Only in My Dreams

Chapter 2

"This performance today ends at 3. Do you want to go to the beach afterwards?" Laura leaned over to whisper to me before the show started and we began the show. I smiled excitedly and nodded.

After embarrassing myself one more time about paying the check as I misread the amount total, we finally made it out of there and had our last performance of the day. It was now the next day, Friday, after this we had two more performances on Saturday.

***

When we got to the beach, it was surprisingly crowded for it being a Friday and almost dinner time. I found a parking spot to park in and we got out of the car. 

"Race ya!" I called to her as I started running towards the water.

"Hey that's not fair I wasn't ready!" She called behind me. I knew it was a mistake to race someone who is used to running in the sand from all of the soccer tournaments she does in the sand. She started catching up to me and when she was beside me she seemed to slow down just to make me feel better about myself.

We eventually stopped running and decided to walk alongside it talking. But before we could, I ran to get my comfy light sweatshirt because I hated the way I looked in anything other than oversized shirts and I didn't want people to suffer looking at me.

"Bruh remember that waiter at that place you took us to? He was hot! Kind of a nerdy type but still." As soon as Laura said that my face turned two shades of red darker. I liked listening to this stuff but for some reason I get so nervous with trying to express my feelings about someone or anything to do with my love life.

"Yeah sure okay," was all I could say. I never want to agree with Laura or anyone for that matter about this. This sometimes turn into them trying to ship them with me, which I hate. I'd rather just have an interaction that happens naturally and not forced which is probably why I've never had a boyfriend yet.

I was close once but when I told the boy how I felt, he ran off with some other girl. Typical for my luck.

Thinking about that wretched time I spoke. "I know I'll never see him again and probably neither would you. Luck isn't really on my side when it comes with boys. For instance Matthew."

"I highly doubt Matthew hated you for texting him a lot. It is weird that he was flirty with you until you told him you liked him." I remember that as clear as day, I finally got up the nerves to tell him thinking he thought the same way. When I told him, the very next day he hooks up with a different girl. It broke my heart and I haven't had someone I admire since then.

"He decided to hook up with a different girl because he didn't like me or he was embarrassed that he may have had feelings for me," I said.

"Why would he be embarrassed? You are a beautiful strong girl that has nothing no one should hate about you! If he was embarrassed, there is something seriously wrong with him and he needs to straighten out!"

I chuckled a little. That was so sweet of her to say all of those things. "Thank you Laura! You're the best. You always know what to say to make me feel better!"

"I've known you since kindergarten so I sure hope I figured you out now! And yeah we probably won't see that mystery boy again but hey, we can still have those daydreams of him. I prefer blondes and jocks more but I know I'll be dreaming of him tonight... ahh that will be the best!" She sighed in a daze thinking about it. I just rolled my eyes at my hopeless friend.

I had to admit though that Laura did have something I admire, hope and optimism. I doubt many things and she helps me see what could happen and shows me the best case scenarios while I show her the worst. She always gives me hope when I'm feeling down and I wish I can have the same optimism she has.

After another hour of talking at the beach, we decided to head home. As I dropped her off at her house.

We said our goodbyes and she left to go inside her house. I backed up into the vacant neighborhood street and drove home.

***

As soon as I opened the door to the house a strong smell of my dad's chile filled my nose. I breathed in all that I could and exhaled with a long relaxing sigh. I walked to the kitchen to find my dad mixing the pot full of chile and my mom mixing the ingredients for cornbread. I smiled in excitement about the wonderful meal that will soon be in my mouth. Even though we tend to have this meal a lot, it was still one of my favorite meals.

"Hey honey! How was the play?" My mom asked.

"Good. Afterwards Laura and I went to the beach," I explained. My parents were often forgetful on when my activities ended so I never really had to explain why I was out so late unless it was past 11pm. "I'm going to go change and take a shower before dinner. I'm all covered in sand," I said, wiping off few of the many particles of sand that covered my clothing.

"Okay, but hurry, dinner will be ready in a little bit," My dad said.

***

Just as I was wrapping a towel around my body, my phone buzzed on the bathroom counter. I looked to see the notification on the screen. It was from Laura.

Laura: There's a cast party tomorrow night after the last show. I'll send you the address in a little bit. You game?

Me: Sure, why not. I'll have to tell my parents though

After I got dressed, I stepped out of the bathroom and walked downstairs for dinner.

I threw my phone down on the couch in the living room and made my way into the kitchen to find out when and where we were eating. There are normally two spots we typically eat at. Most of the time we eat at the kitchen table but sometimes we pop in a movie as we eat downstairs in the walk-out basement. Since it was Friday, we of course have to watch a movie while we eat. Normally on Fridays, we order a pizza and pop in a movie, but I wasn't complaining about having delicious chile with cornbread for a change.

When I sat on the couch carefully with the hot boil of soup in hand, I remembered to talk to my parents about the party as they walked into the room following me.

"So there's this cast party happening tomorrow night at some person's house. I don't really know where it is exactly but I know almost all the people in the cast and they all seem like good people. Can I go?" I asked perking up to see what they say.

"Sure! Just make sure you find out where it is. And give me the address once you do find it," my dad said. He knows there's an app that shows where everyone in our family is but I don't think he really understands how it works.

"Sure thing dad. Laura will also be in the passenger seat telling me where google maps directs me to go."