CHAPTER: 6
1796 Words
As Alex and Tanya walked into the wide, open living room. He sat on the side of the sofa, while Tanya sat on the opposite side. A part of her would not have minded being closer to him, but she felt that distance was safest at that particular moment. She contemplated what could possibly happen at midnight, how it would change anything, and how this boy could be involved in any way.
"How long have you lived here, Alex?" She asked out of curiosity.
"A few years," he replied, putting his hands behind his head. He looked very comfortable and at peace. Strands of black hair fell across his eyes, shrouding them from her view.
"Did you start going to our school today or something?" Tanya asked him.
He didn't respond straight away. "No," he answered simply.
"Were you going to a different one before, Alex?"
"Yes," he replied, again just as simply.
Tanya glanced at her watch again. It showed 8:30 pm.
"Sooo...tell me about yourself," Tanya said as she watched the second hand on her watch ticking very slowly.
"I don't have much to tell you right now," he said in a strange voice, "that will have to wait until the right time."
"Midnight, right?" Tanya laughed, though she wasn't really amused.
"Perhaps." Alex lifted his head to look at her. "I am not sure what I can tell you, to be honest. It isn't entirely for me to decide."
"What are you even talking about?" she asked him.
"It will be easier to explain come midnight," he assured Tanya, but she was still doubtful.
"Don't you own a TV?" Tanya asked as she was growing too bored.
"No. I have no use of a TV," he said.
"What?" She laughed. "Everyone watches TV, or at least movies."
"Do they?" he asked thoughtfully as he rested his head once more.
She sat and watched him lying there perfectly still, as time crept by at a slow pace. She was tired, no she was exhausted and longed to return to that familiar place she reluctantly left this morning. This day had twisted in such a way that she could never have imagined. Her Mom had gone, she still could not grasp that fact. She had a house in her name. Jack her friend wanted to throw a party, and she made the wretched mistake of agreeing! Then, she met this bizarre, yet fascinating boy...and ended up here. How did things turn out this way? She should have woken up in the morning, found Mom at her usual spot at the table, left for school, had an ordinary day, gone home, watched TV, and gone to bed.
"So," Tanya said, interrupting the silence again, "seeing that you do not spend your free time watching TV like a normal individual, what do you do?"
"I do plenty of things. A lot of my time is spent reading, listening to music, hiking, pondering over our existence..." Alex said.
"You do have a pretty big collection of books, I saw them," Tanya commented, eyeing the shelves of books. "What are your favorite books?"
She could see a faint smile spread across Alex's lips as he pondered on her question. "Hmm...I suppose that might include some of Charles Dicken's literature, as well as Shakespeare. I have a soft spot for 'Great Expectations' and 'Romeo and Juliet,' though."
With scarce realization, Tanya felt herself smile. He shared an interest in some of her favorite books, but that should not surprise her, she thought, considering he appeared to have tastes beyond his years, shown not only in his collection of books, but also in his choice of clothing, and his love of the piano. "those are some of my favorites too," she replied. "Are you in the drama club at school or something?"
He glanced towards her and arched a brow. "While I enjoy the occasional play, I cannot picture myself upon a stage. Why do you ask?"
"You dress a lot differently than most kids our age," Tanya replied.
"Our age," he mused, laughing to himself at some unspoken joke. "I suppose I just have a finer taste in clothing than the typical teenager."
"What about music? Do you play the piano?" She felt somewhat stupid asking, considering he did possess the piano.
"Occasionally, although I dare to say I am not nearly as exquisite a pianist as you are," he said to Tanya.
Her cheeks reddened. "I am not that good, really."
"I disagree. You have exceptional talent, Tanya." He smiled again. "you should put that to use, also perhaps you can make a future out of it."
"Me? On stage?" She laughed at the thought. "There is no way I could get on stage in front of an audience and play. I barely have the guts to play in front of the music teacher at school. I cannot visualize myself doing that." Tanya frowned.
