Two Days Of A Dream (29 page)

My eyes focused and I noticed a hickey on his neck and for some reason that bothered me, but not enough to push him away.

I closed my eyes for a moment and breathed him in. I could smell strawberries in his hair. I liked it and thought we might use the same shampoo.

Focus Sylvia!

I couldn’t think at first as my brain was on overload, I was in shock. This was way too good to be true. I was scared someone would shake me and I would wake from the best dream of my life

I leaned away from him so I could look at his handsome face in hopes of figuring out what he was thinking.

He tightened his hold. “Oh Sylv you can’t leave. I love you.” His voice was thick with emotion.

This was definitely too good to be true so I knew he was being theatrical to tease me. He held me in the perfect embrace, even as sweaty as we both were. He was playing his part to perfection and I was enjoying every second even if it wasn’t real.

I laughed so he would know he hadn’t fooled me, although I really wanted to be fooled even if for a mere minute. What a glorious minute it would have been too. Ah, to fall completely into the silky smooth depths of heaven itself without reality nagging and spoiling the moment.

He pulled back and looked at me, a tear running down his perfect cheek. He was really crying. Boy he was a good actor and had real talent but of course I already knew that.

I had always been swept away as a bystander in the aged dark school auditorium watching him work his magic from the spotlight. I sighed. Even without the spotlight, getting to play a scene with Calvin was a dream come true.

“Sylv, how can you laugh at a time like this?” He sounded heart broken.

I looked closer at his glazed azure eyes.

I tried to clear my head. He was serious? I wanted to pinch myself to see if I was dreaming but he had my arms pinned in his strong arms.

I had to be dreaming, but the dream was off some how. Where was the joy and exhilaration that confession should have produced? All I could muster was confusion.

My heart dropped and everything clicked into place. How stupid of me. I wanted so badly for him to finally realize I was the best girl for him that I didn’t want to see it was only The Change that had his heart gift wrapped for me.

Yes, The stupid Change that was thrust on me on my sixteenth birthday that I would have to endure for a whole year. The stupid idiotic Change that had all the guys around me thinking they were in love with me. Yes The stupid idiotic bewildering Change that was wrecking my life!

I wanted to cry.

He tried to kiss me and instinctively I pulled back. My sudden movement put us off balance and we fell, knocking the breath out of me. I struggled to breathe while I tried to fight him off.

The world definitely wasn’t right if I was fighting off Calvin Thompson. It had to be a nightmare. Perhaps it was the same nightmare I had been having about being forced to move to Alaska. I hoped I would wake up and find myself snuggled deep under my grandmother's quilt, in my room filled with posters and stuffed animals. I would find my grandmother still alive and the family legend would be just that, a legend. She would laugh and tell me how gullible I was.

When my lungs filled my first objective was a scream, which I did. “Daaad! Heelllp!”

“You don’t need your dad, you only need me.” He moved for my lips, his hot breath gushed against my neck. My resolve was weakening, I needed reinforcements.

Tam was still there bouncing up and down, worry encasing her young face but Tim ran to us from the house and tugged on Calvin's arm to no use. What I wouldn’t have given for an older, stronger, big brother.

“Tell me you love me Sylv.” I moved just as he made another try for my lips. He ended up in my hair which he smelled appreciatively, nuzzling my ear. If I didn’t get help soon The Change would be over for me.

It took all their strength to get him off and drag him away. I lay there panting and shaking. I was unsure if that had been reality or a daydream gone horribly wrong. The way this year was going it had to be reality.

I searched around in the grass for my glasses that were now slightly bent. I straightened them and put them on.

Sue and the twins helped me up. When Sue was sure I could stand on my own she took my glasses and straightened them some more before handing them back to me. I cleaned them with my blouse as Sue dragged me to the car, sighing, as though I had incited this incident. Well, actuall, I guess I did. This was just another reason for her to be mad at me.

“Sylvia, tell them you’re staying!” Calvin tried to dig his feet in. “Please Sylv, please stay!”

He was pleading with me for everything I had ever wanted from him. This was so unfair.

Calvin suddenly went limp hoping the dead weight of his body would jar him from their grasp. Mrs. Thompson lost her hold and Calvin tried to jerk his arms away but Dad had a firm hold, not letting Calvin wriggle his body free. Thank goodness Dad was stronger than Calvin.

I’d never seen the man of my dreams behave like this. It was quite an eye opener.

Hmm, I'd always assumed Calvin was stronger than my dad, everyone for that matter.

Sue stuffed me into the van as I stared at poor Calvin, shutting the door and locking it. I leaned my forehead against the window, the air conditioning cooled the sweat on my back and I shivered.

Calvin looked at me with the saddest eyes I’d ever seen. “Sylvia please stay!”

Watching while Dad and Mrs. Thompson dragged Calvin, protesting loudly, into his house hurt but his beseeching eyes would haunt me forever.

Things like this had been happening all around me since the family legend turned my life upside down. My grandmother had told me that guys would notice me more. That turned out to be an understatement of biblical proportions. She also said that I had to be careful and keep my eyes on my goal. But a whole year was way too long for what was happening around me and I had almost six more months yet to go.

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