Dream Boy

Chapter Fourteen

"My darling, welcome to your new castle." King Evil welcomes me into my new home. Something is off--I don't feel completely distraught by being in his presence.

"It's beautiful."  Something feels wrong. Why am I not fighting him, trying to get away? Why am I not calling for--

"Don't worry, your precious prince is safe." King Evil seems to know my thoughts. "He's safe, because he is here too. We have come to an agreement. You marry me, and he can marry my daughter. That way, our kingdoms will  be joined in an alliance."

"No no no no--"

I sit up with a start. I haven't had a dream, at least one that vivid, in a long time. Maybe it's just because yesterday was Valentine's Day. Your brain is just trying to register what happened in the cafeteria.

I try to reason with myself, but it isn't working. I have this idea in the back of my head that somehow this dream is a warning, that somehow something is not right. I roll over and look at my clock, seeing that it is already five in the morning. I sigh, turn my alarm off, and head to the bathroom, knowing that I will not be able to fall back asleep.

"Sarah, honey, I heard the shower running really early this morning. Are you alright?" My mother slides a cereal bowl in front of me and plops a carton of cheerios next to it.
"Yeah, I just woke up and couldn't fall back asleep, that's all." She eyes me curiously. 
"Are you sure it's not the fact that you have a boyfriend now? Were thoughts of him keeping you up all night?" I glare at my mother.
"Mom! Ugh, no. No. I just had a weird dream, that's all." I start to pour my cereal, but Eric runs in, startling me.
"Thanks, Eric. Now I have cheerios on my lap."
"YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND?" Apparently he was eavesdropping on our conversation.
"Mom, look what you did." She looks at me and smiles apologetically.
"Who is it, who is it?"
"You know him already. It's Christian. You know, the one who came over to talk to Aaron that one time?"
"Oh, him. Yeah. Whatever." My jaw drops as he walks away; I am surprised by his bluntness.
"What? He isn't good enough for you? He's not your boyfriend!" I call after him. He keeps walking, ignoring me.
"Eric, just wait until you get a girlfriend. I'm sure your sister will be happy for you." I look at Mom, smiling, saying thank you with my eyes. At least someone approves of Christian. My dad however....

The previous night:

"Dad, I'm almost eighteen. I think I can make my own decision about this."
"I really don't think you should be wasting time with a boy. You just finished sending in college applications--"
"Exactly. I finished. That means I don't need to worry about them anymore. Besides, I've already been accepted to Dartmouth."
"Yes, but if you do something stupid, they could kick you out--"
"Dad, you have known me my entire life. When have I ever done something that could sacrifice my future?"
"Well--"
"No, Dad. I already told him I wanted to be his girlfriend. He really cares about me, Dad, and I care about him too. He wants to get into medical school, for goodness sakes. He's not going to do anything to mess up my future. Besides, he might become a rich doctor someday."
"Fine. You win, but I swear to--"
"Ahh, no swearing in my house."

*****************************************

"Well, mom, I best be heading off. Don't want to be late to school." I give her a quick hug (I want to thank her for being on my side), and head out the door. I am about to unlock my car when I hear a honk and a car pulling to a stop. There Christian is, in a brand new sports car, at the end of my driveway.

"Want a ride, Princess?" He calls as he rolls down his window. I shrug and walk toward his car, slinging my backpack over my shoulder. I open the passenger door and look up to see my dad standing outside, right in front of us.

"Um, hi, Dad? This is Christian, my, erm, boyfriend. He's offered me a ride to school."
"No."
"Um, but Dad, he's already here."
"No. He cannot drive you to school until I have properly met him."
"But you have, you know, he came over and talked with Aaron."
"No. You have to drive yourself to school today. Christian, come over for dinner tonight and we can discuss this driving arrangement further. Now hurry along, you don't want to be late to school."
I have never seen my dad like this. He is normally pretty laid back.

"Dad, seriously? He drove all this way--"
"I didn't like how he called you Princess. It sounded almost, almost--" he struggled for the right word, "--demeaning."
"What on earth are you talking about? He called me that because he asked me out by seeing if a high heeled shoe fit. Like Cinderella?! It's not some sort of stripper name if that's what you're thinking."
"No, no, it's just. I don't know--"
"Dad, I am turning eighteen in two weeks." Wow, I'm turning eighteen in two weeks. "If I think it is safe for me to get in a car with someone, then it's probably safe, okay?"
"You're right. I'm sorry. I'm just not used to this boy business."
"Well, get used to it. I'm going to be late to school, so excuse me while I go start my car." Chris is already gone, so I back my car out, not looking back at my father.

"Chris, I'm so sorry." He is waiting by my locker.
"It's alright, Sarah. I understand. First boyfriend, Dad's a little nervous." I try to apologize again, but he kisses me before I can continue.
"Babe, it's fine. Really. Now get to class before you're super late!"

At lunch, I sit alone with Taylor. Chris and Harrison have some kind of project for AP biology that they have to work on. I tell her about the dream I had, and she just shrugs.

"Look, how I see it, is that if you are happy, then it is right. Are you happy?"
"Yes." I smile, remembering the previous day's event.
"Then don't worry about it. Besides, you're only a senior in high school. Things will change once you go to college, especially if you go to different universities."
"You're right. It's just high school. It's all going to be okay."