by R. J. Lloyd
Eva didn’t look up from her computer screen, only half paying attention to the woman. “I don’t think this is work appropriate talk, Sheila.”
Sheila sighed. “You know, we’re all getting concerned. A date could do you good… maybe get your mind off things.”
Eva scowled at the woman. “Michelle?”
“Ummm…” The look on Sheila’s face said it all.
“Fine. Tomorrow. Eight o’clock. Starling’s. Dinner. Nothing more.”
“Yes!” Sheila clapped excitedly. “You’re going to…”
Eva broke from her screen, got up and motioned toward the door. “Regret this. So, don’t give me time to change my mind.” Escorting her coworker out, Eva waved the enthusiastic friend out before locking the door behind her.
Swallowing back the slight nausea that rose in her throat, she sat back down, trying not to think about the fact that she’d just agreed to a blind date.
The rest of her day at work, she could hear her coworkers gossiping about her upcoming escapade. It seemed that most of the office was afflicted about her. It became more apparent that she was starting to be as juicy and sensitive a topic as a town shut-in when they emerged after two decades.
A concept that made Eva rub her face exhaustedly.
Once again, she returned to avoiding the others, staying late until everyone else left. Around seven, she finished up a proposal for an upcoming project. Her head propped up on her hand, her eyes becoming blurry and eyelids heavy.
Resting her head on her arms, she drifted off.
“Ian?” She was startled.
“Eva?” He greeted her back, seemingly just as surprised. “Early night?”
“No.” She looked around. “I guess I dozed off at my desk.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, I must have fallen asleep while watching TV. I don’t think this has ever happened.”
“You falling asleep while watching TV?” She raised an eyebrow.
He shook his head. “No. These dreams happening any time I was just napping rather than sleeping at night.”
She thought about it for a minute. “I think you’re right. I usually only dream of you at night.”
“Well.” He wrapped his arms around her. “I’ll be happy to take advantage of some extra time together.
Her breath caught as he pulled her into him, his lips crashing down on hers. She pulled back only momentarily and smirked, “I like you like this.”
“Don’t encourage me.” He dipped her back, kissing along her neck.
Gliding her hands down his abdomen, she tugged his shirt up and over his head. “Oh, but I want to.”
For a fleeting moment, she thought about the date she’d agreed to back in reality, but she and Ian rarely went down this path. And with his body pressed against hers, she didn’t want to think about it and pushed it to the back of her mind.
Then, just as suddenly as they entered their world together, she was pulled back out.
Eva opened her eyes and sighed, not ready to let go. Her head shot up, and she was still breathing heavy, her heart still beating fast. The longing to have him still feathering across her body.
She pushed her hair back with both hands, torn between regretting her decision to have her date arranged and being happy that she was attempting something to free herself from the thing that both made her feel intense joy and insanity.
Part of her was happy that she had that extra moment with Ian, even if it was fleeting. But, at the same time, the new addition of nap-time visits scared her. She worried that the dreams were getting completely out of control.
Eva looked at the clock. Relieved she had only been out for thirty minutes, she packed her laptop bag and headed home.
That night’s dream was uneasy. She wanted to tell Ian that she had a date in real life, but she didn’t know why. She couldn’t rationalize why she would feel responsible for telling some imaginary guy in her dream that she was going on a date in her waking life, but that urge to tell him made her a bit distant that night.
Instead of confiding or admitting anything, Eva let herself indulge in her longing for him and picked up where they had left off. But after, while they were curled up with each other, she watched him, wondering how she could go through with the date… yet knowing she might need to.
Seven
Ian
Ian stirred from sleep, staring at the television as his eyes struggled to clear. Coming to the conclusion that wasn’t going to happen and sleep still clung to the edges of his waking mind, he turned off the TV and stumbled in to his bed, immediately falling back to sleep.
He arrived alone and sat in the empty restaurant. It was rare, but the times Eva didn’t arrive shortly after he had or simply wasn’t there already, things would simply merge into some vaguely normal style sleep illusion. But that had only been a couple times.
And this time was different. He stayed there, and nothing changed, whisking him away to some other dreamland. Yet, she was nowhere to be seen.
Object after object appeared and disappeared as he got bored. He flipped through things to keep himself occupied… a book, cards for solitaire, a stack of cash, a bowl of chips. He was playing with a chemistry set when her voice startled him.
“Hello there. Long time,” she greeted him with sleepy eyes.
He jumped up, stumbling over his feet. “Hey!”
She giggled. “Did I scare you?”
He walked over to her, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Yeah. I’ve been here a while, I think. Which is odd since I’m never here very long before you arrive.”
“That’s strange,” she agreed.
He leaned in to kiss her, his hands moving up the curves of her sides. Her lips were soft, but something about them was firm; not as welcoming. He tried to ignore it, chalking it up to his guilty feelings about his pending date.
They broke the kiss, and a moment passed before either of them spoke.
“So…” he dragged out the word. “What shall we do today?”
“I don’t know. I’m not feeling energetic,” she explained. “Maybe we can just go find one of the gorgeous apartments we found that one time and curl up on the couch and watch a movie?”
