CHAPTER 4”YOU AND ME”

 

“Get up Em, I am hungry and its nearly 11am already!” Said a very impatient Shawna. I gave her the look of death before I got off the bed. This dream was getting somewhere and she tore me from it.

We went to the local diner and had breakfast. After the diner we headed to Madison to shop for a new outfit for tonight. Of course we dragged Drew with us, we needed that male perspective. We both had tried on four different outfits.

Shawna had found an off the shoulder green top with a pair of black dress pants fitted and some matching closed toe heels.

Finally I came out of the dressing room in A shiny purple halter top with a plunging drape neckline. The back of the shirt was low, revealing my shoulders. I had on a pair of dark blue skinny jeans with dark gray 3 inch open toed heels. They were shiny like the shirt.

I placed myself with wobbly feet from the heels in front of Drew to get his opinion. But his face said it all. He sat in the chair with his mouth wide open. I began to giggle because he looked like he was hypnotized.

“Drew buddy you are okay? You look like your in a daze?” I kept laughing lowly.

He shook his head to wipe the expression from his face. “You look, amazing.” He gushed in an adoring tone.

I smiled brightly at him, adjusting myself in the mirror. “I do look pretty hot don't I?” I stated proudly to myself.

“Yes yes your hot, but I'm hotter, let's change and get going. We only have 4 hours left and I would like to get my nails and hair done still.” Protested Shawna.

“OK.” I took one last stare at myself and turned back into the dressing room. I could hear Shawna and Drew talking in the waiting room.

“God tell her already! Its so annoying watching you watching her. It's seriously creeping me out. You are like a stalker Drew, just tell her how you feel already!” I could her Shawna's impatient and annoyed tone.

'I will tonight at the concert. It will be the perfect opportunity.” His voice had determination in it.

What were they talking about? Stalking? Watching? I was left confused.

I came out the dressing room and paid for my things. Drew decided he wanted to go off and do his own thing while we had our nails and hair done. I wasn't much for hair and nails but Shawna was determined that we act like girls for once.

After the mall we headed back to my dad's to get ready for the night. My hair was down and parted in the middle, while the small layers angled the front of my face. Shawna had gotten her hair pulled back in a ponytail that puffed on the top.

As we made our way downstairs where dad and Drew sat in the living room, both their faces lit up. I must admit, Drew looked very handsome. He had his hair picked with some gel and sported a short sleeve black button down shirt with some tan khaki's and black dress shoes. I even noticed how adorable his smile was.

'You look great Drew. Ready to go?” I said smiling at him.

“Yes definitely.” He replied looking dazzled by me. He offered to help me with my jacket. Dad dropped us off at the train station, since it would be a madhouse driving into Madison he figured we would fend better that way.

“I will have George Leery ride up and drop off your car. Just so you won't have to wait for me to get out of bed.” Dad chuckled at us and kissed me on the head. “Have a good time kids.”

The train ride was fast, maybe 10 minutes to downtown Madison. We were only a few blocks from theater. where the concert was being held. The streets were lined with tall buildings and lots of lights. Busy with people and traffic. It was around 7:30pm when we arrived at the theater. The band we were going to see was called, “The Comet”. They were an up and coming rock pop group.

We found our sits toward the front row and waited for the concert to begin. The crowd came alive when the band stepped out and introduced themselves.

I looked at Drew and he smiled widely while placing his arm around my shoulder. I didn't object and drew myself closer into his side. He smelled like aftershave. It was a nice scent. I was easily taken in by it While Drew's attention was straight ahead at the stage I noticed a tall dark figure off to the corner of the stage in the row. I tilted my head out and saw Noah standing there.

He was looking at me with that tortured expression he wore so often and suddenly I felt jolted. He looked hurt and then I watched him walk off. I pushed Drew's arm away and followed suit after Noah. What am I doing? I barely know him? The only real contact we ever had was in my dreams? But I lost all control and just went with my instincts.

I didn't even turn to see if Drew or Shawna were following me out of the theater. All I was concerned with was finding Noah. I made my way to the street, but saw no sign of him anywhere. I started walking further and further away from the theater. I turned down one of the streets in hope he might have gone that way. I looked at all the parked cars to see if I saw his BMW, but to no avail.

I had stopped to lean on one of the cars to relieve my aching feet. Heels were not good walking shoes. The road I was on was far off the main drag. It was dark and there were some abandon buildings there. It definitely wasn't the safest place for me to stop.

Then I heard a bottle break somewhere near by. I turned in the direction the sound came from, but saw nothing but blackness. I decided it was best for me to go back into the direction I came, but then I heard foot steps approaching me. I didn't bother to turn around .I just started walking as fast as I could, but the foot steps only followed just as fast. As I tried my best to keep a swift pace, my heel got caught in a crack in the side walk and I tumbled to the ground.

The foot steps stopped behind me and fear rained over me. “Well aren't you a damsel in distress? Looks like you need some assistance.” A deep dark husky voice chuckled behind me.

“No no I'm fine, really.” I stuttered out.

“Oh you are fine alright. Such a pretty girl. The things I could do to you.” His tone still dark and vial.

I tried my best to get to my feet before I stumbled backwards as he came closer. He smelled of alcohol and he looked creepy. His hair was greasy and he needed a shave. He was a short man ,but taller than me and had a husky build.

As I tried to run he grabbed my arm and threw me to the ground. I smacked my head on the sidewalk hard and it was the last thing I remembered.

I woke up to the sound of a low beeping sound and throbbing in my head. I attempted to open my eyes and adjust them to the light in the room. All I could see was a lot of white. As I tried to move my left hand to my face, I felt something sticking into my hand. It was an IV. I was in the hospital.

