Stranded

Chapter 37: When Fate Agrees

Liz's POV

I stared at my reflection, at the terrible black circles under my eyes to be exact, on my family's car's side mirror. Struck by a sudden, strange case of insomnia, I wasn't able to sleep last night even though I even though I really, really wanted to.

I let my thoughts fly elsewhere in hopes that the dream will come back to me. No matter how it puzzled me, I still prefer it better than my boring life. Sadly, sleep wouldn't come no matter how hard I tried. I've even tried browsing a very thick book last night, a method which used to effectively put me to sleep in no time, but it didn't work. I had to stay up all night browsing different TV stations, watching pointless TV shows. Have I consumed all the good dreams of the universe that the Sandman, or the god of dreams whosoever, has to restrict me from sleeping until who knows when?

I sighed at the thought. No. It cannot be like that. I've been deprived of a good life in reality. I deserve at least good dreams.

Tania's tapping on the car's steering wheel brought me back to the now. Turns out, she has been gaping at me the whole time. It's unusual. She could not possibly be wasting her time looking at my ugly face. Maybe she's trying to figure out the way to Narnia through the map etched on my face...

"What are you looking at?" I blurted out the question. I clamped my mouth as soon as I realized my actions and broke the eye contact in utter embarrassment.

"I was just wondering why you turned out..." She muttered, her voice trailing off,  but I was able to understand what she said anyway.

That way, my subconscious mocked me. What does she mean? Being different? Weird? Maybe... depressed?

"I think we are one of the reasons why... y'know." For the first time in history, Tania Simmons was lost for words. I'm impressed.  I didn't know she has that "concerned sister" in her. Since when did people start being nice to me? I'm not used to this kind of attention, but who am I kidding? I'm loving it!

Back to her statement, my subconscious reminds me. My parents are nice people and my family certainly has a good reputation. Maybe that was it. Pressure. I'm too afraid to make mistakes that I distance myself from opportunities and possibilities.

"Never mind." Tania said, propping herself up and starting the car. The revving sound of the engine made me realize that my sister was back and that the nice alien who invaded her body is gone. I was silly to assume that she really cares.

---

We sat on a bench at a park in Heathrow, waiting for Tania's friend. I was amazed that this friend of Tania's agreed to accommodate as in their home for a few days in such a short notice. Benjamin, Tania's chihuahua, seems to be barking at nothing nonstop. Lunatic dog. I wish I had strangled him when I had the chance. Just kidding.

I stared at the serene surroundings. Nothing could be heard apart from my sister's lunatic dog's endless barking.  Ignoring Benjamin, the place is indeed relaxing. My mind gradually becomes less stressed, letting go of most of my doubts. My mind cleared, I realized that Benjamin the dog was actually barking at a parrot. Pretty soon, I fell into a trance, stuck where the reality and my insanity meet.

After a few minutes spent undisturbed, I heard high pitched voices near me,  disrupting my tranquility. Tania's friend had arrived.

"Laurie!"

Angel's POV

I trotted to Lea's place as soon as I was ready to leave the house. Hurrying, I ignored Blake's nagging, requesting me to cook him an omelet for breakfast. God knows how terrible I am at cooking. I wasn't in the mood to stay. Being inside our goddamned house with problems arising everywhere would make me more anxious than I already am. I cannot blame it on my mom and Blake, though, because it wasn't their fault. It was my father who decided to mess up with out lives by dragging us into his very much messed up way of living.

Sigh. My life is an infinite rollercoaster with dizzying twists. And yeah, it makes me wanna throw up.

I haven't forgot anything about meeting Perrie Edwards yet. It seems like the event will never ever leave my memory. The thought of her made me tense up. Why?  Why did I have to meet her?

The dream we were having is so huge, so powerful, that it is beginning to slip into reality. Perrie is an omen, a sign that this insanity should be stopped in any way we can. It was mine and Lea's first decision, anyway. Remembering this,  I decided to call Chad, Laurie's psychologist friend, who had agreed to help us for free.

"It's been a while since you and Lea last called." He said, his relaxed voice calming my tensed nerves. I could hear the sound of the bustling street on the other line, but I really do not care as long as I could still hear him.

"Yeah." I muttered, stopping at my tracks as the memories began to flood inside my mind. Involuntarily, I sighed, causing a moment of awkward silence. I sensed Chad's next move. Knowing that he will bombard me with questions, I cut the chase and went straight to the point. "Have you found the solution?"

It was his turn to sigh. "Sorry."

For the nth time since the dream started, I sighed, this time, with a tear rolling down my cheek. "It's not anything psychological, then? Not an aftereffect of too much fangirling?"

Don't he dare to say it isn't. After I met Perrie, I spent all my time removing all things One Direction in my room, stowed them on an old mahogany chest, and put the chest in the attic. That wasn't effective, though. I still had my nightly dose of One Direction, now mixed with a hint of 5 Seconds of Summer.

"It might be." He said,  sounding unsure. If only he wasn't doing this for free, I'd have shouted at him. "Dreams, sometimes, are caused by thinking about people too much before you sleep. I'm talking from personal experience here."

The hungering aroma of freshly baked bread and cakes wafting through the air along with the familiar scent of brewed coffee welcomed me as I opened the door to Laurie's coffee shop.

"Hi Le-"

My happy greeting was cut in utter shock, as I saw Lea and Laurie standing in front of the counter with one of the girls from our dream.

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Edited November 14, 2014.

-Shelly Styles