"

"Yay!" The child squealed.

"Oh I gotta get going, or I'm going to be late , see you later!"

"Bye Sarah.." the boy waved.

All day long at school Sarah kept thinking about tomorrow's event and all that she had to do to prepare for it. All the senior's in her school were a buzz about it too! Girls huddled in groups and chittered about their dates and plans. Boys could also be seen clustering together and would be talking in hushed tones to their buddies Probably bragging about how that they might get lucky with their dates. Sarah mused to herself that she was glad she didn't have to worry about some boy's objective in trying to fool around with her. Also the fact that no one asked her. She really had no interest in any of the boys at school, and never really associated with any. The young woman only had a few close girl friends, whom she had known throughout her school years. She was fine going dateless. She was going to go with her friends as a group and helped pitch in on a limo ride to the event.

Every so often her mind would drift to the memory of the dream. She wondered if the dance would be anything like the one in her dream. She did love to dance. She and Toby would turn up the radio and dance in the living room together, it was one of their favorite games. She never really had a true dance partner, a person to lead her on the dance floor and synchronize together with the music. Only in her dreams did that happen. Her mind drifted to her dream partner. She remembered the intensity in his eyes as he stared into hers. It was like he was telling her everything and saying nothing at the same time.

"Sarah? Earth to Sarah!", she heard a voice penetrate her daydream.

It was one of her friends, Lizzy, who was trying to get her attention. They had just started to walk to their next class.

Sarah snapped out of her daze and addressed her friend.

"Oh, uh, sorry, what were you saying?"

"Hmm, who were you day dreaming about?" the red haired girl asked suspiciously.

"What?"

"You know what I am talking about, haha, look at you blush! You were dreaming about somebody!"

Sarah felt her heart pound and a blush creep up from her neck.

"Who is he?" the girl inquired. "Is it John from math class? I see him checking you out sometimes..."

Sarah was a little taken aback from the suggested match.

"Eww, nooo!", and wrinkled her nose.

Lizzy was grinning from ear to ear, truly enjoying seeing stoic Sarah be uncomfortable about a boy.

Sarah became instantly annoyed about the mere thought of her and some boy from school together.

"Then who?" Lizzy bounced. Then a thought crossed her mind and reflected in her face. "Wait, you weren't day dreaming about one of your characters from one of your books were you?"

"Really Lizzy, you're beginning to sound like my stepmom!"

"Well then, who is he?"

Sarah was a loss for words, how could she explain that one of the characters from one of her books was an actual real person.

The warning bell rang and Sarah inwardly sighed with relief, Saved by the bell!

"Uh, bye Lizzy, gotta go!", and began to walk into a classroom.

"Hey, you're not off the hook! I'll catch you later and weasel it out of you eventually!" Lizzy stated as she continued down the hall.

Later that evening Sarah was up in her room again studying. Toby had already had the promised pizza, watched the latest kids movie and tucked into bed, all before 8:30. Sarah was enjoying the quiet, which seldom happened in a house full of people. The bedroom window was cracked to let in the warm spring air. She could hear the crickets sing their nightly lullaby. It was oh so relaxing. She felt her eyes begin to grow heavy and the words in her text book began to blur. She tried to shake her head to wake up and focus a little longer on her studies but it soon became an action in vain. Eventually her head found a resting spot on her arm and was soon sound asleep.

Somehow Sarah found herself in a familiar hedge maze. The sky was dark and she realized she was in some sort of court yard among the tall walls of foliage. Lit candelabras lined the edge of the space, casting a soft glow against a star splattered sky. Looking down she realized that she was wearing a pastel peach colored gauzy shift like dress that floated on her figure and flowed to her ankles. Her feet were clad in silver strapped low heel sandals, that were surprisingly comfortable.

Instrumental music began to play. Again it was a song that Sarah somehow knew, but she couldn't place it. It was slow and soft as violins accompanied a piano. Soon Sarah realized it was Nat King Cole's Unforgettable. The slow rhythmic tempo coursed with her as she began to sway to the beat and closed her eyes. She felt a hand grab hers and when she opened her eyes she was face to face with the Goblin King. He said nothing, just looking at her with his ever intense gaze. He placed his other hand on her waist and slowly began to guide her around the courtyard. The light from the candelabras made his wild mane glow like a halo around his face. He almost looked angelic, save for his upswept brows and highlighted eyes. As they moved the light played shadows here and there across their faces. The song seemed to go on forever as they moved as one. Slowly their bodies moved closer. Sarah could feel her heart race in her chest. He nuzzled into her hair, breathing in the aroma of it. In the closeness Sarah inhaled his mysterious scent, it was unlike anything she smelled before, wild and magical. She felt a soft kiss where her shoulder and neck met, sending a tingling sensation up her spine. She closed her eyes in bliss and anticipation for more contact to her skin. When she opened them again he was staring into her jade green eyes with his cool blue ones. His hands slid up her arms to the sides of her face. Sarah's heart began to skip beats as he leaned in.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

"Sarah! Wake up! I want pancakes!" A little boy's voice chimed, shattering the remnants of her dream. The girl groaned into her pillow, "Toby! What time is it?"

The little boy shrugged, "It's morning!" His little hand began to tap her on the arm, "Pancakes pwease!