I heard voices but still very groggy to make out who they belonged to. “Look she is coming to, go get Susan and Harry.” That was Shawna's voice.

“Hey there, how are you feeling? You took quite a hit to the head there missy.” Shawna came to the bed and sat next to me, rubbing my hand.

All I remembered was that disgusting man on the dark street then falling. After that everything was a blank. “Shaw, what happened, what am I doing here?” I said in a weak voice.

“You have been here for 2 days Emma, you ran out of the concert and tripped on the sidewalk and hit your head pretty hard. Fortunately, Noah found you and he brought you here. He seems to be your white knight. 2^nd time he saved your butt. You are at your mom's hospital. She's been taking care of you.” Shawna said soothingly.

Noah had brought me here? What happened with the man who tried to attack me? I didn't see anyone else that night on the street, how did he know where to find me? I had wandered so far from the theater.

It was getting repetitive, knowing he kept saving me.

But before I had the chance to ask Shawna anything else, both my parents came rushing in the room and to my side. Shawna got off the bed and moved across the room. Both mom and dad began fusing over me asking me if I was okay. I noticed them holding hands has they sat there looking at me with concern.

“You two need to just get back together and make it official.” I said laughing.

They both looked at each other confused by my statement. “The hand holding.” I pointed weakly to their intertwined hands.

They both looked at their hands and quickly undid them. I just shook my head in defeat. “You are okay sweetie. Would you like any pain meds or anything?” Mom cooed rubbing my head.”You got lucky, hitting your head like that. But you didn't need stitches or anything, you just had a little head trauma.”

“Um no I'm okay Mom, can I just get some rest, I am really tired” I really was tired. Funny since I was unconscious for two days. Mom agreed and ushered everyone out of the room so I could rest.

“Just press the call button baby if you need me.” She sighed before her and dad both kissed my head and my friends said goodnight.

I laid there for a minute or two trying to play back the events in my head. Noah seemed to be my prince charming, always saved me from myself. It just seemed odd he knew where I was. Even though when I rushed out to find him, he was gone out of sight.

A few hours went by and I hadn't realized I had fallen asleep. Something stirred me awake and I nearly jumped out of my own skin when I looked toward the corner of my room and saw a dark figure standing there. I frantically started looking for the call button, but the figure had moved quickly to me and grabbed my hand.

I nearly jolted off the bed at the cold touch. The hand was cold like meat just removed from the freezer. It gave me chills all over my body. The hand quickly removed itself and I looked up to see the owner's face. It belonged to Noah.

“Oh my god what the hell are you doing in here at this hour! You scared me half to death!” I protested quietly at him.

“I didn't mean to startle you. I just had to see you were okay. I was so worried. You hadn't dreamed the whole time you have been here.” He stopped himself from going further looking down at the floor.

“What do you mean, I haven't dreamed?” I felt anxiety come over me. How would he know something like that? Of all things, about my dreams. Those dreams followed me all the time. They made no sense and they always ended with me questioning more than receiving any kind of answer.

He kept looking down with a solemn look on his face. Then he looked at me locking his eyes with mine. “Emma, tell me about your dreams. What do you see?” Its like he could read my mind. His voice was so pure and silky. It made more shivers run through me ,but they were the good kind.

“Not until you tell me what happened in that street” I said firmly.

His face grew with that tortured look that I hated so much to see. I didn't like when he was in pain, if that's what it was. He walked over to the door . Thinking he was about to leave I went to protest but he just put his hand in the air to quiet me. He went and closed the door and locked it.

He turned back to me and sat on the edge of my hospital bed and looked me in my face. That animal was trying to take advantage of you, but I took care of him. He will never hurt you again.” His voice was dark, like the words hurt his throat.

“What do you mean, you took care of him? Please tell me you didn't do anything bad Noah.” I was pleading.

He chuckled darkly before he spoke again. “Nothing the b*****d didn't deserve.” I didn't want to know the rest. From his comment I was frightened and obviously it showed on my face cause his look went from dark to worried.

“Unfortunately, he will survive another day on this earth.” His voice softening now. “Now Emma, tell me about your dreams.”

I had been waiting to tell him about my dreams since the moment he walked into my life, but I had no idea how he knew about those dreams. I took a deep breath and remembered his comment that day in class.

“What did you mean by what you said that day, I keep wondering how that ends too?” I asked innocently. For some odd reason I didn't find it one bit strange that it was 2:30 in the morning and he was in my hospital room. Though a saner person would have screamed by now. But he was far from frightening.

“Let's cut to the chase, shall we? I know you have dreams about me. Not just normal everyday teenage girl dreams. You have these far off dreams of us together. But for whatever reason, you never allow us to be together.” He laughed making his voice even more irresistible to me.

I felt annoyed by his cockiness. “Actually in the last dream, you weren't even there.” I said spitefully.

He smirked and let out a low chuckle. “So you do admit you dream of me?” He bit his lower lip.

God could he stop being so sexy just for one damn minute! I blushed at his statement. “How did you even know about me dreaming of you?” I was growing annoyed at this point. He kept avoiding the answer.

“I over heard you talking to your friend about it” He shrugged at me still smirking.

His admission could make a lot of sense. So I took it as an acceptable answer, for now.

So I spent the next few hours telling him about every dream. His face never looking away from mine and his interest never dulling out.

Has I began yawning, feeling tired all over again he looked at me with concern. “You should rest. We will talk again when you come back to Deforest.”

I had no strength to argue with him and shook my head in agreement. He smiled one last time before telling me to close my eyes. Once I did, I heard the lock on the door open and he was gone.