Luke

Chapter 22

I was in a room.

I’m not sure where the room was. I don’t remember being in a room like that. It was…a bedroom, I think. I’m not sure. All I knew is that I was warm – really warm - and I just relaxed into the blankets or whatever surface I was laying on, my breathing more normal that it has ever been. I wondered if I was dead, maybe. But no, it seemed too real for death. And then somehow he was lying next to me. I wasn’t freaked out or anything. It seemed…normal. Like we’ve been together for a while and were completely comfortable with each other. I looked over to him and he looked over to me, smiling his classic smile. I felt happy being with Brad. Just lying there with him, not worrying about anything. His voice was smooth and calm as he spoke, his eyes glistening as he stared at the stars. He rolled over, leaning his chin on his hand and speaking to me, and I watched his lips curl into a smile when he spoke and he laughed at something stupid I said. And then it happened, easily, more normal than it ever could have been if I was with someone else. I wasn’t scared about kissing someone when he kissed me, like I had been many times before. He continued laughing as he played with my shoulder. He kept whispering my name every once in a while, warm hands placed on my sides and running through my hair. Clothes littered the floor; I hardly remembered them being removed, if they were. But I knew I was there with him. It couldn’t be fake. I was there, and so was he, and he kept whispering my name, growing louder and louder, his tone changing as time passed. It sounded lighter, more feminine, almost like…Jay?

I woke up as soon as we got there, my eyes flinging open and staring right into Jay’s camera lens.

“Rise and shine, pretty boy!” she chimed.

“What the fuck, Jay?” I screamed, shoving the camera away. She laughed, falling onto the ground behind her and shutting off her camera.

“It’s not fucking funny!” I growled. I felt sick, the dream still lingering in my head. And I hoped Jay couldn’t see under the covers.

“I think you’re cute when you sleep,” she purred, pulling her legs into an indian-style position.

“Yeah, way to be fucking creepy though.”

“But now you can film me one night!”

“Uhm, no, thank you.”

“I needed to wake you up anyway. It’s Monday. You know, school and that stuff. Want me to make you anything? Cof-“

“Yes. Please.”

“Okie doke,” she slid off the bed, climbing down the stairs. I closed my eyes, searching my mind for anything that could bring it down. My mind traveled to Brielle, and I felt much better, able to pull back the covers and find my shirt, which was actually a sweatshirt, and pull it over my head, travelling downstairs as soon as the coffee was finished brewing. She poured me a cup, putting in my desired amount of sugar and milk, stirring the mixture and handing it to me. The cup warmed my hands, the smell of vanilla wafting up and engulfing the kitchen. I liked vanilla coffee. Sometimes.

“How’re you feeling?” Jay asked sincerely.