text: J.M. Hurley The Dreamer Part 1 A Livid Children Book I Dedicate this book to the my fans who support me, my family who've always been there for me and two very inspiring authors. P.C Cast and L.J Smith. Thanks so much guys! 
   
   
     
     Prologue 
   
  Life can be hard. I should know that better than anyone. Another quality of life is that it’s weird. It’s weird because you think you know what’s going to happen then there’s a twist and next thing you know you’re all turned around and life isn’t so good anymore. But the biggest quality about life is that everything happens for a reason. There must be a reason why one minute I am fine and the next minute I'm running for my life. But I guess that's what you get when dreams become reality, and reality becomes dangerous... Chapter 1 
   
  I shut the water off and stepped out of the shower. I looked in the steam-covered mirror and smiled. It was finally here. It was the first day of school for most kids but I literally lived at school. A boarding school named St. Julia’s was considered my only home then. I’ve lived here ever since 6th grade when my dad got promoted and we were forced to move away from our small town apartment. Since both my parents work, and my mother travels often, they decided to ship me away so they could continue living normally. They even had arrangements so that when everyone else gets to leave for summer, I stay here. Naturally I was rather bitter for awhile, after all, they did just send me off to be raise by someone else, but I got over it seeing as I’m not exactly the grudge-holding type. Originally I loathed St. Julia’s, but overtime I’ve grown to love it. 
       After waiting for the whole summer with my only company being annoying teachers, a downside of living a school, 
    I was dying to get some of my social life back. I was even excited to see my roommate, Stephanie. Stephanie had never really enjoyed my company but towards the end of the year she started to act like I existed and I was so desperate I’d play popular girl for the chance to talk to someone.  It’s going to take more than acting, 
    I silently reminded myself as I threw on some make-up and began to gloss my lips.  Maybe Stephanie will forget about last year, 
    to this I shook my head doubtfully,  she really isn’t the forgiving type. 
    I shuddered as I remembered the memories of last year. 
      Her hate for me had all started when I was made her roommate instead of her best friend, Charity Windler. I’m still not exactly sure why she blamed me for our rooming situation, but she did unfortunately. She, along with her entire group blamed me, and from then on hated me. After Charity mysteriously dropped out I was certain that Stephanie and I’s relationship would improve, but if anything, it only got worse.  But this year is going to be different, 
    I reminded myself,  maybe if I keep thinking that, I’ll actually start to believe it. 
    I mentally kicked myself for that last thought and continued getting ready. 
       I got dressed and neatly side braided my messy hair. Today I dressed in ripped blue jeans and a tank top. I grabbed my phone from my bunk and shoved it in my backpack. Then I headed out the door. I was almost down the 3rd staircase when Stephanie stepped in front of me. I could tell it wasn’t going to be like last year. Nope, she was going to hate me way more this year. I could tell, from the way her posy snickered and stared, that an insult was coming.  
  “Hey roomie,” Stephanie said mockingly in her high soprano voice. “What’s with the homeless kid costume?” She asked pretending to look innocent like she hadn’t just slammed me.   
  “Costume?” I asked trying to push past her blocking arms.  
  “Uh! Rude much?” she yelled as I accidentally pushed her while trying to escape. I broke into a sprint, when I reached the bottom of the staircase more arms than I could count reached out and snatched me to the side. 
  	Suddenly hands were tugging my hair, shoving and pinching me. I tried to call out but a hand gagged my mouth. I felt a sharp blow to my legs and my knees buckled. A blow to my head made me close my eyes in pain and I tried hard not to focus on the throbbing pain in my shin.  They didn’t bother picking me up they just kept hitting and kicking until suddenly I felt relief. The strong grip released my arm and I sprawled onto the cold tile.I heard footsteps and assumed they were walking away and I let out a sigh of relief. My ears were ringing and when I tried to open my eyes the room around me spun, so I stayed on the ground and waited for what must have been at least an hour until I heard footsteps. 
   I tried to look up to see who was coming but found I was too exhausted to move. All of the sudden I was lifted into the air by a warm comfortable form. I struggled weakly for a few moments but after realizing they weren’t hurting me, I surrendered. I managed to force my head up and saw that my attackers were gone, which I took as good sign.  
  	“Waking up so soon?” A guy’s voice said and I lifted my head to see a gorgeous guy. He had sandy blonde hair, that reminded me of a beach, bright blue eyes the sparkled when he smiled and wore kakis and a white tee. 
   “Yeah, how’d you find me?”I asked absentmindedly resting my head on his warm shoulder.  
  “ Your attackers weren’t very quiet with their dirty work, I heard them plotting it.” He replied as I inhaled deeply and was pleasantly surprised by his sweet smelling cologne.  Suddenly he set me down on a nurse’s bed and I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. 
   “Thanks for rescuing me” I said staring at his piercing blue eyes.  
  “Well I wouldn’t exactly call kicking a few guys in area’s we’d best not discuss, a rescue” he said, a heartbreaking smile spreading across his face. “ I only wish I wasn’t too late,” He said staring at my shin. I followed his gaze down to my shin and saw it was bloody and bruised. I met his worried gaze and smiled a little at his dismay for me.    
  “I’m fine if anything I’m better than I’ve been all summer,” I said trying to joke but failing miserably. 
  I’m Summer Charard,” I said extending my hand then seeing it was cut pulling it back quickly. But not  
  quick enough, he noticed.  
  “Your hurt,” He said, it wasn’t a question but a statement.  
  “Normally when someone introduces themselves to one another it is expected for the other to state his or her name,” I said sarcastically.  
  “Well in that case, Zane VanLouge,” He said smiling at my joke.  
  “Well, Zane, I think it’s only polite that I thank you for your service,” I said. But before he could respond a school nurse came in and shooed him out. But before he left he poked his head in and said,” I guess I’ll see you later, Summer.”  
  “Yeah,” I replied my cheeks turning a rosy red. Chapter 2 
     
