by Rue Volley
I had to turn over on my other side, before I impulsively reached out and pulled him to me. The moonlight was lighting my room just enough to make the features on his beautiful face glow and I felt my heart start to beat harder.
He rolled over and held me close to him. He didn't let his fingers trace my skin, but I won't lie and say that I didn't want him to, because I did…very badly.
“Johnathan?” I whispered.
“What?”
“I do love you.”
I felt him release his breath and he hugged me from behind. We lay there very still and we drifted off to sleep holding each other, with no intention for the first time.
***
I knew this place… it was the library floor. I looked out and could see my parents pinning Caine to the floor on top of the large mirror. I cried out and reached for them. I stood up and ran, with each step, they moved away from me. I cried out my mother’s name and the room went still. I turned my head from side to side and all the chaos was frozen still. Theodore, blades drawn, is fighting off a blow from a boy looking his same age, a wicked grin on his face. Samantha on top of another girl with long blonde hair, bringing her blade down toward her chest, Sam's face looked cold and calculated. The girl under her held a blank expression, maybe acceptance of her fate. I looked back toward my parents and my mother stood alone on top of the mirror, my dad and Caine gone from the sight. I looked at her and she smiled at me.
“Mom?” I said, in what came out as an echo.
“Rue… an ending always brings a new beginning,” she replied.
“I don't understand mom.”
“Think of yourself lightly. Think of the world deeply.”
“Mom...” I whispered.
She smiled and started to sink into the mirror under her feet. I lunged forward and caught her hand. Her fingers slipped from mine. The silver wedding band my dad had given to her, was left in my palm. I rolled it over in my hand and read the inscription on the inside of it. “You and no other,” I muttered.
I looked up and the mirror above me started to shatter into a million pieces. I raised my hands to protect myself from the falling shards. I sucked in my breath and jerked up in bed.
Johnathan sat up and asked, “Are you okay Rue?”
I placed my hand on his. “Yeah… yeah… I think so.” I raised my hand to my hair to run my fingers through it and lowered it, opening my hand up, to reveal a small silver band...
“Oh my god,” I whispered.
Johnathan sat up in my bed. “What Rue... what is it?”
I turned to him, my eyes wide. “I saw my mother.”
Johnathan put his arm around me. “I know, it will take time to...” I had to interrupt him.
“No… no, you don't understand. I saw her and now I have this.”
I opened my fingers and he took the band out of my hand. “What is this?”
“She was wearing it. It's her wedding band, the one my father gave to her.”
He sat up in the bed and held the ring up, pinching it in between his thumb and index finger.
“How did you get this Rue?”
I reached over and took it from him. “She gave it to me…in my dream Johnathan. She had it on and now I have it.” I pushed myself off of my bed and started for my door.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“I'm going to have to tell Josh… he'll know what to do.” I reached for my door and Johnathan was in front of me in an instant.
“What Johnathan?” I asked, as I stared up at him.
“It's the middle of the night Rue. I think you are upset.”
“I am completely sane Johnathan. I need to talk to Josh.”
He stood there, blocking my way for a second and then moved to let me pass by him.
“I'm sorry, this cannot wait, it's important Johnathan.”
He put his hand on my face, “Of course it is… I know that.”
I walked to the door of my parent’s bedroom and didn't feel the need to knock. I was determined to tell Josh that I had just retrieved my mother’s ring, in a dream, how crazy. I opened the door and walked in. The room was dark, but the moonlight lit it just enough that I could make his shape out on the bed. I crawled up and started to whisper his name.
“Josh?” He didn't move. “Josh... wake up.” I placed my hand on him and shook him.
He grumbled and rolled over, blinking at me.
“Rue…? What the hell are you doing?”
“Josh, listen I had a dream and now look…” I held my hand out and he pushed himself up halfway, staring at my hand.
“Rue… what are doing…? Bed hopping?”
“No, I am not… Listen, put your hand on my head… I want you to see my dream, the one I just had.”
“What?” he said, as he blinked a couple of times.
I grabbed his hand and put it on the side of my head. “Do it.”
“Do what?” he asked me.
“Suck the memory right out of my head. It's okay… do it.”
“Are you insane…? It's three in the morning,” he grumbled at me.
“Listen to me you ass, this is important. I had a dream about my mom. She had this ring on and now I have it in my hand, see?” I held it up to his face really close, so close, he almost crossed his eyes.
“Jeezus god Rue… fine, let me wake up a little, okay?”
“What, you’re this bad ass warrior and you need a moment?”
He grinned… “You think I'm bad ass, huh?”
“Oh my god, I swear I'm going to slap you. This is important… please just suck.” He laughed.
“Good thing you’re a girl… it would be an awkward request otherwise.”
He sat up and pushed the sheet off of him. He was shirtless with his boxers on. I didn't say anything. I was in a hurry. He closed his eyes and then opened them, staring me in the face.
“Get on your knees,” he said.
I did it in protest. He faced me on his knees.
“Why are we on our knees?” I whispered.
He smiled, “No reason really, I just thought it would be sexy.”
I hit him on the arm. “Stop messing around, I'm freaking out here you jerk!”
