Creating a New Neverland

Ch. 4- Better Reality

Every scene of my trips are different. They always have a totally unrelated setting, and I have a new character. This is a place where I can be whatever I want to, with everything out here still the same. Every action scene I experience doesn't faze me physically. Although, it occasionally affects me mentally. Both in good and in bad ways. The same for the romance scenes.

First, there was the cheesy romance scene that came true. Next the "secret agent" revenge plan. They both played out. I am wondering what will happen next. Everything in Neverland is unexpected, let alone reality.

I lay on the bumpy mattress of the hotel. The blankets consisting of a scratchy, grainy-like feel. I am staring, eyes wide open, at the bumpy ceiling. I constantly replay ever moment of this trip. This is what I would love to live everyday. It contains romance, action, adventure, and comedy. The perfect mix. There are no fights from my parents, no memories of losing the only savior I have only had (a.k.a. my brother), and no being the girl who locks herself inside of her. She doesn't hide much around here. She smiles. And I love every minute of being her.

I eventually forget that I am staring at a ceiling. The heaviness of sleep lingers in my eyes. I close my eyes and drift off to sleep, dreaming. But nothing can comes close to Neverland.

My dreams weren't really dreams. They were more like demented memories. The beach scene was one, but with a twist. Every detail was the same. Even down to the smell of the ocean. But Jesse wasn't sweet. He always had a dark look looming over him. He lost the genuineness in his smile. The creases by his eyes, made from constantly grinning, weren't there. He had his lips pressed into a straight line with dark, glassy eyes. No more sea blue crystal balls, but dark black marbles.

I wake up startled. The image of Jesse had frightened me more than I thought. My sheets were tangled up and going in every direction. I feel a slight stickiness on my back, sweat. Beads of it also dot my forehead. I slide out of bed and put my hair up, slipping in a few bobby pins. I start to fan my self, to get rid of the heat, as I make the bed half decent. The morning sun is slipping through the curtains. I pull them all the way open. I walk over to my parents. My dad has his arm around my moms waist, pulling her close. When my mom said that we needed the family time, she was right. We were becoming a family again. Not just broken pieces of a thing I hoped we could be. Even though we are almost complete, we are still missing a piece. My brother, Mark, is that missing piece.

Reluctantly, I shake my parents awake. We all take turns using the bathroom before heading down to the lobby for breakfast. I have already put on my bikini. Over it I wear shorts and a simple white tee lined with lace. My blue flip flops are the only sound as we walk down the long carpeted hallways, for what seem like the millionth time.

Once we hear the ding of the elevator, we squeeze inside. I face the window panes once more. And I again I stare at the elevators across the way. I think I can see Jesse, though I can't be sure. As I peer close to see through the shimmering glass, I see a figure. A figure that looks just like the wicked Jesse from my dream. Then it disappears, right as the person I was looking at originally turns around. It is Jesse.

The elevator stops at the lobby, and the doors slide open with a ding. We walk out and get into the long line for breakfast. I pile food onto my plate, and grab a seat. My parents pull out the chairs across from me. Then, when I am focusing on my plate of steaming food, I hear the squeaking of the red leather chair to my right. I peek over, only to stare into Jesse's mesmerizing eyes. It seems as if all the brief memories we have had flash over them, like a movie screen.

"Hey," he says smiling widely, his eyes creasing at the outside corners.

He places an arm around my shoulder.

"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Anderson," he says politely to my parents.

"Jesse," my mom says in reply.

"I was wondering if you wanted to come to the beach after you finish here," he says softly in my ear, but it wasn't quite a whisper.

"Of course," I say back, excited. He then leaves to join his brother.

I shovel my food quickly into my mouth. Jesse seems to be smirking at me because I bet I look ridiculous. My parents don't really ask questions about me going.

"Can I go now?" I ask them.

"Yes, but be back here around ten for lights out," my mom says happily.

"Okay. Bye!" I get up out if my chair and walk over to Jesse.

"Ready?" he says as he slides his arm around my shoulder again, like earlier.

"Yes!" I say grinning.

We walk outside and cross the street. My bare feet are scraping the asphalt, my flip flops dangling from my hand. We get across the street and land in the the scorching sand. We run toward the water to cool down our feet. When we splash into the water, memories of the other day, my past visits to the beach, and Neverland fill my mind. They make the smile on my face grow brighter. I seem to have pushed all the bad memories out, which I don't mind. That's what life should be about, remembering every second that was worth it. Not dwelling on the seconds that dragged you down.

"Look what I found!" Jesse says, interrupting my thoughts. When I look over, he is holding a huge oyster shell, but there is another shell pressed to it, as if it was glued.

I laugh. It isn't like anything I have seen before, and it's different. Just like this trip.

"Wow," I whistle out loud," that is huge!"

"And I found this," he says as he holds up a tiny shell.

"What about it?"

"You'll see," he says mysteriously. But I don't ask much about it. We walk back and lay out a towel at our claimed spot. I think I may have fallen asleep, because next thing I know Jesse is shaking me awake and my skin is extremely warm.

I'm not burned though. I see the bottle of sun lotion next to me. I guess Jesse took the liberty to put it on and I didn't feel it. He just smiles at me. Why does he seem so perfect? I want him to ask me out officially. I can tell he likes me, but is it enough? Do I really know him well enough? We'll just have to find out.