Dreams That We Share

A year had passed since they last saw each other, it seemed that senior year flew by them within the blink of her chocolate brown eyes. She'd be lying if she said that she didn't enjoy college, there was a certain kind of freedom that came with living on your own but at the same time, she missed her best friend. They called and texted frequently in the beginning but as time passed and assignments started to pile up the communication between the two started to wane. Coraline felt a loneliness creeping into her heart and it started to consume her from the inside out. She hated to admit that she kept her phone's ringer turned on in case he called and it seemed like he never did. She huffed as she threw her phone on her bed in an act of frustration. Her heels dragged on the gray carpet that covered her floor as she walked, a sad hum came from her lips as she recanted a song that had made a home in her head. She couldn't remember much about the song, just the sad, bitter melody. Tendrils of blue curls fell down in front of her eyes, the rest of her short hair secured in a messy bun with a simple olive green scrunchie. A small breeze blew in through an open hall window which swept through the small apartment and the smell of freshly fallen rain wafted on the back of the breeze. Exhaustion pulled at her eyes in an aggressive and persistent way but she resisted the urge. Coraline entered the kitchen, the cold tile was a shock to her uncovered feet. Kneeling down at her white cupboards she searched for a pan within it. Her hand settled on the cool handle of a medium pan and she was more than happy to put it to use. A stir-fry sizzled in the oil and the sauces that she had added for flavor and a sigh escaped her coal-colored lips, another dinner for one. Taking her plate she sat down at her wooden table and picked up her utensil when she heard a small creak of an open window and then a meow. Brilliant blue eyes stared up at her and she separated a portion of food for the guest, maybe it was dinner for two tonight.

A purring engine could be heard in the background of Wybie's concentration, a low rock song mingled with the rumble in a late night symphony. His fingers drummed on the steering wheel in a rhythmic manner absentmindedly. He followed the directions of his phone's GPS and made a right turn on cue. The street lights passed him by, illuminating his tan features ever so slightly. His keen eyes focused on the road and the objects in it, mainly the cars that brushed by him on his side. He felt a growing sense of light anxiety and excitement that was heating up in his chest. He had been thinking about a certain blue-haired girl with the most enchanting freckles that looked like little tan drops of sun had splattered all over her pale and delicate skin. Wybie kept thinking about his girlfriend as he pulled over at a neighborhood curb. He got out of the old dusty sky colored car with a fast pace as he was eager to see his blue spitfire and embrace her petite figure. Wybie stared at the small slip of paper between his calloused fingers. 'Apt 26, 1303 Azalea Dr.' was messily scribbled in blue ink and the curly haired boy felt a strengthening resolve. He opened the door the apartment complex and saw a bored-looking young man sitting behind the desk.

"Visiting?" The nervous squirrely boy just nodded his head in response. "Apartment number and name?"

"Uh, 26. Wyborn Lovat here to see Jones, Coraline Jones."

"Third floor, go on up."

"Thanks."

The stairs creaked under the weight of the muscle-bound tan figure. His old tennis shoes squeaked as took each step eagerly, delighted to meet his spunky little blunette. He kept his eyes down, the carpet on the stairs was stained with dirt and other various types of filth. He finally reached the third floor with an overflowing excitement that made it feel like his heart was about to burst out of his chest in a display of bright and intensely colorful fireworks. He scanned the numbers as he walked passed them, 23, 24, 25, 26. His hand searched his pocket for the key Coraline had given him when he helped her move into the rickety, but quaint apartment complex that had some semblance of the pink palace where they shared their youth. He inserted the key into the lock and turned it until he heard a small click. He entered quietly as he didn't wish to wake any of the sleeping neighbors that lie just beyond the paper thin walls. Closing the door behind him he kicked off his shoes and entered the kitchen searching for his navy haired love. Seeing it empty he knew that she had probably already had gone to bed. He crept down the hallway and saw a dim light being emitted from her bedroom. He peeked his head him in case she was awake he didn't want to scare her by barging in unexpectedly. He saw her laying on the comforter of her bed, book in hand, fast asleep. A small smile infected him as he neared her, placing his phone on her nightstand and pulling off his masterfully stained shirt and holey jeans. If he hadn't been so tired he would probably be terrified of the consequences that were sure to come in the morning but for now, he could only focus on the heat she was emitting as he picked her up and placed her under the covers. His skin pressed hotly against her own as he settled in beside her and basked in the softness of her exposed skin(minding his hands of course, he would always be a gentleman). He placed small almost nonexistent kisses on her cheek and the back of her neck as he spooned her. He could feel the haze beginning and the weight of his eyelids and soon he was just as fast asleep as she was.

