The Dreamer

Chapter 12

"What?"

"How long have you liked Zeke? Well, like is an understatement. How long have you loved him?" I'm astonished by her question. Taken by surprise. Caught off guard. Whatever it is! "Don't you think you're overreacting maybe?" She shakes her head with a look of determination and seriousness. "I saw how you guys looked at each other. I can be immature sometimes, but I'm not stupid." She has a point. How else would I explain everything I've been feeling?

"I don't know. It could be temporary. Like a crush." She shakes her head. "Nope, I've seen this before. It's not a mistake. You should confess."

"I'll confess once I'm sure, but that's not now. Is there something else we can talk about?" She thinks for a moment and nods. "Why don't you tell me what happened while you were in the spirit realm?" I smile and told her the story.

She listened intently and excitedly. I told her about Alma when we got to the spirit realm, how we were dressed and the skull that covered our faces. The story then goes to the memory of when Zeke and I had to dance our way out of the crowd. I went through the memory in great detail, my heart fluttering at just the thought of being close to him. His piercing red eyes flashed in my mind and I couldn't help but swoon. Then Rose's words from earlier came.

How long have you loved Zeke?

I was suspecting that idea, but I don't understand it. I continue with the story and tell her how we found out about my powers. I tell her about the tests and how we passed them, the room filled with all sorts of baked goods, and how we escaped the rising waters that threatened to drown us, even though we were spirits. Rose told me that it would have killed us since we were still attached to our bodies.

"That sounds exciting," she says, clapping her hands. "When your life isn't in danger, sure it does." I roll my eyes with a small smile. "We should take you back. Don't want to worry Zeke too much." I nod and we both stand up. "Meet me in the dining room as always. After we eat, we'll go outside. We should practice this new found power and your weapon. Maybe Zeke can help you to control your powers."

"Thank you, Rose." She nods and we step out. She helps me back to where we left Zeke and we grew back to normal. I notice that Zeke isn't in the room anymore, so I left, waving goodbye to Rose as I went to look for him.

I look around for Zeke, but couldn't find him. He probably has something more important to do. That's when I came upon his bedroom door. I debate with myself on whether I should knock or leave him alone if he's in there. In the end, I knock but there's no answer, so I just enter.

There's no one in the room, so I take the chance to get a better look around. It's dark and has a mysterious feel to it. The walls are white, similar to mine, but the bed and furniture are all dark. Even the curtains that gave the room its dark look were pretty dark. It's like he's trying to hide from the light or outside world.

I thought about the way I used to live, realizing the similarities. I always hid in my room, entertaining myself with music, drawing, and books. I never thought I needed anything else. I glance around the room more and spot the notebook that I saw Zeke writing in earlier.

The curiosity starts scratching at me and I gently pick it up. It's a brown leather bound book with different designs sewn into the cover to add to its attraction. It feels soft to the touch. When I open the book, I see elegant words that cover the whole page. The worlds are so beautifully written and put together.

I remember him saying that he loves to write stories and I skim through it. As I was flipping a page, however, something fell out. I see it land next to my feet and I pick it up. I softly gasp and stare at the paper. It's my drawing of him as a wolf. The one I lost at the zoo. I remember I lost it there when it flew into his cage and I told him that he could keep it. He actually kept it?

It's crinkled and a little dirty, but still in pretty good shape other than that. I turn back to the book and turn to the page that my drawing slipped out of. This time, I took my time to read it. It's just a short story of when we first met and the times after that, but he goes into detail about me. How my eyes remind him of chocolate, how my smile seemed to brighten the day, how I always visited him, and how I treated him like a friend. I read how I basically changed him and made him look forward to every day.

I feel tears sting in my eyes as I read it. I feel I've just opened a box of secrets and unknown feelings. I flip the page and I read another story. This time it's when we were dancing. It became harder to read and focus with the blurry vision. He talks about how he enjoyed the moment and how his feeling strengthened. I cover my mouth when I get to the part when we were standing on the waters. I suddenly snap, like a dam bursting. My pent-up feelings flow out. Tears I've kept to myself.

He wrote how he thought I looked beautiful. He even went into detail again, but my feeling can't take anymore. I've never felt like this. I've never felt so happy, that I've cried. I've never wanted to be around someone like this. "Eira," I hear someone say behind me. I jump with a soft gasp. I quickly wipe my tears of joy and surprise away. After reading that, I actually feel better about myself. Not once in my life has anyone called me beautiful like that and it made me extremely happy.

I plaster a smile and turn around to face Zeke. "Hi, I was just looking for you," I say, his written words repeating in my mind. "You read it," he says blankly. I blink a few times, feeling my smile falter. "What?"

"My book. You read my book, didn't you?" I shake my head, trying to keep my beating heart from bursting in an unexplainable joy. Too many thoughts came to me at once and I suddenly feel overwhelmed. "That's something else I learned about you," he says, softly smiling. I shift my weight uncomfortably. "You suck at lying." I look down, trying to shrink myself, but I'm still the center of his attention.

"Are you going to say anything?" he asks. I gulp and glance up. "Why'd you keep my drawing?" He looks behind me at his book before smiling. His smile makes my heart skip a beat and the butterflies to fly around. "You've read the book, I'm sure you've guessed it by now."

"I think I do, but I still don't understand."

"What's there not to understand?" I straighten up and take a deep breath. "Why? Why me when there are better girls out there? I wear jackets to hide myself and my insecurities. I don't wear makeup, I don't dress up. I'm like a chocolate chip cookie to a three-tower wedding cake." I can feel the doubt crawling up on me. I just couldn't believe that someone would think I'm beautiful. It seems like a dream. Maybe that's what this is.

He takes a step closer but I take two back. "I happen to love chocolate chip cookies," he softly replies. My heart skipped another beat before bursting out in a rampage against me. "I need time to think," I whisper before I rush past him and hurry out of the room.

I can't breathe. It's like he stole my breath from my lungs. He thinks I'm beautiful. He actually likes me. Is this really happening?! I hurry into my room and close the door. My heart is pounding inside my chest and at the same time fluttering. I feel warmth envelop me and I start smiling. Is this what Rose was talking about? Do I feel the same? I slip down onto the floor with my back against the door. No, it's too soon, isn't it? I've known him longer than I'd like to admit. I've been with him at the zoo, even if he was a wolf.

What do I do? I start to feel overwhelmed and stressed again. I've never heard of anyone liking me like this. Not even a rumor and it feels weird to even think about it.

I felt doubtful of it actually working and being true. How could someone as handsome and nice and gentle as him, like someone like me? It's just hard to believe, yet I want to believe it, even if it lasts for just a few minutes. I feel like I'm...special to someone. Like I'm actually needed, and I don't want to let that go. So I held on to the feeling, letting myself believe it for just that night.