The Difference Between Dreams and Reality[CHPT 10]

A/N: Hello again! I have a short few things to say before rushing to the story. First being, thank you all for the reviews! It keeps me going!

Since this is ADULT fan fiction...I will eventually try and put something into this story that will be of a more adult interest. I’m sorry that it’s now seven chapters and all I’ve done is develop plot and characters and whatnot. I just figured that I want a good set up and not just meaningless sex on impulse. :/ If I’m going to write it, I’m going to write it damn well. Or at least I hope. :)

And last thing to add: Sorry it’s so late. I was sick and then life just kept me too busy for words!

Thank you all so much for the support. And now onto the story!

THIS CHAPTER HAS NOT BEEN EDITED FOR MISTAKES BY MY BETA YET. I apologize for my mistakes. I just wanted to go this out ASAP. :)

Chapter seven: Cloud Nine and a Message in the Bathroom

After flying out of the house in a mad rush I got into my car. It started up with ease and I didn’t have to spend ten minutes cursing at it and raising the possibilities of being late to first period– again. I took my time getting to school with my head in the clouds. The hang over wasn’t as bad as it could have been, it only slowed me down a bit. I guess I wouldn’t know as well as most. I was never really into drinking, in fact...I wasn’t ever into drinking. Maybe it didn’t seem as bad as it was or it really wasn’t all that bad, all I knew was that I didn’t care. Today was going to be a good day, I wasn’t going to let a little headache stop it from that.

When I pulled into the school parking lot there were absolutely no open spaces.

“Crap,” I thought aloud.

I couldn’t believe I was that late! I wasn’t paying attention to the clock and actually ended up late enough to have to park down the street. My school needed to really enlarge it’s parking areas. It was getting to be a little ridiculous.

When I was parked and walked what seemed like a mile to the front door of the school entrance I snuck in. I didn’t even stop by the office to get a slip. I went to my locker and roamed the halls silently, thinking of an excuse for my mother. If she didn’t care about anything else I did, she cared about my education and attending school. This would have to be a good lie.

I found my way back up the very stairs that had once stomped me to the ground with upperclassmen and had also caught my heart in the eyes of my beloved mystery man. It was such a better hallway when there wasn’t anyone around to shove me back and forth until I fell to the ground.

The walls were covered in art. I could easily see which ones were done by Samantha Franks. She was the “art Goddess” of our school. She had a very unique style and gave our school a little bit of publicity. The teachers and adults would miss her terribly come next fall. She was a senior, after all.

I outlined the case of trophies with my delicate fingers for a moment before I looked up. There were all kinds of medals and honorable trinkets of sorts. All based so heavily on sports it almost made me wish I had participated in them in the grade school years.

I walked cautiously along past classrooms with active classes in them. People who actually wanted to learn, unlike myself. I heard something behind me and turned to see a strict and well-mannered teacher coming my way. She didn’t seem to have noticed my presence yet. She was too busy adjusting her skirt and going through the files she held in her hands. I panicked. I was going to pay so terribly if my mother got a call from the school this early in the morning from a teacher saying I was skipping class. I scrambled into what I thought was an empty classroom, standing in the lighting of the doorway for a moment before deciding to take my chances.

I watched silently underneath the door as her footsteps walked past. I felt a huge wave of relief sprinkle on me and, feeling revived, I turned to see the classroom. Luckily, there was no class going on at the moment. However, there was a slender figure sitting amusingly at the a desk near the front of the room covered in a cloak of darkness. The lights were off and I was horrified.

“Fuck,” I cursed lightly under my breath. I didn’t care if I ever got in trouble for cursing at school again. I was seriously fucked if I didn’t get a good excuse ready in seconds, or something along those lines.

The guy in the front laughed lightly. It caught my interest within a few seconds because I didn’t expect any one else to be ditching like I was. I devised a plan to hold the fact that he was ditching ,just like I was, against him to keep him quiet. I was sure he’d understand and there wouldn’t be any conflict.

I smirked and went to turn on the light. I figured I’d have to be able to identify this guy if he decided to turn me in anyways. He could have plainly seen me on my way in through the light into the dark .He had probably already gotten my plain features down.

I felt a quick motion and before I could say a word the other ditching student had my hand in grasp. I winced at this reaction and squinted my eyes closed in fear. I could feel that his hands were large and I could feel his breath near my neck. He shifted to what I thought was looking directly at me. I stood frozen for a moment. When I finally opened my eyes, I saw them.