A scream echoed shrilly throughout the room's walls and pain shot through Wybie's gut as he fell harshly off the bed onto his back effectively knocking the wind out of him.

"Ow!" He yelped and raised his hands in defense, and when the darkest chocolate colored eyes paired with blue strands peered over the edge at him he couldn't help but smirk up at her.

"What in the name of God's green earth are you doing here, WHY-WERE-YOU-BORN!" She pelted him with pillows in anger.

"Because I missed you! Ow, would you stop?!" A kindness softened her hard eyes until they were smooth chocolate that he felt himself drowning in, until they got closer and closer and he realized that she was falling on top of him and the wind was knocked out of him again for the second time in 2 minutes. She didn't allow him to speak and instead captured his lips with vigor and passion. His fingers ran through her hair as he pulled her closer, he had been waiting for this moment for so long and he was going to savor every moment of it. Her lips were soft and inviting, her body warm and tantalizing. Wybie just wrapped his arms around her tighter, and let himself fall deeper into her spell.

"So I was thinking that we could go on a drive," Wybie said as he placed a cup of raspberry tea in front of the petite blue haired girl, Coraline was never truly fond of coffee anyway.

"Oh? Where?" She quirked an eyebrow and sipped the tinged liquid. Wybie sat before her with a childish look on his face.

"It's a surprise." Wybie gave her a crooked smile while taking a bite of one of the cookies that were in a container on her table. They shared a heated gaze, the tanned man grinning goofily all the while crumbs were falling onto his shirt. The look in his eyes made her feel like the most beautiful girl in the world, and to her, he was. A small blush rose to his cheeks as she watched him munch on the chocolate chip cookie. She walked over to his side the table and wiped the stray crumbles from his freckled skin, her thumb and fingertips lingering on his face. Flustered when he pulled her slightly closer by her hips and brushed the hair out of her face, she dropped her hand while a slight pink blush flushed her cheeks.

"All right." She smiled softly as he embraced her lower body and rested his head on her stomach.

"Really?" Wybie looked up with wide eyes, Coraline nodded. He abruptly stood up and dragged her over to the front door.

"Wha-A few years down the road, they became more than friends. And she hadn't been happier since. And she wondered what adventure he would take her on next, knowing that whatever it would be she was ready for it.

now? Wait! I have to put on my shoes!"

It was early in the afternoon when Coraline asked to stop to use the restroom that Wybie had informed her they were only 10 minutes away from their destination. A small amount of enthusiasm bubbled in her stomach as she wondered where he was taking her. He turned into a small parking lot that had a small wooded path leading off into the forest. Upon exiting the car Coraline saw a stout building directly in front of the car labeled "Restroom" and she promptly excused herself so that she could take care of her business.

A short five or so minutes later, Coraline emerged from the doorway and as she looked around, she found that she was alone, no Wybie in sight. Huffing she walked over to the car that had a small note taped on the windshield. 'Had some stuff to set up Jonesy, just walk down the path -Wybie'. A smile played on her rosy lips; she could never stay mad or even semi irritated at him. Coraline set on her way, following the path that would lead to the one person she always knew who could put a smile on her face and a warm feeling in her heart.

As she walked, she thought, and as she thought, she laughed. She remembered the first time she saw him; awkward posture, mused up curls, and soft eyes. Admittedly she had been turned off by him at first, wanting nothing more than to go back home and be with her real friends. Things, however, changed in a matter of weeks, dare she even say days? From then on, it was fate the way things fell into place. Within the first couple months of their first encounter, they were the best of friends. She finally came across Wybie standing, his back facing her. When she called out his name; she would never be the same. He gave her this look, this longing, and absolutely worshipping look. A look that let her know that it was her he loved, it was her he admired, it was only her. He motioned her over to the lakefront and her mind went with the waves. She rarely lost herself these days and it made her feel just a touch of melancholy. Time had been moving fast without a doubt but there were some things that didn't move fast enough. Some things like sleepless all-nighters, and being away from her home. But just because something was slow didn't mean it was good, they were slow. Their love, their first kiss, their life together was slow, and she loved that. When she was him, she saw things more beautifully, more like a fragment of imagination. The waves were crystal blue but so dark and deep the more she stared at them, the mountains in the distant loomed high and so regal. It calmed her, refreshed her. Ever since she had started college she realized how much she hated the city, full of people, and grayscale and time moving fast. Coraline loved nature, truly, and she was thankful once more for growing up swinging from trees with the boy by her side. He knew her, knew that she had always been a free spirit, a bird with no wings. She loved how he thought about her when he saw scenes like this, scenes she would love. She felt peace, and she hadn't felt it in a long time.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw it. The tiniest movement had drawn her attention. It was Wybie bending down on one knee giving her that look again. He pulled a black box from his back pocket and in his hand, it looked intimidating but at the same time welcoming. He sucked in a break which was funny because she had just lost hers.

