3: Vivid Dream

Jillie's POV

           I followed Jarren silently as he led the way through the trees. I'd repeatedly asked him where we were going, but all he said was, "You'll see." So I just stopped asking. I watched as the trees became farther apart, but they were also bigger, so the sun barely shone through. I could hear birds chirping, but I couldn't see them. I was getting tired of walking, and my feet were starting to hurt. I ran and jumped on Jarren's back. He hooked his arms under my knees while I held around his neck. I placed my chin on his shoulder and closed my eyes.

"Open your eyes, Jillie." I heard a few minutes later.

           I opened my eyes and looked around at the clearing. It was beautiful, filled with flowers and butterflies. I slid off his back and walked in front of him. I couldn't believe it.

"How did you find this place?"

"By accident."

I smiled at him. "Well, I'm glad you did. I love-"

"Butterflies," he said, cutting me off. "I know."

           I sat down in the middle of the clearing, just looking around. He laid his head in my lap while I peered at the beautiful flowers.

"I'm glad you like it."

"Are you kidding? I love it. It's beautiful," I replied, looking down at him.

           He reached up and caressed my cheek gently, sending shivers through my body. I looked into his beautiful gray/blue orbs and my breath caught in my chest. I watched him as he slowly lifted his head. I lowered mine, but it felt like I had no control over it. I still didn't breathe, and as my lips touched his, I felt a current of electricity course through my body. I was frightened because this simple, gentle kiss caused that. He pulled away, and I had to remind myself how to breathe.

           As he slowly sat up, he gently pushed me backward. I was lying on my back, with him slightly hovering over me. He leaned in slowly and again brought his lips to mine. This time he gently ran his tongue across my bottom lip. I froze for a moment and then granted him access. His tongue slowly slid into my mouth, exploring it. My tongue soon joined his, and they wrestled with each other. I wanted dominance, and he gave it to me. Surrendering, he let my tongue guide his in an epic dance.

           I felt his hand go under my shirt and gently caress my side. I shuddered under his touch but brought my left hand up to his hair. He moved his mouth from mine and gently nibbled on my ear. He then trailed soft kisses down my jawline to my neck. There he kissed and nibbled gently. My back arched, and I felt his hand snaking up my stomach. I inhaled deeply. He sat up slightly, putting both hands on the hem of my shirt. His beautiful gray/blue orbs stared down at me, and I lifted my arms. He pulled the shirt off slowly and tossed it to the side, burying his face in my neck. A low moan escaped my lips as he trailed kisses down my chest. He kissed from my chest to my stomach, pausing to dip his tongue into my naval and then blow on it before kissing his way back up.

           He stopped pulling his shirt over his head before undoing the clasp in front of my bra. He moved the fabric that covered my breasts to the side. He brought his hands up and began to make circular motions on penny-colored nipples with his thumbs. I inhaled sharply, closing my eyes. His hands left my breast, and I felt his warm breath on them. His tongue quickly flicked across my nipple, causing me to gasp. He did the same with the other one. He then took it into his mouth and sucked gently. My hands moved to his hair on their own accord. He gave my other breast the same attention as the one before it. He kissed his way back down my stomach. I heard my button unsnap and my zipper being pulled down.

           I looked at him only to find him staring at me. Waiting. He was waiting for my permission. My head was nodding by itself. He slowly removed my pants along with my panties. He stood completely up. Removing his pants and boxers, he looked down at me. I felt the urge to cover myself. My hands were slowly moving to cover places of me that should have been taboo to him. 

"Don't," he breathed huskily. He got back on the ground and hovered over me. "You're beautiful."

           His mouth captured mine in another mind-blowing kiss, and my body was on fire. Heat surged through me as our tongues danced a dance as old as time. He pulled away and stared into my eyes. Moving my legs apart with his hand, he moved his finger over my sensitive area, eliciting another shudder from me. His lips crashed down on mine, cutting off the escaping moan. He moved his fingers, and I felt him at my entrance. I closed my eyes, preparing myself to feel him inside of me.

"I love you, Jillie."

           I shot straight up in bed, breathing hard. I tried slowing my breathing and my rapidly beating heart. As I looked around, I noticed everyone had fallen asleep, and the TV was still on. I lay back, slowly exhaling. My eyes roamed to Jarren, who was sleeping at the end of the bed. I couldn't believe the dream I'd just had about him. I glanced at my clock. It was after one in the morning. I turned the TV off and sank back into my pillow. Closing my eyes, I let sleep overtake me again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

           I woke up this time to Mallory bouncing on my bed. I threw a pillow at her and turned over on my side.

