Chapter 1
Looking around at my surroundings, I knew this was my home. I had never seen this place before and yet it felt familiar at the same time. Beautiful, large oak trees swayed in the calm breeze blowing around me. I could tell the trees were old because they almost seemed as if they were living. As if they had a soul and mind of their own. These majestic trees sat atop the same hill I was standing on. At the bottom of this hill was a lake. Blue and vast like the ocean, but more calm and inviting. I looked at this lake and just knew the rippling water would be cold and refreshing. Tall, green grass tickled my legs as I sat back and enjoyed the view. Looking up, I could see big, billowing clouds amongst the cobalt blue sky. The sky’s color reminds me of my mother’s eyes, the same eyes I inherited from her. Finally I couldn’t take it anymore. I just had to know what that blue lake water would feel like on my skin. Slowly standing up and stretching out my long legs, I dashed to the lake shore with a bright smile on my face. I wiggled out of my summer dress and leaped in. No words could possibly give justice to the way it felt. It felt like I was being wrapped in a cool, soft blanket, only in liquid form. The water didn’t even feel like water, but something much more. It felt like liquid starlight. Shimmering and shining everywhere I turned. With much reluctance, I pulled myself out of the lake and layed back on the warm grass. I let out a sigh of pure content and happiness as my eyelids slowly closed and I fell asleep.
Beep, beep, beep! I woke up with a jerk as my alarm clock went off with it’s incessant buzzing.
“Gosh damn it,” I groaned as I realized it was all just a dream and reality hit me. Literally. My roommate, Jessie, was in the middle of throwing her other pillow at me as I sat up and turned the alarm off.
“Finally,” she grumbled, plopping her head back down on her remaining pillow. I glanced over to see her face-down, her light brown hair splayed messily over the bed. Jessie was one stubborn and feisty girl, but she could also be super sweet and sensitive at times. This is why her and I got along so well, our personalities were the exact same, although she claims I can be a little more stubborn than her. Looking over at the time, I almost had a panic attack. I was going to be late for work! Jolting out of bed, I hastily pulled on some dark colored jeans and a white tee. I ran over to the bathroom mirror and pulled my long hair into a high ponytail. Some of the light brown strands fell out, but it would just have to do.
“Bye, Jessie!” I yelled as I passed her on my way out of our small apartment room. Although it was small, our room was just the right size for the two of us and had a sense of coziness to it. Jessie and I had met in high school and have been friends ever since. We both applied to the same college last year and both made it in. Deciding that we didn’t want to stay in a dorm, we pulled our money together and rented the apartment room.
Jessie answered back, “Bye Rae.” She thought saying Ramone was too hard so she gave me that nickname. Right as I was about to walk out the door, I decided to make breakfast for her, considering she was turning nineteen next week. I had turned nineteen last month and she made me breakfast in bed, so I decided it was time to return the favor. I was already going to be late for work, what’s a few minutes later? Quickly I made her favorite meal which consisted of grilled cheese filled with eggs. She generously accepted the food and wished me a good day at work.
Although I was planning to be a veterinarian after college, somehow I had to pay rent in the meantime. To do this, I worked as a waitress at Eva’s Cafe. Fortunately, the cafe was only a ten minute walk from the apartment, which sometimes seemed a lot longer, especially during the frigid winters we have in Maine. As I walked along, I could tell that today was going to be one of those days. Snow was falling heavily and the gust of wind blowing hair in my face was definitely not helping. Wrapping my leather coat tightly around me, I picked up my pace and started the long trek to work. By the time I made it to work, the icy weather had made my pale skin turn a light pink color. Pushing through the cafe doors, I quickly ducked into the kitchen hoping my boss didn’t notice me arriving late.
“This food is way too hot,” complained a crabby, old man as I set his bowl of soup down in front of him.
“Sir,” I said patiently, “If you just wait a few minutes then it will cool off a bit.”
“Well I shouldn’t have to wait this long just to eat some soup and I can surely talk to your manager to have you fired. I’m really not liking your attitude right now. You should respect your elders,” he threatened. My patience was slowly wearing out. My parents always told me that when I was a child, I always had a very short temper and would not take too kindly to people who walked all over me. Knowing I would regret what I was about to do, I reached my hand in the man’s drink and dropped ice cubes into his food. Fuming, he stood up and started screaming insults at me.
