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Post by Roger Matthews on Apr 5, 2008 10:43:02 GMT -5
"It's complicated," she warned. "I don't think any other newsie has a story like mine,"
Roger's eyes filled with sympathy and remorse. He knew what she meant. He knew how it felt to hold everything. To wear a mask around everyone you know. The pain of your past and the remorse of your future. It is a hard burden to carry, and Roger knew that all to well.
"I have time.." he repeated.
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Post by Dreamer on Apr 6, 2008 0:19:20 GMT -5
"I have time.."
Dreamer drew in a breath, and let it out a bit loudly, as if she was getting ready to lift some sort of heavy object. It was the burden of what had happened to her back in Texas, and to her parents, that had caused her to be so cautious and so frightened and shy around people she didn't know.
"Well..." she started softly. "...Um...OK, first off, I wasn't always like this. I was really happy and I was always willing to meet new people. I was very outgoing, and social, and um...I was kind of popular around town, but I really didn't relish that fact,"
"I lived on a ranch that kind of took in some wild horses with my Ma and Pa. We would take care of them, feed them, clean them, give them a place to stay until they were all right enough to go back into the wild. I even rode some of them. It was kind of our way of paying the bills and such,"
"One day, I met this guy and a bunch of his friends. He and I were sort of a thing, but we never really hung out much. I didn't really mention him to my parents. I didn't think it was important since I never really saw him and the rest of his gang..."
Dreamer gripped her drinking glass tightly as if she regretted saying what happened next.
"What I didn't know was that they made deals with people to get what they want. Like, if this person did this, then they would do this for them...Or if this person didn't do this, they they would do this...In my case, if I didn't marry the leader of this gang, then something bad would happen,"
For the first time, Dreamer looked up at Roger, her cheeks flushing with the memories that came rushing back to her. She remembered them well, as if it had happened yesterday.
"I barely knew him," she said in a tone most people spoke in (which was at a normal volume, instead of quiet like she usually spoke in). "But I could tell that he thought from the moment we met we were supposed to be this couple, like we were 'meant to be together forever'. He proposed, I told him no. I said that I thought I was too young, and I didn't really want to get into a long-term relationship...He really didn't take that well, so he threatened me, saying that if I didn't say 'yes', he'd kill my parents,"
She hesitaited, and looked out the window, almost laughing to herself.
"It's so stupid," she said cracking a smile. "You'd think that even someone who just got turned down a marriage proposal wouldn't go as far as kill their spouse's parents to get her to say 'yes'. I didn't believe him. I thought he was just kidding...Then the fire happened,"
That was another fear of Dreamer's: Fire. Ever since what happened, fire had haunted her dreams. She closed her eyes tightly.
"One night, a woman came to our doorstep, and I welcomed her in. I was helping my ma cook dinner when I realized that she looked somewhat familiar, but I let it pass. I thought it was just my imagination running a bit away from me, so I wasn't worried. Ma and Pa offered her a place to stay, and I offered her my bed. I didn't really mind sleeping in the barn. I liked sleeping next to the horses stalls anyway,"
Dreamer's hands were trembling now around the cup, shaking its contents.
"I woke up," her voice had gone back to a very soft voice. "The horses were rearing back, neighing really loud. The whole barn seemed so bright and hot. I opened my eyes to find fire around me. It was everywhere. My first thought was to get the horses out. Someone had locked the barn door, and I had to beat it down with a picthfork. When I finally got open, I opened all the horses stalls as fast as I could, and I let them out. When I came out, the house was already on fire...My parents were in there,"
A tear streamed down Dreamer's cheek.
"I tried to go in there, but...that guy I turned down...he comes up in front of me when that woman that was staying with us and another guy grabbed me. They were part of his gang, so that's how I recognized her. The last thing I remembered was the butt of his gun coming down on my head, and I black out for a while...When I woke up...there was nothing left of my parents,"
Dreamer's trembling hands were shaking violently, the drink in between her fingers slipping from their grip, and spilling all over the table. She didn't notice. In her head, she could still see the burning barn, the running horses, the gun hitting her head. She could still hear the whinnies in the darkest corners of her mind, the screams of her parents, and her struggling to get away from a gang that she barely knew and that stole her trust. Everything was taken away from Dreamer all in the course of one night. She was shaking so much, and breathing so hard. She could see little spots in her vision. Quickly, she got up from the table.
"I'm sorry," she said in a hushed voice. "I have to go. I don't feel so well,"
In a fast pace, Dreamer headed out the door and out into the crowds. She had to get away from the crowds. Making a sharp right turn, she started down the dark, quiet alley's to get to the Manhatten borough faster...whichever direction Manhatten was in.
Suddenly, her legs felt wobbly, and they gave out. Dreamer didn't want to protest as she cried silently, giving into the darkness that took her, and collapsing in the alley.
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Post by Roger Matthews on Apr 6, 2008 14:50:55 GMT -5
Through out Dreamer's story, many thoughts ran through Roger's mind. He avoided her eyes, afraid of what emotion he might find in them. His fist clenched with anger and regret. He wished he had never asked, but in a way he was glad. He couldn't sort through his emotions, he simply sat and listened.
