Back to the Dream Page
Chapter 15
Everything stopped for a moment. The silence was deafening and it took all she had to not start screaming right then. She gave up trying though, when he'd started laughing. "What? Didn't you enjoy it? I bet this Lance of yours couldn't have made you as happy as I did." He forced himself closer to her. "Want some more?"
With all her might, she tried to push him away. "Get away! Don't touch me!"
He clung to her though, refusing to let her go and his powerful hands restrained her from going anywhere. "What about my promise? I can't break my promise to never leave you alone," he whined playfully.
It was all adding up now in her head. Lance never told me about owning another place and it certainly wouldn't have this classic look to it. That was clue number one. Clue two: the feeling of being watched. Three: he'd only spoken in whispers until now. His voice is too high. Clue four: he'd kept me from turning on the light. And your main clue? He never answered to the name Lance! Juliet, why didn't you see this one coming? She shook her head in humiliation. She'd been too caught up in the heat and passion to even think. And now here she was, being laughed at again.
His grip tightened around her fragile wrists and she cried out in pain. "Please, just go away," she begged, sobbing as she sank back into bed. "Leave me alone."
Juliet blinked open her eyes and found sunlight streaming into her bedroom. Groaning, she turned over and covered her head with her blanket. Her eyes snapped back open though and she quickly sat up in bed. There she was, back in her room at her parents' house. I must be dreaming, she thought as she pinched herself. Ouch! That hurt! Then it means… Juliet's eyes widened as she realized what this meant. If I'm found here, my cover up will be blown away! And yet even as she got up to leave, something held her back. Here she was, surrounded by everything that had been her life for the past twenty-four years. Every corner was packed with memories and once again, the pain in her heart threatened to burst over as tears filled her eyes.
Quietly, she tiptoed her way to the door and pressed her ear against it. Faintly, she could hear the television going on downstairs like it always did when her parents were home. Eagerly, she reached for the doorknob. Then reality sunk in again. I can't see them. It'd get out and I'd be jeopardizing not only myself but also them. Her heart ached. So close and yet so far away… She never knew the real meaning of those words until then. Instead, she kept her ear pressed to the door and smiled when she heard her parents' voices mingling with the noise of the TV. "I miss you so much," she whispered, wishing they could hear her. She knew she couldn't even make herself invisible just to see how they were doing. It'd take too much Energy that she didn't have. She knew better than to risk it. Smiling sadly, she drew away from the door and looked out the window.
There it was, like always. Lance's window stared straight back at her. Please be there, Lance. I really need you this time. You're the only one who knows me well enough. Wearily, Juliet sent her soul out across the yard and into his room. Her instinct had been right once again and she found him in bed, sleeping fitfully despite the late morning sun. She watched him a few moments, sorry to disturb him. The bags under his eyes were huge and his skin was pale. Reluctantly, Juliet entered his mind and was almost swept away.
He was dreaming he knew, but he couldn't shake it. He didn't want to face reality. Juliet was gone and he was here wasting his life away. And so, he lived in the dream, if only for a moment. She was there, standing before him and smiling that wonderful smile of hers. They were back in her classroom and he had come visiting for the day, surprising the kids as well as herself. Always welcome though, he'd quickly settled into the routine and helped out in their latest lesson of learning to count up to ten. The kids beamed at his praises but nothing could outshine the happy look on her face. That is where she belongs. She deserves to be surrounded by the kids she loves. She deserves to live out her dream of teaching them, being their mentor, Lance thought. But I'm living another dream, an even grander one, Lance, Juliet's voice broke in.
"Jules?" he muttered, struggling to wake up. This wasn't part of his dream.
Yeah, it's me, she answered faintly.
His eyes snapped open. "Juliet? Where are you?"
Help me, please. I'm in my room.
"What!?" He got up and stood by the window. To his astonishment, he saw Juliet's body leaning precariously out of her own window. "What are you doing there?"
Just get me! I'm weak!
Lance's heart fell as her body started to fall out of the window. Without realizing what he was doing, he'd transported himself to her room, grabbing her by the waist before she fell two stories down. "Hey! Are you okay?"
I can't get out. Lance, I'm sorry. I'm just so tired.
"Shh, it's okay. Let me get us back to my room first before anything happens over here." He did as he said and soon, he was laying her out on his bed. "You still inside me?"
Yeah. Her voice seemed to be getting weaker and weaker.
"Juliet? Focus please! You've got to focus. I don't want you becoming one of the Lost. Please, listen to me."
I'm listening.
"Concentrate, Jules. Go back to your body."
I can't! I don't have enough strength.
"Since when did you start saying you can't? What's gotten into you? What happened to the Juliet who could save the world and still have enough Energy to go out with her friends? Come on. You've gotta pull through." He knew he was pushing her, but she had to do this on her own. Otherwise, she'd always be dependent. "Jules? Juliet!" He held her breath as he waited, staring at her body for any sign of life. And thankfully, it came. A gasp sent air rushing back into her lungs as she blinked open her eyes a few times. "Glad to see you made it," he smiled weakly.
She barely managed a feeble smile for her friend before she blacked out again.
Juliet sat up in Lance's bed, propped up by pillows. She slowly drew the hot cup of tea up to her face and sipped a bit of the hot liquid. "Mmm, this is good."
"Raspberry tea, just the way you always liked it," he smiled.
"Thank you."
"No problem." He waited patiently as she finished her drink and ate a couple of crackers he'd brought up for her. "So how are you feeling?"
"Terrible."
"I bet. Maybe I should go and let you get some rest."
A haunted look had entered her eyes, but Lance wasn't about to question anything. "Some rest would be good, thank you."
"Sure." He got the tray and carried it back downstairs after quietly shutting the door after him.
Tears of shame trickled down her face. It's not fair! I should have known earlier that it wasn't him. I feel like I've betrayed him. How in the world will he react when I tell him what happened? He's your best friend! He wouldn't turn his back on you. A sprinkling of doubt entered her mind though, and she cried all the harder. What would make him stop from leaving me alone? I'm tainted and he deserves better than that. And how can I tell him the big news? That for certain will make him want to get away from me as possible. Sure, she had a week longer to know the truth but she could already feel the changes. What do I do?