Dreamer

2.

Seven Days Ealier.

"Now all you have to do is wait for it to steam and then it's ready." Grandmother tells me as we prepare the marinated chicken and Alfredo sauce.

"Where did you learn how to make so many dishes grandmother?" I ask her as we stand together by the cooking food.

"Oh my dear... It's such a long story, but if you have the time to hear, I'll tell you." Grandmothers says with a hand on top mine.

"I have all the time Grandma, there's nothing I'd rather do." I tell her as she chuckles.

"Oh Athena, you make me laugh so much," She says as she stares at me with love filling her eyes, while I stare at her the same way until a thought cowers my head.

If only...

If only my own mother saw me this way.

"What are you thinking of my dear?" Grandmother's hand on my cheek brings me out of my trance.

"Nothing grandma, it's nothing." I lie with a smile covering my lips.

"Athena..."

"No Grandma, I'm fine, I am really," I cut her off still with a pretentious smile making grandma pass me a weak look.

"Let me tell you a story Athena, before our meal gets ready," Grandmother pulls my hand walking away from the cooking food as we sit.

"Let me guess a story about when I was born?" I ask her with a smile as grandma chuckles, knowing she has told me that story a thousand times, all to make me feel better.

"No, not that one today. I'll be telling you about a different story. A story about a different world,"

"A different world?" I ask her perplexed.

"Yes, A different world." Grandma begins while I listen.  "There is a tale which my mother always told me about a world where your imaginations could come true, a world filled with magic and fantasies, a world that has been hidden through the eyes of men, a word that is also linked to ours.

They say it's a world filled with magic, and you can find anything you want in there." Grandma says making me chuckle.

"Magic grandma? That's just a story right?" I ask her seeing her seriousness.

"Well it may be and it may not," She answers looking at me as somehow that sends chills down my spine.

"Okay, let's say this world even exist, it must have a name right, maybe I could google about it to prove you wrong," I tell grandma with a shrug.

"Not everything are seen by the eye alone Athena, and that isn't the end of the story," Grandmother speaks.

"Okay still, I would like to know the name, it does have a name right, to this magical place?" I giggle at the sound of my own ridiculousness.

Grandmother stares at me as the look on her face is something I do not understand, yet I feel it is more than what she is letting. "Yes my dear, it does have a name.

And it's name is, Cyrus."

------------------

Present.

My gaze on the person who stands in front of the class unbelievably, as my eyes batters and my heart races along with my sweaty palms.

What is this?

How is this possible!

What is happening to me!

"It is rare to have a student fill in at this time of the year, but I'm guessing the principal has had you thoroughly checked. So welcome to History class, I'm Mr James." Mr James introduces himself as principal Dane leaves the room.

I watch his every movements, as he doesn't say a word but just nod gratefully at Mr James, while my body stir uncomfortable in the seat.

No, maybe I got it all wrong.

Maybe his name isn't even Orion.

It may have just been a coincidence to see his face in my dream.

But what about the bracelet?

"Please introduce yourself to the class," Mr James says as my heart picks up a new pace.

Please let it not be.

Please God.

"Orion Smith." He says plainly, yet with strength as his eyes wonders across the whole class while my heart stops for a second, doubting what my ear has heard.

But hell, who am I kidding.

My breathing slowing as my vision dizzies, while my hands begin to tremble at the very sight of my prediction. My gaze still on him as Mr James gestures for him to take a seat behind my back.

Sweat starts to fill my whole body, and I begin to gasp for breath. "Miss brooks," I hear Mr James call me, but I'm too disheveled to even reply.

How is this possible?

No, no!

"Miss brooks," He calls me again, as my whole body begins to tremble for the second time again today.

What is happening to me?

I can't control it.

"Athena,"

"Athena,"

"Athena,"

The voices begin again, as this time I push my hand to my ears, blocking them tight, but none of that helps, as it's only gets worse.

"Athena,"

It continues again, as my voice begin to come out as a whisper with trembling lips, while my eyes build up with tears.

"Please stop... Stop... Stop," I block my ears tighter, as tears rim through my eyes, as nothing matters anymore, not even the students staring at me or the teacher calling my name, as my head fills with voices.

