The Dream - Marline (e textbook reader TXT) 📗

him! I officially declared myself weird.
The next few days were absolutely normal. I told nobody about my dream because it was just a bit too embarrassing. Even though Lilli was my best friend, she was also Jesse’s sister.
Lilli was waiting for the bus to go on camp, she had taken geography while I had taken history and the geography students were going to climb a mountain.
“Em, can’t you just come with me or something? Just sneak in the bus. It’ll be so boring without you!” Lilli tried convincing me to come.
I laughed. “Lil, I can’t come. And I don’t actually feel like climbing that mountain, so have fun with all the bugs and stuff,” I couldn’t help but add. It didn’t make Lilli feel any better.
“Are you allowed to take your phone?” I asked her.
“No, but I’m just going to. I mean why would I not? And it’s not like they’d notice.” Lilli answered.
“Good idea. Text me how things are going.”
In the meantime the bus had arrived. Lilli and I said goodbye to each other and then she was off. I didn’t feel like going to school that day, everything was so boring without Lilli. I made it through the school day and walked home. I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening watching movies. Suddenly my phone rang. It was after dinner and I wondered who would call me.
“Emily?” I heard a familiar voice.
“Yeah?” I answered, not trusting the person on the other side of the line.
“Hi, it’s Jesse. I really need your help. Could you please come to the palace?”
“What do you need my help for?” I asked.
“I can’t explain that right now but please come. And don’t tell anyone.” He sounded so pleading that I had to trust him. “If you’re anything like the person in my dream, you’ll come.” I heard him mutter. I was astonished. Had he dreamt about me? Was it anything like the dream I’d dreamt about him? I decided that I was coming and told him so.
Without much difficulty I snuck out of my house. It was actually really easy because my parents had already gone to bed. I just needed to open a window and I was out. Just in case I left a note on my bed, saying where I was going. I got on my bike and rode towards the palace. Jesse was waiting for me outside. He led me around to the back entrance and I parked my bike there. Then he explained.
“You know Mia right?” Without waiting for an answer he continued. “She just told me that she is pregnant.” Jesse took a few steps away from me. He raked his hand through his hair and looked towards the forest. “I just don’t know what to do, I can’t handle this kind of stuff.” He looked desperate. He turned around and looked at me.
“Can you talk to her or something? She’s really upset.”
“Yeah, sure, I’ll try.” I didn’t really know what I was supposed to say to a 17 year old girl who had just found out she was pregnant. Jesse and I walked towards the forest. I knew that a little further up the path there was a little cottage. I suspected that Mia was there. I was right.
“Mia?” Jesse called softly. “Emily is here.”
“What?” Mia looked up. She looked outraged. “You promised you would not tell anyone!” She screamed at Jesse. Jesse took a few steps inside and wanted to calm Mia down. “You stay away from me!” Mia shrieked. “And you,” Mia’s eyes were full of hatred as she pointed at me. “Don’t you dare tell anybody or I’ll personally make your life miserable, you wretched person.” I was stunned. I had not expected this at all. Jesse looked at me. His expression was a mixture of apologetic and hopeless. I smiled at him reassuringly and stepped into the cottage. By now Mia was sitting in a corner, sobbing her heart out. Or at least that’s what it sounded like. Jesse stepped out of the cottage, I could see that he really had no idea what to do. I walked over to Mia and put my arms around her. At first it seemed like she was going to push me away but then she let me hug her.
“Hey, it’s going to be ok.” I reassured her. “But please, whatever you do, don’t abort the baby.” I begged.
“Of course I’m not going to abort the baby, who do you think I am?” Mia looked offended.
“Thank goodness you feel that way.” I said and gave her a squeeze. “Are you cold?”
Mia nodded and sniffed. I searched through my pockets and to my surprise, I found a tissue. I handed it to her and she blew her nose. I then took off my jacket and put it around her shoulders. I hadn’t noticed that Jesse was standing in the door opening observing us.
“Are you hungry?” I asked Mia. She shook her head. I ignored her answer and turned around to Jesse. “Do you have any food?”
“Yeah, sure, there’s some in the fridge.” Jesse walked over to the fridge. After he had left the porch I noticed it had started raining. Jesse opened a packet of chips and a packet of MnM’s and emptied them in a bowl.
“Come on, let’s sit on a chair near the fire place.” We got three chairs and set them near the fire. Jesse put a table in the middle and placed the two bowls on top. I must admit, I ate more than either one of them. Mia was staring at the fire, as if she were in a trance. Jesse looked awkward.
“Mia, how did it happen?” I asked her gently. I had no idea if she wanted to talk about it or not but I couldn’t bear the silence any longer. It took a while for Mia to answer. Then, in a tone as if she still didn’t believe it, she said: “I was raped.” Then she burst out in tears. I had no idea what to say. Instead I walked over to Mia and hugged her. I think the hug showed more than words could ever say.
“Mia, you know we’ll always be there for you.” I told her, referring to Jesse and me. Jesse got up from his chair and hugged Mia as well.
“Thanks, you’re both so nice to me.” Mia said softly. I couldn’t handle it anymore and left the room. I walked outside. It was still raining but I couldn’t care less. Tears were streaming down my face. I heard footsteps behind me and when I turned around I saw it was Jesse. I didn’t care that he could see my tears.
“Are you ok?” He asked me gently.
“How can people do that? How can people be so mean?” I screamed into the rain. Jesse understood me, he understood what I was thinking and why I was angry. He walked over to me and put his arms around me.
“I know.” He hushed me. “I know, I don’t understand it either.” This was exactly what I needed, someone strong to be able to lean against. I put my arms around him as well, rested my chin on his shoulder and felt my anger flow away from me. We stood there for a while, in the rain, each lost in our own thoughts. Apparently we both realized at the same time who we were hugging because we let go of each other and then stood there rather awkwardly.
“I think I better go home.” I said to Jesse. “My parents don’t even know I left the house.”
“Em, Mia needs you right now.” Jesse said. “You can’t leave. There’s enough space in the cottage for you to stay. You’ll have to sleep on the rug though.” I considered it for a moment. I had left a note so at least my parents would know where I was.
“You know Jesse, sooner or later people will find out about Mia.” I said.
“It can’t remain a secret forever.” Jesse responded. “Come on, let’s go inside.”
He held the cottage door open for me and I went inside. Mia was still sitting in the same spot.
“Come on, let’s get some sleep.” I helped her up and brought her to the bedroom. There was only one bedroom, and only one bed in the cottage. But I didn’t mind sleeping on the rug in front of the fireplace. It seemed comfortable. I helped Mia in to bed and tucked her in. Then I checked in the cupboard for two other blankets. Luckily I found them. I then walked back into the living room. Jesse was sitting in front of the fire place with his arms around his knees. Without a word I handed him the blanket.
“Thanks.” He looked up at me. “Come sit.” I sat down next to him and put the blanket around myself. The rain was beating hard against the window. It was cozy in the cottage and as I stared into the flames, my thoughts went back to the dream. By now I was considering the fact that the dream might actually have reflected Jesse’s character. I suddenly realized how tired I was. It was already 12:30 and I had to go to school tomorrow. I lay down in front of the fire and Jesse lay next to me. I was completely comfortable.

