by N. A. Hydes
“Sure.” Matt turned to look at Randy. “Want to go to the movies with us, Randy?”
Randy shrugged his shoulders. “I have nothing better to do than tag along with my sister and her boyfriend. Actually, tagging along sounds like fun. Okay.”
Despite Randy and Matt’s desire to see a war movie, they opted to let Jennifer decide. She chose a G-rated musical.
A few hours later, they were leaving the movie theater. “Well, that was wholesome,” Matt said.
“I liked it.” Jennifer threw her drink away in the trash can.
“I would have rather seen the other movie,” Randy added, popping another kernel of popcorn in his mouth. “Can we grab something to eat now?”
“Sure,” Matt said as Jennifer said, “No.”
“Come on, Jennifer,” Randy begged. “I’m hungry.”
“Wow,” Jennifer said towards Randy. “First you hijack my date. Now you want to go to eat with us?”
“Yeah. It’s just like I’m a chaperone. I should get Mom to pay me,” Randy agreed.
“It’s okay. I don’t mind spending more time with Randy. He reminds me of me when I was his age.” Matt pointed his fob and unlocked the truck. “I always wanted a younger brother.”
“That is because you didn’t have one,” Jennifer answered as she had to scoot over towards Matt to make room for Randy in the cab.
“How about Momma’s?” Randy asked.
“Sure,” Matt responded. “Jennifer, give me directions.”
Jennifer pointed. “It’s just across the street from the courthouse.”
Matt put his hand on Jennifer’s leg and headed towards Momma’s Home Cooking Restaurant.
23
Leaving Cherryville
Petr stood in the line at the cash register of the local restaurant, Momma’s Home Cooking. He grabbed a toothpick from the dispenser after handing the woman the ticket and his credit card.
“How was your meal?” She typed the amount into the register.
“Wonderful,” he responded.
“The country fried steak is my favorite,” the woman agreed.
The door opened, and Petr recognized Matt and Jennifer.
“Dr. Smith.” Matt sounded surprised. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Petr looked at the group. He noticed Jennifer looked different, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.
“Matt, I’m surprised to see you as well.” Petr reached his hand out to shake Matt’s. Then, as a form of politeness, he offered his hand to Jennifer.
At the instant they touched, static electricity jumped between them. Jennifer pulled her hand back in a jerky motion and softly whispered something almost inaudible that sounded like, “fruida.”
Fruida was a word in Dragon that meant spark. Dr. Smith scrutinized Jennifer’s looks again. Those emerald-green eyes and her face shape almost made her a doppelganger for his deceased friend Spring.
“Wow,” the boy behind her said to Matt, bringing Dr. Smith back to the conversation. “This is one of your college teachers?”
“Dr. Smith, this is Jennifer’s brother, Randy,” Matt introduced.
Dr. Smith greeted the boy by patting him on the back; it seemed like the professor thing to do. According to the paperwork he found today, Randy and Jennifer were genetically brother and sister.
“Randy,” someone said from a table.
“See ya.” Randy left the group and headed over to the person who called his name.
“Sorry.” Jennifer pointed to the table where Randy was talking. “That is his best friend, Greg. They’ve been best friends since they were five. I apologize that he left so quickly.”
“No, it’s all right,” Dr. Smith appeased her. “I need to head back to Charlotte. I haven’t finished grading the tests or term papers.” He sighed.
“Well, it was good seeing you,” Matt said in farewell.
“You as well.” Petr took his credit card. Making eye contact with both Matt and Jennifer, he added, “Enjoy your meal,” and walked out the door.
As he unlocked the car door, using a key, Petr realized he was almost caught investigating a person for the first time in his long life. Had Jennifer or Matt seen all the copied documents sitting in the trunk, which contained empirical evidence that eliminated Jennifer as a dragon, he wasn’t sure what they would think. Maybe they’d think that he was crazy.
Petr didn’t start the car right away. He sat in his seat, thinking.
