Dream Land: The Fox's Game

The Dove's Nest

Willow

  Gemini walked just behind Willow staring down at the side walk. Ear buds in plain view and faint music could be heard. Willow had deciphered it as Blood Moon Harvest by The Screaming Souls, Willow had never liked the hard rock band very much but after being in Gemini’s room it was clear Gemini was a big fan. She was even wearing a faded purple shirt with the logo on the back. Willow had never noticed Gemini’s obsession with music until recently. Gemini wasn’t in any music classes, but the guitar and violin cases Willow noticed peeking out of her closet along with the sheet music haphazardly stuffed into a folder that was laying on her desk had sort of tipped her off that Gemini was musically talented.

  Willow couldn’t account for any talent that she could rely on; she wasn’t like Sage who was brilliant. Willow had figured the straight A’s on Sage’s report card had been nothing but rumors just like Gemini’s alleged prostituting, Apparently she’d been wrong on both. She might also be wrong when she brushed off the rumors of Jewel being athletic. Nothing had pointed to it being true, but apparently the rumors spreading throughout the halls of Frozen Falls High was more often right then not.

  Everything seemed so wrong, like they were living in a snow glob and someone walked in and shook it all up. Gemini seemed to prideful to let herself fall to such levels. It may seem weird but Willow couldn’t imagine why Sage went to such lengths to hide her smarts, she didn’t seem all too bashful to hide anything else. Not to mention Jewel who Willow found it hard to dislike when it seemed the whole school had shunned her for acting weird.

  Willow’s house came into view after almost ten minutes of walking in complete silence. She slowed her steps and Gemini takes notice quickly. Yanking the ear buds out and looking up. She was wearing sunglasses, Willow had figured out Gemini was only using them to hide her eyes. It was obvious Gemini had a complex over them but Willow didn’t know why.

  “How long have you been in the dream world?” Willow asks finally only because she was completely tired of the silence and asked the first thing that came to mind.

  “A long time,” Gemini answers back in a calm tone. Willow glances back to see Gemini watching her, or at least it looks like she looking at her. “Ten years Willow, my light has been shining for ten years.” Willow practically stopped dead in her tracks.

  “Ten, then that means you were…” Willow drifted off unable to imagine it.

  “I was six when I first woke in the dream world, I don’t think I would have survived as long as I have without it.” Gemini said, “It’s been my saving grace for a long time, I sometimes wonder if one day my problems are solved will my light fade away.” She finished with a haunted look on her face. Willow stared only then realizing Gemini was worried the dream world had become a crutch and without it she wouldn’t be able to function. The problem with Britney suddenly became all the more real with that realization.

  “I won’t let Britney win.” Willow says then only to have silence respond. Gemini just stared at her, “I promise. You may not believe me but I didn’t use you that night at the party, it was mutual.” Willow tries.

  “Nothing was mutual about it.” Gemini finally spoke up as they reached Willow’s front door. Thankfully her father’s car wasn’t parked in the drive way so Willow let them into the quiet house.

  “Gemini will you at least listen to me?” Willow pleaded.

  “No.”

  “Please, I won’t let this sit anymore just listen to me. I wasn’t taking advantage of you I didn’t even know it was you.” Gemini laughed then.