"You never know someday that might change," Alex said to her.
"I wish I could look at it like that as easily as you can, Alex." She sighed. "Do you mind if I check out your bookshelf?"
"Be my guest," he replied.
She watched him closely as she rose from her seat. She walked across the plush rug and over to the bookshelf. To her relief, she found 'A Dream Within a Dream,' by 'Edgar Allan Poe,' among the wide variety of books. But that didn't surprise her at all. She plopped herself down in the armchair, switched on the light, and began to read from where she had left off at school. Before she knew it, she unintentionally dozed off.
A Dream Within a Dream
By Edgar Allan Poe
Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow-
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it, therefore, the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.
I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand-
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep-while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?
****************************
"A Dream within a Dream," she heard a silky voice whisper into her ear. A wisp of cool breath tickled against her neck, and she jumped. Her eyes burned due to exhaustion, and her heart was thumping hard in her chest.
"It wasn't all a dream, then," she said somewhat disappointed, but at the same time a little relieved.
Alex simply smiled at her. "It is midnight."
"It is?" She looked at her watch to be sure. "It is! I must have dozed off while reading. So...what happens now?" Her voice shook as she spoke.
"Your mother didn't just leave on a whim," he said grimly, and quite suddenly.
She stared at him dazed. "What? You know my mom?"
"I met her once before," he said. "You might say I am familiar with her boyfriend more so than her. She left this letter with me, to give to you on your birthday."
"How did you know where to find me?" Tanya asked him.
"She told me where you would be. Just read the letter."
She tore the letter open, her heart racing once more. How much agony was she going to have to endure before this was all over? She read down the letter, slowly taking in each word-
*************************
Tanya, October 2nd,
Happy Birthday, sweetheart. I know the circumstances are a little different than you might have anticipated, but please trust me, things are only going to get better. James was the one that insisted I leave, maybe not quite like this, but nevertheless, you shouldn't put the blame entirely on me. You can beat him up for that when you see him again.
I left a present for you with Alex, who I hope has been kind enough to explain the situation to you more than this letter can. While having a house of your own with no expenses might seem like the perfect eighteenth birthday present, that was more of a gift to me than it was to you. I hope you like it and can find some use for it.
Visit James as soon as you can. You will understand even more clearly when you do.
Love always,
Mom. ******************************
Before she could ask, Alex passed her a gift box. This led her to believe that he had read the letter, but she ignored that thought. She ripped the bright pink wrapping paper away, revealing a simple cardboard box. It was not taped, but the flaps had been folded so it wouldn't open. She popped up the flaps to reveal a black, leather-bound book. When she opened it, the pages were blank. She looked at Alex as if he might have an answer for her.
"What is it?" He leaned over to have a peek.
"Is this some sort of diary?" she laughed. Mom should have known by now that she had no interest in a diary. She had never written a diary before, why would she start now?
"I suppose it must be." He looked a little shocked as if he was expecting something entirely different. "Whatever it is, your mom wanted you to have it and that is all that is important." He smiled.
"Please tell me this is not what I waited for all night," Tanya said.
"It isn't." He glanced away from her, his eyes turned towards the huge window behind the sofa. "Now that you are eighteen, your mother thinks you can handle the truth." He sighed heavily. "I don't know why I was the one left with this task. Perhaps because Daniel decided to whisk your mother away at the last moment, giving her no chance to explain, and..."
"The truth about what?" She demanded, breaking him off mid-sentence.
"Your heritage, your real family." He glanced up at her. "I know this is all very sudden, and it is going to be confusing and hurtful, but I need you to listen. Adriana is not your real mother, Tanya. Nor is Mark your real father."
She nearly laughed but stopped herself when she noticed how serious Alex looked. "Of course they are my parents! I have been with them all my life!"
He then smiled warmly and took her hand, leading her to the sofa.
- Writer
