CHRIS had a dream. He can't remember it, but it's turning his world upside down.
It's a slash fic!
---
Chris woke up. He slowly opened his eyes to reveal the bedroom that he slept in every night. There was nothing unusual about the room. Everything was in its right place. As he got himself out of bed, dressed, and prepared his breakfast, though, Chris couldn't shake off the feeling that something had happened.
Something significant had changed in his life, yet he wasn't sure how or when. He guessed that it had probably occurred the previous night, but he had no recollection of what went on. He went through a list of possibilities, and decided that it wasn't anything physical. He wasn't harmed in any way, and he certainly hadn't harmed anyone else. Not physically.
Maybe that was it. Maybe he'd done something stupid for the umpteenth time, and someone finally got fed up with him. Chris stared at his bowl of cereal, the flakes rapidly becoming soggy in the cold milk. He shook his head. No, that wasn't it. Not that it was impossible, he just felt that the change in his life was a happy one. One that didn't involve anyone getting hurt.
But what exactly could have changed? And how? And why? Chris stirred the cereal with the spoon, but didn't eat yet. There were too many questions that needed answers. Plus, he was feeling a bit queasy. Nauseous, but he wasn't sick. It felt more like... butterflies. Like he was nervous or something.
The feeling was starting to make him uncomfortable. His main problem was that he could not, no matter how hard he thought, figure out what had happened. He could remember everything that happened up until he went to bed, so he was confused as to when the change occurred. Surely he'd have known if he was conscious, so he began to toy with the idea that maybe he'd been asleep when whatever happened happened. Did he sleepwalk? Sleep... call someone?
He was certain now that it involved another person. He wasn't sure who, but at that moment he just wanted to know the how part. If he'd called someone when he was asleep... but that couldn't happen. He had never once in his life sleepwalked or anything close to that, why would he start now? Then again, it had to have happened while he was sleeping, there was no other time it could have.
Lifting up a spoonful of cereal, then dropping it back into the bowl, Chris found his answer. He did indeed remember clearly the events of the previous night while he was conscious. This life-changing even did indeed happen while he was asleep. It was a dream. A dream that made him feel a bit sick, though not entirely in a bad way.
But he couldn't remember the dream.
Something significant had changed in his life, yet he wasn't sure how or when. He guessed that it had probably occurred the previous night, but he had no recollection of what went on. He went through a list of possibilities, and decided that it wasn't anything physical. He wasn't harmed in any way, and he certainly hadn't harmed anyone else. Not physically.
Maybe that was it. Maybe he'd done something stupid for the umpteenth time, and someone finally got fed up with him. Chris stared at his bowl of cereal, the flakes rapidly becoming soggy in the cold milk. He shook his head. No, that wasn't it. Not that it was impossible, he just felt that the change in his life was a happy one. One that didn't involve anyone getting hurt.
But what exactly could have changed? And how? And why? Chris stirred the cereal with the spoon, but didn't eat yet. There were too many questions that needed answers. Plus, he was feeling a bit queasy. Nauseous, but he wasn't sick. It felt more like... butterflies. Like he was nervous or something.
The feeling was starting to make him uncomfortable. His main problem was that he could not, no matter how hard he thought, figure out what had happened. He could remember everything that happened up until he went to bed, so he was confused as to when the change occurred. Surely he'd have known if he was conscious, so he began to toy with the idea that maybe he'd been asleep when whatever happened happened. Did he sleepwalk? Sleep... call someone?
He was certain now that it involved another person. He wasn't sure who, but at that moment he just wanted to know the how part. If he'd called someone when he was asleep... but that couldn't happen. He had never once in his life sleepwalked or anything close to that, why would he start now? Then again, it had to have happened while he was sleeping, there was no other time it could have.
Lifting up a spoonful of cereal, then dropping it back into the bowl, Chris found his answer. He did indeed remember clearly the events of the previous night while he was conscious. This life-changing even did indeed happen while he was asleep. It was a dream. A dream that made him feel a bit sick, though not entirely in a bad way.
But he couldn't remember the dream.
-
Four hours later, Chris was sat at his piano. He'd gone to the Bakery to work out what his dream had been. He hoped that maybe something in the music would trigger his memory. It hadn't worked yet. He mindlessly stroked the keys, searching for an answer.
Eventually he gave up, and played a song he had written the day before. It was a song about what to do when your best friend eats the last chocolate fudge pop. You can't be mad at him, right, because he's your best friend. On the other hand, fudge pops are delicious and you really wanted the last one. On another hand that you may have if your an alien or something, or perhaps it's not a hand, but your foot, he didn't know you wanted it. The list of conflicting emotions goes on and on.
There was something very comforting and soothing about this song, which Chris found silly. He thought maybe it was because the song distracted him, and allowed him to forget about the strange feelings he had. He was wrong, but naturally he had no idea.
Nearly halfway through the second verse, the door burst open. A brown-haired man rushed into the room and walked over to Chris.
"Hey, Guy," Chris said. "What are you doing here?"
"I have news for you!" Guy exclaimed, smiling widely.
"OK, shoot."