He smiled. “That sounds like great actually.” An odd sense of relief washed over him.
Ian remembered the one she referenced well. It was the spot of their first kiss. And, in true dream world fashion, he willed it to be in the building across the street from their starting point.
Finding some blankets in the hall closet and willing some popcorn and beverages to appear before them, they settled in. Ian lifted the blanket and tugged Eva into his lap before wrapping the blanket around the both of them and holding her against his chest as they starting the newest Avengers movie.
Movies were interesting, as they’d found out. They would chat far more than watch, especially considering that neither of them really had any films memorized from start to end, so their imaginations filled in the gaps with interesting plot twists and made-up details for each of them.
Ian thought it amusing how they would both see a different movie. Sometimes, the pair would discuss what they’d each seen and compare. Some details they’d hold back, embarrassed to share that their minds went there.
That night, neither of them really said much. Ian sensed an unsettling feeling from Eva, one that he was sure he put out as well. And he didn’t like it; he didn’t like the distance between them. A sinking sensation that made him hold her just a little tighter than normal.
Finally, he sat up, paused the faux film and turned toward her. “Okay, for whatever reason, I am compelled to let you know that I have a date. I am going on a blind date tomorrow with a coworker’s friend, and I feel bad.”
She shot up. “Okay, this is strange. Well, maybe not strange. Maybe this is a sign that you’re not real.”
“Because I have a date?” He was confused.
She got up and started pacing the room. “No. Because I have a date, too. It’s a bli
nd date, set up by a coworker. And I felt like I should tell you, but I felt foolish, because you’re just some guy I’ve made up in my imagination.”
“Wait. You’re the made up one. These are my dreams, and you’re my dream girl.” He tried to make sense of things.
She stopped pacing. “No. These are my dreams. I’m Eva Thomas, a real woman with a roommate, a career, a home, and this is my mental breakdown.”
Ian sat up, wrinkles forming on his forehead as he took in a slow breath. “No. I’m Ian Fuller. I have the roommate, career, home and a real life. And everything between us oddly mirrors each other, including the coworker blind date setup. So, one of us has got to be the made up one. And I know it’s not me.”
“Well? It’s not me!” She folded her arms over her chest.
They stared at each other for a long moment, neither sure what to say next. The coffee table between them was like a stand-off barrier.
Eva took a deep breath. “How do we solve this? Because I’m starting to feel like I'm losing my mind.”
“I don’t know.” He sat still, not sure what to do. He wanted to walk over to her and pull her in, afraid the confrontation would make him lose her. But, at the same time, he was tired of feeling like he was going crazy, and he wanted to wake up. “If you’re real, where are you?”
“Venice, Florida,” she stated. “You?”
“Detroit,” he replied. “It’s one of those neighborhoods where a bunch of us have purchased run down homes and renovated them.”
“Cold.” She smiled.
“Yes; it gets cold in the ‘D.’” He laughed.
“Okay, what now?” She took a seat on the couch again next to him.
He turned toward her, taking one of her hands in his. “Well? I say we meet.”
“Meet?” Surprise accompanied her voice as if she was not expecting that response.
“Yes.” He sat up straight, conviction forming behind his words. “We meet. I say we meet somewhere fun like New York City. I haven’t been there in a few years, have you?”
“I’ve never been there, but meet? Like for real? Really?” She just looked at him.
“Yes! Let’s do it. This weekend.” He felt a sense of urgency.
Her hand went over her heart. “This weekend? As in tomorrow?”
“Why not?”
Her expression dropped. “Our dates. We both have dates tomorrow.”
“Do you really want to go on yours?” His eyes betrayed his hope.
She shook her head. “Not really.”
“Then let’s do this. If you’re real, and I’m real, let’s do this! Tomorrow, New York City. Eight in the evening at Grand Central Station.” He threw his hands in the air. “Why not?”
She didn’t say anything for a moment, staring at him. Thoughts were racing through her mind and all across her face. “Ian, are you sure about this? People are going to think we’re crazy.”
“People are already thinking we’re losing our minds. I mean, I know my best friend is telling me to get help. This will show us that what we have is something like magic…” His excitement trailed off. “or that I need to call a doctor Monday morning.”
She looked at him another long moment.
“Please, Eva. I need to know,” he pleaded.
She closed her eyes and took in a long, deep breath. “All right. Let’s do it.”
He jumped up. “Yes!”
“But.” She folded her hands in her lap. “What if something happens? What if one of us get stalled?”
He felt that tug of himself slipping back into the waking world. “I’m fading.”
She panicked. “What then?”
He kissed her. “If either of us get delayed, wait three hours. Or about that. Just give the other time.”
“You’d better show.”
She stole one last kiss before he vanished.
He sat straight up in his bed when he woke, his hands out, still cupping her face. And for the first time in months, he didn’t wake with disappointment. Instead of dropping his arms out of frustration, he jumped out of bed, grabbed his tablet and bought a plane ticket for the soonest flight he could get.
