Emerald

Chapter Nine- Talk

Sleep. That's exactly what I needed. In a nice, soft bed with nothing going on around me. Just peace and quiet and that's exactly how that night went. Until about 3 in the morning...

I woke up to a large banging in the living room. I swiftly made my way out of the bed to notice that Matt wasn't in the bed with me. My heartbeat began to speed up.

What was that banging? Where's Matt? What the heck is going on?

Those were my thoughts when I finally entered the large room. I frantically looked around the room and noticed a figure sitting by the grand piano. I sighed in relief. It was only Matt.

"What the heck was that, Matt?" I asked him. He looked back at me with those deep brown eyes of his. I could obviously tell that he was surprised, to say the least.

"Um...I wanted to play the piano and I accidentally dropped the lid," he stuttered. I giggled at his reaction and proceeded to walk towards him. He stared at me the whole time as if I were some foreign object coming his way. Once I reached him, I looked from the seat to him several times.

"Well...aren't you gonna let me sit?" I asked. He nodded and quickly moved over. I lifted the lid and stared at the beautiful piece of art before me. The keys had gold and silver designs on them and I could feel the paint when I touched the keys. I looked in awe before I began to play a melody my mom used to play to me. She never told me how she knew it, she just knew.

I let the music take over as I played the beautiful melody and the accompanying harmony. It sounded absolutely wonderful, but I made sure to play it softly so as not to wake my other two sleeping friends. I completely forgot that I was the one playing the piano until I finished the song. I closed my eyes to take in what I had just heard myself create and Matt saw this.

Putting his hand on my shoulder, he said, "It's okay. We'll be going back home with Shawn before you know it." He was very comforting, but there was one thought I couldn't shake from my head.

"That's the thing," I said. "I don't think that's all there is to it. I mean, you know how easily Shawn gets jealous, right?" He nodded. "So why would he room us together?"

There was an awkward silence before Matt decided to speak again. "Maybe we should just get some water and go back to bed." He began to get up, but I grabbed his hand.

"But I don't want to go back to bed. Honestly, I'm scared to go back to sleep," I said with tears welling up in my eyes. He ran back to the water cooler by the couches and came back with two glasses. Then, he led us to the couches to sit down.

We just sat there. He let me quietly cry into his shoulder as he put his arms around me. We were completely cuddling and I didn't even realize it. I could tell by Matt's breathing that he had fallen back asleep, and I went to sleep, too. I felt safe for the first time since Shawn left. I let sleep overtake me and then I saw blackness.

***

I opened my eyes to see I was back in the woods by that same lake. I sat up and saw Sweetie laying peacefully beside me. I smiled as I began to pet his turquoise scales. He leaned into my touch and began to slightly purr. I giggled as I then began to tickle him and he started laughing immediately.

I think he's awake now.

I giggled, even more, when he tackled me.

"What the heck was that for?" I giggled.

"Payback!" he laughed. "Oh, and Phoenix wants to see you." I shook my head.

"Well, where is she?" I regretted saying that. I felt a warm tap on my shoulder that scared the heck out of me. I turned around and saw Phoenix, still in her solid form.

"What's up? You wanted to see me?" I asked with a smile still on my face.

"Of course! Why wouldn't I want to see you, little gem?" she smiled.

"I don't know. What did you want to talk about?" I said, cocking my head to the side in confusion.

"I know about your inner debate and confusion right now. And I've come to tell you that it's alright to ask questions, but you should really follow what your heart tells you to do. I know, classic fairytale advice, right?" she smiled.

"This whole journey basically is a fairytale for me," I said while spinning around. I was so happy, everything did felt like a fairytale at the moment. I mean, I had magic powers, I was finding out who I truly am, and I had a freakin dragon for crying out loud! I was loving life, but that changed quite quickly. I saw a bright flash and immediately woke up.

***

I found myself on the ground with Matt next to me, and Rose and Ari laughing at me with a phone in their hands. Well, I knew what that flash was. It was still dark out so they must have had the flash on to take a stupid picture.

"Come on, guys, really?" I said annoyed and tired. They just busted out in fits of laughter as I dragged myself to my bathroom. I sat there on the lid of the toilet, rubbing my tired eyes in deep thought.

'It's alright to ask questions, but you should really follow what your heart tells you to do.' What advice...

I walked out of the bathroom and back to the bedroom to see Matt fast asleep on his side of the bed. I smiled as I walked around the bed and climbed into the other side. As I laid down, I decided that Matt need a little cuddle. Before you ask; I had no idea why. Something told me to do it. As I snuggled next to him, he immediately wrapped his strong arms around me. I felt safe again; my head sinking into the pillow, the warm blankets around me, Matt's arms comforting me. I was so happy, and I fell asleep just as happy.