"Someone's got a girlfriend!" The last word struck Chris. Girlfriend. An image briefly flashed in his mind. Two people were sitting by a lake. He couldn't tell who the people were, or where they were besides 'a lake', but he knew the picture was of high importance. "Chris, did you hear me?"
"Huh? Oh... someone's got a girlfriend. Is it you?"
"How'd you guess?" he frowned.
"Why else would you be telling me?"
"Good point," Guy replied.
"So, you've landed yourself a girlfriend, then? Well, congratulations. What does she do, porn or something?"
"No, she does not work in the pornography industry, thank you very much."
"Right, sorry. You're not that kind of guy," Chris retorted.
"No, I am, but she doesn't work in pornos is all. She's a writer, actually."
"A writer?"
"Yeah, she's writing a novel now. Said something about... well, I can't remember."
"What a good boyfriend you are," Chris said. "Wait, why'd you feel the need to come down here to tell me, anyway?"
"I'm just so excited and happy that I wanted to tell everyone I know. I tried calling you, but it just kept ringing, so I figured you were here. And I was right. Why are you here?"
"Distraction," Chris muttered.
"From what?"
"A dream I had."
"Was it a nightmare? Did Jonny eat your ice cream again?"
"Very funny," Chris sarcastically replied. "No, I actually can't remember the dream. But it just... it affected me, you know?"
"Oh, I've had that before. Weird dreams, and they change how you feel about stuff, but they shouldn't 'cause they're not real." Chris thought about the last statement for a few moments. Dreams aren't real, technically, but in a way they are. They're supposed to reflect your inner mind, right? Something had changed deep within Chris, and it spread to the outside without revealing itself entirely. What a jerk.
"Yeah, not real..."
Eventually he gave up, and played a song he had written the day before. It was a song about what to do when your best friend eats the last chocolate fudge pop. You can't be mad at him, right, because he's your best friend. On the other hand, fudge pops are delicious and you really wanted the last one. On another hand that you may have if your an alien or something, or perhaps it's not a hand, but your foot, he didn't know you wanted it. The list of conflicting emotions goes on and on.
There was something very comforting and soothing about this song, which Chris found silly. He thought maybe it was because the song distracted him, and allowed him to forget about the strange feelings he had. He was wrong, but naturally he had no idea.
Nearly halfway through the second verse, the door burst open. A brown-haired man rushed into the room and walked over to Chris.
"Hey, Guy," Chris said. "What are you doing here?"
"I have news for you!" Guy exclaimed, smiling widely.
"OK, shoot."
"Someone's got a girlfriend!" The last word struck Chris. Girlfriend. An image briefly flashed in his mind. Two people were sitting by a lake. He couldn't tell who the people were, or where they were besides 'a lake', but he knew the picture was of high importance. "Chris, did you hear me?"
"Huh? Oh... someone's got a girlfriend. Is it you?"
"How'd you guess?" he frowned.
"Why else would you be telling me?"
"Good point," Guy replied.
"So, you've landed yourself a girlfriend, then? Well, congratulations. What does she do, porn or something?"
"No, she does not work in the pornography industry, thank you very much."
"Right, sorry. You're not that kind of guy," Chris retorted.
"No, I am, but she doesn't work in pornos is all. She's a writer, actually."
"A writer?"
"Yeah, she's writing a novel now. Said something about... well, I can't remember."
"What a good boyfriend you are," Chris said. "Wait, why'd you feel the need to come down here to tell me, anyway?"
"I'm just so excited and happy that I wanted to tell everyone I know. I tried calling you, but it just kept ringing, so I figured you were here. And I was right. Why are you here?"
"Distraction," Chris muttered.
"From what?"
"A dream I had."
"Was it a nightmare? Did Jonny eat your ice cream again?"
"Very funny," Chris sarcastically replied. "No, I actually can't remember the dream. But it just... it affected me, you know?"
"Oh, I've had that before. Weird dreams, and they change how you feel about stuff, but they shouldn't 'cause they're not real." Chris thought about the last statement for a few moments. Dreams aren't real, technically, but in a way they are. They're supposed to reflect your inner mind, right? Something had changed deep within Chris, and it spread to the outside without revealing itself entirely. What a jerk.
"Yeah, not real..."
-
It was real. Maybe not in the real real way, but in the fake real way, if that makes any sense. It did to Chris, and that's all that mattered. He wanted to understand, and he wanted answers. If he came up with a theory that appeared to be oddly twisted to others, but was perfect to him, then he was happy.
Chris had come to several conclusions. The dream had affected him, it involved person or persons unknown, and it was a reflection of his conscious self. He still couldn't remember anything apart from the mysterious lake, but he was determined to find the events and meaning of the dream.
Jonny had invited the other members over to his flat to watch movies and just hang out. Guy and Will declined. Guy had to tend to his new girlfriend, who needed his opinion on everything from what would sound good in her story to how much toothpaste she should use. Will declined simply because he didn't really like movies. Or Jonny's flat. The little, old lady who lived across the hall would always say things to him that he took as a bit creepy and suggestive.
