The Dreamer

Chapter 17

I stir in my sleep when I feel something messing with my hair. When I take a deep breath, I suddenly smell Zeke's scent of musk. I push myself further into the bed and smile in content. I feel something softly brush away a few strands of hair away from my face and gently stroke my cheek.

My eyes shot open to see Zeke. He smiles while I panic. I hold my breath while blushing. "I thought I told you to stay on the floor."

"I couldn't help myself." I quickly sit up, making myself dizzy. "If it makes you feel any better, I wasn't here for long."

"How long did you stay human?" He shrugs as I stand up. "Not long either."

"You should save your time."

"But your sister is here." Crap, I forgot. I turn around so that my back is facing him and I think. "Rose found the Key of Time, as soon as Mia leaves, we can try and figure out how to use it." I feel a pair of arms wrap around me and I immediately tense on instinct. "That sounds great, but I have a better idea."

"An-and w-what would that be?" I mentally slap myself for being embarrassed again, but I can't help it. "Why don't we just stay here in bed all day."

"We can't. We need to break the curse." I turn around to face him with a regretful expression. "But we can reschedule it after we do this trip." He frowns, softly resting his head against mine. "Fine, how about a date then?" I smile and nod. "Sound like a great idea. When?"

"Tonight?"

"Sure. After we figure how to work the key." He smiles, pulling away from me. "Deal." I walk out and step into my room. I look around but Mia isn't in bed. Instead, she walks out of my closet. "Oh, good morning Eira." She struts across the room, wearing my clothes on her back. "What are you wearing?"

"Oh, do you like it?" She shows me the front and back and I can see that my clothes are clearly a little too big for her. I start feeling insecure about myself as I watch her thin figure twirl in my clothes. "I don't mean to be rude, but don't you think you should wear something different? I mean you always wear jeans and a shirt with your jacket and tennis shoes."

"No, I'm quite comfortable in them." She sighs, looking in the mirror. "They're too big for me," she complains. She looks at me as I glare at her. I already know what she's implying and I hug myself. I see her glance down and her eyes sparkle in delight. "Where'd you get that?"

I look down to see my necklace and the trinkets dangling from the chain. "Just a necklace." She steps closer but I take two steps back, bumping into something. I feel two arms wrap around me, pulling me closer. "Did he give you the necklace?" she asks, nodding her head toward Zeke. "No, I didn't, but I plan to give her something better."

"Better." Mia raises a brow with a smile and a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I could be better."

"I'm sure you could," Zeke replies. Mia steps closer to him and I just watch. I want to see for myself if Zeke would give in. Most guys did. "For you," she whispers. "Thank you for the offer, but I'm quite happy. Now if you'll excuse us, we have some stuff to do." Then he gently takes my hand and leads me away.

"Do I actually make you happy?" He smiles, pulling me closer. "Happier than I ever thought I could be." I smile while warmth wraps itself around my heart. "Good morning."

"Good morning Rose." I see that there are plates already set up around the table filled with food. "I think I may have found out how to use it," she says. Zeke and I sit down next to each other. "Really? How?"

"Let me show you." She gestures me to stand up and I did. She gently disconnects the key trinket from the chain and makes it grow into its normal self. "I remember my dad showing me how to use it." Then she uses the key to draw in the air a large square almost the size of a door. I watched awestruck as a line of light was being left behind by the key like a pencil would on paper. When the square is complete, a small keyhole shape fades onto the square and I realize that it's actually a door. A door of time?