     The Nurse ran some quick tests then, coming to the conclusion that I was fine, allowed me to follow her to the counter to check out. “Your first class is History and you can pick up your schedule from that boy who accompanied you today,” the nurse stated as I signed the last health form. “Thanks” I replied as I waved and then slipped out the door. to make sure nothing was broken then sent me on my way. 
  I crept down the hallway till I reached my first classroom. Even though history is my worst and least favorite subject I couldn’t have been any happier to be in a safe controlled area even if it meant I had to get tortured with boredom.  
  As it turned out my so called safe savior failed. As I walked in I noticed that Stephanie’s zombies were in the class but the head zombie herself wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Then I saw him. Zane was sitting in the back reading a text book and I noticed how adorable he really was. He smiled silently to himself and his usually hidden dimples showed themselves. I could’ve stood there all day just staring at him but Stephanie’s crew was beginning to notice my presence and as it turns out they weren’t very happy that I’d been saved. 
  “Hey Blondie, how’s the shin feeling?” a bulky guy asked turning around to face me. I recognized him now, Tyler Droda, Stephanie’s current boyfriend.  
  “Just fine thanks for asking Tyler, “I replied not giving him the satisfaction of my fear even though I was terrified on the inside.  
  “ You aren’t going to escape this time, “Tyler said stepping forward. I backed up and bumped into Zane.  
  “No, you aren’t going to touch her this time,” Zane said gently pushing me behind himself.  
  “Whatever, your little boyfriend won’t be around all the time, Summer,” Tyler said sliding back into his seat again. 
  Zane led me to the back of the room and offered me the seat next to him which I took gratefully. “Ignore those jerks,” He said as the zombies started to throw spit wads at me.  
  “Thanks for sticking up for me,” I said looking up at him and smiling, “it means a lot.”  
  “No problem,” He said and handed me an envelope.  "That’s your schedule, the nurse asked me to pick it up for you.” I took the envelope with a shaky hand. What if Stephanie was my roommate again? Would I get stuck with one of her followers? There was only one way I’d find out. I opened the letter and read: 
  Dear Miss Summer Charard, 
  Your roommate will be Sierra Coblik. In room # 215.Your schedule will be on the sheet following this letter. Your belongings have been transferred for you already so all you need to do is unpack and you should be able to accomplish that during your lunch break. I have already been informed of the incident that occurred earlier and I have informed you parents who were very worried and I would highly suggest assuring them of your well health after this letter.                                                                                                                   Best regards, 
                                                                           Ms. Kelly 
   
  1.	History 
  2.	Algebra 
  3.	Art 
  4.	Lunch 
  5.	Self Defense 
  6.	A.P. Chemistry 
  7.	Dance 
  8.	ELA 
  I folded the letter and put it back into the envelope then turned towards Zane. “Do we have any classes together?” I asked silently begging him to say yes. 
  “Any? We have  every 
    class together,” He said smiling as my jaw dropped.  
  “Every class? That’s like impossible,” I said gawking at him.        
  “Well then I guess I’ll have to tell them to change it,” He said pretending to get up. I grabbed his arm and pulled him back down.  
  “No way, I need my personal savior around,” I said sounding a lot more confident then I felt.  
  “Well would you let your personal savior hang out with you tonight,” He asked shooting me a smile so cute I could’ve died and I wouldn’t have cared.  
  “Well I do sort of owe him don’t I,”I said feeling my cheeks turn bright red. Had he just asked me out? He’s So Cute! I thought to myself. I smiled shyly and winked at him.  
  “I’m taking that as a yes,” Zane replied his smile brightening at the outcome of his invitation. Chapter 3 
     
