Sweet Dreams

Chapter 3

I run into my bedroom and throw myself onto my bed. I shove my bright red face into my pillow. Why don't I think about the things I'm going to say! I scream into the fluffy, silky pillow. My stupid mouth. I stand up and look outside of my window. Late afternoon. The best time of the day. I open my window and climb down the ivy vines that grow all around the back of the old house. I grab a vine that snaps. I fall five feet above the ground. A tiny heart attack is inside of my chest as I fall down. I wait for the crash and scream, but I suddenly stop. Like time froze, I'm still in the same spot. I turn my head to find James Marter, holding me in his arms. He caught me before I could fall. I look at his angelic face. He's practically glowing in front of the blue  and purple colored sky. My full lips open in amazement. The sight of his smile makes my heart melt. I feel like I'm on a ride when he spins me around. He stops and sets me down, gently. "What, how?" I stutter. "I was coming to get you. Remember when I was thirteen and I climbed up the vines?" he laughs. I nod my head. "Yeah. You came up and we went to the creek to watch the sunset and catch fireflies." I reply. "I wanted to do that. Except, we'd go into town for dinner...for your birthday." he exclaims. I raise my eyebrows. "Okay," I reply. "Let's go then." I grab his wrist and we run to the front of the house. "Wait!" he demands. "What?" "We don't have to run." He pulls a set of keys out of his jeans pocket. "What do you have?" I ask, crossing my arms under my chest. He smiles and takes my hand. "I'll show you." he answers. He pulls me to the old barn. I wait outside while he drives it out. He comes out with a 1969 Mustang. Baby blue. He stops it right in front of me. "What do you think?" he asks as he gets out and closes his door. "It's beautiful." I reply. He laughs and walks around to open my door. I get in. The cold leather seats feel good against my skin in the summer heat. He gets in and starts the engine.

We pull up to a diner my best friend, Sugar McAvoy, works at. I slide into the sky blue booth. He scoots into the one across from me. I pick up the bright yellow menu and examine it. Every single item on the menu sound so delectable. BLT, chicken soup, hamburger, chicken pot pie, and Italian salad. "I don't know what to choose." I laugh. "Whatever you want, and dessert." he tells me. I smile and glance at the menu and then at the dessert case. Chocolate cake, strawberry shortcake, double chocolate brownies, hundreds of cookies, and every flavor of ice cream I know. My eyes shift around the busy diner. I catch Sugar waving to me from behind the soda bar counter. I wave back. "I got them." she tells her boss and points to James and me. He nods and she walks over to us. "Hi." she says excitedly. "Hi." James and I say at the same time. She smiles and glances back and forth from me to James. Her arms behind her back, holding the notepad she uses to take orders. Her light blonde hair separated into two little buns, one on each side of her head. Her big brown eyes shining under the blinding lights. "What would you two like to have?" she asks as she brings her pencil to her notepad. "I'll take a hamburger and a coke." he tells her. She nods and copies the order onto her notepad. She finishes writing his order down and then nods to me. "I'll have the chicken pot pie and a coke." I say. She smiles and then writes it down. "Okay, I'll be back in a bit." she winks, and then walks away.

James smiles and puts his hands on top of the table. "I didn't know you remembered my name." I blurt out. What else are we going to talk about? "I've always adored your name. It's so...darling." he exclaims. My cheeks turn a light shade of pink. "No you didn't." I say modestly. I spreads his fingers out. "Yes I did." he assures me.I pick one of the little knives and start to tap against the table with it. I notice his fingers spread out so perfectly. I begin to tap in between his fingers. I go faster and faster, until he pulls away. "Where did you learn that?" he asks. I hold the knife up to my eyes. "Kevin and I used to play a game called "fear" and this was one of the obstacles." I reply. I said Kevin without sighing or becoming depressed, I think. "That's neat." he says. He holds out his hand for the knife, I hand it to him. He creases his eyebrows every time he plunges the dull blade down to the table. "Not like that." I laugh and snatch the knife from his hand. He watches carefully as I tap the knife in between my fingers slowly. "Okay, I get it now." he tells me as he grabs it from me. He starts off slow, and then he dags the table swiftly and harshly. "Easy there. Don't want to hit your finger bones, do you?" I giggle. He stops and looks up at me. "No, sorry." he smiles. "Here we are, one pot pie and one burger." Sugar exclaims as she slides the hot plates in front of us. "Thank you Sugar Muffin." I say with a wink. Sugar Muffin has been my name for her ever since we were six. An old man asked her for her name at a hospital, she mumbled so the man thought she said Sugar Muffin. She winks back and twirls around and walks back to the soda counter. We smile at each other, then dig into our meals.

