Restless Dreams

Startled Awakenings

There is water rushing everywhere, I can feel its cool, crisp, clearness engulf my feet and ankles. I start to panic, I scream at the top of my lungs but nothing other than air escapes. I begin to move but it's like my feet are in molasses causing it to be near impossible to move. The water is rising and I know I don't have much time left. The water reaches my chin as I try to scream one last....

I jump awake, startled by the dream. I pat my body and my face to make sure I am really alive. Everything was so vivid, bright, so life-like. It was like I was really about to drown, what could it mean? I shake my head trying to gain my bearings once more, I glance at the clock and groan realizing it is only 4:45am. I still have another hour and fifteen minutes before I even have to be up. I lay back on the bed and stare up at the ceiling, these dreams are getting weird. I exhale with frustration as I think about what they could possibly mean, coming up with no answers. Should I tell Roman about this or should I tell my parents that I need help? The confliction is almost too much to handle I better just get over it and move on to the next issue at hand, school.

"Jasmine, get up now. You are going to be late and we don't want that, do we?" I can hear the tone in my mother's voice telling me not to test her. I drag myself out of bed and walk into my bathroom, glancing in the mirror as I pass. I look like I was in some sort of race and had ran for miles. I wash my face and apply my makeup like all other girls would be doing,  I run my fingers through my short, blonde hair and decide to wear it up in a stylish pony-tail. I can hear my mother and father arguing once again outside my bedroom door. Trying to be as silent as possible I creep over to the door and listen in."She isn't doing as well in school as we had hoped, I think there is something wrong with her, maybe we should take her to Dr. Amy?" I roll my eyes as my mother rambles on about things she hasn't taken an interest in. Pressing my ear closer to the door I hear who I originally thought was my dad respond, "She is fine, I talked to her last night I am sure she will be okay just take a minute to talk to her, not at her." I bite my tongue as I realize that it was Roman my mother was talking to. Grabbing my bag I swing open the door and shove through them.

"Morning Mother, hey Roman, you guys couldn't have this conversation downstairs away from my ears?" I snapped,glaring at each of them before storming down the stairs. Grabbing the milk and bowls from the cabinet, I mindlessly begin to make my breakfast as my wonderful mother walks in. " I don't understand why you don't just take my advice and go out for the cheerleading team. You are a pretty girl and so talented, why don't you want to show the world what you can do?" She lectures rather than actually talking to me. I roll my green eyes as I shove the spoon of frosted flakes into my mouth. "You know what mom...I need to go to school, wouldn't want to miss the best days of my life, right?" I continue to stick the bowl into the sink and walk out of the room, grabbing my bag on the way out.

I slam the front door as I step onto the front lawn. for a few seconds its like the world has stopped. sun shining, birds singing their beautiful tune, grass lightly swaying in the brisk cool breeze. I inhale deeply as I walk towards the bus stop and group of kids loudly chatting about normal teenage things.

I stood there for a good ten minutes, away from everyone to ensure I wouldn't be bothered, when this weird kid walked up to me 

"hey, how's it going? " he asked while shoving his hands into his pockets. I raised an eyebrow and gave him the 'are you talking to me?' look. chuckling, he stuck his hand out and waited for me to shake it. "my name is Evan." he said it like I should automatically know. hesitating I took my hand and placed it in his.  

"I'm Jasmine, but I go by Jaz most days, or you can call me what most other kids call me, hey you! " I wasn't sure if I should laugh at my own joke or not, so I half smiled. We continued to chat about random things until the bus came. Evan talked about where he was from and what it was like where he used to be. He's from Tennessee, a town that only has about 300 people. Where everyone knew each other and helped out whenever they could. Kids ran barefoot down the street and parents waved to each other as they passed. Why he left I will never understand.