      So there I was. It was 5:30, a half an hour before my ‘date’, and I still didn’t know what to wear. I curled my light blonde hair into ringlets and started powdering my face as I tried to find something to wear. Only problem was that when Ms. Kelly transferred my belongings she messed everything up I couldn’t find anything. Finally I found a navy blue sundress that complimented my pale skin. 
  	As I finished up with my preparations I heard a knock on the door and my heart skipped a beat. I walked over to the door and opened it with clammy hands. There stood a Blonde Valley girl. “Hi, you must be Sierra, I’m Summer,” I said extending my hand towards her. 
   “Oh I know who you are, you’re the girl who escaped Stephanie,” She said shaking my hand energetically. “Congrats, I hate her too,” She added stepping into our room. “You looking for something or are you just really messy?” She asked scanning the clothes covered room. 
  “I was but I found it, sorry about the mess I’ll clean it up when I get back,” I said grabbing my jacket off the dresser. 
  “When you get back? Where are you going?” She asked turning away from the mess.  
  “Zane Invited me out for a evening stroll,” I replied hearing the pride in my voice.  
  She looked up, confused, then asked, “Zane?” and before I could answer she continued, “Oh! You mean the tall, blonde, new guy, right?” She said. I nodded at her, and smiled at her description of him. “Oh ok then you go and have fun,” She said turning to give me a wink.  
  “What?” I asked desperate not to be late but curious. 
   “Well he’s not too hard on the eyes if you know what I mean,” She said smiling mischievously. Before I could reply there was another knock on the door only now I knew who it had to be. I opened up the door and used the handle to steady myself.  
  Zane stood in the door way looking so handsome I almost had to look away. “Are you ready for our walk?” He asked as he looked me up and down the smiled, obviously satisfied. 
  	We went out for an evening stroll near the campus lake. After the half an hour of walking I had to take off my heels to relieve my aching feet. Though most guy would take a girls walking around barefoot with her shoes in her hands a total turn-off, Zane said it was cute. 
  	After a while of strolling we gave up with it and sat by the lake. We talked about every topic from the weather to debating alien life. With every new topic Zane found a new way to make me laugh. “So you actually got fired from fry cook,” I said giggling flirtatiously and dipping my toe into the water.  
  “Yes, a bit embarrassing isn’t it?” He replied laughing with me. 
  “Maybe you should try pro wrestler,” I said, “You  
  took down my attackers pretty well,” I add laughing awkwardly. Zane’s smile disappeared masked with a new serious face.  
  “You shouldn’t joke about that,” He said pulling his feet out of the water.  
  “I didn’t mean to make you upset,” I said getting up and brushing myself off and mentally kicking myself for ruining the mood. 
   “I just don’t want you getting hurt again,” He said looking over as Stephanie and her cronies walked out. “We should go now,” He said grabbing my hand and pulling me over to the opposite door.  
  “That’s right you better run,” Tyler yelled. Zane’s back stiffened and his body began to tense.  
  “Ignore him, let’s go,” I said uselessly trying to pull him into the building. 
  	“No you go ahead, I’m going to stay here,” He said pushing me inside and shutting the door behind me. I pushed against the door, desperate to stop him, but it didn’t budge. So I waited. I just stood there and prayed that he’d come through the door soon. 
  	I had to wait about 10 minutes before the door whipped open and I had to step back to avoid getting hit. Tyler and Stephanie burst through the doorway and from the dark corner I was hiding in I could just make out her comforting him. They were oblivious to the fact I was in the hallway. They didn’t stop moving or even pause in their steps, just kept going down the hallway, and then darted into the nurses office. 
  	Then Zane walked through the door and I gasped. His shirt collar was soaked with blood and his knuckles were tore and oozing blood. “Oh My God! What happened? What did he do to you?!” I screeched touching my hand to his chest where it was covered in blood. He didn’t wince under the pressure so I figured that was a good sign. “That’s not mine,” He said indicating the blood on his chest.  
  “What about that?” I said pointing to his raw knuckles.  
  “We got in a fight and I got a swipe at his face, no big deal.” He said squeezing my hand.  
  “You hit him?”I asked.  
  “Yeah, I think I broke his nose,” He replied then seeing my look of horror he added,” Only because he threatened to hurt you.”  
  “So you were protecting me?” I asked feeling rather flattered.  
  “Yeah, now it’s getting late so I better get you home,” He said sliding his arm around me to guide me towards the door. 
  	When we got to my dorm he stopped walking and  
  pulled me up against the wall. “Promise me you’ll try to stay safe,” He said his face so close I could smell his cinnamon scented breath.  
  “Promise,” I said Inhaling deeply.  
  “O.K.,” He said letting his arms fall to his sides.  
  “Well, bye,” I said dumbly then turned towards the door to cover up some of my awkwardness. 
  “ I had a wonderful evening,” He said pecking me on the check, “have a good night,” and with that he disappeared down the hallway. Chapter 4 
   
