Not Real. Not Imaginary.

PART FIVE: NINA. [Eventful morning]

Greer looked at me, wide eyed. Her big brown eyes were glistening with something that to me, looked like hope.

“What…what do you mean?” There was a slight tremble in her voice that sounded like excitement.

“I remember!” I smiled at her “I thought it was a dream but I guess it wasn’t? I remember having found a little girl, and being in the forest cottage, and…finding Alia…” I felt a little sad about that last part, knowing she had to go through so much.... “I remember what happened with her and I…guess I…remember that…after all…I am not crazy….”

The shards came to my mind, and that scene with the little girl alone in her room, surrounded by all those shards. Then my mind went to the forest, when all those shards surrounded Alia, and goosebumps traveled down my spine.

“That’s…great…Nina…that’s truly great!” She seemed happy, but there was still a hint of deception in her voice.

“Is there something wrong?” I asked worried about her expression.

She just shook her head and then showed me one of her cheerful and bright smiles.

“I really think it is great that you can remember that.... It was about time. Maybe…now you can stop beating yourself up so much, huh?” She suggested and I giggled embarrassed.

She was right, if what I was remembering was the truth, then I really needed to give myself some more credit and stop beating myself up so much. But then again…what about Greer? If I wasn’t really crazy…why was Greer here?

What was Greer?

I looked at her quizzically, tilting my head and just…watching her, really close. I guess she realized what I was thinking because then she chuckled and smiled to me as she moved to my side.

“In time…” That was all she said, before kissing my cheek and tugging on my hand a little as she took a step towards the door. “Let’s get you something to eat…” She turned away and walked to the kitchen, with me following her.

I was still confused and very curious about her, but with her words lingering in my mind, I knew I couldn’t do more than waiting…for now... and enjoying the new freedom that, those realizations I had come to, had given me.

Greer made me sit down at the kitchen table as she moved around the kitchen gathering ingredients and recipients; I just watched her in silence, smiling to myself, content of having her in my life, no matter what the mystery behind her was.

I watched her c***k a couple eggs open, and get to cooking, as if it was something she had done all of her life. I was both surprised and happy.

“I should get you a phone now.”

She didn’t have a phone because I thought she couldn’t touch anything, but I realized now, that the whole time I had been wrong.

“Oh…no…it’s okay. Whenever you need me, I’ll just know." She smiled at me as she served the eggs on a plate and then placed it in front of me. “It’s not a lot, and it’s not very fancy, but…I don’t really know how to cook a lot of things…” She blushed a little, and looked down at the food she had just prepared for me.

I took the fork and started eating it. As soon as I tried the first bite, a smile drew upon my face.

“It’s delicious!” I exclaimed and she smiled happily. It might’ve not been a fancy breakfast, but it was much more delicious than anything I had ever had before. And I was sure it was just because she had made it for me.

Right when half of my breakfast was gone, the door opened and I heard a familiar voice announcing herself.

“Kitten~.” Terry came in smiling happily. She closed the door and when she turned around and looked at me eating, her smile faded a little. “Awe, I had brought some food for us to share…”

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t know you were coming today…” I said feeling a little awkward.

“It’s okay, we can eat it later. I’ll just put it away for now.” She said as she invited herself all the way to the kitchen, and then opened the fridge to put away the food she had brought.

“Wait! Why don’t you join me?” She stopped and looked back at me…and so did Greer.

Greer eyes were almost glaring at me. I guess she really didn’t like Terry all that much yet. I looked back at Greer and nagged her under my breath: ‘don’t be rude’. I only moved my lips…as little as possible since Terry was looking. Suddenly I remembered I didn’t really have to hide Greer anymore, and I felt dumb.

Greer rolled her eyes at me, as if she knew I felt a little guilty for acting like this when I was supposed to be more open about it since Terry knew about her existence…. She shook her head and reached forward to ruffle my hair.

“Stop…you’re messing up my hair!” I complained as I tried to fix my hair, that was, thanks to Greer, all out of place.

“You didn’t even brush it this morning, how can I mess it up?” She reminded me, giggling.