"I love you. And I know you're far away and that we're young and a little stupid but I want to be stupid with you. I didn't know happiness until I met you Jonesy when you moved into my life. You are so amazing and strong and smart and beautiful, God you are so beautiful. I need you to be in my future, I just can't imagine my life without you. I'm glad I stalked you, I would follow you to the ends of the earth because you are my world. So just be stupid with me okay? So stupid." And it was in that moment she saw young Why-were-you-born and Present Wybie and Future Wyborn all at once. She saw them laughing and growing old together. Raising kids with big mops of curly blue hair and tan, freckled skin. It was so quiet between them, such a long silence.

"Marry me, Coraline. Be my Jonesy forever." A smile exploded onto her face.

"Yes! Of course, I will idiot! I love you too!" And it was like the ending to a bad romance movie, one that in their teenage years they would mock between shy glances and brushing touches. He hugged her so tight she might break but she didn't care, how could she? He spun her laughing and little crystal tears made their way down from her cocoa eyes. He kissed them away just like he always did. And she kissed him. It was passionate but not lustful. It was full of joy and love and admiration. As they broke apart it was then that she took time to look at the ring as he slipped it on her slender finger. It wasn't flashy, Wybie knew her taste. It was a small silver band with a small diamond in the middle. The gems that surrounded it were breathtaking, they were her favorite: small little cats eye. They shifted so gracefully in the light and she didn't want to know how many cars he had to fix to afford such a beauty.

"I bought that ring, but grandma gave me her and grandad's wedding bands before she passed. She always told me that I would marry you, even when we were young. Guess she was right." He gave her a sad and happy lopsided smile all at the same time.

"She was always right, Wybie." She kiss ed his forehead softly.

"Yeah, she was." He looked distant for a moment. And then looked deep into her soul.

"I've always loved you."

"I know." She said, feeling the exact same way about him.

The wedding was beautiful, her father cried. It took place in the forest, right near the Pink Castle where they had met. She had a long silken white dress, delicately spun, under it, she wore yellow rain boots, and he loved her for it. He wore his skeleton gloves that had the fingers cut off, with digits that were too long, and she loved him for it too. She had her dragonfly clip on and still parted her hair the same way cause there are some things that never change. He slipped on the ring his grandmother gave him, the engagement ring she still wore just below it. And she put the band on his calloused finger and that was that. They were married, husband and wife, Mrs. Coraline Jones-Lovat (She insisted on keeping the Jones, after all, how would he call her Jonesy if she didn't?) And it all felt right. And it all felt happy. And she was, and so was he; happy…

"Hold still." A shutter and a click. "Perfect," Wybie said as he pulled the camera away from his face. The distance thing worked out in the end. He moved in with her, and she finished her degree before the wedding. She got a job as a journalist for a big travel/nature magazine(it helped that she did also get a degree in environmental science down the road, a water witch after all). Wybie joined her in her travels across the country as a photographer for said magazine, he had always loved taking pictures especially when they were of her. When they went back to their home at the Pink Palace he would also work as a mechanic because hey, he still loved that bike of his. They had a little bug farm that was full of banana slugs, they always had a soft spot for them. Cat would go with them on trips, and sometimes stay home, up to him really but he did enjoy spending time with the grown lovesick couple. Cat would never admit how much he loved it when they played with him when they were young but, he was never opposed to having little wobbly babies with hazel eyes and a cute button nose come pull on his ears whenever the time came. They lived their life. They didn't worry about black buttons or the door behind wallpaper that one day disappeared from their life all together. They didn't worry about dolls or needles or thread, about an evil witch, or a twisted world. They didn't have to. It was just them. Just Coraline, and Wybie and Cat, and their slugs. It was a dream, a beautiful daydream. And it was theirs to share. And it was perfect.

It's been about three years since I wrote the first one. I feel like I've really improved as a writer, as an artist, and as a person. I made a promise to myself to always finish my stories no matter what, no matter if it takes me until the day I die. But this is it, it's done. I hope that it was worth the wait. Thanks for sticking by me and my ramblings. Love you all.

~Lucy