Chris accepted. He had no reason not to.
"Looks like it's just us, then," Jonny said, handing Chris one of the drinks he was holding.
"But that's OK, right?"
"Yeah, we don't need them. They need us."
"'Cause we're the life of the party, me and you."
"Yeah," Jonny laughed. "So, what movie should we watch first?"
"What movies you got?"
"I've got Hot Fuzz, Tomb Raider, National Treasure, the Wedding Singer, and..."
"And?"
"Um, the Little Mermaid."
"The Little Mermaid?" Chris laughed.
"Yeah, I like it well enough," Jonny muttered.
"Put it in."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. Come on, what's wrong with two grown men watching a kid's cartoon movie? Nothing, I think."
"Okay, then. The Little Mermaid it is." He removed the disc from the case, inserted it into the player, and started the movie.
It was an enjoyable evening. The pair sat on the couch, eating popcorn and watching the movie. It wasn't the most exciting night ever, but it was still enjoyable nonetheless. At the part where Arielle finds out that Eric is marrying another woman, Jonny swore he heard sniffing.
"Chris?" he asked.
"Yeah?"
"Are you crying?" He turned to Chris. Sure enough, there were a few tears visibly rolling down his cheek.
"No, I've just something in my eye," he lied, wiping his face.
"Yeah, right." Jonny decided to let it go, and returned his attention to the movie. The plot moved forward as it was supposed to, and by the end the sniffing had returned in a much louder fashion.
"Chris, you're crying."
"Well, I can't help it!" he bawled. "It's just such a touching movie. Happy endings always get to me."
"You're lucky you're my best friend," Jonny said. "Otherwise I'd hate you."
The words were echoing in Chris' head. Lucky you're my best friend... you're my best friend... best...
Suddenly, Chris was back at the lake. He was one of the mysterious people sitting on the grass. He frantically tried to identify his companion, but it was no use. The figure was as shadowy as it had been the first time he'd seen the image. The lake was a bit clearer, but it didn't reveal much to Chris.
"-ke up!" Jonny shouted. "Chris, come on, snap out of it!"
Chris was being shaken by Jonny. He jerked back to the dimly lit living room that he had been in moments earlier. Except now he was looking at the ceiling.
"Jesus, man," Jonny said. "Are you OK?"
"Uh... what happened?" Chris asked, blinking a few times.
"I don't know, you were just sitting there, and then you were on the floor. Just like that. It scared the hell out of me."
"Sorry, I... I don't know what came over me. I was, like... I don't know, hallucinating or something."
"Hallucinating?"
"Maybe not. But I was in a dream I had the other night."
"That sounds like hallucinating to me," Jonny said.
"No, I think I'm just starting to remember."
Chris had come to several conclusions. The dream had affected him, it involved person or persons unknown, and it was a reflection of his conscious self. He still couldn't remember anything apart from the mysterious lake, but he was determined to find the events and meaning of the dream.
Jonny had invited the other members over to his flat to watch movies and just hang out. Guy and Will declined. Guy had to tend to his new girlfriend, who needed his opinion on everything from what would sound good in her story to how much toothpaste she should use. Will declined simply because he didn't really like movies. Or Jonny's flat. The little, old lady who lived across the hall would always say things to him that he took as a bit creepy and suggestive.
Chris accepted. He had no reason not to.
"Looks like it's just us, then," Jonny said, handing Chris one of the drinks he was holding.
"But that's OK, right?"
"Yeah, we don't need them. They need us."
"'Cause we're the life of the party, me and you."
"Yeah," Jonny laughed. "So, what movie should we watch first?"
"What movies you got?"
"I've got Hot Fuzz, Tomb Raider, National Treasure, the Wedding Singer, and..."
"And?"
"Um, the Little Mermaid."
"The Little Mermaid?" Chris laughed.
"Yeah, I like it well enough," Jonny muttered.
"Put it in."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. Come on, what's wrong with two grown men watching a kid's cartoon movie? Nothing, I think."
"Okay, then. The Little Mermaid it is." He removed the disc from the case, inserted it into the player, and started the movie.
It was an enjoyable evening. The pair sat on the couch, eating popcorn and watching the movie. It wasn't the most exciting night ever, but it was still enjoyable nonetheless. At the part where Arielle finds out that Eric is marrying another woman, Jonny swore he heard sniffing.
"Chris?" he asked.
"Yeah?"
"Are you crying?" He turned to Chris. Sure enough, there were a few tears visibly rolling down his cheek.
"No, I've just something in my eye," he lied, wiping his face.
"Yeah, right." Jonny decided to let it go, and returned his attention to the movie. The plot moved forward as it was supposed to, and by the end the sniffing had returned in a much louder fashion.
"Chris, you're crying."
"Well, I can't help it!" he bawled. "It's just such a touching movie. Happy endings always get to me."
"You're lucky you're my best friend," Jonny said. "Otherwise I'd hate you."
The words were echoing in Chris' head. Lucky you're my best friend... you're my best friend... best...