  I just stood there for while, processing everything that just happened. I thought I was going to stand there all night until I heard the night wardens. Knowing how much trouble I’d be in if I was caught up and about past curfew, I quietly slipped into my room. 
  	I did a quick scope of the room, noting that  
  most of the mess had vanished, a good sign. My eyes fell upon Sierra who was quietly snoring, fast asleep, in dream world now. Then I realized how nice she’s been she gave me advice, cleaned up my mess, and didn’t fuss over me leaving. Maybe all roommates are like that, though I’d never know, I’ve been stuck with Stephanie my whole life. 
  	I pulled off my shoes and slipped under the warm sheets. Not bothering to change because I smelled like him, I closed my eyes and before I knew it I was dreaming. But I realized all to soon that I wasn’t having a dream, no, I was having a nightmare. Chapter 5 
     I was falling into a never ending dark abyss. When my feet hit the ground, my knees buckled  and I fell forward onto a hard, rough surface. I felt the tiny rocks underneath me and came to the conclusion that I was lying on gravel.  
  	I pushed myself up with my hands, spitting mud and pebble out of my mouth. I finally got it together enough to stand. As I looked around I spotted a light in this pit of never ending darkness. I took a step forward but feeling my knees turn to jello I just sat down. I was about to try standing again when I saw a figure approaching me. “You’re one of them,” He said his voice deep and rough, he scared me and his voice sent shivers down my spine.  
  “One of what?” I asked deeply confused by his accusation.  
  “To powerful….deadly…..must die,” His voice was low and hushed and as I tried to hear what he was saying I began to grasp what his previous words were.  
  “Must die? What are you-” But he cut me short as he pulled a knife out of his long trench coat and lunged forward at me. I closed my eyes and screamed, sounding even more terrified then I actually was. I braced myself for the blow, I even felt the knife pierce my skin and sink deep down my chest and into my arm. I cried out in pain, and readied myself for his next attack when I was pulled out of my nightmare, and everything disappeared. 
   
   
   
   
   
   Chapter 6 
   
   
   
   
  I bolted straight up in bed. I was completely tangled blankets and was drenched with sweat. I took deep breaths, trying to calm myself but I only managed to make myself hyperventilate. “I tried to wake you up,” Sierra said startling me with her presence and making me jump. “Did I wake you up?” I asked, feeling like the worst roommate ever. 
   “To be honest, I doubt there’s anyone who you didn’t wake up within a mile from here,” She said turning on a lamp so we could see better.  
  “Was I that bad?” I asked as I started to untangle myself from my mess of blankets.  
  “ Let’s just you would win the part of horror movie scream girl, hands down,” She said trying to lighten my mood, but not getting very far. I couldn’t even bring myself to smile, I was still too stunned from my crazy dream to respond how I normally would. “Probably not  the first time you’ve heard that before though, right?” She asked snapping me back to reality.  
  “Yeah it’s definitely not, say what time is it?” I asked desperate not to go back to sleep, no matter what the time was. 
   “About 5:00, but if you want company I can stay up with you,” She said climbing onto my bunk, as if to prove her point. “ Whoa! That’s one nasty cut you have there!” She said then pointed to my chest, then moving her finger in the air down my arm as if the trace the cut in the air. I followed her gaze down to my right arm where a long, deep, red cut was present. I heard Sierra gasp as she too just realized that it was still fresh and gushing blood. “God! How did that happen? Is that fresh? Do you need to see the nurse?” She asked talking so fast her words were jumbled together.  
  “I don’t know how it happened, yes to it being fresh, no to having to see the nurse.” I replied having already spent an hour earlier in the day in the infirmary I wasn’t looking forward to spending another.  
  “Are you sure? It looks pretty deep. What if you need stitches?” She asked observing how far the cut went into skin, which was a fairly great amount. 
  	“No, I’m fine really I’m-,” I started but I was cut off by a loud click and our door swinging open. Ms. Kelly stood in the doorway dressed in her nightgown and looking slightly disheveled. In her right hand she held a key and in the other she clutched a cell phone. Her fingers were resting on the phones key pad, ready to dial at any sign of danger. She silently put the key back into her pocket then produced a flashlight from her pocket to replace it. She clicked it on and a bright light flashed Sierra and I in the face, then it clicked off. She walked over and flicked our light switch so our room came to life. 
  	I took a moment to examine my arm in the light. Sierra was right, I would definitely need stitches. But I wasn’t concerned about that, I was concerned why I had a mark on my arm in reality when I got cut in a dream. I heard Ms. Kelly gasp and I looked up to see her frightened eyes bulging as she saw my arm. “Oh My! Summer, why don’t you let me help you climb down and then we need to get you to the nurse,” She said grabbing my good arm and helping me down from my bunk. 
  	Ms. Kelly didn’t let go of me until I was lying down, safely on the nurses bed. She kept the frightened look on her face the whole time the nurse ran tests. She only left the room once, to call my parents. When my parents arrived things began to get out of control. My dad demanded to know who did it, and my mother wanted to know why they did it. When I didn’t answer either of them my parents panicking began to turn quick to anger, and they ended up leaving me alone awhile so they could cool down. 
  	Ms. Kelly came in, after I’d had some time alone, sat down on the bed, and grabbed my hand. “Now sweetie,” She said sugar coating her voice, “How exactly did this happen?” She asked her face smiling but I could hear the hidden urgency in her voice.  
  “I’m sorry but I don’t know, I know it sounds crazy but I has having a wacky dream and then woke up screaming with a bloody cut on my arm,” I replied and hearing the craziness of my own story I blushed, embarrassed.  
  	“Wacky Dream? You didn’t mention that you’d had a weird dream. Care to elaborate?” She asked telling me with her gaze that it really wasn’t up for question whether I wanted to tell her or not.  
  “ I was walking on stilts, then one of them got caught in quick sand. So I was sinking and to save myself I jumped off. But when I jumped I fell into a hole and I was falling so I started screaming, then I woke up.” I said. I don’t know why I lied to her, but my gut instinct was telling me that it was important that she didn’t know the truth. 
  	“As highly likely as that dream sounds, I have a feeling your holding back some crucial details,” She replied her gaze changing from sweet and warm to cold and icy.  
  “Well, I bet Summer would remember more details after a nice warm bubble bath, and a warm breakfast,” My mom said saving me from Ms. Kelly’s interrogating.  
  “Yes, I suppose you’re right,” Ms. Kelly said getting up and brushing her skirt off, “Oh and Linda,” She said, addressing my mom, “I promise you this won’t go without punishment.” Chapter 7 
     