"Wake up, Jillie."

"Go away," I grumbled.

"Breakfast will be reading in thirty minutes, and your dad wants you down."

"Fine," I said, getting out of bed.

           I walked into the bathroom and started the shower. While the water warmed up, I washed my face with my cleanser. When the bathroom was full of fog, I stripped off my clothes and stepped into the shower. I lathered my body with my shower gel, and my mind went to last night's dream. I still couldn't believe it. What had made me dream of Jarren? Especially in that way. Honestly, this wasn't the first time I'd dreamt of Jarren, but usually, in those dreams, we barely shared a kiss. Now it had come to us almost having sex. 

           Who was I kidding? I knew exactly why I'd dreamt that particular scene. I wanted Jarren. Not just physically but emotionally. I wanted him to feel the same way about me that I did for him. I don't remember how long I've felt this way about Jarren. It just hit me one day that I had feelings for him and was attracted to him. I thought maybe it was because we spent so much time together, but I spent a lot of time with Aaden and didn't feel that way about them. I saw him as a brother.

           I exhaled and brought my mind back to the here and now. I ran my towel along the scar I'd had since before I could remember. I stepped under the water spray and let it rinse the soap suds. Turning off the shower, I grabbed my towel and stepped out. I brushed my teeth before exiting the bathroom. After getting dressed and pulling my natural curls into a bun on top of my head, I went downstairs.

"Good morning, princess."

"Morning, Daddy. Morning, Mommy."

"Good morning, sweetheart." 

"Only little kids say 'Mommy,'" Elise said. I ignored her.

"Hey, guys," I said to my friends.

"Hey," they said in unison. I sat down at the table between Jarren and Aaden. Mallory and Elise sat across from us.

"You don't see me sitting here?" Elise asked, annoyed.

"Nope." I responded, popping the "p."

"Girls, don't start," Mom said from the stove.

           Elise smirked, and I wanted to kick her under the table. Jarren grabbed my hand and squeezed it, sending an electric shock through my body. He then took his thumb and forefinger, starting in the middle of my forehead, and pushed them gently to opposite ends. Afterward, he took his thumb and ran it directly down the center of my forehead and nose. I looked up at him, and he was smiling at me. I smiled back, instantly calmed. He crossed his eyes at me, causing me to laugh.

"Here we go." My dad said, setting the plates of food in the middle of the table.

           Mom passed plates to everyone, and we piled our plates with food. We ate in silence until my dad broke it.

"So, what does everyone have planned for today?"

"Mom and I are going shopping to spend quality time together," Elise responded with a smirk. I rolled my eyes.

"What about you, princess?"

"I'm not sure yet, Daddy," I replied.

"Well, I have a meeting at two today. I should be back at four. How about the two of us spend some quality time together."

"Thank you, Daddy. I'd like that." I said, smirking at Elise.

"Oh, sweetheart, did you show Elise your new car?" My mom asked.

"What new car?" Elise asked, puzzled.

"I got a new car for my eighteenth birthday."

"What the hell? She just got a new car for her sixteenth birthday."

"Yes, but it was your mothers' car. So, we decided to get her a new one." Dad informed her.

"Mom only had that car for five years, and it was brand new when she bought it," Elise said, fuming. I could almost literally see smoke coming out of her ears. "When I turned sixteen, I got your old car, Daddy, and I had to keep it until I graduated. This isn't fair."

"Honey, Jillie will keep this car for a while, and it's for her graduation as well. It's the same situation," Mom said, trying to calm her down.

"Well, let me see it," Elise said, visibly pissed.

           We got up, and I led the way out the door with Elise and Jarren behind me. The others were still eating. We stopped in front of my car. My baby.

"This is your car?" Elise asked in disbelief.

           I nodded, smiling at my white Skyline GTR. I knew she was comparing my car to her Charger, which she'd asked for. I remember when I first saw this car. I was looking through a car magazine and saw a black one. I showed it to my dad. It wasn't with the intention of him getting it for me, but I thought it was a cool car. My dad being the car man that he is, I thought he'd enjoy looking at it. Needless to say, I was extremely shocked when I got it for my birthday last month. I was completely fine and thankful for my Lexus, but I loved this car so much.

