Dream Big (Sequel to Dreamer)

Chapter Twenty Three

Tia's POV

I parked Destiny's car next to the front door, feeling weird to not be driving Shawn's Jeep. I step out of the vehicle after turning off the ignition, taking a deep breath before I walk towards the front door. I step inside, approaching the front desk. "Hi, how can I help you?" The lady asks, and I smile at her. "I'm looking for the hiring manager." I tell her, and she gives me an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, I don't believe we're doing any hiring at the moment." And I shake my head, "That's okay, I wasn't really looking for a job. It's more of a personal matter." I tell her, and a door opens. A blonde girl, no older than sixteen, begins to walk out and my heart stops in my chest. "Lily, I'm heading out for lunch." She's looking down, but I recognize her, I recognize that voice. She was wearing a nude blouse and had her hair short and curled. "A-Aria..." I choke out, and her head snaps up. She looks taken back, and tears well up in her eyes. "T-Tia...?" She stutters, and I nod. We were the same height now, around five feet. We just stood there, unsure of what to do. "Wh-What are you doing here...?" She asks, and I smile. "That's a long story... but part of it has to do with me looking for you." I told her, and she shakes her head. "I left for a reason, Tia." And my smile drops and shoulders sag. "Yeah, well, I came here for a reason. Finding you was just a bonus." I shot back sighed, "At least I thought it would be." Aria shakes her head, "We can do lunch, but I have to be back in an hour." Aria tells me, and I smile. Aria clocks out, and we head outside. "There's a great Mexican restaurant nearby." She says, and my eyes light up, "Don't tell me, El Catrin Distileria?" I ask her, and laughs with a nod. "I'll meet you there." She says, unlocking her car. I hop in Destiny's car, and off we go.

"So, I'll tell you how I got here and how I've survived if you'll tell me your story." Aria offers, and I nod. "Well, you're going to have a lot of questions, so this may take longer than one lunch." I tell her, and she smiles as she rolls her eyes. I begin my story. "For starters, as you know, I love to daydream. I was day dreaming on the first Christmas without you when I was told it was time to open presents. I got tickets to go to L.A. to be on The Talking Dead." Aria gasped, leaning foreword. "I thought that was you! How did you know Chandler?" She asked, and I giggle. "I'm getting there." I tell her, tucking my hair behind my ear. "I met Shawn Mendes on the plane there, and he gave me his number. We went out to dinner, and then on my way back I ran into Chandler on the elevator. We chatted for a bit in the hallway, and he too gave me his number. It was so weird. I mean, what are the odds?" I ask, and she laughs. "The next morning I was going out for breakfast with Shawn, and... honestly, that's where the lines begin to blur. I know someone tried to rob me, but I never got all of the details. The only thing I know for sure is that I woke up in the hospital, and I was blind for a few days." I tell her, and Aria's mouth just hangs open. "What do you mean that's where the lines blur?" She asks, and I sigh, tucking my hair behind my ear. "I had this dream, and I still remember it as if they were real memories. Time is a crazy concept when you're sleeping. In my dream, I have a decade's worth of memories almost, but I was only out for about a month in real time." I start, shifting, "My dream started where real time and fantasy meet. The line between the two is blurry, and undistinguishable. I know around where the two disconnect, but I can't pin point the exact moment. I know I never made it inside the bakery that day, but I also don't know if Shawn showed up before or after I passed out. I assume it was before because I still had all of my things, but if that's the case, then did I pass out before or after the emergency responders showed up?" I explain, knowing that Aria has no idea what I'm talking about at this point. "Anyways, I know for a fact that after I got back from Los Angeles I was hiding from the paparazzi, the Mendes Army, and the Chan Fans. A magazine had a picture of Shawn and I kissing plastered everywhere, along with another picture of Chandler putting his arm around me." I kept talking, telling her everything that had happened. She asked questions occasionally, and I answered them, but I was just trying to make sure I didn't miss anything or mess up anywhere. The lines were just still a little blurred. As soon as I finished my story, and I paid for our lunch, I did something I knew Shawn would be pissed at me for. "Come over for dinner tonight. I don't think Shawn would mind." I tell her, and she agrees, still not completely believing me on Shawn being my boyfriend. I head straight back to Shawn's office. On my way there I called my best friend, the one person I missed more than anything.

(A/N: This is a phone call, but I'll be typing it out like it's texting. Bolded italics is Tia, and regular italics is Nathan)

Nathan?

Hey, Little Duck

You'll never believe who I just had lunch with

Tia, you better not be shitting with me

I'm not, I swear. It really was her, Nate. She's coming over for dinner tonight. If she lets me, do you want me to call you so that you can talk to her?

Silence

Nathan?

Tia, I want on the next plane up there

Start looking at flights and packing a bag. I'll read out my card to you when I stop at a light. I don't care how pissed Shawn is at me

He still doesn't know?

He still thinks I don't know he's sleeping with Destiny, Nate

Holy shit. Your life is all kinds of messed up right now.

You're telling me.

I found one for tonight that leaves in four hours.

Okay, I'm pulling up to a light now.

I dig out my debit card, and I read off the card number and expiration date before the light turns green. I put the card down in my passenger seat, and then I begin to drive on. I let Nathan know what's going on, and then I find myself at the next stop light. I read off my CVV, and then the light turns green.

I've got the ticket purchased.

When's your returning flight?

Next Thursday

Okay. I think I can handle that. Still no chance you'll move up here?

You know I'm not that person anymore, Tia

How do you know that for sure?

If I was, then why am I like this?

Heartbreak can make anyone go crazy

I've always been crazy

Especially for Aria

Did she say anything about River?

Not yet

Silence

Do you still love her?

How could I not?

She's beautiful, Nathan. She's not the little girl that ran away from home anymore.

Has it really been two years?

It doesn't seem like it, but it honestly has been. Hey, I just got back to Shawn's office. Text me your flight information and I'll be there to pick you up.

Will do. See ya, Little Duck

Bye, Asshole

I hang up the phone, making sure the car was off and in park before I got out with all of my things. After two years, I finally saw my baby sister. I couldn't be happier, not until we were all together again.