Fruida was a dragon word. Human born dragons were rare. Petr was currently one of three people, other than the Immortals, searching for these special children. Petr thought of his comrades as the guardians. Petr took the Americas; Solomon, Africa and Australia; and Che-non, Asia and Europe.
There was an Awakening approximately thirty years ago in America. At that time, Petr lived in South Africa. He sighed; they never found that dragon. He was sure they lost that one to the Immortals.
Before that, the child was in Africa, the child of a missionary. Petr rubbed his head with his left hand and then placed it on the steering wheel. The guardians had lost too many dragons who were born as human children to the Immortals.
The only information the guardians had gained on the transition was the dream phase. There were noticeable consequences from the dreams. The boy in Africa knew things at twelve he shouldn’t have known, and he could converse in languages he had never learned.
If Jennifer said a dragon word, could she be the dragon experiencing those strange dreams described by the boy? he asked himself. If Jennifer didn’t have a brother, Petr would think she was the dragon.
He sighed again. His emotions were involved, clouding his logic. Desperately, he wanted to fulfill his promise to his sister and protect Roz’s descendent, and Matt seemed to be the only heir.
Dr. Smith turned on the car but contemplated waiting for them to finish eating. He thought he could follow them without being detected. That way, he would see where Jennifer and Matt went next.
Puzzled, Petr decided the best choice for tonight was to head home.
24
Back to Campus
The sleeping pills were working. Two nights in a row, Jennifer hadn’t dreamed. She stretched and welcomed the heat from the sun. As her arms lowered, she looked at the clock. It was almost nine. Matt would pick her up soon and drive her back to campus.
Grabbing her faithful green duffel bag out of her closet, she quickly began gathering clothing and other items she would need for the rest of the semester. Soon it would feel like winter, and she would need warmer clothes.
By the time Matt arrived at Jennifer’s parents’ house, she had taken a shower, eaten cereal, and packed. She hugged her mom and Randy goodbye. Her dad was at work, and she had said bye to him last night.
Jennifer grabbed the duffel bag and jumped into the passenger side as soon as Matt came to a complete stop.
“Good afternoon,” she said as she bounced into the seat.
Matt commented, “Hello! Someone is chipper today.”
“Ready to go back to school.”
“I can tell.” He rolled Jennifer’s window down. “Bye, Mrs. Wright. Bye, Randy.”
“Call me when you get back to campus, Jennifer! Matt, you make sure she calls me,” Pauline yelled at her daughter.
“Will do,” Matt responded and rolled the window up.
As soon as Matt left the driveway, he turned up his radio and began singing a country song. Jennifer fell peacefully asleep.
They arrived back at campus around two p.m., only stopping to eat lunch and use the bathroom. Matt parked in front of the dorm, got out of the truck, and walked over to her side. Jennifer removed her duffel and joined Matt.
He smiled a crooked smile, putting both hands on her shoulders, making Jennifer turn to look at him. “Call your mom.”
“Thanks,” Jennifer responded as she pulled her phone out of her pocket. She texted a quick message. “Done. I sent her a message that I was fine and working on homework.”
Matt pulled Jennifer towards him, so their chests touched. “I will talk to you tomorrow,” he said in farewell.
“Sure, but call. I have a report on the economics of 1987. I have been procrastinating. It has to be three pages of double-spaced, typed, one-sided, and something else. I plan to work on it tomorrow.”
“Understand. I have some math homework due on Monday I haven’t even looked at.”
Matt put his left hand under her chin. “Hey, have a good night. I’m going to ask Lauren for help with homework, so I won’t call tonight. I just wanted you to know.”
Jennifer smiled. “I think I will be all right. Besides, Belinda should be back, and she might want to hear all about my Thanksgiving and how you are already ignoring me. It’s more believable if you don’t call.”
Matt laughed. “Goodnight, Jennifer.” He gently leaned down and claimed Jennifer’s lips. He left her standing there and walked back to the driver’s side of his truck.
