• Chapter 2


    I stand there, in the back of Hollywood Video, in the horror section, with a pile of DVDs at my feet, refusing to turn around.

    It’s all in your mind, Taylor. It’s all in your mind. Not real. Just a voice.

    However, my impatience and anxiety, my hope and longing for him actually being there takes over and I spin around, his name escaping from my lips.

    His name escaping from my lips into thin air.

    Once again, I stand there, doing nothing. Disappointment washes over me, and I want to beat myself up for being such an idiot.

    'Told ya it wasn’t real.' A voice in my head snaps.

    'Oh shut up. You’re not helping.' Another one talks back.

    'Just saying.'

    'Yeah? Well maybe you shouldn’t say anything.'

    'And maybe you shouldn’t fall in love with your dreams. Really, loving some fictional guy? I mean, yeah, sure, he’s hot, but really? He’s NOT REAL!!! Just sad, really--'

    I shut up the inner voice in my head as Jamie walks up to me. “I thought I heard you talking to somebody.”

    Shaking my head, I reply, “Nope. Nobody to talk to. Just me.”

    She sighs. “Well, it’s closing time.”

    “Already?”

    “Yup. But we gotta come back tomorrow.”

    “Tomorrow? But tomorrow’s Friday!”

    “Work days are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Hey, take it or leave it.”

    We say goodbye to the manager and walk outside into the pitch black night. “You need a ride home?”

    “Nah, I’m walkin’. Not far from here, anyway.”

    Jamie snorts at that. Then, after a moment, she says, “Oh you’re serious.” I mutter an ‘mhmm’ and start to walk away when she catches up and protests, “Yes it is! It’s, like, on the other side of town!”

    “Oh well!”

    “Well…fine. See ya tomorrow, Taylor. And don’t get yourself killed!!”

    “Whatever.” I wave my hand over my head as I walk ahead into the darkness, and she hangs back, waiting for her boyfriend, Zach, to pick her up.

    I walk down the street, breathing in and out the crisp air of a cold December night. It’s only the 5th, but weather has been going crazy already.

    I hear a rustle in the bushes along where I’m walking and stop. Scanning the area for any unwanted guests, my heart starts to speed a little bit. When nothing happens, I walk again. ‘Déjà vu’, I think to myself.

    Another rustle. I stop again. Still nothing.

    When I start to walk again this time, my pace picks up a little. There’s more rustling and then I hear footsteps behind me. I struggle to keep my breathing under control and then, before I know it, I’m running, and the footsteps pick up and are running too.

    I feel a hand brush my hair and the back of my neck as I dash forward into my driveway, and shivers run down my spine. Rushing up the long, steep pavement leading up to the mansion, I fling my arms out beside me, trying to ward off whatever is behind me. I throw the door open, slam it, and then lean against it, breathing heavily.

    “What…what was that!?” I whisper to myself, astonished.

    “Hey honey, how was your--” I ignore my mom and run up the stairs, into my bedroom and slam the door shut. I can just imagine her finishing with the word “day” as I scramble around my room. “Taylor? Is everything alright?”

    I throw my green t-shirt and polka-dot sleep pants on, then call, “Yes, Mother! Everything is fine! Just…tired, from my first day of work!”

    A pause, and then, “Oh, okay. Well, you better get some rest then. Goodnight!”

    “’Night!”

    Best part about having a rich mom who’s gone all the time? They don’t really care.

    I shut off the lights and get under the covers. Shutting my eyes tight, I try to get to sleep, try to drift off, try to…

    “Hey, open up your eyes.” The familiar, soft voice of a teenage boy blends in with my dream phase, and I lay there, not wanting to open my eyes, not wanting to… “Tay, it’s me, Derek. Open your eyes.”

    My eyes flash open and I look up into deep, jade green eyes. A smile instantly appears on my face as I stare up at him. “Boy, am I glad to see you.”

    “Are you really? Because, from what I’ve heard, you’re annoyed with me for interfering with your life.”

    My smile falters and I ask, “What?”

    “Apparently, I’m just some figment of your imagination and am ruining your life because you’re in love with me.”

    I sit up and protest, “No--I--Derek--you--”

    He holds up a hand to stop me and continues, “Your friends tease you about it. You’re falling out of line with the rest of the world because of it. You can’t even be truly happy because I’m all you can think about.”

    “Derek, don’t say that!” I grab his hand and hold on tight, as if not wanting to let go. As if, if I do, I’ll lose everything.

    “I don’t want to make your life nothing, Taylor.”

    “But it’s not nothing.” I lay one hand against his face and continue, “Not when it has you.”

    Our eyes lock and we stare at each other for a long moment until he breaks the gaze and mutters, “No. It’s not right. I’m…” He takes a deep breath through his nose and finishes, as if it pains him to say, “I’m not real. And you need to find a guy who can actually be there for you.”

