Chp 1 Pt. 2 - The Dragon

“How did you do on your test,” asks mom, though she is smiling. She knows I aced it. I have never received a B on any test I’ve ever taken and I don’t plan on that changing anytime soon. I may be a bit of an overachiever.

“I won’t get the results until tomorrow but I don’t doubt I aced it,” I say with confidence.

“I bet you passed. You can dance circles around me when it comes to numbers,” dad laughs. He isn’t wrong. When it came to budgeting mom or I handled that. Dad is better at organizing and cooking rather than the math part of running a restaurant. I eye my dad through the rear view mirror and he catches me looking at him. He raises an eyebrow waiting for me to ask the question I’m sure is all over my face.

“Hey dad, what do you guys think about me going out on a date?” I am digging to see if they’ll at least let me date.

“I didn’t know you had a crush. Who is the boy,” asks mom. I was really hoping she wouldn’t ask that. I should’ve known better.

“Well, you know the college student with black hair that comes in like everyday. Sits in the same booth all the time?”

“Absolutely not,” says dad, instantly crushing any hopes I had.

“But I haven’t even said who.”

“I know who exactly you are talking about and he is eighteen Davina. It’s out of the question. You haven’t even turned sixteen yet,” says dad.

“But I am graduating high school like three years early, I get straight A’s and I always work double shifts at the restaurant when asked. I don’t sneak out to parties and I don’t drink.  I promise I will be safe. I’ll even come home by ten.” I am literally the perfect daughter. They can’t say no.

“It’s still a no. He is much too old for you and there is something about him I do not trust,” dad says in his ‘end of discussion’ tone.

“Ugh….it’s not fair. You don’t even know him, how can you judge him?”

“You don’t know him either and it is my job to protect you. He is a lot more older and he could easily take advantage. I was his age once or did you forget. Plus you’re too nice which isn’t a bad thing but you’re too trusting,” says dad. I sit in the back sit and cross my arms refusing to respond. It really isn’t fair, it’s not like I’m going to go to a party with this guy and get myself roofied. I’m smarter than that. When we get home my parents snuggle up on the couch to watch The Notebook again. Dad is a sucker and if mom wants to watch it they did.

“You want to watch a movie with us,” asks mom. I like the movie but I did not want to watch again.

“No I’m going to go to my room.” I give my parents each a hug goodnight before heading to my room.

“Good night dear,” says my mother. I head to my room to read a book. I go through my little library in my room. I’ve already read all the books here, I really need some new ones. I decide to grab my copy of The Last wish, I have already read The Witcher series but I am bored and decide to read them again. I already watched the first two seasons way too fast and have been impatiently waiting for season three. I don’t think I get very far in the book before passing out because next thing I know I am having a crazy dream that feels so real. I can hear people talking so I follow the voices to the room they are in.

“If you’re going to send her away you need to do it now.” Send who away I thought. I see a woman crying, holding a baby. I look to my right to see dragons flying outside the window, one gets hit with a spear and falls to his death. There must be some war happening. I turn my attention back to the lady with the baby, she’s beautiful. She appears to be a bit taller than me and has beautiful silver hair that is in a fishtail braid down her back. She looks like me but older. Same hazel eyes and facial structure. I can hear what sounds like an explosion and the baby is handed off to someone with a a cloak and the hood covering their face. “You can count on us.” says the person in the cloak. Sounds like a woman and her voice is very familiar. The door to whatever room we are in bursts open and I think I see another person with silver hair heading to attack me. I pull my arm sup over my face while this person gets ready to attack. Then I wake up.

I sit up in my bed taking in my surroundings of my bedroom. It felt so real. I am drenched in sweat and shaking. I run to the window and see the same scene as always. I take some deep breaths to calm my racing heart. It was just a dream, but I feel like I’ve actually been in that room and I should know who the woman is. I am sad for her, it seemed as though she had to send away her child. I try to remember the face of the person attacking but I can’t remember anything but the silver hair and that it was definitely man by his build. I look back out the window and see it is barely dawn but I feel like I haven’t slept at all. At this point I am wide awake and don’t bother trying to go back sleep. I don’t feel like going for a run so I decide to draw the woman before I forget her face.

I walk over to my desk to get out my sketch pad and pencils and begin drawing. I try to remember as much detail as possible. Her almond shaped eyes and high cheek bones. Her head was a heart shape like mine and she had full lips. I drew her fishtail braid but had it hang from her shoulder and even though it was braided her hair still reached her waist. After I am finished I looked at my drawing. I had given her sad eyes like in my dream but I still can’t shake this feeling like I know her and she looks so much like me. Or maybe I am just imagining it. I tuck the drawing away in my sketch book, leaving it on my desk and decide to get ready for the day.

It is suppose to be a beautiful, hot day today. I shower and decide on some shorts, my favorite Hufflepuff shirt and some tennis shoes. Daniela will probably tease me again for being  a Harry Potter nerd. I head downstairs into the kitchen and can smell something amazing. Mom has prepared breakfast like always. As I enter the room she stops what she is doing and stares at me.

“What’s wrong mom?” She appears to have a fearful, sad expression but I don’t know why.

“It’s nothing dear. When did you learn to style your hair into a fishtail braid?” I look at my hair that I have braided and have it hanging over my shoulder.

“Oh I looked it up on Youtube. I had this weird dream about a woman who was either me or just looked like me. She had her hair braided like this and it reached her waist. I wish my hair was that long. It was so pretty. I drew her this morning. I couldn’t get her out of my head,” I reply. She looks like she’s going to cry as she tries to recover. I can tell she is hoping I didn’t notice but I did.

“Everything ok mom? You seem sad about something.”

“Oh it’s nothing. You’re just growing up so fast and are so beautiful. I love you darling.” She walks over and gives me a hug.

“Thanks mom. I love you too.” I know she is upset by something but I know she will never tell me so I let it go. Mom has prepared my favorites. Pancakes with chocolate chips in them, crispy bacon, eggs over easy and a bowl of fruit. She even has the peanut butter out because she knows I love to put it on my pancakes. Most people think I’m weird for doing that but it’s so good. Dad has already left to open the restaurant so it is just me and mom.

“So what is on the agenda today mom?”

“I was thinking about setting up a garden next to the restaurant. Since we own the little lot next to it I figured we could do like a community garden type thing and grow our own vegetables for the restaurant. Would you like to help?”

“That sounds amazing. I love to garden. I can definitely help.” I am really excited. “Maybe we could also add some play equipment for those who have kiddos. That way the kids can play while the parents are working in the garden.”

“That is a good idea honey. I’ll run the idea by dad and see if we are able to do it. Also today your dad’s friend, Thierry, is stopping by the restaurant and uncle Gabriel will be there too.” I look at mom all excited. I haven’t seen uncle Gabriel in ages. He lives up north of us and typically only visits like once a year.

“Oh I haven’t seen uncle Gabriel in forever. How long is he staying this time?” I ask while finishing my plate.

“I’m not sure. At least a month. Maybe longer. You know he’ll say yes if you ask him to stay longer,” mom laughs. I put the dishes in the dishwasher. I grab the laptop bag and head to the car.