Crystal's one escape from the pretentious life her parents want for her is the dreams that fill her mind as she sleeps. In those dreams awaits the same boy who comes to her night after night, filling her heart with hope that can only be a fantasy. T...
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"Crystal...Crystal...Crystal!"
I jolt awake from someone shaking my shoulder and shouting my name. My eyes take a moment to adjust, blinking several times as the back seat of my family's town car becomes clearer.
"We're almost there," my mother says, giving me a side-eye to express just how annoyed she is that I didn't wake up faster.
My stop drops, weighed down with dread as I glance out the window. I already know what I'll find. I've seen the pamphlets more times than I can count. But seeing it in person is so much...worse.
Off in the distance is the sprawling grounds of Black Water Academy. Its five buildings stand tall beneath the sky's dark clouds like a group of tyrants looking down on everyone condemned to its control. Some could say it's beautiful with its clean architecture and vibrant black and orange school banners strung from building to building. But a golden cage is still a cage and this bird prefers to spread her wings and fly.
"Don't look so distraught," my mother chides. "You did this to yourself. Your father told you if you ran away one more time what would happen. If anything, you should be happy he wants to keep you close instead of sending you to that military academy Grandpa suggested."
Lucky me.
I roll my eyes and slump in my seat, arms crossed over my chest.
But of course, leave it to Mom to rub salt in the wound. "At least your father is allowing Kyle to come visit you on weekends. You should be happy about that."
Sitting upright, I turn to her with pleading eyes. "Is that really a good idea though? I mean, this is a punishment. Shouldn't visitation be revoked as well?"
"Oh, don't be ridiculous." She laughs and waves a dismissive hand in the air. "Kyle's done nothing wrong, so it's not fair to punish him as well. Besides, the two of you have been together for years and after you both finish school, you'll be married. Your father wouldn't do anything to jeopardize that."
Another eye roll from me as I go back to sulking.
Heaven forbid my parents risk my future as Mrs. Kyle Wheeler. Not when my impending nuptials will restore them with respect and power among their hoity-toity upper society friends. Forget the fact that the guy they've doomed me to only likes me for my looks and my body.
"Remember, Crystal, arm candy is supposed to be admired, not heard."
I huff just thinking about his words at last month's gala before I packed my bags and tried to escape for the umpteenth time. My freedom was short-lived though and even being sent to this hell hole isn't far enough away from that jackass.
Resting my head against the car door, I close my eyes and wish for sleep and dreams of beaches and a devastatingly hot guy that has invaded my rest for years. An imaginary guy who has made me feel more wanted and understood than any real person in my life. But my eyelashes barely kiss the top of my cheekbones before my mom is shaking my arm again.