Those unforgettable teal eyes.

I almost fainted from joy. I was surprised, but I was so happy. Instead of shoving him back and turning on the light anyways, as I’d expect most people to do, I threw my arms around his neck. I was so happy that I just held him for a moment and gradually his arms came up to hold my back as well. I felt like I hadn’t seen him for too long.

“Nine,” I whispered. “What are you–“

“Shhh...” interrupted Nine. His gentle voice kept me on cloud nine, in a literal sense.

I let him out of my hold and backed about an inch from his nose. I just wanted to be near him. He must have felt the same way as I did because he suddenly kissed me. First it was a peck. Than another peck. I saw his teal eyes cloud over with that familiar mysterious glance and we held kissing as long as we could until we had to breath or out tongues gave out, I wasn’t sure which it was. The kisses reluctantly simmered to an end and we adjusted ourselves at the two most available desks.


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He sounded a little fluttered. I was so used to the cool and calm demeanor he played off so well that I hadn’t ever really thought of him in a situation quite like this. And what kind of situation is that? Even I’m not sure. I’ve found his voice to change often depending on his mood. It makes things harder for me because I don’t actually know who he is and he seems to know so much more about me than I do him that even the smallest thing I could recognize that would trigger his silhouette is precious.

I cleared my throat and leaned forward with my arms resting on my legs and my hands holding my face. I just sat there and looked at him intensely. It was dark in the classroom, I couldn’t make out his features at all. I sat up, straightening my back, and placed my hands on his chest.

“What exactly are you–“ Began Nine before I interrupted him by placing my left pointer finger gently on his lips. He kissed my finger and I dropped my hands and focus back to his chest.

I wasn’t sure what I was doing. It was like I had just missed his presence so much I wanted to savor it all and all my best memories have come from physical contact(mainly thanks to him). I decided to travel everywhere. There was nothing stopping me at this moment except time, and I didn’t want to think about time because all that time meant when it came to Nine and I and whatever type of “relationship” we have, time always meant distance.

I snapped my face up to his level while wrapping my hands around his neck. I didn’t let my eyes leave his pools of teal grace once. I hardly blinked out of fear that I’d open my eyes and I’d be alone again. He started to mumble something or other, but shut up when I kissed him.

Only this time, I didn’t kiss his lips. I kissed his neck. He had a very muscular neck, but it wasn’t thick. He had the neck of an intelligent man, not a meat-head. He was muscular in a subtle way, not a go-to-the-beach-and-be-a-model-hunk-dude way. I suckled, not sucked. I’d describe it, but I’m pretty sure the word “suckled” is all I’ve got. My hands roamed around his chest for a bit but eventually ran up his back and neck to his hair; still thick.

Suddenly I pulled back. He just sat there without movement and I felt stupid for stopping. It made things awkward, I just couldn’t stop thinking about stupid things that I didn’t know about him. It was bothering me, and what had just stopped me was a classic stupid thought “I feel his thick hair, but what color is it?” I thought.

“It’s all right,” nine said reassuringly. I don’t think either of us knew what he was reassuring me on but it felt nice just to his voice. I said his voice tone changed often, and it does. Today his voice was light and tender but strictly business and less pleasure. I feel that I’ve gotten better at judging people with my eyes closed. I mean, I did fall in love with someone literally based on love and not looks. I could feel his body, but feeling and seeing are different, and although I wish to see him very desperately, I’ve found that “feeling my way” has become a very good source for affection and a healthier way to love.

“Crazy,” I mumbled in a non-audible tone. I felt Nine’s presence come closer to me as he stood. He towered over me and kissed me politely on the forehead before putting out his hand and helping me out of my seat that had become a lot closer to his than the classroom had been arranged. I took his hand like a princess to a throne and stood to his level. His stunning teal orbs fell on mine and we kissed briefly before I heard a faint tune somewhere that wasn’t familiar.

“Shit,” he mumbled as he stepped aside and pulled a cell phone out of what I guessed to be his jacket. He looked at me and I just smiled and nodded, I figure he’s fine to take a call, maybe I’d get a few hints this way.

“Hello,” he answered. His tone was cold.

“Yeah,” he spoke followed by a “I know that” pauses and then a “No, I can’t talk right now.” and finally a “Whatever. Bye.” I didn’t get anything from the conversation after all. I was a little disappointed but that crept from my mind into the forgotten as soon as I saw that his eyes were still cold.

