Utopia

Chapter 4: Needing a Plan

I am sleeping soundly when the comm device starts to go off, waking me up in the process. I turn in my bed to face the clock and see that it is currently one o'clock in the morning.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me," I complain as I take the comm device from its place on my desk and answer it. "What?" I groan into the comm.

"Hurry up and get dressed. I'm about to send Manolo to get you," I hear Jaron's voice order me on the other side of the line.

"Jaron, do you know how early it is?" I ask him, annoyed.

"Blessed as I am with a functioning brain, yes. Now hurry up and get dressed, I'll call you when I'm there," he says, his tone coming out very persistent before he hangs up. I put the comm back on the desk and grunt into my pillow.

Doesn't the guy know not to disturb a girl's sleep? I ask myself. Getting up, I go into the restroom and brush my teeth, then try to tame the mess of curls on the top of my head. After deciding I look decent, I put on some old sweatpants, one of my old painting shirts, and a jacket along with my running shoes. Since Jaron still hasn't called, I decide to rest my eyes for just a bit, but the moment I lay down on the bed the comm starts going off.

"Give me a break," I whine as I turn off the lights to my bedroom and make my way outside. When I lock the front door and turn around, I notice Jaron resting on the wall, his eyes closed. "If I don't get to sleep, you sure as hell won't," I tell him as I wake him up and drag him in the direction of the carriage.

"Calm down. Jeez. Now I know not to wake you up," he says and stops in his tracks.

"You think," I say with a fake smile plastered on my face. "So, what's so important that you had to wake me up so early in the morning?" I ask him. He sighs and goes to open the door of the carriage.

"I'll tell you that when we're back in the castle, but for now, just get inside," he tells me. I put a hand on my hip and wait for him to tell me. "Don't do this now, Alejandra. I promise to tell you, just not now." I move and step closer and look him straight in the eye with a scowl glued to my face. "Fine, have it your way. Don't say I didn't warn you." He suddenly picks me up and goes inside, setting me down on the seat across from him.

"Really?" I ask him, disgruntled. He doesn't do anything but sit there with a smug look on his face. "I'd wipe that smile off your face, Red, before I do," I say in the sweetest voice I can manage. Instead of having the effect I wanted, Jaron lets out a laugh.

"I think I should wake you up more often. Manolo, you can head home now."

"Just, please don't wake me up again?" I ask him. His features soften, and he responds with a nod of his head.

"Now go to sleep, I'll wake you up when we get there," he informs me.

"Hallelujah!" This makes him laugh even more, and I kick his feet. "Don't judge." I then try to get into as comfortable of a position as I can manage and close my eyes. I crash the moment I'm enveloped by the darkness, but that is soon interrupted by the image of Jaron.

Why do I keep dreaming of this jackass?

We were walking along a castle corridor. I look over at him to see that a huge smile is on his face and a bright glow can be seen in his eyes. He looks down, and I see something in his eyes, I see... passion, and I can't help but wonder, "Is that for me?" He sees something behind him and  immediately the passion that was in his eyes was replaced by worry.

"You have to run, don't look back," he tells me then runs off in the other direction.

"Jaron!" I call out to him.