I guess she was right. I just woke up and then we went directly to the kitchen…I hadn’t even washed my face. As soon as I thought about that, I covered my face and ran away; Terry was home, and I hadn’t even washed my face! I hadn’t brushed my hair, or dressed up…I was a mess…a recently awoken mess…and I felt embarrassed about it.

“Kitten? Is everything all right?” I heard Terry’s concerned voice at the other side of my bedroom’s door.

“Y-yeah…I’ll be there in a second” I quickly undressed, and clothes started to fly everywhere around the room, as I searched for something decent to put on while Terry was there.

“You really don’t need to panic about this…you know? I think you look great…and…as much as I hate to say it…I’m pretty sure she does to…and if she really likes you that much…she won’t care if you look like you just got out of bed…” Greer sat at the edge of the bed, observing my panicked search. Her legs were swinging giving her a very childish appearance.

“Maybe you’re right. Still, I can’t help the embarrassment.”

I stopped for a moment to look at her while I clutched two very similar shirts and tried to decide between one of them. She just chuckled and walked towards me. She placed her hands on mine and lowered them, as she looked at me a little too amused.

“It’s okay…stop worrying so much…you’ll get wrinkles.” She leaned forward and gave me a soft kiss on the forehead…and I immediately felt calmer.

“I guess…there’s no point on worrying about it so much. You’re right.” A thankful smile curved my lips as I looked at her.

She smiled back and ruffled my hair again.

“I’d just do something about your hair…somehow it got so messy…” She taunted, making me chuckle.

“Yeah? Whose fault is that, huh?” I looked at her, accusingly, and she shrugged feigning innocence.

“Beats me...” She smiled and kissed my forehead again.

I was a sucker for thise small forehead kisses. They always made me feel a bit more at ease…at least when they came from her.

“Well, I still need to change off of these pajamas. They are way too short.”

They really were. I always wore really short shorts to bed, because that was the most comfortable way of sleeping for me. But it was kind of embarrassing to be in these around someone else in the house.

Greer looked down and I could see a very soft blush come to her cheeks.

“I…guess you’re right...” She cleared her throat trying to look away. “I’ll just…wait around here…” She sat on the edge of the bed, turning her back to me.

I giggled and went back to search for something that left a little less skin exposed. Thinking about what Greer had just said, I just grabbed a pair of sweatpants that were laying around on the floor right in front of me. They must’ve ended there after my frantic initial search....

When I came out, Terry was sitting at the table. She looked a little too serious, and a little tense. For some reason, I felt like I should approach with caution.

Greer came out with me, and as he noticed her expression, she moved in front of me, like she tried to shield me with her body. In that moment, Terry looked at us, and smiled awkwardly.

“Your friend came by while you were there." She sighed, got up and walked towards us. “Nina…I don’t like that girl; you need to tell her to back off. There’s something weird about her.”

Greer sneered at Terry’s words. And I thought I heard her say ‘You’re one to talk’. Then, Terry stopped and I thought, for a moment, that she had heard Greer.

Her eyes were on me the entire time, but it felt to me like she was trying very hard to concentrate on me alone, like if she was actively trying to ignore Greer.

“Terry did you…” As I was about to ask Terry if she had heard Greer, I was interrupted by a very persistent knock on the door.

I was sure I saw Terry’s eyes quickly glancing at Greer as she turned around to look at the door.

“Well…that’s probably her." She clicked her tongue and walked towards the door before I had any time to react. She opened it a little more aggressively than I considered necessary, and then she just glared at Robin, who was on the other side. “I thought I told you she is busy”

“Yeah well, that’s what you said, but I don’t know you…and frankly…I don’t trust you, nor care for whatever you have to say.”

Robin had a very tranquil expression for her voice tone, and to see that, sent a little chill down my spine, that I decided not to pay attention to….

“I…”

“She isn’t available right now, we’re busy. So, get out of here and stop pestering us.” Terry interrupted me before she rudely slammed the door on Robin’s face.

“Terry! That wasn’t very nice…” I nagged her as I walked to the door to apologize to Robin.

Greer held onto my hand and tried to pull me back. I looked back at her, and noticed she was gazing cautiously at a very angry looking Terry.