The Knight of Her Dreams (Dragons and Dreamphasers) (2 page)

She certainly felt in need of
comforting now.

As if her life was a sailing ship, she felt it
was one step from being a wreck on the beach.  Somewhere along the last several
months, she felt as though she’d lost control of it.

Part of her wished Dominick would miraculously
appear and rescue her from what had happened, taking her away from the
unrelenting whirlpool of her troubled thoughts.

There were only two problems.

The first being that her only meeting with
Dominick had been two months ago, and she hadn’t heard from him since.

Yet she knew she only had to close her eyes, and
he would appear in her mind as she remembered him.  His raven-black hair, dark
and wavy as it framed his strong-featured yet smiling face.  His
expressive blue eyes that seemed capable of melting her heart, and the warmth
of his kiss that she couldn’t forget…

Just before she stomped on his foot and rushed
off to leave shortly afterwards.

Something she regretted now.

Yes, that was something she would never forget. 
For despite her words and actions at the time, she found that she’d grown to miss
him in his absence.

Which was quite ridiculous, considering the
second problem.

For in reality... Dominick was a man who existed
only in her dreams.

*****

Surely such thoughts about a dream would be
ridiculous to most, but with Julianna, lately her dreams were kinder to her
than reality.  Not that she didn’t have a ‘good life.’  She had a loving
family, a nice place to live, good health, and material comforts.

But she also had loneliness and heartbreak.

Julianna had tried dating, but none of the men
she’d gone out with had made her happy.

So far, only one man had brought her happiness. 
A happiness that fell apart.

Roger Collins.

She’d known him since they were teenagers, when
he’d moved into her neighborhood and then wound up in the same high school.  Right
from the start, they’d become close friends.  On one occasion, a bit
too
close for her father’s liking, she thought with a smile.

*****

“You’re crazy!” declared Julianna.

“And you wouldn’t want me any other way!” replied
Roger, earning laughter from her with a nod.  “How many guys do you know who
would risk climbing up the railing to greet you at your bedroom window?”

“None,” she decided.  Though surprised by his
visit, part of her was flattered, being a fifteen-year-old sophomore with an
admirer who was both a senior of nearly eighteen and her best friend.  “Most
people I know use a more conventional method of communication... the phone.”

“What unimaginative people.”

He shook his head, and they both laughed, as he
moved to sit beside her on the bed.

“So why did you come out to see me tonight?” she
asked.

“Oh, don’t ask me that.”

“No really, why?”

He sighed, turning to her with a smile.  “I
missed you.”

“We see each other at school practically every
day.”

“Yeah, but that’s different.”  He reached out to clasp
her hand and she shyly reciprocated.  “I can’t do this in a classroom.”

“No,” she agreed softly.

His eyes holding hers, he leaned closer, his
mouth inches from hers.  “And of course it would be really nice, if I could...”

A pillow abruptly halted him.

Glancing up in confusion, Julianna was grinning
at him.  “Gotcha!”

Catching onto her mischievous nature, he grinned
back.  “We’ll see who’s got who,” he replied, picking up her other pillow to
retaliate, while she fairly squeaked with laughter and did the same.

Their pillow fight turned into a veritable war,
both ignoring the stream of white feathers that began to fly out, soon covering
the bed and filling the air.  After several minutes, they stopped to catch
their breaths, each one holding a pillow in warning, but still laughing softly.

“You never told me you were a pillow ninja,”
Roger informed her.

“You’re a bit of a featherhead yourself,” she
decided with a smirk.

“Oh, so now I’m a featherhead!”  Catching her
off-guard, he leaned forward to embrace her, resting his body lightly over her
own.  She squirmed helplessly as his touch accidentally tickled her.  Her
laughter only spurred him to tickle her in earnest.

“Roger, please stop!” she fairly shouted,
giggling.  “You’ll tickle me to death!”

“Hmmm… no, I wouldn’t want to do that,” he
replied, brushing a few feathers from her nose.  As her laughter faded, she
smiled back at him.  “You’re not like anyone I’ve ever known, Julie,” he
whispered.

“Is that a compliment?”

He paused for a moment, and then his expression
became serious.  “Meant to be one,” he agreed softly, lowering his mouth to
kiss her.  At first, she merely stared at him.  In the past six months she’d
known him, he’d never done
that
before!  But gradually, she
relaxed beneath him, kissing him back and feeling a surge of happiness.

Almost from day one, Julianna felt that she’d
loved him, and now it seemed he felt the same. 
Roger loves me!
she
thought, her arms reaching around his neck to hug him.  Perhaps a bit too
tightly, as he gently reached up to loosen her grasp.

“Easy there, Julie,” he laughed, moving his hand
to caress her cheek.  “The last thing I want is for you to strangle me now.”

“Then allow
me
the honor instead!”
snarled an angry voice.

Julianna glanced up with a gasp, Roger following
suit.  “Dad,” she blurted out.  “I can explain.”

“Explain what this boy’s doing in your room at
all hours of the night, like
this
?” her father growled.  Before
either could say anything, he pulled Roger away from Julianna.  Being stronger,
her father gave him a rough shake.  “You’re lucky I have the self-control not
to beat the living daylights out of you,” he hissed.  “My daughter is only
fifteen, damn you, and not some cheap tramp for you to ruin, you little
bastard!”

“I’d never think of Julie that way!” protested
Roger.

“If that were true, you wouldn’t be here at this
hour in her room, let alone in her bed!  Now you can either exit by the front
door, or I can throw you out the window.  Which is it?”

Steeling his expression, Roger strode past him
without a look to Julianna.  “Roger, wait!” she yelled after him.  Tearfully,
she tried to follow, but her father pulled her away as Roger’s departing
footsteps stomped down the stairs, followed by a door slam.  Turning to her
father, she shook her head.  “He didn’t do anything, Dad,” she said
witheringly.  “Roger would never hurt me.”

