Ding Dong!
I immediately jumped up and realized that the doorbell had rung. I frantically looked around the room. I didn’t see Greg anywhere, and I finally put together the pieces; it was just a nightmare.
I let out a shaky breath. That dream was too realistic; it scared the crap out of me. I realized that I was clutching onto the arm of my couch. I quickly let go. I don’t want to appear scared; I’m brave after all.
The doorbell rang again and I had finally realized why I had awoken. I quickly jumped back up to my feet and headed to the door. I opened up the door to see Jo standing there.
“Jo?” I breathed out.
She stared at me emotionless for about a minute. Finally, I gave her a confused look. Jo opened her mouth and then quickly closed it. With that, she turned around and walked towards the street.
I ran after her, “Jo, wait!” I called. She turned around again and simply waited for me to reach her, “What?” she asked when I was right in front of her.
“Why’d you come here?” I curiously asked. I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to protect myself from the cold February weather.
Jo shrugged and turned around again. She headed to her car, pulling her keys out of her pocket on the way there. This time, I didn’t chase her, “You came all this way, why don’t you come inside for a little?”
“But, you’re dating Emily,” Jo said. I noticed the dumbfounded expression on her face. It was like this idea was new to her.
I frowned, “What do you mean?”
“You’re dating Emily, so I shouldn’t be hanging out with you,” she explained. It was like she was reciting, “Asher told me I wasn’t supposed to hang out with any other guys outside of work.”
Once again, the conversation turned back to Asher, it always does. Asher just won’t leave; he has become a part of her that she just can’t let go of. He is in her every being and won’t leave her.
“Jo, that’s not how dating works,” my voice was soft, but I knew she could hear me. Jo blinked, as though she was processing what I said, “Oh…” she murmured.
Jo shoved her keys back in her pocket and walked back over to me, “So, how does dating work?” she sounded surprisingly curious. It’s like she was so out of this world that she needed to be taught basic knowledge.
“Relationships are two-sided.”
Jo looked at the ground. Her boot kicked aside a small piece of gravel, “Look, I learned something new…”
Her voice scared me. When the little girl comes out of the darkness in a horror movie, she says some creepy line in a hoarse whisper. That was Jo. I couldn’t tell if Jo was about to cry or scream.
“Just come inside, Jo.”
She didn’t say anything; she just walked towards my door. I took a few strides so I was now ahead. I opened up the door for her and motioned for her to head inside. Jo walked in.
Jo pulled off her coat and slush-covered boots. She was now wearing a normal outfit. It looked like something a normal girl would wear: jeans and a sweatshirt. Her dark blonde hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail with a bow. She wasn’t wearing any makeup. I wonder if she did that on purpose; like she knew her makeup would just get ruined anyways.
“You look nice,” I honestly complimented her. Jo frowned, “How?”
“Celebrity looks are overrated.”
Jo nodded in agreement and she put her coat on one of the hooks. I led her into the kitchen, “Hungry or thirsty?” I asked, as I walked in. Jo shook her head, “No, I’m fine, thanks for asking.”
I nodded and then stood on the other side of the counter. Silence filled the room as Jo looked around. She took in the old surroundings. She’s only been here a few times, but it feels like a million.
“I got to see Asher in jail,” I think Jo’s trying to start conversation, that’s a change. I’m not used to normality between Jo and I. We stand out way too much.
“He told me he loved me.”
Something hit me. Did it fall from the ceiling? Is roof breaking? I looked up to see everything was fine. Why do I feel weird? Why did it feel like I was injured? Maybe I'm sick. Maybe I am going insane. No, I'm already insane.
"What did you say?" I finally asked. Jo looked at the ground, "Nothing."
I was not expecting that. It doesn't seem like something Jo would say. Well do, to Asher. She's so loyal to him. I would've thought that she was still under his spell. So, why didn't she say I love you back?
"You came to my house when you were dating Asher."
Jo nodded, "I know," she answered, "I don't know what came over me when I met you... You changed me. I wanted to know you; become friends. And... we did. Now... I can't figure out whether or not it was worth it."
"I think it was," I quickly added in. Damn it, I sounded so stupid. I wanted to apologize for sounding dumb in front of her, but I decided to say nothing. I'll just wait and see what she says.
"Maybe," she murmured. Jo leaned against the counter, propping her upper body weight on her forearms, "I feel like I know nothing. I'm not smart. I know that. I feel like if I was taught correctly, I could be smart. My principles were messed up, but I'm good at memorizing them."
Jo got up from her propped position and headed towards the living room. In the middle, she stopped and turned around, "I'm a little tired, may we sit?" she asked. I nodded and followed behind her to the room.