        As I stumbled down the hallway, I took a good look at everyone passing by. Even though I’d dreamt his face, it seemed so familiar, so familiar I’d almost convinced myself that he was real. Almost. But deep down, my sanity remained, and I knew that man or no man, dreams are dreams, not reality. But that still didn’t explain the cut. I was still trying to figure out a logical reason about my cut when I stumbled into a chest so solid with muscle it could be mistaken for a wall. I knew a chest this buff could only belong to one person, Zane. 
  I flirtatiously flipped my hair without looking up and said, “Why hello there stranger,” in the sexiest voice I could manage. But when I looked up expecting to see Zane’s familiar bright blue eyes I found myself, instead, looking into a pair of beautiful sea green eyes. 
  “Pardon me, I wasn’t watching where I was walking,” He said his voice ringing like chimes.  
  “Oh, um, no that’s fine, so are you an exchange student?” I asked referring to his slight British accent.  
  “No, legal American,” He replied making my cheeks flush bright red in embarrassment.   
  “Do you need help getting somewhere?” He asked after an uncomfortable silence.  
  “Oh, no, just heading down for breakfast,” I replied.  
  “Well,” He said as a mischievous grin made itself present on his face, “that’s exactly where I’m going. May I escort you?” He asked bowing down like a English gentlemen.  
  “Sure,” I said laughing at my, oh so clever response as he links his arm through mine and we walk down the hallway catching many glances, but to caught up in talking to care. Chapter 8 
     
   “So what’s your name?” I asked between mouthfuls of food.  
  “Kyle Landon,” he said, “and you must be Summer Charad.”  
  “Indeed I am ,” I said not stopping to wonder how he knew who I was. 	 
  	We talked small talk, about things like the weather and upcoming exams. Kyle was funny, and when I laughed, the smile didn’t feel fake on my face. He almost made me forget about the man’s face. Almost, but not quite.  
  “ So how’d you get that nasty cut?” He asked smiling innocently but there was something hidden behind his expression that made the hairs on back stand on end. I opened my mouth to tell him my story/lies but found I couldn’t speak when I looked across the cafeteria. There Zane stood. Pain visible across his face, it hurt me to think that I may be the cause of that pain.  But I haven’t done anything wrong 
   , I thought to myself,  I was only talking to Kyle and it’s not like we’re dating anyways.  
   
  “Excuse me,” I said to Kyle as I got up and started walking towards Zane.  
  As I got closer I realized that I’d mistaken his expression for pain when instead it was panic. I quickened my pace and as soon as he saw me coming he quickly hurried over to me. “Are you okay?” the tone of his voice so urgent that it worried me.  
  “Yeah, of course I am,” I said my eyes looking at him question, “I’m fine,” I said again, pulling off my cardigan and fanning myself. 
  “Woo! It is really humid in here, want to go grab a drink or something?” I said about to start walking toward the drink cooler until I saw the look on his face, then stopped abruptly. “What now?” I asked feeling a bit annoyed.  
  “How did that happen, and in what world is it ‘ok’?” He demanded motioning to the ugly, jagged cut that would forever remain on my chest and drag down to just above my elbow. “I’m serious Summer!” Zane said his expression stony. 
   “Hey SS have a good sleep?” Stephanie said strutting past us, laughing with her crew of robots, who of course thought she was hilarious.  
  “SS?” I asked regretting opening my mouth as soon as the words were out. Stephanie halted and spun around  
  to face me.  
  “ I only have 3 things to say to you,” She said and her robots held back giggles of anticipation.  
  “1. You do not under any circumstances talk to me. I talk and you listen. “2. SS is for Summer’s Scars because of that ugly marking you have now,” She said pausing to allow anyone watching to laugh at me then continued,” and 3. You better watch your back because this is my school and no way in Hell are you going to take it from me.” And with that she flipped her hair over her shoulder and strutted away, shaking her hips so much I thought she was going to ‘booty bump’ one of her cronies but they quickly moved out of her way. Chapter 9 
     