"I hate you, Jillie," Elise sneered before storming back into the house.

           Ouch. Well, that hurt. My sister and I didn't get along, but I didn't know she hated me. Yeah, I don't particularly like her most of the time, but I don't hate her. She's my sister. I couldn't hate her.

"She doesn't mean it," Jarren told me softly.

I smiled at him, but it didn't touch my eyes. "Yes, she does."

He wrapped his arm around my shoulder. "Come on. Let's go back inside before you freeze."

           I allowed him to guide me into the house and up the stairs to my room. He closed the door as I flopped down on my bed.

"I'm gonna hop in the shower," Jarren told me. I hadn't noticed until he said something; he was wearing plaid pajama pants and a t-shirt. 

"Okay," I responded.

           He walked into the bathroom just as Mallory and Aaden walked into the room. Mallory began grabbing her things.

"I have to go, Jillie. My mom needs me to babysit my little brother."

"Okay. Tell them I said hi. See you later."

"Bye," Aaden said as she headed for the door. She waved over her shoulder and then was gone.

Aaden sat on the bed beside me. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." I'd gotten used to him always asking me that.

"I heard about the quiz from yesterday. You kicked Elise's butt."

I laughed slightly. "Yeah, I guess I did."

"So, is she still pining after Jarren?"

"You know it." I laughed.

"If only it were me. You guys wouldn't fight so much. I'd have her too busy. Your sister is fine, girl. I could definitely make her bed rock."

"Ewww…Aaden! Please stop."

"I'm just saying, babe. Not that you're not beautiful. It's just-"

"Aaden, just stop talking." I cut him off.

He chuckled as his phone began to ring. "Hello." There was a pause. "Oh really?" I heard him ask seductively. "Well, you be waiting in that outfit I like so much, and I'll see you in a few." With that, he hung up the phone.

"You're leaving me, I see."

"What can I say, babe? A hot redhead awaits me." I rolled my eyes at him. Typical Aaden. "But you know you'll always be my favorite girl."

"One of them." I countered teasingly.

"No. My absolute favorite." He kissed my forehead and gathered his stuff. "Tell Jarren I'll see him later." He called over his shoulder before leaving. He closed the door behind him. 

           I turned on the TV, and Spongebob was on. I immediately turned. His voice annoyed me. I channel-surfed and decided that nothing was on. I turned the TV back off and turned on my stereo. "Hold it Against Me" by Brittney Spears was playing. I got off my bed and began to dance around the room. Something about her songs just made you want to sing and dance even if you didn't particularly like them.

"If I said my heart was beating loud. If we could escape the crowd somehow. If I said I want your body now. Would you hold it against me? Cause you feel like paradise. I need a vacation tonight." I sang the chorus as I danced around my room. I really didn't know any other part of the song. 

"So if I said I want your body now. Would you hold it against me?" I sang as I turned around and ran right into Jarren.

"Well, if that's what you want," he said, laughing. I rolled my eyes and turned the stereo off. "Where is everybody?"

"They left. Mallory had to watch her little brother, and Aaden, well, Aaden had to watch a redhead strip." He laughed. "I suppose you're going to leave soon too."

"Is that what you want?" 

"I want to not be here alone for the next five hours," I replied.

He pulled me into a headlock. "Then I'll hang with you short stuff." 

           Usually, I would get mad at him for calling me that, but at the moment, my focus was elsewhere, like he didn't have a shirt on. I just noticed. Oh, who am I kidding? I had noticed. 

"Don't call me that," I said playfully, elbowing him in the stomach. Recovering from my momentary lapse of attention.

           He let go of me and sat down on the bed. I flopped down on the end, sitting crosslegged. Neither one of us said anything. He looked like he was thinking or concentrating, but about what? I was going to ask him, but his answer to that question was always "nothing."

"So, what's the game plan for the next few hours?"

"Um…I don't know." I told him honestly.

"Well, if I'm going to stay here with you, then you at least have to entertain me."

"I don't have to. You'd like me to."

"Mm…yeah, your right."

"Well, how do you propose I do that?"

"Jillie. Come here for a second, princess." My Dad called, stopping whatever Jarren was about to say. 

"I'll be back."