And suddenly, all stops again.

No noises, no voices, nothing.

"Oh my God, she is such a freak," Those are the first words I hear as my hands regain control and move away from my ears.

My breathing back to normal, as my palms are no longer sweaty, but my eye still stays with tears that has already fallen.

"Miss brooks?" Mr James voice comes again as this time I look up at him.

"I think it's time you go to the infirmary," He tells me as I don't respond but only stare at him.

"No, I just need to go home," I speak finding the strength to talk and wipe my eyes.

"I wonder why she is even here, she clearly is not normal," I hear another students say as that grabs my attention.

I wish I knew too.

"You'll need to go to the infirmary first to get checked up, then they will decide if to let you go or not." Mr James tells me as I only nod acceptably.

"Okay then, I'll take you." Mr James says with a worried expression on his face.

"No it's fine, I can walk. Thank you." I get up from my seat passing Mr James a grateful nod. As I exit the class, I stop in my tracks, turning back to see the whole class watching me leave, some either with faces of mock and the others with sympathy, but Orion here, stays with something I can't quiet read.

Or can't understand.

His gaze hot on me as I do the same, while I begin to take in his appearance. His eyes blue like that of the evening sky, along with his thick eyebrows that define his very high check bones.

I take that as my cue to leave, turning my feet and excusing myself but not before another snarky comment from another student.

If only they knew.

I reach the infirmary, sighting Mr Milton there. "Hello Athena," He greets me as soon as I get in.

"Hi Mr Milton," I greet back smiling lightly at him.

"How are you today?" He asks me while I take a seat on the bed.

"I'm asked to come here, but I'd prefer to go home," I tell him truthfully and straight to the point.

"You want to go home?" Mr Milton asks me again.

"Yeah," I answer as Mr Milton takes a thermometer to check me.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asks me, gesturing to my past appearance of coming here at least once every week.

"You won't understand Mr Milton," Is all I say as he gets my temperature.

"Well you can never know unless you try right? You have to talk to someone one of these days Athena," He says.

"I know," My voice coming low.

"Well your temperature is alright," Mr Milton changes the subject as he drops the thermometer in his hands.

"Of course it is, my brain is the problem," I mutter slightly but Mr Milton hears me as he chuckles lightly.

"It's true. It's not the first time that I feel completely diverse in my body, but my temperature stays normal." I tell Mr Milton as a matter of fact.

"You know the mindset is everything Athena, it's what you think that your body usually responds to," Mr Milton says while getting some vitamins.

"I wish, I really do wish that Mr Milton, but not in my case," I nod my head.

"You know you can talk to me right?" He comes closer to me.

"I know, but you could never understand." I say again as Mr Milton just sighs.

"Okay, well it all up to you, but I'm right here if you need anything." He assures me and I nod calmly at him.

"Here are some vitamins, they'll help calm whatever is going on in there," He hands some vitamins to me. "But, I'm still not permitting you to go home, you seem fine to me." He says and I roll my eyes making him chuckle.

Mr Milton is the nurse here at St Louis high school, although he looks quite young for the job, he does it efficiently, and not to talk about the fact that he is also very handsome.

No don't get me wrong, I may admire him but I would never option for a teacher student relationship, that's out of my league.

"Can't you just give me the permit, please Mr Milton," I plead.

"Not today Athena, not today." He nods his head negatively. "This is your last year Athena, don't let it slip away from you," Mr Milton drops a hand on mine caressing it lightly as he advices me.

"Only if, you want to stay here and keep me company for some minutes before you return to class, because that's the only offer I can give you now," He says with a smirk and a smile arises on lips.

"Oh I'm definitely taking up that offer," I chuckle as he does too. Mr Milton and I discuss some more as I find out that, the discussion is actually a good harness for my body to feel better.

It's not like I don't like school, it is just not the best thing for me right now, with everything that's going on recently but it is still a hell lot better than staying at home with my mother, which she has already concluded I'm staying at my grandmother's tonight.

I have no problem with that, but I won't lie and say it doesn't hurt to have people running away from you like a plague.

And as I and Mr Milton converse, one thing remains certain in my head.

Whatever is happening to me, has something to do with the new boy in school.

Orion.