Dreamers- Book 1

Chapter Twenty Three- Pippa

"Not that much!" Pippa laughed, taking the salt shaker from Bellamy's hand, stopping him from ruining the first meal he had ever cooked.

She had been shocked to find him on her doorstep as she opened the door to her dream world. Wearing only a small smile and his pyjama bottoms, she had ushered him inside.

"You going to tell me why your all distracted?" She asked, stirring the pot of bubbling tomato sauce.

He hadn't been his normal self, that she could easily tell. His usual jokes and quips about the past were none existent, replaced instead by long gazes focusing on nothing in particular and small sighs when he thought she wasn't paying attention.

He smiled sadly in reply, before scooping her up in a tight hug. Surprised by his sudden embrace, she took a moment before squeezing him tightly back.

"You can tell me; you know that don't you." Pippa whispered, as he buried his head in her neck.

"You have to be real." He whispered. Whether it was in reply to her, or something he was telling himself, she didn't know.

"What's happened, Bellamy? What's wrong?" She asked.

Pulling away from her embrace he walked backwards, his hand running through his hair as he took a deep breath.

"Did you make the time capsule, like I asked?" He said, turning to her.

Pippa pursed her lips, before nodding her head. Something had happened that had made him worry, or nervous, or scared. She couldn't tell. But she wished he would tell her, so she could help. Because seeing him like this wasn't something she particularly enjoyed.

The pan on the stove began to shudder under the amount of heat. Turning her back to her friend, she switched it off. This was supposed to be a fun activity. His first time cooking, his first spaghetti and meatballs. Instead he was pacing the floor of the kitchen, staring off into the oblivion.

"My father has given me some co-ordinates for you to put the capsule. I don't know where it is in the country- I should have checked. It could be really far away." He rambled, continuing to pace her kitchen floor.

"Write them down? I'll remember them and search for where it is tomorrow. Its fine, the country isn't too big. A day trip might be in order, but that sounds fun!" She said, smiling reassuringly.

He nodded in silent reply, his eyebrows creased in thought as he began his pacing again.

Pippa decided to let him think. Turning back to the stove she switched on the hob that had the pot of water, she grabbed the spaghetti and put two portions in before picking up the bowl of pork mince.

Sitting at the table in the middle of the room she began to mix in the spices and stir it until everything was mixed in. The chair opposite her scraped as Bellamy finally decided to stop his pacing. Glancing up she noticed him watching her.

Taking a small amount of mix from the bowl, she rolled it between her palms making a ball before placing it in a small frying pan.

She pushed the big bowl forward, indicating that Bellamy should copy her. Nervously he began to do the same. Pippa smiled, watching how he copied her every move.

"I made a deal with my mother." Bellamy said, filling the silence that had settled over them.

Pippa looked up at him to find him absorbed in watching his hands. Staying silent, she continued to make the meatballs, waiting for him to continue.

"She thinks I'm insane and wants to lock me up in the hospital." He laughed dryly, shaking his head. "So I made a deal with her. I prove you exist and she doesn't lock me up."