Jennifer touched her lips. “That was good,” Jennifer admitted, having to yell over the noise of the vehicle.
“I want you missing me,” Matt responded as he opened the door.
“Goodnight, Matt.” Jennifer waved back. She watched Matt drive off.
“Hey, Jennifer,” a girl from the first floor of the dorm said to her in passing. Jennifer recognized her by her red hair.
“Hey, Amy.” Jennifer hoped she had her name right.
Jennifer walked into the dorm and up to her room.
Her roommate, Belinda, was standing, waiting at the door.
“Um, what’s up with Matt?” Belinda’s arms crossed.
“He is officially my boyfriend,” Jennifer confessed as she put her bag down at the door.
“Ahh!” Belinda started dancing as she screamed.
“I know, right?” Jennifer sat on her bed.
“And how far did you go?” Belinda asked.
“Man, Belinda, that is personal.” Jennifer felt her cheeks redden.
“Oh my gosh, Jennifer. You know what I say, taste the milk, then buy the cow.”
“I know you say that.” Jennifer started laughing.
“Want to go to the cafeteria?” Belinda asked. “You can tell me all about it.”
“Sure. It’s a little early, though.”
“I thought we could do homework, goof off, and eat while we are there. Boring in here,” Belinda replied.
Jennifer gathered her neglected books and headed to the mezzanine with Belinda.
25
Monday
Jennifer opened her eyes and didn’t recognize the ceiling above her bed or the breathing in the room. The pattern of breathing wasn’t her husband, Isaac’s. Plus, he slept beside her, not off in another area. She didn’t hear him at all.
Jennifer remembered the night before clearly. Her husband of three years. Older than her by fifteen years, more like a parent than a spouse. He had been working in the fields; snow dusted the ground. She wasn’t sure what he did in the winter, something to do with getting the ground ready for spring. When he came in, he was in one of his romantic moods, and she remembered what they had done. Her cheeks blushed.
Jennifer pulled the blanket up to her chin, anticipating the cold of the room and floor. She didn’t want to get out of the bed and light the fire. There was a light outside the window.
Wait. That was electricity, but electricity didn’t exist.
Surprised, Jennifer looked around the room and saw other familiar things in the dim lighting that weren’t possible. A TV was sitting on a stand, a cell phone on the counter. She knew what all these things were, but they were wrong—so wrong.
Jennifer breathed in deeply and let all the destructive energy out. I am Jennifer Wright. She thought it and didn’t believe it. So, she whispered it out loud, “I am Jennifer Wright.” The room was quiet, and she could hear Belinda breathing.
Jennifer had had another realistic dream. She could hit herself for forgetting to take the sleeping pill. Jennifer coaxed herself to get up. Quietly, she gathered her things so she could take a shower and headed down the hall.
When she got out of the shower, she looked at her body. Jennifer was tall with blond hair, a long waist, and long legs. She remembered seeing life through Sarah’s eyes and seeing her reflection on shiny surfaces. Sarah had dark curly hair with a red tint; she was a good six inches shorter. Sarah had wide hips and fuller breasts. Jennifer could feel the difference in the way she carried her weight. It was an odd feeling to know what it felt like to be in someone else’s body.
Jennifer wanted to reclaim the memories that had tried to slip from her while she slept. Yesterday, she had finished her report. She sighed in realization. Today was Monday, and it was time to go to class.
Despite her parents urging her to try twelve credit-hours her first semester of college, Jennifer took fifteen. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (M/W/F in the school syllabus), she had four of her five classes. Her first course of the day was History of the Modern World or, in the syllabus, History 120. It was followed closely by Math 201 at ten. Jennifer was glad she tested out of the first year of math, but she wished she didn’t have to take Math 201 so soon after history.
Her third class of the day was at one p.m., which gave her enough of a break to change books and grab lunch. Her final course of the day was Ancient Structures or ARC105.