“I see that. Listen I need you to relax okay?”
“Fine... that's fine, just get it over with Josh.”
He got a wicked grin on his face.
“I would think that ‘slow’ would be something you would enjoy,” he said, as he nodded at me.
I got up and started for the door.
“Rue…! What are you doing?” he said, surprised that I left his bed.
“I'm going to Theodore. You are ridiculous.”
He flashed in front of me. “Hey… hey, I'm sorry… Just get on the bed, no more jokes, okay?”
I crossed my arms. “One more comment and Theodore will do this for me… got it?”
“Got it,” he said.
We sat back down on the bed. “I want you to close your eyes and relax, slow your breathing down.” I closed them and started to feel my body relaxing. He took my hand and pressed his thumbs to my wrists.
“Good… good Rue. Try to slow it down, just a little more.”
I nodded.
He placed his hands on the sides of my neck and slowly moved them up, letting his fingers run up the back of my head, until he cupped the back of my skull.
“Your heartbeat sped up a little. Calm back down for me, okay?”
I nodded again. Colors started to swirl behind my eyelids.
“I see colors Josh,” I whispered.
“You should, that's good, you’re focusing. Just breathe slowly for me.”
I started to feel a vibration on the back of my neck and small flashes of light started to well up in the darkness.
“Should I be seeing flashes of light Josh…?”
“Shhh… don't talk, just allow me to see it. Concentrate.”
I felt light headed, I was glad he was hanging onto me, because I think I would o
f fell over if he wasn't.
He suddenly took his hand off of my head. I opened my eyes.
“Did you see it?” I asked. He looked at me with confusion.
“I didn't see a damn thing,” he sounded irritated.
“What...? Nothing…? Why didn't you see anything?” I asked.
“Well… I don't know Rue. I've never had that happen before.”
“How many times have you said that to a girl?”
He started to laugh. “Nice Rue… really nice.”
“I couldn't pass up that opportunity, sorry.”
He reached up and touched my face. I crinkled my eyebrows. “What are you doing?” I asked.
“I… I just don't understand… It was a void… like you had no memory.” He stood up… “Listen, get some sleep, maybe I didn't try hard enough. You've only been awake one day. I will try tomorrow. If I can't do it… then we will have Theodore do it.”
I got up. “He can do it now,” I said.
Josh reached me before I got two steps and grabbed my hand. “Rue, listen, I know you’re feeling all kick ass, but keep in mind, we didn't even know that you would survive a week ago. Please, go to bed and I promise we will figure it out in the morning, okay?”
I looked up at him, my eyes did feel heavy, maybe he was right.
“It's not like I can fight you I guess.”
He grinned and looked at his bed.
“That was a quick surrender for you,” he got a wicked grin on his face. “Wanna make out?”
I stared at him smiling... had to. “No, I do not.”
“Listen, I know we are missing our cherub friends here, but it is a nice bed, nicer than yours.”
“Johnathan is probably wondering what I'm doing in here, Josh!”
He moved closer to me, “And?”
“And… I'm going back to my room now.”
I opened the door. Josh started to laugh. “You'll be back.”
I didn't look at him. “I doubt it,” I added.
Johnathan was sitting up in the bed when I quietly came back in. I saw him, but I acted like I thought he was asleep. I crawled back into bed and pulled the covers up to my neck. I let out a sigh.
“Okay… so what did he say?” he whispered.
Oh shit now I have to talk…
“Nothing… nope, he didn't have anything to say.”
“You were in there for like twenty minutes, Rue.”
I rolled over and he was staring at me.
“Well, the ‘amazing’ Josh wasn't able to see my memories. I have no idea why.”
“What did he do?” Johnathan asked.
Okay… I guess we are moving into the weird jealousy part of the evening. I sat up against my headboard.
“He put his hands on my… ”
Johnathan shifted towards me. “On your what?”
I smiled, “On my HEAD and he said he couldn't see anything, nothing at all… So, I'm going to try tomorrow. If he can't do it, I'll have Theodore suck it out.”
“Ohh,” he whispered.
I touched his face. “What did you think I was doing over there, Johnathan?”
“Nothing…”
I rolled onto his chest. I realized he had put his shirt back on. “You need to settle down. You sound like a girl.”
He sighed and put his arms around me, “It's that time of the month, I guess.”
I laughed out loud and buried my face in his shirt to muffle it.
He reached down and lifted my chin up, he put his lips to mine and I pulled my breath in.
I pulled away from his mouth. “Yea, kissing in my bed... in the dark… not a good idea,” I whispered.
He grinned... that grin that would melt any heart. “Is there anything else I could do for you Rue Volley?”
I sighed, “Listen, it's a miracle that I've been able to sleep with you next to me. I don't need options.”
He laughed, “It's comforting to know that I'm not the only one suffering.”
“Well trust me… you’re not,” I said, as I sighed.
He pulled me down and I turned over… He pressed against me from behind and kissed the back of my neck.
“Good night… sleep Rue, try not to dream okay?”
I closed my eyes. “Yeah…I would prefer not to, I really would.”
He sighed again and I let myself drift, all the while, thinking about how warm he felt against me.