Suddenly, Chris was back at the lake. He was one of the mysterious people sitting on the grass. He frantically tried to identify his companion, but it was no use. The figure was as shadowy as it had been the first time he'd seen the image. The lake was a bit clearer, but it didn't reveal much to Chris.
"-ke up!" Jonny shouted. "Chris, come on, snap out of it!"
Chris was being shaken by Jonny. He jerked back to the dimly lit living room that he had been in moments earlier. Except now he was looking at the ceiling.
"Jesus, man," Jonny said. "Are you OK?"
"Uh... what happened?" Chris asked, blinking a few times.
"I don't know, you were just sitting there, and then you were on the floor. Just like that. It scared the hell out of me."
"Sorry, I... I don't know what came over me. I was, like... I don't know, hallucinating or something."
"Hallucinating?"
"Maybe not. But I was in a dream I had the other night."
"That sounds like hallucinating to me," Jonny said.
"No, I think I'm just starting to remember."
-
Chris was at the store. He needed to do a bit of grocery shopping. Jonny was with him. Ever since that one night, Jonny felt the need to be around Chris as much as possible. Chris thought it was unnecessary, but there was no way to convince Jonny of it. He didn't mind so much, though, as Jonny was his best friend and it was nice to know that someone cared about him.
"You don't have to be here, you know," Chris told Jonny as they were walking down the cereal isle.
"I just want to make sure that nothing happens to you," Jonny replied.
"It was only the one time, Jonny. You don't have to worry."
"Just because it only happened once doesn't mean it wont happen again."
"Fine," Chris said, grabbing a box off the shelf and placing it into the basket he was holding.
"Oh no," Jonny said.
"What?" Chris asked, turning to him.
"Uh, I have to pee, like, super bad. If I run to the bathroom real quick, do you think you'll be OK?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Just go."
"You sure?"
"Yes, Jon. Now go before you wet yourself."
"I'll be right back," Jonny said as he quickly walked in the direction of the restrooms.
Chris continued with his shopping. He had gone through three isles, picking up boxes and cans here and there. As he went to walk down another isle, someone stopped him.
"Excuse me, sir!" a woman shouted from behind him. Chris turned around. She was about six inches shorter than he was, and she had long, wavy, brown hair.
"Yeah?"
"Are you Chris Martin?" she politely asked.
"Yeah."
"Wow. I can't believe you're right in front of me... shopping," she said, looking at the basket. "Oh, I'm sorry to bother you."
"It's all right."
"This is gonna sound a bit weird," she said, taking a step closer, "but I actually received a bit of your mail the other day."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I guess we live in the same building. Who knew?"
"Oh, that's cool."
"I can give it back to you later, if you like."
"Sounds good."
"OK, well," she started, turning her head to look over to her left, "It was nice to meet you." She looked back at Chris, but he wasn't there.
He was back at the lake. It was even clearer now. Chris was still sitting on the grass. He looked down at the ground and found a rock laying beside him. A sudden surge of anger coursed through his body, and he picked up the rock and chucked it into the lake. The rock collided with the water's surface, causing a huge ripple.
"Hey, don't do that," a voice said. He turned to see the woman from the store. Well, not the exact same woman, but she looked similar. Same wavy hair, same height. "You'll scare the fish."
"Who are you?"
"Does it matter?"
"Where are we?"
"You're on the floor." Her tone changed from relaxed to frightened. "Why are you on the floor? Get up."
"What?"
"Come on, you can get up now!" She walked over to Chris and held his face in her hand. As he looked into her eyes, the background of the lake scene faded into the ceiling tile and florescent lights of the grocery store. He blinked slowly, trying to regain his strength.
"Uh," he grunted.
"Oh, good. Um, are you OK?" she asked.
"Yeah. It, uh... it happens sometimes."
"Oh. Why?"
"I'm not too sure. Where's Jonny?"
"Jonny?"
"My friend. He was supposed to be back-"
"Chris!" Jonny shouted, running over to his friend. "I told you it could happen again."
"Yeah, I know. Help me get up." Jonny grabbed Chris' hand, placing his other arm under Chris' back. Slowly, they worked together to get Chris to sit up. The first trance he was in was nothing like the second. He seemed to be almost completely drained of energy this time. He could only imagine what the third would be like, assuming there would be a third time.
There was a third one.
"You don't have to be here, you know," Chris told Jonny as they were walking down the cereal isle.
"I just want to make sure that nothing happens to you," Jonny replied.
"It was only the one time, Jonny. You don't have to worry."
"Just because it only happened once doesn't mean it wont happen again."
"Fine," Chris said, grabbing a box off the shelf and placing it into the basket he was holding.
"Oh no," Jonny said.
"What?" Chris asked, turning to him.
"Uh, I have to pee, like, super bad. If I run to the bathroom real quick, do you think you'll be OK?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Just go."
"You sure?"
"Yes, Jon. Now go before you wet yourself."
"I'll be right back," Jonny said as he quickly walked in the direction of the restrooms.
Chris continued with his shopping. He had gone through three isles, picking up boxes and cans here and there. As he went to walk down another isle, someone stopped him.
