These Dreams

The Friend

"Tess you can at least make her feel comfortable. It's not easy being a new student your junior year of high school. Introduce her to your friends, please. We aren't asking for much." Lena heard her aunt say as she was unpacking her bags and sticking her small amount of clothes in the tiny space her cousin left her in the closest. She had just gotten there and her stomach was already in nerves and she missed her mother more then anything. Taking the picture of the two of them out of her suitcase she placed it on the nightstand trying to suck up her tears. The last thing she wanted to be labeled as was a cry baby as she continued to hear her cousin and aunt argue.

"Ok but Stef and I have plans today." Tess whined.

"Well bring Lena along. I'm sure she would like to go out."

"Do I have too?"

"Yes. Tess you have to bring her. We did not teach you to be so unwelcoming. Lena has had a rough year."

Shaking hear head as the voices grew muffled she could feel the homesickness settle in and wanted more then anything to call her mother. But she knew long distance calls were expensive and didn't want to be more of an added burden then she was already feeling. Glancing out the window she looked up at the palm trees and dry land she wasn't use to. San Diego was a long way from Ohio and she didn't really like it. If only she had kept her feelings to herself then she would never be in this predicament. What was wrong with her she wondered. Why couldn't she just like boys like everyone else did. Why did she have to be weird and like girls. But she did like them and she would need to hide that for as long as she could. Maybe that was the reason Tess didn't like her. Maybe she knew?

"How are you settling in honey?" She suddenly heard her aunt ask as she turned around to see her coming in the room.

"Oh just fine. Almost done unpacking."

"Oh already? I hope Tess left you enough room in her closet and dresser draws."

"Oh she did. I don't have much stuff so I'm ok."

"Alright well we will get you a few more things. Please make yourself at home honey. This is your home now as well. Ok? Anything you need you just ask me or uncle and we will do what we can. Ok honey?"

"Thanks." Lena said as her aunt gently squeezed her shoulder. "Tess is going to the movies with a few friends why don't you join them?"

"Oh no I'm probably just going to stay in and read. I'm pretty tired."

"You sure?"

"Yes it's fine."

"Ok, well if you change your mind. You are welcome to go with them."

"Thanks."

Smiling at the young teenager  Aunt Roberta exited the room as Lena took a seat on her bed once again. There was no way she was going to tag along knowing her cousin didn't really want her there. Sure she had no book to read and she really did want to see a movie but she would go herself if she made her own friends. Looking through her box of books she pulled out the, Catcher and the Rye, planning to read it tonight along with a few others on her list. Taking a few more out the box she suddenly heard her cousin coming toward the room with another girl.

"Are you sure you want to see that crap? It looks dumb Tess." 

"It's not dumb it's a romance movie. Why do you always want to see movies where stuff blows up Stef?" Tess said as the blonde plopped down on her bed noticing Lena instantly. Lena herself stared at the blonde who had long wavy blonde hair, ripped jeans and an off the shoulder teeshirt. Stef smiled at her but Lena was so shy she looked away and went back to unpacking her boxes. 

"Um hello because it's entertaining."

"Well romance is entertaining too. I think we should see the romance one."

"Lord help me. What do you want to see Lena?" Stef soon asked as the slim girl looked to her surprised.

"Lena this my friend Stef, Stef this my cousin Lena." Tess finally said introducing the two as the blonde smiled wide again and Lena herself let out a small one.

"Hi." She said shyly.

"Hey, nice meeting you Lena."

"You too." She nodded noticing the blonde kept smiling at her and she suddenly felt self conscious about her wild curls that the humidity had gotten to. Of course Stef could see that the girl was shy but also really pretty as she got up and took a seat on the other side of Lena's box on the bed.

"So Lena do you want to come along with us?"

"Oh um it's ok I have a few books to catch up on." she said quietly as Tess rolled her eyes.

"Books? You would rather read then see a movie?" Stef asked curiously now digging in Lena's box herself.

"Yeah I guess."

"Shit maybe if I thought like that I wouldn't be flunking English." she chuckled as Lena let out a soft smile. "But the movie is only like an hour and half you sure you don't want to come?"

"No I'm fine. Thanks." She smiled shyly once again as Stef nodded her heard and turning her attention back to Tess who was looking at the movie times in the paper.

"So Sixteen Candles starts at 6."

"Ugh. Seriously Tess. Who wants to see that when we could see The Terminator, or the Karate Kid, or Nightmare on Elm Street, even Beverly Hills Cop."

"You want me to have nightmares? Nightmare on Elm Street? No way Stef."

Lena couldn't help but chuckle for she loved horror movies and would kill to see it.

"It's fake Tess. Come on." The blonde said rolling her eyes and laying her back on Lena's bed looking at the ceiling.

"Well fake or not I'll have nightmares forever. I'm going to hit the bathroom then we can leave."

"Sure."

As Tess walked out the room Stef turned her head to look to Lena who was still going through her books.

"You sure you want to stay here and read? That can get boring real quick."

"I'm sure it's ok."

"Yeah don't blame you. I don't want to see Sixteen Candles either. I've been waiting forever to see Nightmare on Elm Street. Suppose to scare you shitless. Like this dude comes in your dreams and you can die. Isn't that some shit."

"Yeah I heard about it. Sounds fun." Lena whispered.

"Yeah?" Stef asked curiously now sitting up.

"Yes."

"Ha! The brain likes scary movies?"

"Yes."

"Well, your cousin won't ever see it. I'll probably end up going with my friend Mike. You want to come if we do? And don't tell me you would rather read." Stef laughed as Lena did as well.

"I don't want to step on any toes."

"Who's?" Stef asked confused as Tess walked back in the room.

"Ready?"

"No, but yeah."

"It will be fun I promise Stef."

"Sure!" The blonde said dramatically getting up from the bed as Lena watched the both of them and wanting to tag along for Stef seemed to be really nice. 

"You sure you don't want to come Lena?" Tess asked trying to make an effort.

"No I'm fine."

"Ok."

"Hey don't go wild and read that book all in one night now!" Stef joked as Lena couldn't help but laugh.

"I will try not to."

"Ok." the blonde winked and Lena blushed instantly watching her cousin pull Stef out the room. Goodness maybe it was better she didn't go for she already thought Stef was cute and she just couldn't afford to think that way ever again. It had done enough damage in Ohio and she didn't need it to do any damage in San Diego.