Dream, Nightmare, Reality

If I Have Drifted to Sleep, Then Let Me Dream

AHHHHHH! The high-pitched screech caused Cassie to jump and turn around. She found a red head rushing up and grabbing her hands. The girl looked familiar, but Cassie couldn't quite put a name to the face.

"Cassie! OMG it's really you! You look the same. I mean you've grown up, but I'd recognize you anywhere. I know you lost your parents, but then you just disappeared after 7th grade. What happened? It's me Jennifer!"

Cassie blinked, trying to process the rapid fire that had just come her way. Then it hit her. "Wait, Jennifer Cole?!?"

"Yes!"

"How have you been?"

The two hugged like the long-lost best friends they were. When they separated, Jennifer put on an exaggerated pout. "I can't believe it took you so long to recognize me."

Cassie's hand went to her hip. "Don't give me that Jen. After six years, that hair would be enough to throw anyone off. When did you start dyeing it anyways? Girl, you even got your eyebrows done."

"Sush Cass, don't give me away," Jennifer said poking Cassie with her elbow. Then she burst out laughing so loud people passing turned to look. After she regained her composure, she answered, "Junior year mom finally gave in after three years of pestering."

"Wow, three years, I didn't know you could be so persistent."

"Well, I didn't always want to dye my hair red," Jennifer smiled sheepishly.

Cassie looked at Jennifer, she turned to stand beside her and said, "how about you tell me on the way to the cafeteria."

"Sounds good."

The girls headed off, and Jennifer began elaborating. "Well, first I wanted blue hair, then pink, then green, then purple. It was only during the summer after sophomore year that I decided I wanted red. My mom took me to the saloon and let me dye it over winter break, junior year. I honestly think she was just happy that I chose something normal."

The girls started laughing as if on cue.

"If I know you Jen, I can guess you plan on getting some highlights sooner rather than later."

Jennifer chuckled, "I mean some blue and purple would look good in this red."

Cassie just rolled her eyes as they entered the cafeteria.

By the time the girls had finished eating, they had caught up on each other's lives. Jennifer had started talking about old classmates.

"You know Mark left the year after you."

"Mark Greene?"

"Yeah Greene, Mark Bradshaw got arrested sophomore year."

"What?!?"

"Are you really surprised, that guy always had a temper. It was assault and battery, of course. Anyways, about Greene, you two broke up my favorite ship."

Cassie stopped and gaped at Jennifer. Jennifer took a couple of more steps before she realized and turned around.

"What is that look for? Not only had the two of you been in the same class since pre-k, but he obviously had a crush on you."

"Mark never had a crush on me. He wasn't into skinny black girls."

"Oh really."

"What? I can tell by that look you're thinking something crazy, Jen."

"Nothing much, just wondering why our Ms. Brownlow paid attention to what Mr. Greene's type was. Maybe that crush wasn't so unilateral."

"Lord have mercy. Look if you want to insist that Mark had a crush on me, go ahead. He's not here, so, I can't prove you wrong, but don't go dragging me into your fantasy world."

"You never explained why you bothered finding out his type." Jennifer raised one eyebrow in challenge.

"If you must know, in 5th grade I hade to break up a fight he got into over a girl. She was an amazonian brunett. Which, by the way means he was more likely to have a crush on you than me."

"Okay. So, what was she like?"

"Hum, well, Jasmine was cool. She was athletic, and a real guy's girl, but not trying to be. She just was into the things guys liked. She also, was laid back, but didn't put up with any crap."

"Sounds a lot like you Cass."

Cassie glanced over at her friend. "I am a woman of my word, so whatever you say."

Jennifer smiled triumphantly. "On another note, did you hear that the fraternities and sororities are hosting a freshmen mixer, on Magnolia lawn, tomorrow night?"

"I don't know I'm not much of a joiner."

"Who said anything about signing up. I hear their mixer has some of the best food of all freshmen activities."

"Well if that's the case, I can go. What time you want to meet up?"

"Well it starts at six. So how about we meet up there at six-thirty. Unless you want to meet at one of our dorms? Which one are you in?"

"I'm not staying on campus. The old house is only ten minutes from school, so I moved back in there."

"You were able to keep the old house?"

"Yeah between life insurance, accidental death insurance, their 401ks, and the settlement; there was no need to sale the house."

Jennifer leaned over and quietly asked. "Mind telling me how much that settlement was?"

Cassie whispered back, "let's just say I was never a poor orphan."

Jennifer smiled mischievously, "Can we go on a shopping spree?"

"I can't touch it until I graduate," Cassie said, shaking her head. "The insurances and 401ks were put in one trust after the house was paid off. The interests pays for taxes on the house and upkeep. Now that I'm eighteen I get the interest paid directly to me, but after taxes, upkeep, and utilities there isn't much left."

"What about the settlement?"

"That's in a trust I can't touch until graduation. Big daddy is real serious about education. And I can only touch principle of the 1st turst in case of emergency."

"That sucks, but at least you're set after graduation."

"True dat," Cassie responded with a huge grin. "Hey, my car is in that lot over there. I'll call you later and see you tomorrow."

Cassie was on cloud nine on her way home. She was ecstatic to see Jennifer again, funny how some people you just click with no mather how many years you have been apart. Cassie regretted losing track of her close friends when she moved to Chicago, but the grief was a lot to process. Now though, things were seemed to be on track. Not only had she met her old bff. That morning she'd gotten the exact schedule she had been hoping for. All her classes were in the morning, so she didn't have to hang around campus all day whenever she didn't want to, which also meant she wouldn't hit traffic on the way home. After feeling like a fish out of water for so long, she finally felt like she was in her element. It felt like she had returned home. She guessed that was true.