"Excuse me, sir!" a woman shouted from behind him. Chris turned around. She was about six inches shorter than he was, and she had long, wavy, brown hair.
"Yeah?"
"Are you Chris Martin?" she politely asked.
"Yeah."
"Wow. I can't believe you're right in front of me... shopping," she said, looking at the basket. "Oh, I'm sorry to bother you."
"It's all right."
"This is gonna sound a bit weird," she said, taking a step closer, "but I actually received a bit of your mail the other day."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I guess we live in the same building. Who knew?"
"Oh, that's cool."
"I can give it back to you later, if you like."
"Sounds good."
"OK, well," she started, turning her head to look over to her left, "It was nice to meet you." She looked back at Chris, but he wasn't there.
He was back at the lake. It was even clearer now. Chris was still sitting on the grass. He looked down at the ground and found a rock laying beside him. A sudden surge of anger coursed through his body, and he picked up the rock and chucked it into the lake. The rock collided with the water's surface, causing a huge ripple.
"Hey, don't do that," a voice said. He turned to see the woman from the store. Well, not the exact same woman, but she looked similar. Same wavy hair, same height. "You'll scare the fish."
"Who are you?"
"Does it matter?"
"Where are we?"
"You're on the floor." Her tone changed from relaxed to frightened. "Why are you on the floor? Get up."
"What?"
"Come on, you can get up now!" She walked over to Chris and held his face in her hand. As he looked into her eyes, the background of the lake scene faded into the ceiling tile and florescent lights of the grocery store. He blinked slowly, trying to regain his strength.
"Uh," he grunted.
"Oh, good. Um, are you OK?" she asked.
"Yeah. It, uh... it happens sometimes."
"Oh. Why?"
"I'm not too sure. Where's Jonny?"
"Jonny?"
"My friend. He was supposed to be back-"
"Chris!" Jonny shouted, running over to his friend. "I told you it could happen again."
"Yeah, I know. Help me get up." Jonny grabbed Chris' hand, placing his other arm under Chris' back. Slowly, they worked together to get Chris to sit up. The first trance he was in was nothing like the second. He seemed to be almost completely drained of energy this time. He could only imagine what the third would be like, assuming there would be a third time.
There was a third one.
-
Chris walked into the apartment building. He pulled his keys out of his pocket and walked towards the mailboxes. He opened the box to find it was empty, which was fine with him. He didn't really like getting mail, as most of it was either junk or bills. As he turned to leave, the woman from the store walked up to him.
"Wow, great timing, eh? Uh... do you remember me?" she asked.
"Yeah, of course. We met at the store the other day."
"Right. And I have your mail!" she said, lifting up her hand that was carrying a stack of envelopes. "I'm Teresa, by the way."
"Nice to meet you, Teresa."
"Well, here's your mail." She handed him the envelopes. "Um, I was gonna ask you something, but I think it'd just be ridiculous, so I'm gonna go-"
"No, ask me," he said.
"Well, I was wondering if you'd want to go out for dinner or something. But I know it's ridiculous to ask."
"It's not ridiculous. I'd like that."
"Okay," she smiled. "So... how's tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow... why not tonight?"
"Tonight works, too."
"Good. So I'll meet you out here at... eight?"
"Works for me. See you then!"
"See ya." Teresa walked over to her mailbox, and Chris walked up the stairs to his apartment. He smiled the whole way there. No girl had ever asked him out before, and Teresa seemed like a really nice girl. Plus, he had been recently feeling extremely lonely. He figured it was probably because of the news of Guy no longer being single. Hearing that his friends could get girls but he couldn't always made him feel a bit sad. He was wrong, though.
A few hours later, Chris was in front of his closet, fussing over what to wear. In the end, he decided that he'd just wear a regular old t-shirt and pants. Obviously, Teresa didn't care if he wasn't dressed like a king, because she was the one who asked him out in the first place.
He made his way down the stairs as calmly as he could. Teresa was standing by the door, waiting for him. She was staring at the floor, though, so she didn't see him, but he saw her. She was wearing a very nice white blouse, and a bright pink skirt that went down to her knees. She looked very pretty, he thought.
With each step, the nervous, queasy feeling Chris had experienced after the dream returned. With each breath he saw her take, the feeling intensified. It almost scared him.
"Teresa," he said as he reached the bottom of the stairs. She looked up and smiled at him. He smiled back, grabbing her hand and opening the door for her.
They chose a nice, quiet restaurant within walking distance from the apartment building. After a quick look at the menu, they ordered and began to chat about themselves. They talked about favorite books, movies, television shows, music, the normal introductory things.
Teresa was having a fantastic time. She couldn't believe that she was on a date with a man who was so famous, yet so down-to-earth. There was really nothing about him that was unlikeable. But she could tell something was wrong. Chris was not enjoying the date as much.
He thought he was, though. He liked listening to her weird stories about her and her friends' adventures running wild through the streets of New York. They had apparently taking a month long vacation in America, and spent nearly the whole time walking around the city, doing all sorts of crazy things from wearing jester hats and striped tights under brightly colored shorts to bursting out into song in the middle of the sidewalk. The stories reminded him of all the weird things he had done with his friends.