I woke up late, was disoriented and sore from sleeping on the floor all night. I sat up, stretched and looked around for Jesse or Mia. I found a note on the table. We’re at the palace

. Jesse’s parents had found out. Well, they were bound to find out sooner or later. I went to the bathroom, realized that I couldn’t brush my teeth or comb my hair and decided to walk towards the palace. Jesse, Mia and Jesse’s parents were all sitting at the table eating breakfast.
“Finally,” Mia said cheerfully. I smiled sleepily.
“Come sit down and have some breakfast.” Jesse’s mother invited me.
“My parents are probably wondering where I am.”
“We’ve already contacted them, they said you don’t have to go to school today.” I sighed with relief and sat down at the table. I was too embarrassed to look at Jesse, I mean, we had been sworn enemies ever since I met Lilli and yesterday that had all changed. I wasn’t actually sure if it had all changed but now I knew that there was a part of Jesse that was caring and gentle. And knowing this about him confused me.


“Why did you have to do that?” I was furious. “What is your problem? Now everyone in there thinks I am a complete freak and it’s all your fault!”
“Emily!” He called after me. “Em!”
“Just leave me alone!” He caught up to me and walked next to me.
“No, I won’t leave you alone.” Jesse said. He then stood in front of me so that I could no longer keep on walking. I noticed how unbelievably good he looked in the suit he was wearing, with the moon shining on his face. It annoyed me that I noticed this. Jesse then said something that I had had not seen coming: “Because I love you.”
I stared at him for a few seconds, dumbfounded. I had no idea what to say. I didn’t know if he meant it or not, I didn’t know anything.
“It’s true,” Jesse said, “from the moment I had that dream I’ve been wondering if I like you or not but that night