Dream weaver

College dreams chapter 1

I was eighteen fresh, out of college and celebrating my new found freedom a new existence away from books and exams, this was the start of the rest of my life. Although I still lived at home with my mum, I had plans starting with finding a job a house or apartment of my own the perfect man, husband and then one day children, but for now I was just happy to enjoy myself with my friends

"Party at mine tonight"

"Thanks Shar count me in" I replied

Shar short for Sharlene which you only called her at your own peril was my best friend. Boisterous fun loving and always loved to be centre of attention. She was always on the lookout for an excuse for a get together, be it a BBQ or birthday it was something she loved to do. Her tall slim figure was the envy of most of our friends but it was her hair dark red that gave you a clue to her fiery nature. You didn't want to get on the wrong side of Shar that was for sure but for me it was easy. I had know her many years since primary school, when we had met on my first day in the chaotic corridors of Sun valley high primary. I was five years old, scared of my own shadow and terrified of being there surrounded by a swarm of children running around and taking no notice of me standing there. I had started late in the term as a bout of chicken poxs had me bed ridden on the first day, I had been with my mum holding her hand so tightly her hand had turned white from the blood loss, but then there was Shar in her lob sided bunches and dungarees she strolled right up to me looked me in the eye and held out her grubby mud covered hand. I looked up at my mum and she nodded for me to take it, so I did and never looked back.

"What you think" she nudged me "8 o'clock?"

"Will you parents be there?" I grinned back at her

"Nah, in fact this was their idea, they've provided the food and drink and have promised to not come home till Sunday so we have the whole place to ourselves all weekend."

I give this to Shars parents they trusted Shar being their only daughter they had always treated her with as much respect and rights as an adult. Her father a big investor and developer had designed and built there house many years back it was a huge estate with its own inside pool and Gym. They had many acres of ground which her dad had restored from the wild over growth that had taken the valley preserving wild trees, bushes and lake Deadman. He had spent thousands having it dregged of the shopping trolleys and old cars that lay nestled at it bottom rescuing it from its merky decay.

The first time I had gone there, I was expecting a small three bed house like mine, in one of the Slim narrow lanes that surrounded the nearby town, A town if you could call it that which consisted of 4 shops and a supermarket. I had been shocked when her father pulled us up on the long driveway, her house was eight times the size the biggest house in town its extravagant archways and grand windows made it all seem surreal. At my young age I had stood there in awe staring up at it grand structure wondering if it was real and where the prince and princess that lived here were? Shar had never mentioned or boasted about her wealth she dresses like I did and came to the same small school I did so I had not expected a thing.

We had spent many long weekends and holidays in that house and grounds camping, exploring and discovering new things, like hidden caves ,and the tree house that stood in the old oak over looking lake Deadman which her dad had had personally built just for us. As the original outcast I now felt like I had a whole new family and I belonged.

"So what you think"

"Huh" I said suddenly coming out of a day dream "sorry 8 o'clock" seem good to me

"good" she said in her normal bouncy voice " Lets spread the word"

As I expected it didn't take long in our small town and it was soon buzzing with the news of her up and coming party as we walked down corridor out of the college for the very last time all we could here were the sound of people talking and discussing what they would wear that night.

"So what you gunna wear?" Shar asked in a concerned voice

"I was thinking Jean and a T shirt" I muttered back not sure what she would say

"Jean and a t shirt" she said a gasp "Oh no your not!!! This is the big one out first adult party" she said so fast I was finding it hard to follow " I'm giving you a makeover, you can borrow one of my dresses if we cant find anything suitable at yours its time plane Jane became a goddess"

"what?" I gawped shocked at what she had just said

"you heard" she giggled " Now take that gob smacked looke off your face and call your mum tell her your staying at mine this weekend. No, no infact scratch that, I'm taking you to your house and tell her myself , don't want you woosing out on me"

"Like I could" I teased back.

Before I knew it she had grabbed hold of my hand and was dragging me toward her car. Red to match her hair, she had taken her father round every showroom in the nearby citys until she had found the one of her dream's.

Back at mine she pushed me in the lounge where we found my mum sitting on the sofa ironing a pile of clothes.

"Hi Mrs Cassaway"

"Oh hi Shar" she said suddenly looking up "How are you?"

"You Know me Mrs Cassaway, I'm always great"

"That good" mum replied with a smile "but I wish you would call me Caroline, Mrs Cassaway sound to proper or mum if you want to! Would you girls like some lunch?"

"Sorry Caroline" Shar replied with a laugh "I keep forgetting and no thanks to lunch we've eaten already"

"Mum" I said before Shar could fit another word in "Shar is throwing a party tonight and I'd really like to go" and as a loop hole "Unless you need me here?"

Mum didn't hook on "Of course you can go on have fun, Now Shar are you parents ok with this?"

"Yes Caroline, it was there idea and with that she dragged me to my room and began to pack my case for me.