Sighing once, her father’s temper faded.  “I’d
like to believe that, pumpkin,” he replied gently.  “And despite the fact that
I’ve worried that boy is too aggressive, I’ve never stood in the way of your
friendship before.  But Julie, he
is
several years older than you
are.  If your mother was still alive, I’m sure she would have explained all
this to you, so you’d understand my concern.”  She blinked once, but said
nothing.

“Pumpkin, I love you very much.  You’re young and
naïve, and I just don’t want you getting hurt.”  Lowering her head, Julianna
blushed.  Her father was never one to mince words.  “Do you understand,
sweetheart?”  She gave a quick nod and he hugged her, patting her back.

“Does this mean I can’t see Roger anymore?” she
asked softly.

“No,” he sighed.  “I suppose you can see him. 
Just make sure it’s during daylight hours, and no more creeping into your
bedroom.  Otherwise I
will
throw him out the window next time. 
Fair enough?”  She smiled slightly with another nod.  “All right then,” he
replied, kissing her forehead.  “Now why don’t you get some sleep?  We’ll talk
more about this tomorrow.”  As he was leaving, he turned once.  “And before you
go to bed… please pick up all those feathers.”

Julianna glanced at the mess
strewn across her bed and groaned, just before proceeding.  It was only when
she heard a low whistle that she dropped the feathers she held and raced to the
window.  Roger peered in from the ledge, glancing once around the room.

“Your father’s gone, right?” he murmured.

“Yes,” she whispered, “but you can’t stay here. 
When he gives a warning, he means it, and I don’t want to be responsible for
your being tossed from a second story window.”

“I’ll go, but only so I don’t get you in trouble,
Julie.  And to be on the safe side, I’ll keep away for a few weeks to avoid
your father’s wrath.  That should settle things down somewhat.”

“Well, if you feel it’s best.”

“I do.”  He gave her a knowing smile.  “Trust
me?”

“Always,” she said solemnly.

He leaned forward to give her a quick kiss.  “See
you in a few weeks,” he replied, grinning before heading back to the ground.

As he waved and ran off towards his house,
Julianna waved after him with starry eyes. 
He loves me!
her young mind
echoed happily. 
And I’ll love him forever
, she vowed, slowly shutting
her window with a blissful smile.

*****

Julianna smiled at the memory.

That was many years ago.

After that evening, Roger didn’t cross the line
of friendship again, as if it had never happened.  While this saddened her at
first, their bond of friendship still seemed strong, so she assumed time would
restore the rest eventually.  She even shrugged off the occasional jibes from
her friends regarding her ‘older boyfriend.’

But as often happens with childhood friendships,
time steered them down different paths, leaving her feeling lost when he went
off to college.  They corresponded for a while, but as their lives grew busier,
the letters grew fewer.  And when Roger’s family moved to a different
neighborhood, ultimately they lost touch with each other completely.

Which was why Julianna was so surprised at what
happened four months ago.

*****

Why do I let her drag me to these things?

True, her close friend Marybeth meant well.  But
every time Julianna came to these silly gatherings, she could count on having
to force at least one plastic smile for an unknown guy who would be interested
when she wasn’t.

At twenty-five, all shades of her teenage years
had vanished, replaced by a very attractive woman.  Although she was happy with
her looks and wouldn’t change them, sometimes the unwanted attention she got
left her wanting to become a hermit.

While the music blared in the main room, Julianna
sneaked over to a quieter one, resting her head against the armrest of a sofa. 
And silently counting the minutes until she could leave.

Staring at the floor absently, she heard an
unexpected voice.

“Doesn’t look like the floor’s moving tonight, no
matter how hard you stare at it, Julie.”

Gasping with wide eyes, Julianna bolted upright
and would have fallen over if she hadn’t already been sitting.  “Roger?” she
gasped.  “What are
you
doing here?”

“Same as you I imagine.  Heard there was a party,
and got dragged here, right?”  At a loss for words, she simply nodded as he sat
beside her.  “Been a long time, hasn’t it?”

“A lifetime,” she agreed absently.  “Are you with
someone?”

“Not anymore.  How about you?”  She shook her
head but retained a look of curiosity.  “I just got out of a relationship a
month ago, so I figured I’d start socializing again.  Never thought I’d find
you here.”

“Small town,” she laughed.

He smiled, reaching out to clasp her hand.  She
returned the gesture, their eyes speaking volumes, erasing the years of
separation.

“It’s good to see you again, Julie,” he said
quietly.

*****

After that evening, everything seemed to fall
into place for them.  Their conversation that evening led to their dating, and
for a few months, Julianna starting enjoying herself again.

But then a rift developed, when it became
apparent that each had a very different view on what they wanted from their
relationship.

One evening at Roger’s place, Julianna was
surprised to find he’d set up dinner, complete with candles and soft music. 
The evening had gone well, until she got ready to leave.

As had become the norm, Roger tried to persuade
her otherwise.

Julianna smiled against him, gently trying to
keep him at arm’s length.  “Roger, you know how I feel about this.”

“And you know how I feel about you,” he murmured
against her mouth, silencing her protests while threading both hands through
her hair.  “Stay with me tonight, Julie.  I promise it will be wonderful for
the both of us.”

His kisses temporarily swayed her, only reminding
her of how persuasive he always was.  Part of her yearned to give him what he
wanted, yet there was still another part that was hesitant.  Although waiting
for marriage seemed strange to some these days, Julianna felt strongly about
wanting at least an engagement before giving herself completely to anyone.  Or
at the
very
least, to know the person she was with loved her. 
He’d never spoken the words.