Suddenly, Dreamer took off. Without hesitation Roger ran after her. She was soon lost in the crowds. Roger looked around frantically for her, but found nothing. Panic started to rise in his throat and his hands began to shake. He turned around and around, searching for the lost girl. His eyes caught sight of her long blonde hair. A new hope was found and he raced after her.
When he finally caught up to her, she was in an alley, collapsed. He bent down and felt for a pulse. Thankfully, she had simply passed out, no more. He scoped her delicate body into her arms and headed for his apartment. He took several back ways, avoiding the questioning eyes of many onlookers.
They made it to his apartment and he laid her down on the couch. He grabbed several wet wash rags and placed one on her forehead. He brushed her hair back and sighed. He hoped she was going to be okay.
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Post by Dreamer on Apr 7, 2008 22:20:14 GMT -5
It was getting dark soon. The sun was setting to a deep red-orange, shadowed by dark blue rays of setting night. Dreamer felt herself drifting slowly out of her unconscience state. From the moment she had closed her eyes, she had seen nothing but blackness. Nothing but the darkness. No dreams. No sounds. Utter silence in her sleeping world.
Dreamer never really could recall a time when she would have a dreamless sleep until that point. But she always knew that the feelings she would get would be empty, with no emotion in them whatsoever
What a horrible feeling that was!
She felt herself lying somewhere soft on her back. There was something damp lying on her forehead. She felt really disoriented, the memory of what happened to her before she collapsed nothing but a thick fog.
Moving her head from side to side, she tried pushing herself up to a sitting position, only to end up feeling like gravity was holding her down.
"Mmmm," she groaned after her last attempt, mummbling. "Where am I?"
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Post by Roger Matthews on Apr 13, 2008 15:23:12 GMT -5
She started to stir, Roger whirled around. He let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
"You are in my apartment," he started, making his way toward where she lay. "How are you feeling?" He was now kneeling by her side.
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Post by Dreamer on Apr 13, 2008 21:53:26 GMT -5
Dreamer heard someone walking up to where she was, their familiar voice getting louder as they drew closer
"You are in my apartment,"
Apartment...Of course! She was in Roger's apartment. Some of her memory came flooding back to her
"How are you feeling?"
Dreamer placed a hand on her aching head, her eyes tightly closed to supress the pain.
"My head," she said softly. "It hurts,"
She tried getting up even though she was feeling weak at the moment. The collapse that had previously happened to her did not take too kindly to her small body.
"I should try to get home," she said. "Jack and the others might wonder where I am,"
But Dreamer could hardly move. Her head was just to heavy to move. She collapsed back on the couch, still holding her head.
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Post by Roger Matthews on Apr 18, 2008 13:13:48 GMT -5
Roger nodded and stood. He turned and walked to the kitchen. "You fainted," he started. "I think you might have hit your head." He was now in the kitchen. His hands scrambled for a glass of water and a damp towel. This whole situation made him nervous, even though he didn't show it. Something about having a sick girl lying on his couch made him jittery. He didn't know what to do.
"I should try to get home," she said. "Jack and the others might wonder where I am,"
Roger was to the couch when she said this, and as she collapsed. He quickly set the contents in his hand down and rushed to her. "Are you okay?" He reached for the glass of water. "Here, drink this..." He handed it to her and placed his hand on her forehead. She didn't have a fever, luckily.
"You are gonna have to stay here...." he said, quietly.
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Post by Dreamer on Apr 18, 2008 20:52:09 GMT -5
"Here, drink this..."
Her eyes still closed, Dreamer felt a smooth glass in her hands, and she sipped it. The water felt cool and refreshing running down her thoat. She took a few more sips, but her head still felt as heavy as a brick. A hand laid on her head, feeling it to see if there were any traces of a fever in her. Dreamer didn't feel sick, she just felt really horrible.
Her head felt like someone was pounding inside of it, each time pounding harder. She groaned a bit, and held it tightly.
"You are gonna have to stay here...."
Dreamer showed little reaction to this, due to the throbbing in her head.
"But the others," she protested softly. "They always know who's missing and who's there. I can't let them worry. I have to go,"
Dreamer attempted to get up one last time, trying slowly to get up from her sitting position, but ended up just crumpling to the ground before she could stand up straight for two seconds.
"Please," she still tried. "You have to let me go. They'll think something bad happened,"
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Post by Roger Matthews on Apr 19, 2008 15:50:32 GMT -5
But the others," she protested softly. "They always know who's missing and who's there. I can't let them worry. I have to go,""Please," she still tried. "You have to let me go. They'll think something bad happened,"
Roger was about to argue when Dreamer decided to stand up. If she was going to be stubborn about this, then he would let her. She got up, but soon toppled to the ground. Just what Roger expected. He helped her up, giving her a stern glare. "You don't have any strength." He supported her, helping her to the couch.
She laid back down and Roger sat at her feet. "I know you wanna go, but you can't. It could be bad for your health." He reached for a blanket and covered her up with it. He was actually enjoying Dreamer's company. It almost made him feel like a big brother. He enjoyed having someone to take care off and someone to just talk to. It was like having a little sister. He felt a certain protectiveness of her.