“What is going on out here?” My boss yelled as she rushed out of the kitchen. I was deciding between running or facing my boss when the old man said, “This young lady was being extremely rude to me. First, she started complaining that it was my fault the soup was cold. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she reached her grubby hands in my drink and put ice cubes in my bowl!”
“You little liar!” I screeched. “All I said was that if you waited a bit, then your food wouldn’t be too hot. And by the way, my hands are certainly not grubby! I was just trying to help your soup cool off, that was all.” I said that last part with a snicker. My boss just glared at me while I was saying all of this. I realized she was going to fire me, but my stubborn little self wasn’t going to be fired because of some stuck-up, old dude.
“You know what? I don’t want to work here anyways, so I quit!” As I said this, I realized I really needed to get a hold on my temper, but what’s done is done. Grabbing my coat and bag out of the kitchen, I bustled passed everyone in the diner and walked out the doors. Well this is just great, I thought. Jessie’s going to be so disappointed with me. What am I supposed to even tell her? Suppressing a sigh, I walked to the nearest cafe, aside from Eva’s, and planned on how to reveal this news to Jessie. Once I was finally seated, my thoughts drifted back to earlier this morning. Although it was a little hazy when I woke up, my dream from last night was easier to remember now that sleep wasn’t clouding my brain. What a magnificent place that was. I had been having that same dream for the past couple of months now and whenever I am frustrated or upset, I just have to think back to that land and I immediately feel a sense of peace blanket me.
“Here’s your latte hon. Miss? Hey miss are you alright?” The waitress snapped me out of my daydreaming as she set down my cup of coffee.
“Oh, sorry,” I replied. “I’m not thinking too clearly today.”
“Everybody has those days every once in a while,” she replied. As I sipped my coffee, my thoughts once again returned to my dream. It felt so real and yet it wasn’t. How was that even possible? Every time I thought about it, I got warm tingles all over my body and had a strange sense of familiarity with it.
My palms start to sweat when I walk into our apartment. Jessie isn’t home yet but I know she will be when she gets back from work as a substitute teacher. I know I shouldn’t be scared to tell my best friend anything. If I went up to her and said that I killed someone, she would still be on my side and support me through anything, but I need to find a new job soon or we won’t be able to stay here any longer. That sent a pang of sadness through me. Although it wasn’t the nicest place to stay, I’ve always felt at home here and the thought of leaving definitely did not lift my spirits. Getting up off the couch, I decide that the best thing to do right now would be to take a nice, hot bath. Now that’s the kind of thing that could cheer me up. As I slowly inched myself into the bubbly bath, the tenseness in my body finally left. If only I could just do this everyday, I thought.
“Ramone, I’m home!” Jessie sang throughout the apartment room as she walked through the door.
“I’m in the bathroom,” I replied back. Once I was finished, I dried off and reluctantly trudged into the kitchen where Jessie was currently sitting.
All of a sudden I blurted, “I quit my job, Jessie. I’m so sorry, but they were gonna fire me anyways and you know me. I don’t take crap from anyone, so I quit.” She finally stopped my rambling as she came up and hugged me.
“It’s okay, Ramone,” she soothed. “If I was in your position, I would have done the same exact thing.” Relieved that she wasn’t mad at me, I suggested that we watch something on the television. She nodded her head vigorously at that. I laughed knowing that Jessie had always been a sucker for staying up all night and binge watching the latest show she was into. While we sat on the couch I looked for job openings on my laptop, but after awhile of looking, I decided to call it for the night and went to sleep. Right before my eyelids drooped closed, I hoped that I would have the dream I had been dreaming for the past few months.
I woke with a start, knowing that I needed to find a job today. Trying to roll out of bed, I got tangled up in the sheets and fell ungracefully on the hard floor, hitting my head in the process. Already starting the day off bad and waking up on the wrong side of the bed-literally. Somehow, through all of this commotion, Jessie did not wake from her slumber. I swear to god a tornado could’ve swept through here and she wouldn’t have even stirred. Slipping on clothes for the day, I grab my coat and start my job hunt.