"So," Teresa said as they were eating dessert. "Has that thing happened to you again? The... falling to the floor thing?"
"Um, not since the other day, no."
"Do you think it'll happen tonight? 'Cause, I've got to tell you, it's rather frightening."
"I hope not. But there's no way to tell. Some things just kinda trigger it. It is rather frightening."
"Have you gone to a doctor or anything?"
"No, I don't really think there's a need to. It's just... well, I can't really explain what happens, but I think I've got it under control." Chris didn't have it under control. What he had was nothing close to control. He didn't care, though, he just wanted to finally have an answer. He needed to remember the dream.
The lake, the girl, it all must have been significant. Chris looked at Teresa's flowing hair, hoping that maybe he'd trigger something. Part of him thought it was a stupid thing to do. He had no idea what would trigger his memory, and he didn't want her to be afraid when something did. But he couldn't stop looking. The other part of him didn't care what happened, so long as he could finally understand.
"Tell me another story," he demanded. He thought that maybe she'd say something that would hit a switch in his brain.
"Um, well, I could tell you about this one time when I was five... I don't remember all of it, but it was quite an interesting day. See, my parents drove us to this lake. It was beautiful. I just sat there, though. I was too afraid to go in the water."
As soon as the words "too afraid" left her lips, Chris was gone once again. Judging by the clarity of the image he saw before him, he could tell that he would finally get his answer.
"Wow, great timing, eh? Uh... do you remember me?" she asked.
"Yeah, of course. We met at the store the other day."
"Right. And I have your mail!" she said, lifting up her hand that was carrying a stack of envelopes. "I'm Teresa, by the way."
"Nice to meet you, Teresa."
"Well, here's your mail." She handed him the envelopes. "Um, I was gonna ask you something, but I think it'd just be ridiculous, so I'm gonna go-"
"No, ask me," he said.
"Well, I was wondering if you'd want to go out for dinner or something. But I know it's ridiculous to ask."
"It's not ridiculous. I'd like that."
"Okay," she smiled. "So... how's tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow... why not tonight?"
"Tonight works, too."
"Good. So I'll meet you out here at... eight?"
"Works for me. See you then!"
"See ya." Teresa walked over to her mailbox, and Chris walked up the stairs to his apartment. He smiled the whole way there. No girl had ever asked him out before, and Teresa seemed like a really nice girl. Plus, he had been recently feeling extremely lonely. He figured it was probably because of the news of Guy no longer being single. Hearing that his friends could get girls but he couldn't always made him feel a bit sad. He was wrong, though.
A few hours later, Chris was in front of his closet, fussing over what to wear. In the end, he decided that he'd just wear a regular old t-shirt and pants. Obviously, Teresa didn't care if he wasn't dressed like a king, because she was the one who asked him out in the first place.
He made his way down the stairs as calmly as he could. Teresa was standing by the door, waiting for him. She was staring at the floor, though, so she didn't see him, but he saw her. She was wearing a very nice white blouse, and a bright pink skirt that went down to her knees. She looked very pretty, he thought.
With each step, the nervous, queasy feeling Chris had experienced after the dream returned. With each breath he saw her take, the feeling intensified. It almost scared him.
"Teresa," he said as he reached the bottom of the stairs. She looked up and smiled at him. He smiled back, grabbing her hand and opening the door for her.
They chose a nice, quiet restaurant within walking distance from the apartment building. After a quick look at the menu, they ordered and began to chat about themselves. They talked about favorite books, movies, television shows, music, the normal introductory things.
Teresa was having a fantastic time. She couldn't believe that she was on a date with a man who was so famous, yet so down-to-earth. There was really nothing about him that was unlikeable. But she could tell something was wrong. Chris was not enjoying the date as much.
He thought he was, though. He liked listening to her weird stories about her and her friends' adventures running wild through the streets of New York. They had apparently taking a month long vacation in America, and spent nearly the whole time walking around the city, doing all sorts of crazy things from wearing jester hats and striped tights under brightly colored shorts to bursting out into song in the middle of the sidewalk. The stories reminded him of all the weird things he had done with his friends.
"So," Teresa said as they were eating dessert. "Has that thing happened to you again? The... falling to the floor thing?"
"Um, not since the other day, no."
"Do you think it'll happen tonight? 'Cause, I've got to tell you, it's rather frightening."
"I hope not. But there's no way to tell. Some things just kinda trigger it. It is rather frightening."
"Have you gone to a doctor or anything?"
"No, I don't really think there's a need to. It's just... well, I can't really explain what happens, but I think I've got it under control." Chris didn't have it under control. What he had was nothing close to control. He didn't care, though, he just wanted to finally have an answer. He needed to remember the dream.
The lake, the girl, it all must have been significant. Chris looked at Teresa's flowing hair, hoping that maybe he'd trigger something. Part of him thought it was a stupid thing to do. He had no idea what would trigger his memory, and he didn't want her to be afraid when something did. But he couldn't stop looking. The other part of him didn't care what happened, so long as he could finally understand.
