Once Upon a Dream

Sometimes I wished that my life had been a dream

Not that I didn't like my life but it's just that with everything that happened I just wished that I could wake up to see that it had all been just a dream

But it wasn't, was it? And there was nothing I could do about it. No matter how much I wanted to go back to a world where monsters were just trees, where my best friend was human and where Jake Reynolds didn't make my heart beat faster

It could be fear that caused it all. There was no way I was looking at him and feeling like that because of how gorgeous he was...not that I thought that, it's just that...that I was experiencing feelings I haven't before and it would be easier if they could just go away so I didn't have to understand them

Besides, given the situation, I was in no position of being thinking about him like that...I was just stressed, afraid, confused...Jacob Atlas Reynolds was a werewolf and that was all

"Can I have my phone back, please?" I held my breath for a second, we had both been quiet since the whole 'dream' thing

Dreams, dreams, dreams, what did they even mean? Maybe it would be easier if we didn't dream at all

"You could, but I don't have it" I blinked a couple of times, had I lost it? "What do you mean you don't have it?" Jake put his hands on the sides of his waist, he was up again, it was almost like he was allergic to being inactive "I. don't. have. it." He repeated looking at me as if I was a child "Billie does"

"Billie..." I said the name as if it was the first time I ever said it "Can I talk to them?" I was despaired to see someone familiar and I wanted to hear for Billie their story, I wanted to know from Billie what was going on "Oh Myers" Jake's voice was so soft as he sat next to me that I almost forgot I was some sort of hostage or whatever, in a way I had been kidnapped

"I am suppose to keep you here until said so" his eyes were filled with empathy, Jake probably knew what was like to be clueless, to want to do something but not be able to move. Besides it was clear by now that he would much rather be downstairs on the room where things were happening then babysitting me, but even so I needed to try harder "Really? Cause you don't seem like the kind of guy that does everything that dad says"

Something changed completely on his face, like I had given him an opportunity to be mean "Only when it's daddy who says it" I looked down absolutely aware that I was blushing, but I guess Jake got what he wanted: I was quiet

"Kiddo" a voice echoed from behind the door, I can't say it was exactly familiar, but I had heard it before. A caring and relaxed voice as if nothing that was happening or could happen affected him but Kiam's tired eyes gave it away how he actually felt, as he opened the door looking at us both "Hey dad, remember me? Your son? That you left here" Kiam Haley was taller than he seemed downstairs, but it wasn't just his height, he had a marking presence it was like he demanded to be heard and seen but didn't have to make any effort for that to happen...he was much like his son on that matter

"Out of here Jake, we'll talk about it later" Kiam dismissed him with a hand gesture "Wow, you're kicking me out of my own room, thanks dad" the man rolled his eyes, I had the feeling most of the conversations they had were like that "Out" "Fine" Jake tossed his hands to the air as he made his way to the door, stopping before leaving to look back at me "Good luck Myers"

'That was it' I thought. I had been left on the lion's cage...well, wolf's cage to be precise

"So..." Kiam started saying while he closed the door that Jake had left opened "How much has he told you?" I held my breath feeling like I owned something to Jake though I am not sure why "Uh..nothing" He was standing on the same spot where Jake had turned into a black wolf, one of his hands was on his waist as the other was used to rub his eyes "Please, I know the child I put in this world, just let me know where he left off his talk"

I rubbed the back of my neck uncertain "He...he showed me...the thing you turn into" "Thing?" Both of his hands were on his waist now, there was so much of Jake in his posture that I was a bit scared to be honest "Show some respect, will you? We are bloody werewolves, people write books about us, people make movies about us, we are fucking legendary creatures!" Kiam was looking at the ceiling as if he was presenting himself to the above, it was kind of a funny posture

"Pardon my French" I couldn't help but notice how he actually had some accent "Are you actually French?" Kiam shook his head with a soft smile. He had such a...fatherly posture, I liked him, strangely everyone I had seen so far made me feel safe...everyone except for Harry, of course. Either way, Jake seemed to be lucky

"We used to live in France" Kiam told me with nostalgic eyes "It was Rosemary's dream so her sister, my Ivy, thought it would be a good idea to live there, to honor Rose and have a fresh start" it was kind of clear that he was trying to fight back a tiny, tired smile "Jake liked France, he loved the language and there were the french boys too" French boys, that kind of explained a lot and helped me understand that whatever I thought, at some point, was happening between Jake and Mona was a wrong guess

And to be honest, what caught my attention the most was the way Kiam brought the subject up. He talked with so much simplicity, he didn't make a big deal out of it, in fact he mentioned the french boys that his son liked on the same way my mom talks about Wendy and I. I guess I just liked how he talked with so much care in his voice, if it was my family I doubt a talk about boys would fall into the same picture