    “But I don’t want any other guy!” Tears start to fill my eyes and I whisper, “I want you.”

    He doesn’t look at me and just mumbles, “Go back to sleep.” Then he lowers me down again, gets up and crosses to the window. I stare at him as he stands there, with his hands pressed against the glass. “Go!” He growls.

    I turn, unwillingly, and lay my head against the pillow. Missing him already, I feel a tear slide down my cheek when I sense his presence still here. I focus on his calm, deep breaths, and soon fine myself falling asleep again…

    I open my eyes and use one hand to feel my tear-dampened skin. “Dammit, I can’t believe I actually cried.” Turning to the window, I hope to see him still standing there, but, of course, he’s not there.

    He’s gone.

    He’s not real.

    He’s a figment of my imagination.


    Chapter 3


    I sit at the small, round table with my friends at lunch, not eating anything except for a bag of Sweetart gummy bunnies.

    “So, lemme get this straight…he doesn’t want to interfere with your life anymore?” Jamie tries to clear things up as she takes a bite of her burrito.

    “Yup.” I answer before plopping a cherry bunny in my mouth.

    “Oh, finally!” Selena cries, holding her tofu burger up in the air. “Thank God and prepare to be welcomed to the real world, Taylor.”

    The rest of us glare at her and she asks, “What!?”

    Shaking her head, Megan turns to me, her bright, wavy orange hair pulled back in a low ponytail, and says, “But it makes no sense. One night--dream--you two were deeply in love, and now he, what, doesn‘t want you anymore?”

    “He wants her to live a real life.” Bella corrects with a shrug, then frowns when sauce from her sloppy joe lands on her light brown, curly bob.

    I sigh. “Well, if that’s what Derek wants me to do, that’s what I’ll do. Starting with getting a real guy.”

    As if on cue, John walks by, smiles at us all and says, “Hey, it’s Taylor, right?”

    I grin and nod, then hold out my hand for him to shake. “Taylor Ann Lily Lynn, but you can just call me Taylor.”

    He laughs and grabs my hand, shakes it, and greets me. “It’s very nice to meet you, Taylor Ann Lily Lynn. Cool name, by the way.” Grinning, he introduces himself, “I’m John Parker.”

    “Nice to meet you, too.” We smile at each other and it takes me a moment to realize he hasn’t let go of my hand. “Uh, John…”

    “Oh, right, sorry.” He lets go, and then we both end up laughing. “You’re in my math class, right?”

    “Yup. And science. And history.”

    Laughing again, he replies, “Well, see ya then. Bye, Taylor.”

    “See ya.” He walks away to join his friends, and I sit down, grinning, and turn to my friends. They all stare at me, mouth agape, and I ask, “What!?”

    “That.”

    “Was.”

    “John.”

    “Parker.”

    “JOHN PARKER!!!” They exclaim together, after each saying one word.

    I laugh, then reply, “Yup, and he’s a real guy.” Turning around, I see him looking at me, and I smile and wave.

    Maybe the real world isn’t so bad after all.



    Chapter 4



    I walk out into the empty hallway and up to the vending machine. Lunch was still going on, but I was freakin’ thirsty, so I bribed Bella to loan me a dollar so I could buy a bottle of water.

    I’m putting the fourth quarter into the machine when I hear the doors to the school open and close. ‘Probably some parent delivering a student’s history day board to them ‘cause they forgot it.’ I think to myself.

    All of a sudden, cold air blasts by me and my hair picks up in the wind, curling around my face in miniature waves. Ignoring it, I push my hair out of my face and lift my hand up to punch the “water bottle” button.

    As I’m waiting, a whisper snakes around me, and I ball my hands into fists, trying to ignore it. The hair on the back of my neck stands up and goose bumps appear on every visible part of my body.

    “Little girl…come…”

    I tense and stand still, scared to death, but trying not to show it. The water bottle clinks to the bottom part of the machine and waits to be picked up, but I stand there, doing nothing, just like in Hollywood Video yesterday.

    'Was this the guy who was chasing me yesterday?' I think to myself.

    'Well, duh. Who else would get the same reaction from you?' The bitchy voice replies.

    I feel my feet moving backwards towards the voice as the thoughts in my head collide.

    'I thought I told you to shut up!'

    'And I thought you weren’t dumb, but I guess we were both wrong.'

    A hand reaches out in front of me to grasp over my mouth, and my breathing cuts off.

    'Oh SHUT UP ALREADY!!! And by the way, whatever this thing is seems invisible, and invisible things can’t make footsteps!'

    'Oh well look who’s the smartass now little Miss--'

    “Let her go.”

    My eyes look up towards the vending machine and the lighting allows me to see a reflection, and I see the person who said that, and the bag of the Sweetart gummy bunnies in my hand fall to the floor, scattering everywhere.

    Derek.