         “Look can we just talk about this later?” I asked, “class is going to start soon.” Then, as if to prove my point, the bell rang and students began to slowly clear the premises.  
  “We have every class together, I’m sure you could explain on the way,” Zane said staring at me with those bright blue eyes of his that sparkled in a way that made me catch my breath and I couldn’t help but cave.  
  “O.k.,” I said beginning to walk with him to our first class.  
  Then I told him everything. I blurted my entire being to him and he just nodded and never interrupted me or told me I was crazy. It took me all day to tell him the full story and when I was finally finished he was walking me to my room. 
  “You lied to Ms. Kelly,” he said.  
  “Yes,” I said wondering for a moment if he was going to tell her.  
  “But you didn’t lie to me,” he said. It wasn’t a question, simply a statement but I answered him anyway.  
  “No, I didn’t. I told you the complete and totally insane sounding truth.”  
  “Why?” He asked cutting me off and turning around to face me. “Why didn’t you lie to me?” He asked again looking at me with questioning eyes.  
  “Because I don’t have to,” I blurted and then without thinking I continued, “when I’m with you I don’t have to pretend I’m something I’m not, you don’t judge me,” I said smiling up at him. 
   “No, no I can’t judge you Summer,” He said stepping in closer to me, “not when your personality is so bright and colorful.” I blushed deeply; I’d never had a guy compliment my personality so greatly. “You’re beautiful Summer, you know that?” Zane said staring at me with such awe that I had to look away.  
  “You don’t mean that,” I said looking down and shrugging shyly.  
  “No, I really do,” He said and as his words sank in I leaned into him and closed my eyes.  
  When our lips met there was a kind of passion there that I’d never even imagined. He kissed me gently as if he was afraid he’d hurt me but as I wrapped my arms around him and pressed my body against his, his kissing became more powerful and urgent.  
  “I hate to interrupt your um personal yet still public ‘hangout’ but I kind of want to get into my room,” Sierra cleared her throat shyly as my cheeks took on a new rosy color and I untangled myself, unfortunately, from Zane.  
  “Thanks,” She said as she stepped around us and went into our room.  
  “That was embarrassing,” I said putting my hands over my face to cover my bright red cheeks.  
  “I think it was worth it,” He said pulling me close and wrapping his arms around me.  
  “I should go talk to her, she looked kind of upset,” I said sighing.  
  “Yeah, okay. Hey listen, if you have another dream like that tell me, okay?” He said, his face suddenly serious again.  
  “Yeah, of course,” I said, “well I’ll talk to you later,” I said giving him a quick peck on the cheek and opening my door and stepping in. 
  I closed the door behind me quickly, but not quickly enough to catch the movement in the shadows right where Zane and I had been standing just seconds ago. Was someone spying on us? I wondered silently but then forgot all about my dreams, and creepy shadow figures. Instead I just concentrated on my new best friend. Chapter 10 
     
         Sierra and I talked for awhile and turns out she was fine, just a little homesick. Her mother was on vacation in Panama and doesn’t know the first thing about a cell phone so Sierra hasn’t talked to her in over two weeks. We talked more, and I tried to comfort her but there was an awkward silence in the air. “So,” She said breaking the uncomfortable silence, “are you and Zane a ‘thing’ now or what?” She asked and I realized I wasn’t really sure. Yeah, I like him and I am quite sure he likes me too, heck just hours ago we’d been kissing, but does that really mean he's mine? 
    I was positive that Zane wasn’t interested in anyone else but me, but did that mean he actually wanted to be with me? My head began to spin as questions began forming and multiplying in my head. 
   “Um, Earth to summer?” She asked pulling me out of my thoughts.  
  “Oh, yeah,” I said sounding really stupid and unsupportive.  
  “Yeah you’re a couple or yeah your back on Earth?” She asked making me giggle.  
  “Yeah I’m back on Earth, as for the other question you know as much as I do,” I said feeling totally confused. 
  Sierra must have noticed my sigh because she laughed and said, “ Well I guess we’ll find out with time to come,” and then quickly dropped the topic, thankfully. 
  “I’m kind of tired so I’m going to take a nap,” I said climbing up onto my bunk and snuggling down under my blankets. As I laid down my head and closed my eyes I fell asleep almost instantly into what I hoped was a dreamless sleep.  Chapter 11 
      I dreamed I was lying down. Whatever I was lying was hard and odd, my guess was a slab of concrete. There must be torches or candle around me, I thought silently, because I can feel the heat radiating from something to me. I opened my eyes and saw my guess was surprisingly accurate. I was lying on what look like a bed of rocks and ceremonial candles glowed in the dimly lit room. 
  “So you return,” said a distinctly familiar voice and my shoulders tensed as I felt a stab of fear. I whipped my head around and bravely met his piercing green eyes.  
  “As do you,” I said making sure to keep the trembling fear out of my voice.  
  “No,” he said smiling darkly, “I’ve been here, it is you who chooses to keep returning.”  
  “You’re Wrong!” I said sounding like a defiant little girl.“I don’t want to be here! I don’t want you here!” I yelled sitting up more and noticing that his face had a look of amusement on it.  
  “Oh I’m sure you don’t,” he said, “but you don’t really have a choice, do you?” and with that he lunged at me and grabbed my wrist. Using his hold on my wrist he flipped me over and made my head smack against the hard concrete. 
   “Get off of me!” I said kicking and punching blindly. 
  When I made contact I heard him gasp and felt his grip loosen on my arm. I took advantage of his weakened grasp, and slipped my arm from his grasp while he tried to recover from my blow. I ran as fast I could down the hallway till I reached a large wooden door. I flung it open and then everything went black and the only thing left of the dream was a small cut on the back of my hairline and an odd looking bruise on my wrist. 
   