"I think Ivy still lives there, Jake's mom, my...ex wife" I noticed on that moment how Kiam wasn't just tired he was also upset, maybe missing the old days? Maybe worried about his son or maybe it was just the whole situation that we were in "You don't have to tell me all this" I said a bit too low but he heard me, of course he did, Kiam probably had super hearing or something like that...Jesus it all felt so stupid and unbelievable. I even glanced down at my own sneakers to avoid his look and end up noticing how my mom would kill me: First for not calling and second because one day those shoes could be called white...that wasn't the case anymore, I could even notice how there were a few red dots staining it and wondered with a shiver if it was dry blood

"It's okay" Kiam sat on the border of the bed looking at me carefully, like if I was a deer lost in the lights of hunt, the slightest movement and I would be on the run...However it's not like I had anywhere to run to "Now you know something about me which I hope that can help you see that I a person just like you" his voice was calm and controlled but also worried "Except that you are not like me" "No, I am not" he admitted quicker than I thought he would "But my hope here is that it doesn't become a problem" that was the third sentence I heard on that house that I would classify as a villain line "Are you going to-"

"Eat you?" he didn't even let me finish "No, I'm vegan" "But..but you are a werewolf" I pointed out with a frown "Yes, and I am vegan" he got up in an excited jump as if all the problems had just been erased "Listen Hamish I don't want to harm you, no one does but I need you to swear to me that you will keep everything you saw and heard today to yourself, could you do that?" I nodded quickly "Yes" "Hamish" Kiam place a hand above my shoulder and crouched down in front of me "Harry has seen you, which means I can't say you are 100% safe but I can promise we'll keep you safe but for Billie's sake don't tell anyone" I nodded a bit more confident this time "Great. Jake will take you home" "Okay.."

-

The drive was quiet to be fully honest, not as scary as I thought it was going to be

When I went downstairs Harry was gone, the chair was empty, that image would hunt me for at least a few more days, the desire to know what happened to her. Billie wasn't there either, but no one bother telling me where they were

All people did was stare at me, there were more unknown faces now, only one that smiled. An old man, for what it seemed, with a long brown trench coat and a hat on the same color. Dark skin and kind chocolate eyes "That's Z.Faraday, they are Skylar's parent, but uh..they chose our side" Jake whispered in my ear as I nodded, Z. didn't seem to belong in the picture, they looked so calm and nice, as if they were simply in a family gathering. A part of me wondered if they actually knew what was happening

"Come on, I'll take you home" Jake put his thin, long and pale fingers above my shoulders making me hold my breath "Okay" I took my eyes off of Z. to look at Jake, there was kindness on his eyes too but also worry "Here" he handed me my phone leaving me to wonder if Billie had given it to him or if Jake simply had it this whole time, I guess I'll never know, I guess there's a lot I'll never know

As I said, the way home was quiet, he turned the radio on letting the songs fill in the atmosphere. For what I had understood the car wasn't even his, it belonged to someone named Erica and Jake drove it completely secure with one hand on the steering wheel and the other one relaxed above his tight, his eyes fixed on the road ahead making me wonder if he remembered that I was next to him or bothered, I also wished I knew what he was thinking about

I gave up on looking at him and glanced down to my lap, only to realize that my legs were shaking and I was making a terrible job to stop it, so I placed my hands above my legs trying to calm myself down "It's okay" Jake whispered putting his hand above mine "I know it's a lot right down but it will be okay" I raised my hand to look at him, Jake's eyes weren't on the road anymore they were in me, the right one light blue reminding me of the moon and the other one golden like the sun, now that we were closer I could just...stare at the freckles that covered his face without censure

"I don't want to say that I'll be stalking you but I'll keep a close look, on both you an Billie...just for a while" his hand was still above mine and as bad as it could sound, I didn't want him to let go "Why? To make sure we are safe or to make sure I won't tell anyone?" he shrugged making a face "Both" Jake pulled his hand back as he pulled over the car in front of my house, the sun was already gone and I had noticed the missing calls on my phone "Home sweet home" he commented looking outside the window and unlocking the car's doors

"What do I tell my mom?" he shrugged again "That you made a new friend" he gave a smile with the corner of his mouth, his teeth shinning like fangs, it was at the same time scary and beautiful like a dagger, maybe "Or whatever you can come up with" I nodded, it was quite terrifying, the fact that Jake Reynolds was to become a part of my life "I...I guess I'll see you" I got out of the car making my away to the door but something kept me from walking away, I turned back to the car leaning against the open window of the driver's door "Hey uh...thank you..you know for.."

"Not eating you?" I chuckled still a bit nervous and on edge "Yeah" I took a deep breath finally turning around, Jake waited until I was close to my front door to scream "Hey Myers!" I looked back at the car wondering if my mother could hear him "Dream about me again, will you?" he winked at me and drove off...that imagine would follow me to my dreams, indeed