17 Dreams

Chapter 1: Dream

We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort - Jesse Owens

I'm in someplace dark and cold, the ceiling is leaking, and my ankles are...tied? I grabbed the chain in hopes it'll come off. It was useless, these chains weren't coming off. I looked in front of me and saw someone tied to a chair. He was unconscious and not moving. And behind him was Jason Ambrose. He was here, and not in jail.

"Jason?"

"My sweet flower."

I hated that nickname. He would call me his sweet flower after he had a few of his outbursts. He would say sorry for yelling at me and then say 'You're my sweet flower'. I didn't know then that it was one of his ways to make me forgive him, and I did forgive him. I never knew how much power he had over me.

"You...You are supposed to be in jail!"

"Come on, South. Nothing can keep me away from you. You're mine. You were mine back then, and you're mine now."

"Who's in that chair?"

"That, my sweet flower is..."

Jason pulled off the cover to reveal Jake tied and bleeding.

"Your precious boyfriend!"

"Noooo!"

"Noooo!"

I woke up screaming and thrashing. I looked around me and saw my classmates staring at me. I was in class sitting in my chair, I saw my paper in front of me with my pen close by. My breathing became heavy as I saw the realization that it was all a dream, everything I saw was just a dream. I'm not in that basement, Jake is ok, I'm ok and I looked at my feet to see that they're not chained.

"Miss Diamond, if you're gonna show up for class, stay awake for it. If you're tired, stay at home."

My classmates started laughing. I've never felt more embarrassed in my life until now. My cheeks started to feel hot from the embarrassment I was feeling at that moment.

"I'm sorry, Sir."

"Sorry isn't gonna cut it. I don't know how things were for you in Sacramento, but that's not gonna fly here. I'm not gonna let you disrupt the students who actually want an education."

He thinks I'm not serious about my education? I am serious. I've just been tired lately. And with tests coming up, sleep has not been in the cards lately. After class, I started heading back to my dorm room. I immediately sat down on the couch and saw a note on the table.

Mom is sick

Went back home to take care of her

Won't be back until she's better

XOXO Claire

Claire Bridges is my roommate. We get along really well. She doesn't know much about my past, but she's patient and is always there to lend a helping hand. I sighed and started to head to the kitchen. I poured myself a cup of water and just stood there for a while. I looked at the pictures I have on the fridge. Pictures of me and Jake, me with my dad and grandmother, pictures of me and my new friends, and a picture of my mom. I no longer keep that photo in my phone case, now I have it on my fridge because frankly, that picture needed a breather.

"Love you, Mom."

I blew a kiss towards the picture. I started to head towards my room. I opened the door and as soon as I turned the lights on, I was met with a shock.