  Chapter 12 
  	The rest of my sleep was surprisingly peaceful. When I awoke it was still dark out and my clock read 5:45 A.M. Had I really only slept that long? It’d seemed a lot longer than a mere 7 hours. I sighed, it was to early to call Zane and no one else knew the true story.  
  My phone vibrated against my thigh from the inside of my sweats pocket. I pulled it out and peered tiredly at the ultra bright screen. I had over 7 voicemails in my inbox and all of them were from my parents. I sighed as I listened to them, each more panicked than the first. All they did was worry, even when I was young they were always worriers. I swear my mom could get an ulcer just from me arriving late for something. 
  I knew it was early, well  very 
    early, but I hurried and dialed their number, knowing that they wouldn’t rest until I called. It barely even rang once before my mom picked up. “Summer? Summer is that you? Are you okay? What took you so long, honey?” My Mom’s questions were coming so fast they began to merge and I decided to just wait until my mom was done talking. When she finished talking she sounded tired and out of breath.  
  “Summer, are you there?” she asked and before she could start babbling again I quickly answered, “Oh yeah, I’m here mom. Don’t worry, I’m fine,” I said but  looking down and seeing my wrist made me shift guiltily.  
  “How’s the cut healing?” She asked and from the exhaust in her voice I guessed she’d been up all night worrying about me.  
  “Oh Mom! It’s fine, actually it’s just a scar now. You’re the one who I’m worried about! You need to get some rest,” I said feeling, not for the first time, like I was the mother and she was the daughter.  
  “Oh, honey I guess you’re right, I probably should get some rest,” She muttered mostly to herself. “Well I’ll let you go now honey, I just wanted to make sure you were alright, call me if anything else happens, and take care honey.” 
   “Bye mom,” I said then hit the end call.  
  I hadn't meant to make my talk short with her but she’d sounded exhausted and I still needed to call Zane. I thought of how worried Zane would be and that I shouldn’t rule out the possibility of him rushing over here. So I decided against just calling him right away and instead grabbed my clothes and went into the bathroom to take the longest bubble bath ever recorded. Chapter 13 
     
  By the time I got out of the tub, and had myself looking ‘presentable’ it was 7:30. I figured I’d given Zane enough time to sleep in, so I grabbed my cell and started to dial his number. “It’s a little early for calls, don’t you think?” Sierra said sitting up drowsily sitting up and giving me a questioning look.  
  “Oh, did I wake you up?” I asked, completely avoiding her question.  
  “No, my alarm did,” she said matter-of-factly then added, “and you didn’t answer my question.” 
   I sighed, Sierra really was a good person. Heck! She was the greatest roommate a girl could ask for. Didn’t she deserve the truth? Yes she did, unfortunately I wasn’t brave enough to tell her. So I did what I’d been doing ever since I had that first dream. I lied. 
  “Yeah, it’s still pretty early but Zane wanted me to call him right after I woke up,” I said, which wasn’t a complete lie.  
  “Okay,” She said looking unsatisfied with my answer. Since she was suspicious I knew Sierra would be watching my every move so I decided to make my message to Zane short and sweet. 
  “Hey Zane, it’s Summer. Yesterday you asked me to call you, you remember that, right? So anyways here I am, call me back if you want to talk more. Bye!” I said and quickly hung up the phone and silently questioned my message.  Would he be able to understand what I was telling him? Or would  he think I was just a freaky, clingy girl who called guys way to early in the morning? 
   
