Dreamwalker

Ugh, Reality

“I don’t need any help.” I mutter unconvincingly. Jeremy smiles and shrugs.

            “Alright, but you do need a friend.” I glare at him, but it’s only a half-hearted glare, because he’s right, I do need a friend. And heck, even if he is just a dream wraith, I’ll take him.

            “Okay fine, so you’re here to be my friend…what does that mean exactly?” He raises his eyebrows.

            “Friends are…friends. I don’t know how to explain it.” I roll my eyes.

            “Alright great, so what do we do?” He looks around at the park, then the forest, and then he turns to me.

            “Well…why don’t you tell me about yourself?” I laugh.

            “I thought you would know all about me.” He smiles, and for the first time I notice he has one dimple on his left cheek.

            “What makes you think that?” I raise my arms and wave my hands to emphasize.

            “I don’t know! You showed up in my dream, you mentioned something about how you thought my dream scape would be more interesting or something. That kind of implies you know who I am.” He shrugs dismissively, saying casually.

            “I don’t know you, I’ve heard about you…but I’ll tell you about that later.” I roll my eyes.

            “Whatever.” He grins, his dimple showing, and I can’t help noticing again how cute he is. Great, the first guy I actually feel attracted too and he’s literally a dream.

            “I’ve told you my name…what’s yours?”

            “Penny.” His hazel eyes glance up for a moment.

            “Named after your hair?” I glare at him, and he laughs.

            “I’m joking. Your hair is more like a sunset than a dull old penny.” I roll my eyes, but blush slightly at the compliment.

            “So tell me about yourself Penny.” He says, putting on a serious face as if meeting a potential business partner. I go along with the act, adopting the mannerism of a confident and ambitious young business woman.

            “Well I am almost seventeen-years-old my hair is naturally this color, I am an only child, I’ve never had a boyfriend, never really had any ordinary friends either, I’ve been able to lucid dream for a little over a year, and I am a Pisces.” Jeremy nods, still acting serious.

            “I see, what are some of your hobbies?” I think for a minute.

            “I like to be outdoors when I can, I enjoy biking, and I’m fairly good at playing the piano.” I cross my arms and smile. “Your turn.”

            “What? No, I’m terribly boring.” I wag my finger at him and say reprovingly.

            “Ah, ah, ah, come on, you made me talk about myself. And trust me, you can’t possibly be more boring than I am.” He rolls his eyes, and sighs resignedly.

            “Okay fine, I am a Aquarius, I broke my arm when I was seven, I am now eighteen, I like long walks on the beach and chocolate.” I glare at him, to which he replies with a grin.

            “What about family?” Pain flashes in his eyes briefly, and he drops his head to look at the ground.

            “Uh…I had an older brother, but he died when I was little, my dad too.” I feel my face heat up and I drop my head, crossing my arms and shifting awkwardly.