The Dream Machine

Sixteen

Bob was pushed backward by the shock, but besides that, he seemed unfazed, "Nice shot," he declared, "Good job on your first try." 

"What?" I replied, "I didn't think that it was actually gonna happen. Why aren't you dead?" 

"I'm in my dream-state. You can't kill me like that. Yet, the gunshot really hurts." Bob answered, as he walked to the nearest wall and slinked down to a sitting position.

Frederick walked over to me, "How did you do that? I just taught you how to do it."

"I told you," Bob interrupted, "that his powers are more strong than ours. He may be able to start his dream capabilities with a tip of a hat, but his other possibilities may be much harder."

"What possibilities would you be referring to?" 

Bob clutched his wound, "You have no limits. You can do anything, within a dream or not. Sandler, you are all-powerful. You're a god."

"I'm not a god," I politely resigned, "I would say I'm a Christian, and that just doesn't make me feel too good." 

"This isn't greek-mythology. This is real life. Special powers aren't made to suit the hero, they're made to help others."

I scoffed, "And helping you is the way to that?" 

"It's a start," 

"What do you want me to accomplish?" I stated, starting to walk towards him. 

Frederick grabbed my arm, "No, don't do this. He doesn't have good motives." 

"I can at least see what he wants me to do." I jerked my arm away from him and jogged over to Bob's slouching body, "So?" 

"I want you to persuade others into doing things." 

"This isn't Inception." 

"I know, I just want you to open their minds to new ideas." Bob fantasized. 

"What kind of ideas?" 

"For instance, there's a man who has something that I desire dearly." Bob continued, "I want it back."

"What item does he possess?" 

"That's my business! Not yours!" Bob fumed. 

"How am I supposed to help you if you don't tell me what I need to get?" I yelled, angrily. 

Bob took a deep breath, "This man has my daughter. I want her back. For reasons unknown, he has taken her and claimed to be her father. However, I am the rightful father. Like I said before, I want her back. Her name is Elizabeth Gallagher." 

I faint. 

LIZZIE

Lloyd can be such an idiot sometimes. Like right now. We're sitting at a picnic table in the park. Kids playing behind us. Adults looking at us like we're crazy, which we are. We're young and dumb and restless, but that's just how most teenagers are. 

"But that's just a first impression,"  Lloyd sings, "I could be totally wrong."

"It's only a first impression," I join in, soon we're singing, together. 

"And though the impression is strong, it never can hurt to question. Though I doubt this will lead to romance. Sometimes the ones who seem great. Either way I've been burned, but the one thing I've learned, is often that fi-ir-irst impressio-on-ons are worth a second glance. It's worth a second glance!"

Lloyd silences the stereo and the crowd around us that has just finished forming applauds. "You're gonna be great as Casey," Lloyd complimented. 

"And you as Aaron," I replied. 

"Not if Sandler beats me to it," 

As the crowd leaves, I notice a since of annoyance in Lloyd, "What do you mean? Is Sandler trying out for the musical?" 

"Yeah," Lloyd picks up a leave and twirls it between his fingers, "he is." 

"That's neat," I try to break the awkwardness, "You could always be Reggie." 

"Casey's best friend with the nasal voice? I don't think so." 

"You would get all the Bailout songs." I desparately tried to make him feel better.

"I wish you would stop hanging out with him all the time," he mumbled. 

"Lloyd, he's my friend!"

"I thought I was your best friend!" 

I sigh. Now is not the time to start a fight, "You are, but he is too. Look, I know you don't like it that I'm hanging out with another guy, but Sandler and i have known each other for as long as I can remember. I just met you in sixth grade for crying out loud!"

"I'm sorry, it's just that I'm the jealous type." 

"Lloyd, Sandler and I are just friends. That's all we'll ever be." my phone beeped. It was my mom telling me that dinner was ready, "I gotta go. Text you later." 

"The only reason that I'm jealous is because Sandler loves you." 

"Bye," I say nonchalantly. I start heading towards my house which is only around the corner. Sandler doesn't love me. He knows we're just friends. He wouldn't develop a crush on me, or would he?