Once Upon A Dream

Twenty Three

Chapter Twenty Three: Rushing
-Cordelia-

My days seemed to be bleeding into one another so effortlessly that before I knew it weeks had passed. I spent as much time with my friends as I could because Sherrie was hell bent on keeping us together and doing everything together almost at all times, this in turn prevented me from going back to Dad's place as often as I'd hoped.

"Hey my dad and stepmom are going out of town this weekend and they asked me to watch the house for them." I said one day at school, "how would you girls feel about spending the night out there with me...I mean it'll be home for me once college starts."

Maxine got excited "I know it's asking a lot but do you think Ollie could come too?"

"Uh...I mean as long as you don't do anything stupid I don't see why not."

Maxine rolled her eyes, "Cordelia it's nothing like that...it's just that I haven't gotten to spend much time with him lately and while I love hanging with you both I miss him too...he can even like crash in the living room."

"Well count me out." Sherrie said with a dramatic sigh, "there's no way mom and dad would let me leave after the whole Bryan debacle.

It had been just over a month since Bryan went crazy, he had been admitted into a psych ward in upstate New York, his parents even left town because everyone couldn't stop talking about it.

"Hey there will be other times." I tried to assure her. I didn't want her to feel like she was missing out on anything spectacular.

That night I told my mom I was heading out to dad's the next day to housesit.

"Well respect your dad's house if he's trusting you with that responsibility."

I rolled my eyes, "I know...he told me I could have a few friends over but no parties...Sher's parents aren't letting her go so it'll probably just be Max and I going."

Mom nodded, "it's probably for the best then, well call me if you need anything while you're up there."

"I know." I smiled and then went up to call it an early night.

__________

"Hey." I smiled as I found Riley sitting under a tree. "Sorry I have been sorta all over the place lately."

"I hadn't noticed...whenever you're in here you seem to be pretty relaxed."

"Do I?"  I asked unsure.

"Yeah, why...you stressing at home?"

"No." I told him, "just seems like in the real world I'm being pulled in several different directions while my parents and friends want to spend more and more time with me like I'm leaving for college next weekend."

"Well if I had you in my life I'd want you all to myself too." He said as he wrapped his arms around me and kissed the back of hair.

"Speaking of this weekend...I'm going back to my dad's place...so I'm going back to the park."

"I'll be at my park too, I have a good feeling about it this time Cordelia."

"Me too..."

__________

The next morning Sherrie surprised us by saying her parents Actually thought it was a good idea for her to get away for awhile, if even just for the weekend...however something tells me she may not have mentioned to her parents that my dad and stepmom wouldn't be there. But of course Maxine and I wouldn't out her like that, we were just happy that she was able to come along with us.

So Friday after school Sherrie and I met up at my house to collect my bag before we both took off to my Dad's in my car, Maxine and Ollie would come later on in Ollie's car.

My dad was already gone when we got there.

"This is a really nice house." She said as we walked in.

"Thanks, Gayle and Dad got it as a fixer upper and she's put in a lot of work to make it as nice as it is." I said, I had always thought the house was beautiful.

After a small tour I walked her to Paul's room. "you can take my brothers room, he hasn't used this room in years plus his room and my room have a connecting bathroom, Maxine can take my room, Ollie will stay down here in the guest room and I'm gonna take my Dad's room." I said. "Knowing Gayle there should be fresh linens and there's towels and toiletries in the restroom."

"I can't believe you'll be living here when schools over."

I shook my head, "Sher...I might be in a different house and we may be going to different schools but we'll always be friends."

She nodded and smiled, we sat in Paul's room and talked while she settled in, after a while Maxine got there with Ollie, I showed them to their rooms and then we all went out for a quick bite.

When we got back to the house I let them know I was headed out, didn't want to tell them I was going to the park because I didn't want a million questions about me going to a park at night alone.

"What...come on Cords, we just got here." Maxine sounded. "Let's just chill or something."

"Yeah I brought my laptop and cords, I can download some movies for us." Ollie offered.

"Yeah that sounds great." I said, "it's just...I have to go help out a neighbor, it's nothing crazy serious but...I have to watch her baby for a couple of hours."

"What?" Max sounded a little disappointed.

I nodded, "Yeah, Gayle told her I'd be in town and she's a single mom so she figured I could help her out and just watch her until she gets off work."

"Well can't you just bring the baby over here?" Sherrie asked.

I looked at Sher, of all the times she decided to be involved she had to choose this moment.

"Trust me I tried, but she feels more comfortable having the baby at home, plus her crib is there and what not...I'll only be like three hours tops, just call me if you need anything." I said grabbing my keys and heading out before they questioned me further.

I reached the park and felt bad for just leaving them like that, more so for lying. I mean sure I had told Maxine a little about the whole Riley situation....well not the whole situation I suppose.

But this was different, this was me waiting on someone who may or may not show up because this may or may not be the park and he may or may not exist.

Plus after the whole thing with Bryan...of course my friends would be weary.

I got out and took a seat on one of the benches and waited.