Light illuminates the inside of my eyelids and I groan in frustration, bringing my hands up to rub the sticky sleep away. I briefly wonder how I managed to sleep through my father coming home at midnight, and then I open my eyes, and I suddenly realise why.
I'm in a strange room, filled with warm light. The room is round, with pine furniture, and a big window sits over my bed, providing the light that woke me.
And then, once I have taken in the room before me, I remember. I remember everything from my dream the night before - tunnels, pirate ships, dragons, and, above all, my friends.
And I don't know whether to scream or cry or beam in elation, because for some reason, I have woken up in my dream world instead of the drudgery of reality.
I choose the quieter option of the three and grin as wide as I can, sitting up and peeking through the curtains to make sure I really am not in the dark terrace house in London.
Sure enough, green hills greet me, and over them come a trail of people with bags of cloth and tent poles slung over their shoulders.
"Please say I'm not dreaming, still," I say to myself.
"I see you're awake," Mother says, and I turn to see her in my doorway, looking so much kinder than the drunken woman from reality. "I was just coming to wake you up. Come on downstairs and have breakfast - you're no longer grounded. However, I have to warn you not to do it again, you need to set an example for the younger ones-"
I tune her out as she goes on about the impropriety of my actions, and instead watch the party approach the house. My father and Caleb lead the pack, recognisable only by their heights and Caleb's shock of blond hair shining in the buttery morning light. My heart starts beating in my throat when I see him, and I wonder whether everything from my dream has come true - should I act confidently, as I did in my dream world, or should I be demure and scope out relationships?
I decide to act the same as I had before. New life, new me, I think, and scan the room again. I see the necklace Caleb gave me on the bedside table and I clasp it around my neck before shucking on a flowing, baby-blue dress with a dark blue waistband that hug my curves. I automatically shake my head at my reflection, but then I think better of it. After all, I'm confident now. Aren't I?
I fly down the stairs, running my hand along the smooth banister. I don't bother to explore - there'll be plenty of time for that later - but what I do see of the mansion is grand and ornate.
Finally I get to the balcony over the entrance hall. I stop on the top step, and watch the kids stream through to the kitchen.
Although some of them greet me, and I raise my hand in response, I don't really notice them. Instead, my eyes are fixed on the blond boy with the golden-brown eyes standing at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for me with a subtle smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
A breathless grin spreads over my face and I hurry down to meet him, my blue dress billowing out behind me like a sail. On the last step, my bare foot catches my other heel and I pitch forwards, but Caleb catches me and steadies me.
"How cliché," I say, my happiness clipped with embarrassment. "How did your bonding session go?"
"Good. I missed y-"
I cut him off with a quick kiss. His expression is one of pure shock as I pull away and giggle, turning towards the kitchen.
"Breakfast's ready," I tease, waving at him as I walk away.
"Oh no you don't," he growls playfully.
Squealing, I start to run, my feet slapping the marble floors. I breeze through the kitchen - mother says something and I apologise without stopping - and I take the stairs two at a time with Caleb hot on my heels. I laugh, drinking in the scene - the rhythmic beat of my footsteps, the smell of bread from the kitchen, the soft flow of my dress swirling around my knees - can life get any more generous than this?
I come to a door and I try to burst through it like I did to the others, but it's locked. I turn around and press myself against it as Caleb skids to a stop before me, a triumphant grin on his face. He grabs my cheeks in his hands and kisses me, his fingers weaving into my hair, keeping me in place. His lavender and pine smell washes over me and I kiss him back just as passionately, loosing myself in his familiar embrace.
This is my perfect once upon a time ending.
YOU ARE READING
𝔒𝔫𝔠𝔢 𝔘𝔭𝔬𝔫 𝔄 𝔇𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔪 | ♛
Paranormal**COMPLETED** Eva's been thrust into a dream world that is just as perfect as it sounds. She's found a better life in her imagination, but will it stick? ~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~= And then, once I have taken in the room before me, I remember...