  I sat on my bunk thinking of all the worst case scenarios when Sierra suddenly got up. “I’m going down for breakfast, have fun being hungry,” She said walking towards the door then pausing and turning around. “Though I suppose when your with a guys like Zane, hunger doesn’t matter, neither does the truth,” And with that she walked out.  
  “Ugh!” I said exasperated, “I’ll have to deal with her later. She really does have a lot of reasons to be mad at me. I guess I can’t blame her. Oh goodness. I’m talking to myself.” I sighed; maybe I’d really lost it. Heck!  I think anyone might act rather insane after having a dream like mine. 
  “Sometimes we talk to ourselves when we feel like no one is there to listen.” Zane’s voice surprised me so much I nearly jumped and I had to catch my breath as he continued from where he was standing in the doorway. “You know I’m always here if you need someone to listen,” He said stepping in and closing the door behind him.  
  “Of course I do,” I said turning around and was yet again shocked by his extreme beauty. 
  “Pardon me,” He said reminding me of an English gentleman from the 1800’s. “But your message has left me a bit confused. I’m afraid I don’t understand what you were trying to tell me.” He finished, his sparkling blue  eyes tainted with looks of confusion.  
  “Yes,” I said pausing to get my bearings, “and I have a lot to tell you.” And with that I started to tell him my story, a story that was so utterly and unbelievably strange that I myself doubted it was true. Chapter 14 
     
     When I finished we just sat there. I hoped Zane would understand, that he would have a solution to my nightmares, but he just sat there. Unmoving and silent. “You said you hit your head, are you okay?” he asked finally, breaking to uncomfortable silence.  
  “Yeah, it’s just a little sore,” I said then unconsciously rubbed my wrist then grimaced from the applied pressure. I checked to see if Zane had noticed but he wasn’t look at me. He was looking straight ahead of him, and there was a distant look in his eyes, almost as if he was blocking out this world and was entering another. 
  “What do you think they are?” I asked and as soon as I spoke the words I saw fear flash across his face. But as quickly as it came, it was gone, replaced with a calm, preserved look.  
  “Summer, they are simply bad dreams,” He said, and with every word my heart began to crumble. “It’s childish to think that they are anything more than that,” He said his voice cold and harsh. 
  “How do you explain my injuries then?” I demanded beginning to feel my pulse quicken like it always does when I get angry.  
  “You’re a restless sleeper,” he said, his voice still calm and emotionless.  
  “You don’t get it!” I shouted at him, feeling tears begin to form in my eyes.  Why had I thought he would understand? Yes, He’d listened once but did he really care or even understand? No, no he didn’t care.  
   
  “Summer, it’s childish to fight about this,” He said.  
  “What happened to being here? What happened to listening?!” I yelled feeling the tears begin to spill out over my eyes.  
  “I have listened Summer, let me know when you have something other than childish tales to tell me,” And with that he walked out, leaving me standing there, tears running down my face, and my heart broken in two.  Chapter 15 
   
  When Kyle found me I was lying on the floor sobbing and tears streaked my face. “Summer? Summer, what’s wrong?” he asked walking over and crouching next to me.  
  “Life,” I sobbed. Kyle sighed and pulled me close into his comforting embrace and there we sat for hours. I sat there, with the comforting smell of Kyle’s cologne and I cried. I cried for the hurt of Zane’s words, for the fear that haunted me every time I went to sleep, for the hatred that radiated at me from Stephanie and most of all for the confusion of why it felt so right in his arms, Kyle’s arms. But aren't I Zane’s girl? 
   
   I doubted I was, after the talk we’d just had, and after what he said, I wasn’t sure if I still wanted to be his girl. After hours of crying and self pity I got up and began wiping my smeared mascara off my face. “Are you feeling and better?” Kyle asked taking the washcloth from me and carefully removing the rest of my make-up.  
  “I just feel num now,” I said as he wrung the cloth out and threw it into our hamper.  
  “And that’s good, right?” He asked, turning to face me. 
   “It’s neither good nor bad. It just means I’m done with my pathetic self pity,” I said.  
  “Sometimes we deserve self pity,” he said stepping towards me. “What happened to your wrist?” He asked and though his words made me want to break down into tears again, I stood strong, and repeated the words that just hours ago had broke my heart.  
  “I’m a restless sleeper.” With that I grabbed my purse and headed for the door.  
  “Summer, where are you going?” Kyle asked beginning to follow me.  
  “I’m sorry but I have some unfinished business that I need to take care of,” I replied and feeling as cold as ice I strode out of my room, leaving Kyle just standing there, just as Zane and Sierra had left me. 
  Instead of sticking around with Kyle, the easy choice, I was choosing to go to the place I wanted to go least. It wasn’t the easy thing to do, but I knew it was something I was going to have to do sometime. So as I walked toward Stephanie’s room I took deep breaths, trying to build up my confidence, I was going to need it. Part 2 Up Now! 
   
   
   
   
   
   Publication Date: August 14th 2011 https://www.bookrix.com/-sppellerd