“I’m sorry, but were looking for college graduates or someone a little more mature than you,” said another employer. Once again I was shut down. I had been searching all day and still have yet to be accepted for a position. I even lowered my standards so much that I was willing to clean toilets, but for some reason I have to be, and I quote, a little more mature. After my last deny, I decided to try for one more position I saw in the newspaper. It was a couple blocks from where I was, so I started heading that way. As I arrived at the building, my nerves started to kick in. The other jobs were quite easy and simple, but this one was different. The job description was sorting criminal files and categorizing stuff. Honestly I didn’t pay much attention to it and I’m just now starting to regret my decision. But what’s done is done, right? Even the building in front of me looked very intimidating. This was one of the most major police precincts in Portland. The people coming in and out with handcuffs on, lead by officers doesn’t help much to soothe my nerves. As I walked through the doors, a guy with a shaved head and spiky, green mohawk walked by and growled at me. I mean what kind of person growls. This was definitely going to be one hell of an interview. I walked up to the desk in the middle of the room and tried to get the attention of the receptionist.
“Uh, hello. I’m here for a job interview. Where should I go?” She looked up at me with a small smile and pointed to a door a few feet to the left of her desk.
“Good luck!’’ she yelled as I walked past her. “You’re gonna need it.” I don’t think I was supposed to hear that last part. Well here goes nothing, I thought to myself as I entered the office.
“Leave,” a middle-aged man sitting in a chair said as soon as I walked into the room.
“Oh Jesus Christ what did I do!” The second I yelled that I knew I had messed up, big time.
“You know what lady,” he retorted. “You got the job.” Well this has been the most confusing two minutes of my life.
“Wh-what did you say? I just screamed at you and now I have the position. Sir you make absolutely no sense,” I stated.
“Listen up. Most applicants applying for this job are either way too shy, scared or can’t speak up for themselves. In this type of business, those qualities are the worst to have. Although I’m pissed because one, you didn’t knock before you entered and two, you talked back to me, you have the right attitude for the job and I believe that’s the most important thing to look at. So yes, you’ve got the job,” he responded all in one breath. It was actually really impressive that he got all that out without breathing.
“You must have some good, strong lungs sir,” I said and then realized how stupid I must have sounded. Embarrassed, I tried to explain what I meant but ended up just rambling on until he finally put a stop to it by holding up his hand.
“Okay, that’s enough talking for one day. Lisa, the receptionist outside, will have all the paperwork necessary for this job position. You start Monday morning. Don’t be late or you’re fired and a word of advice. Be careful what you say around these criminals. Some of them might not react too kindly to it.
“Will do, mister. See you on Monday,” I responded. I entered this building as one nervous woman, and came out proud with my head held high. I just can’t believe I finally got a job other than being a waitress or janitor. I can’t wait to tell Jessie this wonderful news. As I was walking out of the building, I heard a loud commotion. Walking through the door, or more like struggling through the door, came two officers dragging in someone behind them. Me being the curious idiot I am decided to stay and watch the show. There was a lot of yelling and cursing from the criminal, but mostly from the handlers.
“Let go of me I’m not a child. I can walk by my fucking self!” he yelled. If I’m being honest it was quite intimidating, but also quite annoying. So me being the short-tempered person I am, I said something.
“Well obviously you’re not a child, but you sure do act like one.” After that little outburst performed by the one and only me, there was a couple gasps and then silence. Shit. The guy in handcuffs looked at me and I swear if looks could kill I’d be six feet under right now. Apart from the glare he was giving me, however, he was one handsome guy. His dark, raven colored hair really complimented his light blue eyes and pale skin.With a straight, roman nose and full lips he looked like he could be the model on some magazine. I couldn’t really tell at the moment considering he was being dragged, but he looked to be about six feet four, give or take. He had a slim, but muscular build and overall looked like the most intimidating person on this planet. And I was the center of his attention.
“Well I’ll be taking my leave now,” I said and then added a quick, “It was nice meeting you,” to the restrained criminal. As I was walking out I looked back and saw a slight smirk on his face.
