Emerald

Chapter Sixteen- Help

I opened my eyes to see that I was standing near the lake that'd been in my dreams for a while. I looked to my right and saw Phoenix standing next to me.

"Please tell me I didn't just die.." I said after I saw her.

"Don't worry, you're not dead. I brought you back here so I could do something. You can't wake back up in the room, your body doesn't have enough oxygen, so I'll let you help in a different way."

"And what way would that be?" I said, very interested.

"You know how I can talk to you in your mind?" I nodded. "Well, I'm going to teach you how to do it without your little "lover-boy"," she laughed. I hit her shoulder in response, but she just kept laughing.

"Okay, so how do we start?" I asked.

"All you need to do is concentrate on who you're trying to communicate with and talk out loud what you wish to say to them," she answered.

"That's it?" I responded. All she did was nod.

I began to do what she told me. I concentrated on Matt; his wild hair, beautiful eyes. Suddenly, I felt myself transport away. When I opened my eyes back up, I was back in the jewel room, but I seemed to be slightly transparent. So that is what it was like to be a spirit? Weird...

I looked over to where Matt was and saw him crying into my limp body.

"I'm so sorry, Em...I'll find that jewel. Maybe you'll forgive me if I get it.." Then, he got up and began to walk around the room, trying to find the place where the ruby could possibly reside. That was my chance.

"Matt, you were under a spell. I already forgive you," I said and laughed he frantically looked around. "Don't worry, you're not going crazy and I didn't die if that's what you're thinking. Okay, enough dilly-dallying; we need to find that ruby."

"Okay, but do you have any idea where it could be?" he responded.

"I think I do. Follow the heavens. You see that huge pile of gems to your left?" He looked to his left and nodded. "Climb to the top and see if the ruby is up there. When you find it, the door will open and the spell will be broken. You can get us all back down to our room if you just do as I say, okay?"

Without a word, he began to run to the large pile of jewels and climb to the top of it. At the top, he found a rather large ruby. He had a large smile on his face as he heard the door fly open.

"Thanks, Em," he said.

"Just thank me when I wake up, lover-boy," I laughed.

"Rose, Ari, I found it! Let's get out of here!" he yelled. Ari and Rose came running over. He handed the ruby to Ari as the two girls began to race out the door and went back to carry me down the stairs.

I smiled as they had finally left the room. I was so proud of Matt...

***

It must have been only an hour or so later that I finally woke up back in my turquoise bed, but I still kept my eyes closed. Next to me, by the window where the chairs were, I could hear soft breathing. It was ragged, probably from crying. I felt someone grab my hand as they began to speak.

"I'm so sorry, Em. I hope you know that really wasn't me. Just wake up for me, please," Well, that's what sappy Matt was like.

I thought, 'Maybe I should scare him. He would probably accept that as pretty good payback... Oo, I'm gonna have fun with this!'

I opened my eyes as little as I could to see his were still closed, just facing down at my hands. Perfect...

I quickly shot up and kissed him. I could feel his salty tears run their way down my cheeks as he held me tight; as if he never wanted to let me go.

"Is that payback enough for you?" I giggled as we separated.

"You are such a jerk!" he laughed, still holding me tight.

"Awe, but you still love me, right?"

"You do something like that again, we'll see,"

"Um, can you let me go before I actually pass out again? Can't..breathe..." He immediately let go. "Hey, losers! Get your little butts in here!" I yelled.

The girls came rushing in as they all held me close. I don't think I'd ever felt so loved in my life. They all really must have been scared.

"You know what? Let's go to bed, we have a lot to do tomorrow," smiled Rose, still holding on to me. I nodded in agreement as I laid back down. The girls left to go back to their room and Matt laid down next to me.

"You know, I'm still mad at you," he said into my ear.

"Well, we can deal with your anger management tomorrow," I laughed. I finally fell asleep in Matt's arms and I felt safe.

"Night, Emmy-girl," said a distant voice.

Shawn...