Jo chose to sit on the couch I had fallen asleep on only a couple of minutes ago; the couch where Greg had visited me. Of all the couches in here, she had to choose this one.
Jo stared at the blank TV. i was tempted to turn it on to give her something to look at besides black.
"Can I tell you something?" Jo asked. she had torn her gaze away from the TV to look into my eyes. I hated when she looked into my eyes. I wanted to turn away, but she just wouldn't let me.
"Sure," I breathed out. Jo clasped her hands together, resting them in her lap, "W-Well," she doesn't usually stutter, "I have been having dreams about you."
Me? Damn it, me? Of all people she was dreaming about, it had to be me? I haven't been dreaming about her... have I? No, only Greg. Jo was in my old dreams.
"What about?" I asked.
"Well, I keep having the same dream. It is when I'm laying in bed with Asher. His arms are wrapped around me from behind, so i can't see his face. He would talk to me like a normal conversation. Asher would whisper in my ear how pretty he think I am and how much he loved me. He would kiss my head and neck, as he held onto me. We just laid together; without him forcing me to do something he wanted. I turned around to kiss him and the lights turned on. I realized I was in your room and... in bed with you, Niall."
My blood boiled and I jumped to my feet, "No!" I exclaimed, shaking my head, "Why the hell are you telling me this, Jo? God damn it, what's the point of telling me? You don't have to tell me everything!"
Jo shrugged, completely unaffected by my words, "I don't know. I won't tell you stuff anymore," her tone was neither happy or sad. It was uncaring.
I hated when she did that! She always makes me look like the bad guy! I'm the one who saved her from Asher, so why does she always make me out to be the villain?
"Jo, why did you come here?" I had regretted snapping at her, so I just changed the topic.
"I like your place better than mine. My house is too big, too empty. They wouldn't let me go back to my second home. You know, the one where you beat up Asher," she makes everything so casual and acts like nothing is a big deal. I can't figure out if I hate it.
"Jo... You just keep appearing in my life. I try to push you away because you're always trouble, but you keep coming back. And, I let you. Jo, what are we now?" Now I was the one staring into her eyes.
"What do you mean?" she actually seemed confused. For once, I wasn't the one being confused.
"Are we friends?"
Jo paused, "Who needs labels?" Maybe we're friends, maybe we're not, but who cares? 'Friend' is just a word and a label, nothing more. I don't want to be classified."
"You're a lot smarter than you think."
"Tell Asher that," Jo mumbled. For once, she seemed sad, not blank. Jo then pulled herself up to her feet. She headed to the front door. I immediately followed after her like a lost child, "What are you doing?" I asked, as she pulled on her coat and shoes. She frowned, "What do you think? I'm leaving."
Did I offend her? I didn't mean to! It was a compliment, not an insult! Maybe it was something I said before, I don't really know.
"I'm sorry, I-" I began in a frantic tone, but Jo interrupted before I could finish, "Niall, you didn't do anything wrong, I just think it's about time I get going. I don't want anyone showing up and seeing us together."
I nodded, relieved it wasn't something I did. Jo waved goodbye and smiled. She actually smiled. I forgot how beautiful her smile was. I only knew how rare it was. I missed its beauty.
Jo walked out the door and I shut it behind her, mumbling a goodbye. After Emily, the boys and Jo, I was tired. I considered resting on the couch, but I decided against it. I headed into my bedroom instead.
I kicked off my shoes and climbed onto my bed. I let my sleep take over instead of my thoughts.
*
"Niall, do you dream about me?" Emily whispered, as I held her in my arms. I was tired, so my eyes were shut, but I wasn't asleep; not yet.
I lazily shrugged, my shoulders rubbing against the covers, "I don't know, I guess not."
"Why not?" Emily whined. Her voice was so cute that it caused a small smile on my lips, "Because I like to be with you instead. If I'm dreaming, then it's not really real, I'd rather live it out in reality so it feels like a dream."
"Awe, that's beautiful, Niall!" Emily chirped. I chuckled, "I'm just good with words."
I felt Emily intertwine her fingers with mine, "Niall?" her soft voice drifted through the darkness. I realized that I had nearly fallen asleep and Emily's voice had awoken me, "Huh?" I mumbled out, "What is it, babe?"
"I love you."
The sound of those three words was beautiful music to my ears. i want her to get the same effect, "I love you, too, baby."
My eyes were completely open and I watched as her body turned around, so our lips would connect; ending the perfect moment.
Emily turned around, so I could get a good look at her. But, that wasn't her red hair, it was a mess of dark blonde. Her eyes were hazel green, not brown. Her body was smaller. That wasn't Emily, that was Jo.
*
I had dreamed about Jo.