They were almost completely drained of color, too. I just came up to him, but he stepped aside from my kisses. I wanted to lay on the floor with him and tell him all my worries, and about the party and about Toby and my brother and– everything I never told anyone else. I wanted to tell him all the little things that meant nothing to some people and everything to others.

I wanted to– but I couldn’t.

He leaned toward my ear and took a deep breath before whispering “Melissa, you’ve got to go. You’re going to be late to class.”

He seemed to have so much more to say, and I expected more form him, but instead I just stood there like a statue as he practically cart-wheeled me out the door and before I knew it I was in the empty upper-class hallway alone.

I wondered if I had blinked like I had tried so hard not to out of fear of this loneliness. I wanted to turn back to the door and bust it open screaming “I’m in love with you, you idiot!” and then blame him for my loneliness but I didn’t. Instead my feet turned and I began a very long walk through the hallway until I came across the girls bathroom. I decided to “freshen up a bit.”

I went to the last stall. I was grateful for the vacancy of the bathroom. Nine had rushed me out of the classroom and I had no idea what time it was but I figured time didn’t matter at this point. I was all ready fucked. At first I started with tears and just sitting on the toilet feeling sorry for myself and embarrassed that I was crying. Then the tears ran dry and my cheeks swelled up with all the tears that got clogged up and couldn’t fall.

I was lost in hopeless self pity until I noticed a black sharpie marker on the floor next to the wall. A lot of bad ideas ran through my mind until I came across a good one. About two minutes later I was finished and I tossed the marker back to the floor before opening my stall and taking long strides back out the bathroom door. I felt better; a lot better.

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After my lovely display of a subtle abuse of my own emotions, I found myself in my car parked in Brian Fuller’s Driveway. I wasn’t sure why I went there or how Brian and I had connected as well as we had the night before, or why I was drawn to his being lately, but I was here and there was no point in turning back now.

I decided to wait inside his house instead of out. He’d probably be at school by now, so I didn’t even knock, I just turned the knob and it clicked. It was so like two guys living together to leave the front door unlocked. I remember that Toby’s uncle, who used to come over a lot in the past before he passed away, used to always do that. He actually made a motto out of it. He’d say “I always leave my front door unlocked; it’s the last place a criminal looks to break in.” I always wondered if it was true, but never had a chance to ask him before he passed away from a heart attack in the fourth grade. He had been a hilarious man, though.


When I was inside the house, It seemed even messier than before. One of the things I noticed about this house was that there was no names, no pictures, no awards, no displays, no happily displayed accomplishments. I’d notice this, of course, because my mother has always put up my school pictures and anything of worth. Good grades on the fridge, medals hanging from the coat hooks; the whole shabam.

I sat on the couch cautious of what I sat on– almost a bag of chips. Where to start? What the hell was I doing here? I couldn’t stop myself from coming, but now I don’t have a reason to stay. That was, of course, until the door flung open and an unfamiliar person stepped in.

“He–“ I cleared my throat “Hello.”

This tall blonde turned toward me and smiled. “Hello back,” she said. I couldn’t help but notice she was like a model, only smaller. I got an immediate uncomfortable feeling about her, which is unusual for me.

“Might I ask who you are?” she smiled even more radiantly than before. I suppose I had gotten lost in my thoughts again.

“Oh,” I said rising from my spot on the couch and brushing myself off. I came over to her awkwardly and put my hand out while saying “I’m Melissa. Melissa Dale.” I tried to mimic her amazing smile but figured It was worth a shot.

“So you’re THE Melissa?” She said with an almost rude snort, but she had such a graceful figure that it wasn’t too obvious.

“And who are you?” I asked bluntly. I didn’t know who was more misplaced. Me or her?

She smiled like I was asking about a famous movie star and playing dumb like I didn’t know. She seemed so familiar with everything that it made me kind of uncomfortable.

“I,” she said with a huge radio-version of “I” as if to announce her debut album on live radio “am the wife!”

I almost passed out. Wife? Wait, who had a wife? That uncle or father or whatever it was of Brian’s? Or Brian? Or is this Brian’s mom? No way. Not the mother, she’s too young and beautiful and they look nothing alike.

I’m guessing she recognized the confusion on my face because she started laughing. I got frustrated. Who did this lady think she was?

“I’m so sorry for laughing, she said. I’m Kendra,” she put out her hand and I looked it over before shaking it.