"Tomorrow," he stated, "I will go find Jack. But right now, we both need to get some sleep." He stood. He then realized that she was already on the couch. Being the gentleman that he was, Roger offered her the bed. "I can sleep here..." It wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world, but he would rather Dreamer be comfortable than himself.
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Post by Dreamer on Apr 20, 2008 22:42:56 GMT -5
"You don't have any strength."
As she was helped back on the couch, Dreamer couldn't help but whmper in protest and defeat. Her head was throbbing so hard, she held it with both hands in a wince.
"I know you wanna go, but you can't. It could be bad for your health."
Another wimper of defeat and pain, but it was soon overpowered as soon as Dreamer felt the warmth of a blanket being draper over her. Suddenly, she felt at peace, and relaxed as she let out a deep sigh. Her tightly closed eyes softened, but her head was still in a crease, as if they were received from an unpleasent slumber. Opening her eyes a little bit, all she could see was a blurry vision. She tried to focus more, but it just kept getting fuzzy.
"Tomorrow," he stated, "I will go find Jack. But right now, we both need to get some sleep."
Dreamer tried to speak, but she just couldn't find her voice. Everything she heard seemed to echo endlessly off the walls. She tried to speak once again.
"But I--I have to--I have to go," she barely whispered.
She could hardly say anything as she let her head loll over one side. She couldn't force her eyes open anymore. Bit by bit, they were slowly closing. She couldn't answer any questions. She just held her head groaning more as the aching continued.
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Post by Roger Matthews on Apr 24, 2008 12:02:36 GMT -5
Finally, after much argument, Dreamer drifted off to sleep. Roger knew she would give up in the end. She'd put up a good fight though. Roger wondered if any of the Manhattan newsies would worry. Would they barge in his apartment and accuse him of kidnapping? Roger hoped not; he wasn't sure if he could deal with a bunch of crazy guys.
After sitting with her for several minutes, Roger stood up and stretched. Yawning, Roger realized how tired he really was. Today had been a tiring day. He'd become a big brother in a way. That is how he felt toward Dreamer. He felt a certain connection and protection over her. He smiled and checked on her once more before going to his own bed.
He felt terrible about her having to sleep on the couch, but he couldn't wake her up now. She'd had quite a day and he would hate to have to move her. He wasn't even sure if she would stay if she was to awake. She was pretty content on going home.
He changed his clothing and got in his bed. Snuggling down, Roger let sleep overtake him. He let the worries and stress of the day wash away as he ventured into dreamland.
//You can make it so she wakes up the next morning, or she wakes up in middle of the night. Whichever works\\
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Post by Dreamer on Apr 27, 2008 0:23:16 GMT -5
As darkness stood still an hour or so later, Dreamer snapped her eyes open, letting out a frightened gasp as she sat upright. She had the most horrible nightmare! Her stomach wasn't even willing to handle it.
Somehow, she had gotten enough strength to just bolt off of the couch, toward the bathroom, and manage to throw up into the toilet. When she was done, she shakily leaned back against the wall.
Dragging her knees up to her chest, she wrapped her arms around them, burying her head on top.
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Post by Roger Matthews on Apr 27, 2008 20:49:59 GMT -5
Slowly, Roger opened his eyes. Blinking twice, he allowed his eyes to get accustomed to the darkness. He'd heard something. A gasp, then some footsteps and a horrible noise from the bathroom. Groaning, Roger pushed himself off the bed and made his way into the general area of the bathroom.
On his way, Roger noticed that Dreamer had disappeared from the couch. This woke him up. He quickly checked the doors, making sure she hadn't left him in middle of the night. Finally, satisfied that she hadn't done something stupid like that, Roger turned to the bathroom.
He could see a dark form leaning against the wall. He sighed and approached her. "Are you okay?" He crouched down next to her, smoothing her hair away from her face. An odor escaped her mouth and Roger had difficulties not gagging. He glanced into the unflushed toilet and found out where the smell was coming from.
"What happened?" He grimaced and turned back to look at her. She was shaking and looked pale as a sheet.
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Post by Dreamer on Apr 28, 2008 17:11:26 GMT -5
"Are you okay?"
Dreamer shook her head slowly, looking up as Roger came into the bathroom. He must've heard her when she was rushing in there.
"What happened?"
"I threw up," Dreamer replied with a shaky voice. "...Sorry if I woke you up. I didn't mean to,"
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Post by Roger Matthews on May 7, 2008 16:42:49 GMT -5
"I threw up," Dreamer replied with a shaky voice. "...Sorry if I woke you up. I didn't mean to,"
Roger swallowed, he could taste throw up in the back of his throat. He'd never been good with that sort of thing. "Are you okay?" He knelt down beside her, ignoring the smell coming from her mouth. Remembering an old remedy his mother used, Roger thought of what he had in the kitchen.
"Lets get you back to the couch," he said as he offered her his hand. He stood and helped her to her feet. She still was pale, and looked as if she would barf any second. Roger sighed and searched her eyes, wondering if she was going to be okay.
((Sorry for the delay))
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