Serene's Land

Confused

"...Noo....Don't hurt him...please....I will come with you ..Please don't hurt him...My wolfie whines hearing me plea...The shadows are surrounding him and all i can do is scream... Nooooo....."

"Sereeeenee...."

I can hear a familiar voice from far...

"Serene...wake up...." This time the voice is loud and i can feel myself jerking. I slowly open my eyes and see my dad's face. I felt relieved to see him. I felt safe now.

"Serene, are you all right? You were having a bad dream i believe" dad states looking concerned.

I blink my eyes feeling out of place and all confused.

"Dad..." I jump into his arms and hug him tightly...He returns the hug.

I was relieved to know that it was just a dream and i am in safe heaven, my sweet home with my family.

Looking at my dad's face i knew he was still concerned and I assure him that i am perfectly fine and it was just a bad dream.

He relaxes and enquires about the dream. 

"I just got lost in a wood..that's it..nothing much dad. You don't have to worry; it’s just a dream, so chill." I try to assure him again.

"But why where you shouting 'Don't hurt him? .. Who was getting hurt in your dream" Again he asks looking concerned.

I sigh knowing that my dad is not going to give up soon. "That was just a wolf dad" I say him and his face looks horror stricken.

Oh Dad...Please...I saw a werewolf movie yesterday and that might be the reason for this dream. Please don't worry this much". I try to convince him.

He relaxes a bit again, though i know he is still thinking about the dream.

"Okay, Serene go freshen up and get ready to school. I will drop you and Luis today." Dad says smiling. He kisses me on forehead and walks towards the door. He look back at me from the doorway.

"Serene, Always know that me and your mom loves you and we are always there with you" Dad says and I can see that his eyes are filled with unshed tears. He quickly turns away from me and walks downstairs.

I sit on my bed confused. First the dream confuses me and now my dad. I don't understand why my dad got emotional just because of a dream.

Though I was in no mood to get up from my bed still i force myself up to finish my morning routines.

"She is again having nightmares...She is dreaming about werewolves...The same dream which she had in her childhood...." I heard dad whispering to mom when i enter the kitchen.

"I had nightmares in childhood?  About werewolves?" Mom and dad turn around dumbstruck. 

Oh! Serene...We didn't see you coming.. You might be hungry, comes let’s have food. Luis is already waiting in dining hall" mom states fake smiling.

"Mom, Dad... what are you trying to hide...Please tell me"

Both of the look at each other and i hear dad Sighing. He walks towards me and hold me on shoulder

"It’s nothing Serene, when you were a kid you used to have dreams about wolves and wood and later it stopped. So I was just discussing with mom that today again you had the same dream after a long time." Dad pats my shoulder saying this but I was not convinced with that.

"Maria, this is all because of the bedtime stories of yours..." Dad looks at mom.

"Yeah.. May be i should stop telling her stories of woods..." Mom agrees with dad and I could feel the atmosphere was tension filled.

I knew they were hiding something but didn't wanted to force them more as I knew my parents know what is right and wrong for me. If i have to know they will surely let me know. So I decided to let it go though I was really confused with all this.

"Fine, I am hungry ...lets go and have breakfast otherwise Luis is going to think that we left him out and had breakfast alone leaving him hungry" I tried to lighten the mood.

I could see mom and dad relaxing and they smiled warmly nodding at me asking me to go and join Luis in the dining hall.

After breakfast, dad dropped us at school and informed that he and mom will be a bit late today to return from work.

Luis and I kiss him bye and i walk Luis to his class then walk towards my locker to collect my things.

"Sereneee...where was you? We were waiting for you outside and here you are...not even bothered to meet us.." I turn around to see Aria and Lisa glaring at me 

God, how could i forget that we meet daily in the front gate of our school? I was so involved in thinking about new occurring in my life that i even forgot to meet my friends.

I smile at them sheepishly. "i am really sorry...actually my dad dropped us today and i..i didn't know..I mean i had to walk Luis to his class and i forgot..no, actually..I ..i was confused and I.." I start rambling when Lisa comes near me touch my forehead.

"Are you fine Serene" She asks me looking concerned. I can see that even Aria is concerned.

"Oh!..I am fine...It’s just a dream.." 

"Dream?" Both of them questions together looking confused.

I sigh and explain them all that happened today and now i have a company for being confused.

"But what are you parents hiding from you and why?" Lisa questions

It’s just they don't want you to be tensed unnecessarily...Might be that’s why they didn't wanted you to know about your childhood nightmares. We are just overthinking this" Aria states and Lisa nodes her head agreeing "Might be we are overthinking. Come on! Let’s have some coffee before the class starts. Let’s give some rest to our brain."

How i wish i could believe them and not overthink. From childhood my intuition is very strong and when i feel something is not right, and then it is not right. I wish this time I am wrong.

I walk with my friends to the cafeteria and i feel like someone's gaze on me. I turn left to see Michael sitting in the corner and staring at me again just like yesterday. 

I asks my friends to order and walk towards Michael. I can again see him smirking. 

"Who are you? Why did you run to the woods yesterday and where did you vanish suddenly, Why didn't you wait for me?" I start bombarding him with questions.

"Woah! Easy, easy..." He chuckles.

Again I was more than pissed. "HOW COULD YOU SIT AND 'LAUGH' AFTER WHAT YOU DID YESTERDAY?" I literally yell at him making everyone to turn their eyes towards us. Now the day is not at all going well.

I turn towards Michael again and he is sitting with an expression like nothing happened. I just want to slap him. God, How I wish i could.

"I don't like to see you this tensed. Smiling face suits you more" Even in this situation this guy have guts to flirt with me.

I narrow my eyes at him "Fine then, if you don't like seeing me tensed then kindly do the favor of answering my questions" I reply sarcastically.

"Fine, shoot..." I was more than surprised to hear him say that. I thought he was going to irritate me still. I didn't know he was going to give in so easily.

"Who are you?"

"Michael John"

"I know that stupid, I didn't mean your name but why are you following me” I was losing my temper and though I knew my first question was wrong i don't care, I now he understood what I meant. 

"Serene… What’s going on?" I turn around to see Aria and Lisa looking at me with concern and confusion. 

"I will see you guys in class" I say and nod at them and they leave. They know well when to give me space.

I turn back to Luis who was staring at me like he is studying me.

"If you are done reading me then kindly answer my question" I say to him sarcastically.

"Okay, So Miss. Serene James, First of all I am not the one who followed you but it was you who followed me yesterday if my memory is right.." He smirks again and continues..

"Second I just want to be friends with you and yeah about woods...I was going to meet a friend and there is a shortcut through woods. To be honest I was confused why you were following me but then I didn't see you behind me later so didn't bother to wait for you." He completes it saying "I don't know why you are having problem with me...I just want to be friend with a beautiful girl like you.." He states looking sad but I didn’t feel convinced.

I opened my mouth to say something and closed it as I didn’t know what to say.

"If you are done with your interrogation excuse me ma'am, I don't want to be late to my class as already i missed one class yesterday if you remember." He speaks teasingly and winks at me.

I stand there all confused and irritated staring at his retreating back.

From the dream till Michael everything is confusing today. I don't know what is happening in my life. I walk towards my class hoping that rest of the day goes well.

Fingers cross...