Waking up without Grey holding me caused a deep ache in my chest to burn like fire. I didn't want to admit that to myself, but there was no way of denying it. I needed him there. After what I saw... after Grey triggered my memory for him to see in return, I needed him more than anything. I sat up, my feelings about the party now destroyed. My motivation to have Sasha destroy him was my anger, but that was all gone. He was there for me. He tried to stop the memory.
I pulled myself out of bed, fresh tears leaving my eyes as I did. Dad's plea he gave the man in desperation to save my life when it should've been to spare him echoed against my skull. He didn't know he was going to die.
I resolved that I wouldn't be going to the party anymore. I was going to wallow in misery instead.
After regaining my composure, I went downstairs to the kitchen, where my mom was preparing breakfast. She turned and began to ask, "How'd you slee—" She put down the spatula she was holding and her arms wrapped around me. "Why were you crying?" Sobs escaped my chest again, and I leaned into her.
"Baby," she said and pulled away from me. "What happened?"
"I had a dream about dad," I signed. She flinched and then pulled me into her again.
"I'm sorry," she said, her voice cracking. "That must've been painful, especially because your dreams are so vivid..." I told my mom a long time ago that every dream I had was so vivid it was scary; I neglected to tell her that I entered into other people's dreams frequently because I knew she wouldn't believe me. Eventually, she informed me that my dreams were lucid, and I did further research online to figure out how to deal with them, including having a dream journal by my bedside at all times.
I pulled away from her as I sniffled, putting on a weak smile. She wiped my tears away and then turned to the stove. "Breakfast is almost ready, okay?"
I sat down at the table and waited. Mom brought the food over, and we ate together in silence. She looked at me and gave me a tight smile as if she had to break something to me that she didn't want to. "Jared's coming over tonight." An audible hiss escaped my lips, and she looked at me knowingly. She probably made these plans a while ago, but it was awful to hear with the timing of my nightmare.
"Okay," I signed. "I'll be out of your hair."
"No... I thought maybe we should spend some time together, all of us." Nausea flooded through me, and I gripped the fork in my hand before taking a slow breath and putting it down.
"I already have plans tonight," I signed.
"Can't you cancel them?" she asked. "If it's like some party, then that's no excuse to miss this."
"This?" I signed. "What's this? I don't like him, nor will I ever. He can't replace my father."
"Nor will he ever," she said exasperated. "I just want you to try tonight. Please?"
"I'm not ready," I signed. "I'm not."
She sighed, and I knew her usual sharpness wanted to kick in. But she held it back and let out a reluctant nod. "Have fun tonight then." She stood up abruptly, put her plate in the sink, then walked out of the kitchen, Timmy following behind her. I put my head in my hands as my chest tightened, focusing on swallowing down the tears I felt.
I had to go to the party now. I didn't want to, but I had no other choice. Spending time locked up in my room while Jared was with my mom doing god knows what didn't sit well with me. Neither did spending time with them together make me feel any better.
I went upstairs and mentally prepared for the night ahead.
***
"Hey, babe!" Evan said over the music, pulling me into a hug. "How're you enjoying the party so far?" I had been there for a while, with no sign of Grey and Sasha. Evan's house was more quaint than Grey's but still spacious enough to fit people in the backyard, front yard, and upstairs rooms. So technically, Grey and Sasha could be anywhere at the party. But with the mass of shouting teens jumping and grinding to the music, it was almost like finding two needles in a haystack.
I pulled out my phone and wrote, "It's a bit loud." He chuckled and teased, "Yeah, that tends to be the case at parties." Another one of his friends pulled him into a drunken hug, and they started to stumble around for a moment. I smiled slightly. The guy walked away, and Evan pulled me close to him and said in my ear, "This party is for you. I felt you deserved better than the last party you went to. That just shows I'm a better host than Grey." He winked. "Come, dance with me." I shyly shook my head.
"Come on, no one's looking," he said and gestured around. He wasn't wrong. I'm sure everyone was too drunk even to realize I was there, nor care about it. "I want to show off my girlfriend." He dragged me to him, and we danced to the music. He was more into it than me; I held back slightly. He wasn't having that, though. He grabbed my arms and began leading the dance. I went with it, laughing slightly. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't enjoying myself.
We danced together for a few songs, him cracking jokes ever so often. We danced for a couple more songs, and then I wrote on my phone, "I need to go check up on my friends. We can catch up later, though." He nodded and then placed a kiss on my sweaty forehead. "I'll be with one of my friends in the kitchen. Shoot me a text or find me if you need anything." I nodded and then went back over to my friends, who were pressed against the sliding glass door leading to the backyard pool due to the overwhelming amount of people. It was too chilly for anyone to venture into it, though.
"Have you seen Grey or Sasha yet?" Arnold yelled nervously. I shook my head and shrugged. Maybe they wouldn't end up coming? The thought of that made my stomach churn. Then I'd be trapped with Evan for longer than I'd like. Not that I had anything against Evan. I just knew he was using me, and so, in turn, I was going to use him, too.
After a few more agonizing minutes of drinks and loud music, I spotted Grey in the crowd, entering the house with Sasha on his arm. He looked bored already, scanning around the room for someone. I looked away before his eyes roamed in our direction.
"He's here," Andy said. "Time to get them away from each other."
"How?" Mindy asked.
"You'll see," Ana said, a smirk on her face. She pushed her way through the crowd and stood right in front of Grey. Blake smiled knowingly. Grey's eyes flickered with uncertainty as he looked at Sasha. However, her smile seemed genuine as she unhooked her arm and walked off, nodding in approval.
Andy turned to Blake and said, "You remember the plan, right?"
"Yep," he said, pushing his way past the mass of students and Ana, who was animatedly talking to Grey, who seemed to look at her appreciatively instead of cockily like I thought he would. What exactly was going on here? They refused to involve me in the plan so that I wouldn't be stressed out. But now, not knowing was causing me anxiety.
"Hazel, once Blake gets Sasha and Evan in the same area, he's gonna get you and then Grey," he said. "If all goes according to plan, that is."
After a few more minutes of agonizing anticipation, Blake came running back toward us. "Come, Hazel. There's something you should see." He then mouthed, "Act concerned." I obeyed, furrowing my eyebrows and running after him. I felt Grey's eyes on us as we passed by him.
Blake had me tiptoe up the stairs and down the hall towards a less populated house area. There was a door there, already closed. He pointed at it and whispered, "Cup your ear against it." So I did and heard heavy breathing and occasional kisses.
"Evan," Sasha breathed. "After this, you have to break up with that freak, Hazel. That's the only way I'll allow this to continue."
"Sure, baby," he whispered before planting another kiss somewhere on her body. "Anything for you." She giggled giddily, thinking she'd won. If I wanted Evan, I'd open the door, choke him, and then her. But she was getting what we wanted. She was also about to get what she deserved. And so was Grey. He would regret ever calling me Mutey.
I stood outside the door, occasionally listening to make sure they continued their session while Blake left to fetch Grey. When they came back, Grey looked confused to see me there. Then his eyes darkened.
He immediately rushed to the door and listened in like I was.
"Mother fu—" He threw it open.
YOU ARE READING
Little Sweet Dreamer
Teen Fiction"Oh," he said, as my back hit the wooden wall. Damn it, of course. With nowhere to go, his arms locked me in between him and the wall. He stared down at me as he said, "So you're trying to piss me off?" His lips were surprisingly close to mine. No g...