"Tell me another story," he demanded. He thought that maybe she'd say something that would hit a switch in his brain.
"Um, well, I could tell you about this one time when I was five... I don't remember all of it, but it was quite an interesting day. See, my parents drove us to this lake. It was beautiful. I just sat there, though. I was too afraid to go in the water."
As soon as the words "too afraid" left her lips, Chris was gone once again. Judging by the clarity of the image he saw before him, he could tell that he would finally get his answer.
-
Everything was quiet. Chris was sitting by the lake, admiring its deep shade of blue. He was all alone, left with nothing but his thoughts. Even those weren't very good company. Mostly he thought about how lovely the lake looked. And how lonely he was.
He was the loneliest he'd ever felt. The lake was huge, and grass surrounded him. There were a few animals both in and out of the water. None of it mattered, though. He was so lonely.
Staring at the lake, Chris felt a wave of depression rush over him. Everything seemed to have a match. The blue of the lake shared a connection with the blue of the sky. The blades of grass intertwined in a manner resembling two people locked in a loving embrace. The animals all played and sang with their animal friends. Chris sat alone.
Except he wasn't always alone. There was someone who made him feel like... well, like nothing he'd ever experienced before. Whenever they were around each other, Chris couldn't help but smile. No one could warm his heart like...
"Hey," she said. She sat down next to Chris. He looked at her. She was the Teresa-wannabe. He thought he should say something, but he couldn't. He just kept staring. "Do you still feel lonely?"
He looked at her. She was just as pretty as Teresa. She could probably tell stories like Teresa. But she couldn't make him feel happy. It just wasn't possible.
"Do you still feel lonely?" she repeated.
"Yes."
"You know why, don't you?"
"Yes."
"Someone is missing. Do you know who?"
"Yes." Chris was unsure of why he positively answered the last question. He actually didn't know who made him feel like he was floating. He had always longed for that feeling, and someone to make him feel that way. He thought he never found it, though. He was wrong.
"Listen to your heart, Chris. You'll find that you really do know." He wondered how she knew what he was thinking, then realised that he was in a dream. He wasn't talking to anyone but himself.
Everything went quiet once more. Even the animals had stopped. Deep within the lake, there was a dull beating.
"Is that..."
"Yes," she answered. "It is your heart. Listen to it." Chris closed his eyes and listened. The beating was at a normal pace. It only sounded like a regular heartbeat to him. It didn't seem to say anything.
"I don't get it. It sounds normal."
"Does it? Maybe you should take a look." Chris stared at the lake. He thought about walking over to it, and as he did, the beating grew faster and louder.
"No."
"Why not?"
"I'm afraid."
"There's nothing to be afraid of. Don't you want to be happy?"
"No," he replied.
"Why not?" He stared silently at the lake. There was really only one reason for not wanting to be happy. Being happy would be great. Chris would have loved to be happy. But there was a reason to not want to be.
"What if it all goes wrong?"
"That weighs more heavily than if it all goes right. If things take a turn for the worse, then it doesn't matter what bliss you did or could have had."
"Yeah." He turned back to her. "I'm afraid."
"Take my hand," she said, standing up and reaching out to him.
"Why?"
"I'll help you conquer your fear." Much to his surprise, Chris immediately grabbed her hand. He was still absolutely afraid, but he didn't want to be stuck anymore. He didn't want to be lonely anymore.
She slowly led him to the lake. Every step they took increased the volume and pace of the heartbeat. Eventually, they reached the edge of the lake. At that point, Chris' heart was racing. He had never been more scared in his life.
"It's still not saying anything," he said. She laughed and smiled at him.
"It won't. You have to look."
"Look in the lake?"
"Look in the lake, and you will find what you've been looking for all along. You'll find your missing piece."
"My answer."
"Yes, your answer. Don't be afraid, Chris. There is no reason to be afraid now. You've already made it this far."
Chris waited a few moments. Taking that last step, bending over to look into the lake- it could change everything. Then he remembered that everything had already changed. The dream had already been dreamed. He wanted an answer, and he could have it. All he had to do was look.
Gathering up all the courage he could muster, Chris stepped forward. He pointed his blue eyes at the lake's surface. The image that appeared was at first cloudy. He could barely make out its form.
"Let go of your fear, Chris. Let yourself see."
"Let go of my fear," he repeated. "Let myself see." And see he did. The queasy, nervous feeling that he had grown accustomed to now returned in a form that made him start to shake. He was very afraid, but there was no turning back. The image in the lake was clear now.
Chris just stared at it. He had a feeling that it would be this. He hoped it wouldn't, because there were so many potential problems that could arise from such a thing. But he knew it was true. No one he had ever known made him feel so happy. So in love.
Chris reached out and touched the surface of the lake. The picture rippled a bit, but remained visible. The anger he'd felt in a previous trance overtook his body again. Why did this have to happen to him? What did he ever do to deserve happiness in such a twisted form?
He found the rock, and instantly knew what to do. He threw it at the lake, hoping that the collision would change his feelings and he wouldn't have to worry about all the problems he could face. It did no good, though. Nothing could change the picture. He could throw as many rocks as he wanted, or splash the water around, but it would stay the same.
