Reverie

Chapter Seven

Maple and I sit in stunned silence, glancing back and forth between Elizabeth and each other. Maple's turning bright red.

"Last I checked, I was invited over for dinner, not a date," I say finally.

Elizabeth gives me a cheery smile. "Well, I figured since you were here I'd bring it up."

"MOM, HE HASN'T EVEN BEEN HERE FOR A DAY. WHAT MAKES YOU THINK I'D DATE A GUY A DON'T EVEN KNOW YET?"

"But you do know him, don't you?"

"What?" I glance confusedly between Maple and Elizabeth and find that Maple has the same expression on her face.

"Never mind. Let's eat," Elizabeth says quickly, serving out the soup.

We eat in silence -- or, in as much silence as we can with Elizabeth constantly asking me cheesy questions about myself. Where are you from? Do you have siblings? Pets? How is school over there? Are your parents strict? What are your hobbies? Do you like it here? How is Maple doing as your guide? Have you met her friends? Who else have you met?

I don't dare tell her about Seth, but I know Maple knows. And Cate, Mira, and June. Probably also my sisters. I wonder if they've been updated about my new life.

I spend the rest of the evening eating Elizabeth's actually very delicious dinner and awkwardly answering her questions. Maple sits silently across from me, playing with her food, like she's pretending she and Elizabeth don't know each other. Many of Elizabeth's questions have very slight references to her thought of Maple and I being a couple. I can't wait to get out of here.

Finally, Elizabeth looks at the clock.

"Oh, dear! Look at the time! You two had better go if you want to stay awake during school tomorrow! Maple, why don't you show Leo back to his room?"

I know the way back to my room, thank you very much. I glance behind me at the clock. It's eight forty-five. Seriously, Elizabeth?

But I leave anyway.

As Maple and I walk back down the hallway, she asks, "on a scale of one to ten, how hellish was that for you?"

"Nine point nine," I reply. "You?"

"Nine point nine two eight six five three. My mother is trying to set me up with someone I met this morning."

"I would quote Disney at you, but I won't," I say.

"You can't marry a man you just met," she replies.

"I'm an independent woman who don't need no man," I say, smiling. Oh, the irony.

"What?" She turns toward me.

"What?" I reply.

"That doesn't seem quite right."

"...no."

"You are not a woman."

"Aren't I?"

"I am 590% sure you're not."

I laugh.

"And the last part," she says.

Shit.

"--who don't need no man."

SHIT.

"I saw you coming out of Seth's house this afternoon."

"..yeah?" I can feel my face going red.

She doesn't speak. She just smiles.

We reach my apartment, and I unlock the door. She turns and leaves, giving me a wave.

"Be down in the lobby by 7:30 tomorrow, no later. Cate, Mira, June and I will be down at 7:15. Don't be late on your first day."

Then, after a pause, "the earlier you come, the earlier we can get to school. The earlier we get to school, the more time you've got before school to hang out with him."

"Right. Okay. I'll be down at 7:15."

I close the door behind me. The lights in the apartment are still off, but I don't bother with them. I set an alarm and take a shower (not with my clothes on, oh god) and hop into bed. Would the dream return tonight?

The dream returns.

Seth appears again in the mist. The surroundings have become clearer, and I can tell we're in a living room. Again, Seth stands in a shaft of light. I walk up without speaking, and with more confidence this time.

For the longest time, we stand in the shaft of light, unmoving. Then, he smiles, and I smile back. I reach out and touch his shoulder, and he does the same. Then, all of a sudden, he pulls me into a hug.

I rest my head on his shoulder, finding that it's more muscular than I thought. We stand for what feels like an eternity, arms around each other and both of us in our own little magical state of mind. The whole thing felt incredible.

The alarm rings.