The Mystic Island of Dreams

Chapter 3

Two hours into their so called party and Raven was beyond her limits. Lilian, however, was having the time of her life. They'd danced, eaten half the cake, finished both bottles of wine and were now playing tricky confessions as they laid side by side on the bed.

In all the years Lilian had known Raven, she'd discovered the other female was uncomfortable in a crowd. Raven didn't like drinking and she hated parties with a vengeance but the one thing Raven loved to do was dance.

Wake her up any day, anytime, she's ready to go. Especially when the music playing was K-pop or Latino. Madee always says, 'Raven danced her way out of my womb'. It was a good joke they played on Raven every once in a while.

"So what secret crushes have you developed in the last one week?" Raven knew Lilian and her crushes didn't last. She dumped them as quickly as she got them... she was also wondering why she'd asked that.

"I hate to break your heart baby girl, but no man has caught these eyes in the last seven days." Lilian almost seemed heartbroken by that fact...almost. "And by the way, that wasn't a confession that was a question Raven. That's not how this goes. How can you still suck at this game till now?"

"Well, don't blame me sissy. You're the one who's always bringing up this game anytime you manage to put alcohol in me."

"Well...I only do that because spirits lets the tongue loose and your tongue, my dear, needs a whole lot of loosening power to speak."

"You sound crazy, you know that right?" Raven lifted up her body to lean on the headboard as she stared unseeingly at Lilian. "You sound like one of those psychic people who read tarot cards and I swear I had something to tell you but..."

"Whatever you say." Rising to her feet, she added, "You need more alcohol in you lady to help you remember what you have to say. I'll be right back."

"No!" Raven refuted with a firm shake of her head which lead to a wave of dizziness she had to wait seconds to clear off. "I am not taking another sip of that... that... alcohol or whatever. It's late, plus I'm sure mom already locked the doors. So sit your behind back on the bed, young lady."

Lilian paused to consider her words and then agreeing with them, she made her way back to the bed and laid down. "You know, the easiest and coolest way to say that would be, 'sit your ass down', right?"

"I will not be using crass words like that ever." Raven didn't appreciate the use of curse words just as much as her mom didn't appreciate the use of certain hand languages. "Oh... wait, I got it. I remember what I wanted to tell you."

Lilian gave her a blank look as she waited while Raven took her sweet time to get her phone off the charger from beside the bed. She had to move slowly or risk another dizzying spell. Finally, she reloaded the page on her browser and laid down beside Lilian to show her.

They read through the page to the very end where the form required to join the competition was and then... they waited quietly. It was a moment to let the idea sink in and think of the possibilities that would accompany being selected as one of the winners to go on the two-week free trip to an island of possibilities.

Tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock tick...

Lilian dashed for her phone immediately while Raven quickly filled the form. When Lilian finished filling hers, they stared at each other and burst out in laughter. Lilian laughed so hard she fell with a bang to the tiled floor of the room and still they kept laughing.

"I have to say," another bout of laughter, "if we get this free trip, it will be the first time Madee's birthday gift's been beaten."

Exhaling loudly in an effort to calm her racing heart, Raven replied, "I have to say, if we get this trip, it's the first time I'm ever willingly traveling with you."