Chris began to cry. It was the only thing he felt was left for him to do. All he wanted in life was to be happy with someone. Looking down at the picture before him, he knew he could be happy. Could be. But there was no guarantee.
There was no guarantee that Jonny would love him back.
He was the loneliest he'd ever felt. The lake was huge, and grass surrounded him. There were a few animals both in and out of the water. None of it mattered, though. He was so lonely.
Staring at the lake, Chris felt a wave of depression rush over him. Everything seemed to have a match. The blue of the lake shared a connection with the blue of the sky. The blades of grass intertwined in a manner resembling two people locked in a loving embrace. The animals all played and sang with their animal friends. Chris sat alone.
Except he wasn't always alone. There was someone who made him feel like... well, like nothing he'd ever experienced before. Whenever they were around each other, Chris couldn't help but smile. No one could warm his heart like...
"Hey," she said. She sat down next to Chris. He looked at her. She was the Teresa-wannabe. He thought he should say something, but he couldn't. He just kept staring. "Do you still feel lonely?"
He looked at her. She was just as pretty as Teresa. She could probably tell stories like Teresa. But she couldn't make him feel happy. It just wasn't possible.
"Do you still feel lonely?" she repeated.
"Yes."
"You know why, don't you?"
"Yes."
"Someone is missing. Do you know who?"
"Yes." Chris was unsure of why he positively answered the last question. He actually didn't know who made him feel like he was floating. He had always longed for that feeling, and someone to make him feel that way. He thought he never found it, though. He was wrong.
"Listen to your heart, Chris. You'll find that you really do know." He wondered how she knew what he was thinking, then realised that he was in a dream. He wasn't talking to anyone but himself.
Everything went quiet once more. Even the animals had stopped. Deep within the lake, there was a dull beating.
"Is that..."
"Yes," she answered. "It is your heart. Listen to it." Chris closed his eyes and listened. The beating was at a normal pace. It only sounded like a regular heartbeat to him. It didn't seem to say anything.
"I don't get it. It sounds normal."
"Does it? Maybe you should take a look." Chris stared at the lake. He thought about walking over to it, and as he did, the beating grew faster and louder.
"No."
"Why not?"
"I'm afraid."
"There's nothing to be afraid of. Don't you want to be happy?"
"No," he replied.
"Why not?" He stared silently at the lake. There was really only one reason for not wanting to be happy. Being happy would be great. Chris would have loved to be happy. But there was a reason to not want to be.
"What if it all goes wrong?"
"That weighs more heavily than if it all goes right. If things take a turn for the worse, then it doesn't matter what bliss you did or could have had."
"Yeah." He turned back to her. "I'm afraid."
"Take my hand," she said, standing up and reaching out to him.
"Why?"
"I'll help you conquer your fear." Much to his surprise, Chris immediately grabbed her hand. He was still absolutely afraid, but he didn't want to be stuck anymore. He didn't want to be lonely anymore.
She slowly led him to the lake. Every step they took increased the volume and pace of the heartbeat. Eventually, they reached the edge of the lake. At that point, Chris' heart was racing. He had never been more scared in his life.
"It's still not saying anything," he said. She laughed and smiled at him.
"It won't. You have to look."
"Look in the lake?"
"Look in the lake, and you will find what you've been looking for all along. You'll find your missing piece."
"My answer."
"Yes, your answer. Don't be afraid, Chris. There is no reason to be afraid now. You've already made it this far."
Chris waited a few moments. Taking that last step, bending over to look into the lake- it could change everything. Then he remembered that everything had already changed. The dream had already been dreamed. He wanted an answer, and he could have it. All he had to do was look.
Gathering up all the courage he could muster, Chris stepped forward. He pointed his blue eyes at the lake's surface. The image that appeared was at first cloudy. He could barely make out its form.
"Let go of your fear, Chris. Let yourself see."
"Let go of my fear," he repeated. "Let myself see." And see he did. The queasy, nervous feeling that he had grown accustomed to now returned in a form that made him start to shake. He was very afraid, but there was no turning back. The image in the lake was clear now.
Chris just stared at it. He had a feeling that it would be this. He hoped it wouldn't, because there were so many potential problems that could arise from such a thing. But he knew it was true. No one he had ever known made him feel so happy. So in love.
Chris reached out and touched the surface of the lake. The picture rippled a bit, but remained visible. The anger he'd felt in a previous trance overtook his body again. Why did this have to happen to him? What did he ever do to deserve happiness in such a twisted form?
He found the rock, and instantly knew what to do. He threw it at the lake, hoping that the collision would change his feelings and he wouldn't have to worry about all the problems he could face. It did no good, though. Nothing could change the picture. He could throw as many rocks as he wanted, or splash the water around, but it would stay the same.
Chris began to cry. It was the only thing he felt was left for him to do. All he wanted in life was to be happy with someone. Looking down at the picture before him, he knew he could be happy. Could be. But there was no guarantee.
There was no guarantee that Jonny would love him back.
---
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