That left him no time to get ready. He shoved a change of clothes and basic necessities into a bag, threw on a basic outfit, grabbed his wallet and left the room.
Kyle was standing in the kitchen when Ian breezed in, taking a swig from the carton of orange juice. “Ian? Are you late for something?”
“Nope. Just in a hurry. I won’t be in the café this weekend.” He tried to be vague. “Oh, and I’m sorry, but I have to cancel that date.”
“What? That’s not cool.” Kyle set down his half-eaten donut. “You’re going to break that girl’s heart.”
“Then go on the date yourself. You’re single.” Ian called out as he went for his shoes next to the door.
Kyle followed him. “That’s not a bad idea, actually. But you still haven’t told me what’s up. Why are you in such a hurry?”
He finished tying his laces and stood, throwing the bag over his shoulder. “I have to be somewhere. I can’t explain.”
“It’s that girl, isn’t it? The one you dream about. You’ve completely lost your mind and are going to go chase down some imaginary girl. Do you even know where you’re going?” Kyle crossed his arms.
Ian opened the front door and started for his car, not answering his friend. Getting only half way, he felt Kyle yank on his arm. “This is really going too far, Ian. Seriously. Maybe you should think about seeking a professional. I know I’ve joked about it, but you’re actually going somewhere to see if this chick from a dream is a real person. Do you know how crazy that is?”
“Yes. I do,” Ian replied as he turned to face his roommate. “But do you have any clue how crazy I feel? If I stay and don’t at least try to find her and rule it out, I will always wonder. But if I go and she doesn’t show up, then I’ll know. I’ll come home and check myself in somewhere and get help. I’ll take whatever meds they want me to try if it will get the dreams to stop. But if she’s real… I need to know, Kyle.”
Kyle looked at his best friend for a moment. “So, you planned out some bizarre meeting with this girl somewhere? Like a place and time?”
“Yes.”
“Where? When?” Kyle asked.
“Eight tonight at Grand Central Station in New York City,” Ian explained.
“Wow,” Kyle exclaimed.
“Wow? Wow what?” He questioned him.
Kyle chuckled. “That’s just kind of cliché, even for a dream.”
“Don’t be a jerk.” Ian turned back and got in the car. “I’ll let you know what happens.”
“I’ll have a list of therapists on speed dial for when you get home,” Kyle half joked.
“Jerk.” Scowling, Ian pulled out of the driveway and raced to the airport, weaving in and out of traffic. Adrenaline coursed through him, making him shake. And the excitement of possibly meeting her in person put a smile on his face that he couldn’t remove, replacing the scowl he’d had for his friend.
Once at the airport, he boarded the plane, attempted to calm his legs from bouncing and sucked in a breath as the plane lifted into the air.
I am not crazy. She will be there.
Eight
Eva
She knew that if she was going to follow the insanity of her dream, she had to get her ticket and get on a plane. There was little time to prepare. Eva paced her room, every fiber of her screamed to go, but she also knew the moment she told Michelle that there’d be a huge lecture.
And that was exactly what happened. After packing an overnight bag and getting dressed, Eva went into the living room and put on her shoes. Michelle walked in from the back patio. “Hey, lady. Where are you off to? Shopping for a date outfit?”
“Can you have her call that off, please? I need to be somewhere, and I won’t be able to make it.”
“Is everything all right?” Michelle’s voice was thick with worry. “Where are you
going?”
Eva went into the garage. “I can’t explain right now. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Her hands braced on the door frame; Michelle stood in the doorway. “If this has anything to do with your dreams, I hope you’re going to check yourself into a mental facility.”
Eva didn’t reply. She tossed her bag in her trunk and opened the driver side door. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“I don’t like this. I get the feeling you’re about to do something completely idiotic,” Michelle scolded her friend.
Eva got in and started the car. She rolled down the window as she waited for the garage door to open. “I know you do. I wish you could understand.”
Watching her friend scowling at her from inside the garage, Eva pulled out of the driveway and called her travel advisor on the way, purchasing her ticket over the phone. It wasn’t long before she pulled into the airport. With little time to spare, she ran to her gate and sat, anxiously awaiting the brief few moments before departure.
Her flight would land in JFK at six. Thinking through the timeline, she gauged that it was plenty of time to deplane, change, brush her teeth again and take the train to Grand Central. Making a mental checklist of what she packed, hoping she’d thrown in some cute clothes in her hurry, she rushed through every step, anxious to find out once and for all.
Once the plane was in the air, she tried to drown her racing thoughts in a book. Occasionally, she would find herself wandering in thought, worrying if he’d be there, worrying that he would be and what she would do and what it would all mean. Worrying if he wasn’t there, and what that would mean for her mental state. By the time the plane landed, she was filled with so much anxiety she could hardly breathe. Her chest was tight, and her heart thudded painfully in her chest. Pull it together. You’re not even at the station yet. You can do this. You’re not crazy.
She picked her bag up and went for the restroom, changing and freshening up. Looking up the subway routes, she checked for train delays and picked up a quick snack at one of the stands to try to settle her stomach.