The library was open twenty-four hours if you had a student ID, so she loaded up her books and headed over to study. Belinda was still asleep; as Jennifer left her dorm room, she did her best not to wake her.
In her last class of the day, Jennifer’s professor announced a test on Wednesday, covering everything this semester. Frustrated, she and her classmates expected a significant increase in preparation.
When she returned to her room, she was alone. She found her phone on the charger beside her bed. She had a missed call from her parents and a missed call and text message from Matt.
“Miss U. Have class until 8. Call then,” Matt had written.
“Miss U 2. Can’t wait,” she responded and couldn’t believe she had forgotten about Matt.
The weather had turned cold and rainy. Jennifer desperately wanted to sit in peace outside and eat a sandwich as a late lunch and maybe a cup of soup. But alas, there would be no more days eating outside until spring, so she opted to eat in the cafeteria. When she finished eating and returned to her room, Jennifer called and chatted with her parents. She told them about the first day back and the surprise test, which reminded her of the work ahead. Sighing, she grabbed her ARC 105 book and notes and headed towards the library, leaving her cell phone.
She missed Matt’s call at eight-thirty. He left another text.
At the library, Jennifer found a group of classmates studying. She spent hours preparing for the test, making it back to the dorm around ten-thirty. The sleeping pills were on her bed. Shortly after swallowing one, she was asleep on her pillow.
26
Tuesday
Jennifer’s first class on Tuesday started at twelve-fifteen p.m., so she slept as long as she physically could, or at least until her phone started ringing.
“Hello,” she answered, without looking to see who was calling.
“Hey,” Matt’s voice responded. “How are you?”
“Tired.” Jennifer stretched. “I shouldn’t be. I slept well. The pills you bought me are working.”
Matt laughed. “No crazy dreams of bears?”
She yawned. “Nope.”
“Hey, I haven’t seen you in a while. Would you like to meet me in the cafeteria for lunch?”
“What time is it? I still haven’t opened my eyes.”
“Eleven-thirty,” he responded.
Jennifer’s eyes shot open. “I have a class soon on the other side of campus.”
He laughed. “I tell you what, I will grab you some food and meet you outside your dorm room. I will drive you to the art building.”
“You know I have art?” she asked.
“Yes,” he responded.
“You are a crazy, stalker boyfriend. Yes, bring me food. Meet you in the courtyard in a little bit.”
It was raining again when she stepped outside her dorm. Matt was in his truck with a grin on his face. She ran to jump into his vehicle.
“Hi,” Matt said as she sat in the passenger seat.
“Hi,” Jennifer responded and leaned in for Matt to kiss her.
“I bought fried chicken because who doesn’t like fried chicken and potato skin fries?”
“Well,” Jennifer said as she reached into the bag and pulled out a drumstick. “I’m so hungry I can eat it, even if I don’t like it.”
“You don’t like fried chicken?” Matt asked.
“I love fried chicken,” Jennifer said between bites. “I’m just hungry enough to eat anything.” And she smiled.
Matt drove.
“Doug and Lauren are going camping this weekend. They have invited us to go. Would you like to join them?”
She smiled. “No, not really, but if you want to go, that is okay. The way this week is going, I will have a test in at least two subjects next week. I could use the time to study. Or maybe I can go see a movie with Belinda.”
“I would prefer if you went, but I can understand if you don’t want to go.”
“It is supposed to rain this weekend. I don’t want to go to the mountains in the rain.”
Matt laughed. “Put like that, I’m not sure if I want to go.” He turned right onto a one-lane road.
“Matt.” Jennifer’s voice took on a serious tone. “I don’t want to be one of those couples who have to be together every second of the day.”
“Yeah, I don’t, either.”
“Good. You go camping in the rain, and I will do girly things.” She looked down at her nails. “Maybe I will go get a mani-pedi.”
Matt pulled into the parking lot in front of the art building. An iron sculpture that resembled a teardrop stood about twelve feet tall in front of the building.