***
I woke to the smell of breakfast and just knew that Theodore was the architect. I sat up slowly, rubbing my head, looking down I saw Johnathan was lying on his stomach, faced away from me. It was a miracle that nothing had gotten out of hand with him there all night. I started to fidget with my hands and felt the ring on my finger. I must have slipped in on at some point, I didn't remember. I jumped out of the bed and went for the stairs with every intention of getting some answers.
I ran into the kitchen and Theodore was cooking away. The room smelled like a restaurant. He already had an array of items placed on the table. I looked at it, my stomach growled and he spun around with a smile on his face.
“Ahhh, I see we are hungry! Good, as you can see... we are feasting this morning. It is a celebration for your return to us, Rue!”
“Thanks… no, I can't believe you cooked all of this. I am starving, I really am, but I have to talk to you.”
I looked down and started to spin the ring on my finger. Theodore looked at my hand and raised his eyebrows.
“Did we elope last night sweetie?” he asked.
I walked towards him. “Oh no... no, oh god… listen, I had a dream last night, about my mom. Theodore, she was wearing this ring and now I have it, look!” I raised my hand to him and he took it, looking closely at it.
“You say you pulled this from a dream?” he asked as he inspected it.
“I… yeah… she, well, we were in the library, you know, the day we all… Anyway, she spoke to me and then started to sink into the mirror. I reached for her hand and I couldn't stop her from. ” I felt tears welling up in my eyes.
“Ohhh… curious… here, sit down, don't get upset Rue.”
I wiped my hand against my nose. I felt a cry coming on.
“Oh… no, no… here.” Theodore handed me a tissue. “Don't cry, you'll make me cry… I don't do well with sadness.”
I wiped my eyes and looked up at him, I'm sure I looked like a puppy in window.
Theodore pinched my chin. “You are a very special creature Rue, I will get to the bottom of this mystery for you, I promise my dear.”
“Can you just look, look at my dream Theodore, please.”
He knelt down in front of me and placed his hands on mine. “I will do this for you, but you need to relax.”
“I know… breath slow… relax, close my eyes, right?”
He grinned. “You and Josh have been practicing, huh?”
I looked back down, “He tried to see it last night for me, and he couldn't. He said it was a void, there was nothing.”
“Mmmm… interesting, well perhaps he was distracted.”
“Distracted?” I asked him.
Theodore laughed. “Well, I'm sure you just had him flustered. Did you wake him?”
“I… I didn't fluster him. He just couldn't do it. Would you please do it for me?”
Theodore took my hands and led me to the couch. We went through the same motions as Josh and I had the night before… well, minus the flirting. Theodore opened his eyes. He said nothing, I peeked at him.
“What…? What did you see?”
“Nothing… nothing at all. Very odd,” he whispered.
I sighed. “Why…? Why can't anyone see what I saw…? I swear, I spoke to her last night Theodore… I swear I did.”
“Oh I believe you sweetie. I just cannot see it, I have no answer for that but I promise you that I will. I love a mystery.”
Theodore took my hand, “Do you mind taking it off? Can I have the ring?”
I hesitated, I really didn't want t
o take it off, but I decided to hand it over. Maybe a tangible item would assist in the puzzle.
“Mmmm… ” He rolled it over in his hand and slipped it on his pinky finger. “You say she spoke to you? What did she say?”
I frowned, “I don't remember, I did last night, but now I can't tell you.”
“Mmmm.” He rolled it between his fingers.
“Quite simple, but flawless...”
He pulled it off and read the inscription on the inside. “You and no other.”
He grinned, “Well… if one thing can be said about William, it is that he was a fruitful romantic.”
I cleared my throat, not wanting to hear ‘was’ used in a sentence about my dad. I leaned forward and whispered to him, “Do you feel anything...? A vibration or flashes of light?”
He turned it on his finger. “No… nothing, but don't fret,” he tapped my knee. “... I will get to the bottom of it, now you need to eat!” He jumped up and headed back to the stove.
There was a knock on the door, I looked at Theodore and he grinned.
“Ahhh… your little muse is here, Rue!”
“My muse?” I asked, as I stared at the door.
“Yes… your sweet Sara, I invited her for breakfast. She was so excited that you had returned for the remainder of the summer. She simply exploded when I told her!”
“When did you talk…?”
“Oh, yesterday, I ran into her while I was out. Endearing creature, so bubbly! I just love her.”
He headed towards the door, then looked back at me. “I have set things in place here for you little one. The glamor I spun is just splendid. I am your cousin, older of course, newly appointed to our fine library here in town. She knows that I am well versed in culture, being a graduate of the arts.”
He grinned. “Now you have been away on a vacation, visiting family in Arizona but you have returned now.”
I nodded, absorbing the lie. “Okay?”
He opened the door and she bounded in, heading straight for me.
“Rue…! O.M.G… I swear I missed you soooo much!”
I barely had time to stand up, before she so famously jump hugged me. I held onto her, wishing that I believed the false reality that Theodore had spun.
She pulled back from me and smiled her big smile, genuine.
“I will beat you, if you ever just take off without a goodbye again Rue! But I don't care, you’re back now so...”