"You can sit in the car while I pay the bill." he tells me. "Okay." I reply. I walk outside and plop down onto the cool leather seat and sigh. I watch James through the window. He and Sugar are laughing. He nods a few times and she slides him a  medium sized white box. "What is that?" I ask myself. He takes the box and walks out. I sit upright and twirl my hair with my fingers. He places the box in between us and then sits down. "Let's go to the field now." he smiles and then starts the car. The drive feels a lot shorter than it used to. We get out of the car and race to a little spot next to a clear stream of water. He lays down a picnic blanket and sets the white box on top of it. "What's in there?" I ask. "I knew you'd ask soon," he says. He picks up the box and opens the lid. He holds it up to me so I can see. "Chocolate cake. It's from Sugar. She caught you eyeballing it." "Ooh!" I  giggle. I slide my finger across a piece of the side and stick it in my mouth. "Hey!" he shouts quietly and shuts the lid. "Sorry." The chocolate sensation spreads over my tongue. James sits on the blanket and cuts two slices. He slaps one onto a plate and hands it to me. I thank him. We eat our slices and then dip our feet in the clean creek. We splash each other until we're soaking wet. I run around in circles until I'm not too wet. My curly hair, tangled. He combs through it with his fingers. He pulls it back and braids it. "You look really pretty with your hair pulled back." he tells me as hes ties it together with a yellow ribbon. "Thanks." I say. I feel a calming emotion flourish throughout my body. I'm peacefull, for once in a long time.

We lay on top of the picnic blanket, watching the stars appear slowly. The nighttime breeze makes the willow trees around us, and the crickets begin chirping songs. Fireflies light up like little candles and surround us. The creek becomes still  and the fireflies dance along the water and tall grass. I look at him for a moment and examine his every detail of his beautiful face. His dark brown curls, sparkling green eyes, faded pink lips, and light tan skin. So natural, so unique. I can't imagine anybody else so perfectly made. James stands up and holds out his hand to me. "Dance with me." he says. His voice almost makes me float to my feet and sway in the moonlight with him. I take his hand, he pulls me up effortlessly. He caresses my hand and waist so gently, like the light touch of a warm cloud. "Wait." He stops and runs to his Mustang. He brings out his radio and flips on the song At 

Last by Etta James. One of my favorites. He grins with pleasure and holds me again. We twirl and dance along the creek with the fireflies. He spins me underneath the twinkling stars. I laugh. He places both of his strong hands around my waist and lifts me into the air. For a moment, I'm soaring. The clouds are in my hands, the stars are right in front of my eyes, and the moon is but a leap's distance away from me. He brings me down gently and we twirl into the shallow water. Our taps and steps make small splashes in the water. We dance and dance until we find ouselves on top of a tiny hill, right next to the massive, romantic, full moon. He holds his arm up and I spin underneath them. We stop. He hold me close to him. So close, that I can see my reflection in his shimmering green eyes. He presses his forehead against mine. The tips of our noses touch. The ending lyrics of the song blow to us in the wind, he leans in closer. I close my eyes and await for the kiss. The kiss I've been wanting, secretly, for years. "I really like you." he whispers in my ear. I open my bright blue eyes and look at him. My cheeks are burning, I'm sure it's showing on the outside. "Y-y-you do?" I stammer. He glances at the moon, then back at me. "If I was lying, you'd know it." he replies. He leans in again and kisses my bright red cheek. My stomach feels like there's a billion bees buzzing inside of me. My heart sinks and beats a loving tune. "I really like you too." I get out. I'm stunned. I'm happy. I'm in love.