We sat down on the front porch after realizing the couch was barely clear enough for just me. She explained that she was Adam’s sister...so she was like Brian’s Aunt through marriage in a very confusing family tree that’s expanded, I guess. She wasn’t actually as weird as I had thought, but she did have a crazily uncomfortable aura that still wouldn’t go away. It was unfitting for her, she seemed so open.

She told me that she was an artist. She didn’t say anything else but that on her profession. I found it mysterious in a good way, much in the same way as Nine’s identity. She was here to pick up something Adam had that belonged to her, apparently. She said that he and Brian should be here shortly, but I decided to go ahead and leave. I didn’t want to impose on family matters that weren’t really my business to begin with, I was the outsider here, after all.

I got back into my trashed car that looked even worse next to her amazing artwork on wheels and waved goodbye. Once on the road I just went straight home. I didn’t even know what time it was still, but it seemed like school had probably ended by now., I was amazed at how fast the day seemed to go by.

When I was home, mom wasn’t. I think Kenneth was in the kitchen, but I didn’t care to look. When I got upstairs I pulled out my notebook and found:

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Entry six:
Miss me yet? When don’t I?
Do you ever wonder if I’ve figured out who you are? I have on occasion
Have you thought about how easily I could have seen you by now? It’s not a big concern yet
When you see me next, can you promise me a kiss? I can promise you more

Do you speak another language besides English? I speak piglatin, otherwise, no.

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I smiled at his last response. Piglatin? Was that even the correct spelling? Is it two words or one? What a cute response and so clever. I stopped smiling when I realized I was almost giggling like a school girl in love. Which I very much was.

I composed my next entry with glee.
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Entry Seven:
Why is Nine your favorite number?
Do you know my favorite number?
Do you know my cell phone number?
Could you teach me that dance you said you knew, sometime?

Do you have any allergies?

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My question entries felt less meaningful for some reason. I wanted them to have more...more something. More umphh? Now I’m making up words again. I’m not sure, more substance I guess. The last one is important. Everyone is allergic to something. Be it animals or your math homework.

I added to my list of thing I know about Nine:

Nine:
Teal eyes
Thick hair
Low voice
Thin but muscular build
Doesn’t own a dog
Is older than me
Can ballroom dance
English and Piglatin speaking

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After adding happily to my list, I shoved it back under my bed and headed downstairs. Kenneth must have gone upstairs because he wasn’t in the kitchen anymore. I turned on the T.V. while sitting comfortably on the couch. I flipped through channels until I settled with watching the news. News was good, right? I didn’t seem to know much of anything about the world as it is, it couldn’t hurt to watch some news.

I wasn’t paying much attention until I saw the reporter “Cindy Franklin” at my school. What a scene. I chose that time to look to my left at the clock and it was five P.M. I was curious as to what the scoop was. Suddenly the screen went to the girls bathroom on the bottom floor hallway. It went inside a stall and behind and above the toilet in big black sharpie was “If you’re in love, sign here.” It was subtle enough and open to any reply, but what surprised me more than it making the news is why. Apparently there were over seventy-two signatures below it!

The story was that the female janitor came across it and brought it to the attention of the principle because she didn’t have the heart to scrub it off when there were all ready so many signatures below the message.

All I could do was stand there as tears fell down my cheeks. I didn’t sob or break down, tears of happiness fell from my eyes. Even without feeling noticed sometimes and not making much of a known presence, I had made a difference. Even though it was a little one. Those signatures made me feel so much more determined to be closer to Nine.

It’s love. No doubt about it.

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A/N: First, I’d like to add that as of right now this chapter has NOT been edited by my beta. I wanted to get it out ASAP, but it will be edited soon, so please disregard all my errors. :)

Rambles that may not mean anything to you:

Really sorry about this chapter being so late! I hope it was worth the wait! I’m definitely still planning on finishing this story as long as I continue to see it bring new readers every so often and get reviews! This chapter was a bit more of the plot but I definitely tried to make it more Nine based. This is the real Cloud Nine!

Speaking of Cloud Nine, I hadn’t actually thought of that when I chose his nickname to be Nine. It’s actually just ironic. And it fits! I’m thinking of changing the title to “Cloud Nine” when I finish the story. I wasn’t planning on making this story more than a one-shot which is why it’s title as what it is... but I don’t think it fits as much anymore. I’m going to try and bring her acting more into the story now as well, I just had to bring Nine in more before, it keeps things interesting.

I hope this chapter makes up for the wait, I really do. Expect more soon!


>>>> Drop me a review if you want another chapter!