Dreams Shattered - Chapter One

I watched Adrian as we walked into his dream come true. Acres of land swept out before us, with a small stream cutting straight through, a small oak bridge the only means of crossing it. Just beyond the bridge sat a little cottage, complete with a porch for rocking chairs and a chimney where smoke would curl out in winter.1

Adrian practically skipped over the bridge and to the cottage. I jogged to catch up with my best friend.2

"Hurry up, Annelies! I want to see the inside!" he called to me as I crossed the bridge. I rolled my eyes, chuckling as I came up the steps. 3

"It hasn't changed any since the last time you were here," I said as I pulled the big, old-fashioned key out of my pocket and opened the door for him. He quickly slipped into the main room of the cottage, which encompassed the living room, kitchen, and dining room. He marveled at the old appliances in the kitchen.4

"All the appliances are the originals. There is no electricity. The only upgrade my uncles made was that they added a modern septic system in the bathroom," I said as he checked out the bathroom and bedroom. An interesting family fact; by uncles, I mean two married men. Well, they're married in England, at least. They gave me their little cottage out in Montana when they decided to go back to England, and I was giving it to Adrian.5

After investigating every nook and cranny of the place, Adrian turned to me, smiling like a little kid on Christmas. "Oh Annelies, can I really have this?"6

"Of course. It's not like I'd use it, and I know how you wanted it when I would bring you here when we were younger."7

"Thank you so much, Annelies," he said, hugging me tightly.8

"Need...air," I said as he squished me. The boy was a twig, but it was all lean muscle.9

"Oops. Sorry Annie," he said, using my nickname from childhood. I pouted.10

"Don't call me that," I whined.11

"Why not?" he teased, knowing very well that I despised the name Annie and much preferred my unique name. "So," he continued, " why didn't this go to you and Amunet?"12

I froze at the mention of my half-sister. We did not get along when we were alone together. We tried for the sake of our human mother and our human friends, but our kinds did not get along.13

"They are my uncles, from my dad's side," I said. Which also meant that they only tolerated Amunet for our mother's sake.14

"Oh" was all he said as he continued to stare at the place.15

"So, when do you want to move in?" I asked him.16

"Tomorrow" he said.17

"Shall we go back to the city and gather your stuff into the truck then?" I asked him.18

"Yeah."19

I led him out the door and back to the little gravel off shoot of the road that served as a driveway for the little cabin. We climbed into my car and drove back to his apartment. We put all of his stuff into the little moving truck he had rented before going back into his apartment.20

"Do you want to stay for dinner?" he asked as he walked into the kitchen.21

"Sure" I called as I looked over his movie collection. "Want to watch Phantom of the Opera with dinner?" I called out as I heard him cooking.22

"Yeah!"23

I took the movie out of it's case and put it in the player, and then walked into the kitchen to watch him cook.24

"What are you making?" I asked, looking at the frying pan he had.25

"I'm cooking up some spiced chicken so we can have chicken tacos for dinner," he said, adding some water and seasoning to the pan of chicken.26

"Yum. I love your tacos."27

"I know," he said with a smile.28

"Anything I can do?"29

"Yeah. Go sit on your butt on the couch in my living room until I'm done," he said while smirking.30

"Okay, I can take a hint," I said, walking out to the living room and plopping down on the couch.