WARNING:  CAN BE A LITTLE MATURE AT TIMES : 16+
WARNING: MAY BE A LITTLE SHOUNEN AI/YAOI ISH AT TIMES (i haven't yet decided)

WELCOME TO DREAM LAND : Chapter 1

     I walk down this very road every day until summer vacation, which happens to be tomorrow. And everyday my friend walks beside me. Sharon. Fair long blonde hair, shimmering blue eyes full of hope. I’m surprised she chose me of all people to be her best friend. Much similar to her, I have shoulder length blonde hair and deep blue eyes. Some people mistake us as brother and sister. 
   
“Arai…?” Sharon spoke softly, barely a whisper, as she grabbed my wrist and pulled me to a stop. The chains on my pants shuffled as I turned to face her.
    
“Yea?” I looked at her with a calm face, figuring she’d just ask if I would miss her, like every other time she did on the last day of school. 
    
“I’m going to miss you… I was wondering if… Maybe we could hang out sometime this summer. I don’t have to go to my grand parents house this year. So I’ll be here.” She smiled the same way she always does. That sweet smile that always made everything better.

I have known Sharon since we were kids, all through middle school and all through high school. Next year would be our last year and everyone would be moving on to different places or staying here to take up the "family job".

“Yea… sure. We can hang sometime.” I smiled at her to reassure my answer. I turned again and she took my hand. I looked at her then to her hand in mine. How small it was. My hand was at least twice the size of hers and it had a calming warmth. We walked hand in hand the rest of the way to school.

---

I sit at my desk. The last day always easy. Always short. Always the sweetest and yet… always the saddest. Everyone converses with each other. Except me. Sharon had been my only friend for all my life. She sat next to me. Her friends surrounding her. Talking about shopping, what they were going to do for their summer, and when they were all going to hang out together. Sharon turned to me.

“Arai? These are my friends Laya and Kirsty.” She smiled then looked to her friends.

“This is Arai.”

“Hello. Nice to meet you.” The two girls responded simultaneously smiling and giggling.

“Hi… nice to meet you too.” I blushed slightly as I replied. They seemed like really good friends of Sharon’s. Laya had short brown hair and glasses over those deep green eyes. Kirsty was quite opposite. Her hair was long and a fiery red and she had bright blue eyes. A small mole rested beneath her left eye. I looked down at my desk, sketching on a piece of paper, absentmindedly doodling.

My homeroom teacher Mrs. Kumo walked in at that moment rambling on and telling people to sit down and such. She then brought everyone to attention. “Here, here! Listen up!” I looked up at her and everyone else stopped what they were doing as well. “As some of you might have heard… I’m leaving Sukishi High. I will not be here next year.” Half the class groaned. “Yes, Yes… I know you’ll all miss me and I’ll miss all of you too. But age claims us too fast and there’s no way to stop it. I’m retiring. I hope you all have a wonderful summer vacation. Class dismissed.” And the final bell for that year rang.

The class cheered and they all rushed for the door onto better things. I quietly packed up, closing my sketchbook, sliding the pencil into the rings that bound it. I stood slowly looking to Sharon. “Ready to go?” I asked her.

“Uh, yea!” She smiled at me again. Kirsty and Laya were still next to her. “Mind if they come to your house with me?”

“Not at all.” I smiled and walked forward leading the way. Sharon rushed beside me and the other two girls walked at my other side.

I took the key out of my pocket and unlocked the front door letting the three girls in. “Make yourselves at home. My parents aren’t here so don’t cause too much trouble.” The two girls giggled as I smiled at them. “I’ll be right back, I’m going to get changed. Soda is in the fridge and the TVs in the living room past the kitchen, that way.” I pointed in the direction of the Living Room. They nodded and I advanced to my room, shutting the door behind me. I removed my jacket and then my shirt when I heard my door slide open. I turned around quickly. Sharon.

“I’m sorry… I couldn’t help myself.” She looked down and blushed. I didn’t understand what she meant.

“That’s okay… What’s up?” I asked her. She made her way towards me resting her hands on my chest.

“Arai…” She got really close and I blushed as she touched me. She kissed me in the center of my chest, as that was as tall she was. “Arai…. I love you.”

I didn’t know what to do. I had… never been in a situation like this. I wasn’t even sure if I was attracted to her yet. “Sharon…” I said softly and I wrapped my arms around her. She wrapped her arms around my waist and she leaned hard into me as I took a couple steps back, my legs touching the side of my bed. I put my face into her hair and it smelled of vanilla. My favorite scent. It took control of me and I turned around and pushed her down onto my bed. I didn’t get on her but I merely leaned on her from the side. I planted kisses at her collarbone and she ran her fingers through my hair. Is this really me? I don’t even know what I’m doing.

I began to unbutton her shirt and she closed her eyes. I’m out of control. I planted more kisses down her chest. I need to stop. One more button… STOP! I snapped back in control and snapped back.

I sat on the edge of the bed looking at the floor. “I’m sorry…” I got up and threw on a black hoodie. “I’ll be downstairs…” I left her there on my bed. I don’t even know what she looked like then, or what she was thinking.

I walked down the stairs and grabbed a root beer from the fridge and looked back to the stairs for a moment until I hear my name.

“Arai?” It was Laya. She had appeared in the empty door way. “Where’s Sharon?”

I paused for a moment. “She’s upstairs,” I responded. “You need anything?”

“My mom wants me home… so I have to go. Kirsty is coming to my house so she’ll be leaving too.”

I nodded in reply. “Alright. It was nice meeting you. Uhh… I hope you enjoyed your stay.”

“Oh we did, even though it was short. It was nice meeting you too. Thank you for letting us come.” She smiled. “Tell Sharon to call me later.” She turned to the living room. “Read to go Kirsty?”

“Yea.” She walked into the kitchen. “Thanks Arai. It was nice meeting you.”

“Yea, nice meeting you too.”

They smiled at me and they left my house quietly. I looked at the unopened can of root beer resting on the counter in my hand. I had just realized I was home alone… with a girl.

Not just any girl. But my best friend that happened to be in love with me. A friend I had almost taken advantage of.

I set the soda back into the fridge and headed up the steps to my room. I entered. She lay there on my bed staring at the ceiling, just as I had left her. Except… one thing was different. She was crying silently to herself.

“Sharon…?” I approached her slowly, but she did not move. “Are you… alright? I’m sorry… I just…”

“It’s alright.” Her reply came quietly.

“I didn’t want to take advantage of you. I just snapped… I didn’t…”

“Arai!” Her voice came harsh and I stopped talking and found myself staring into those eyes. “I said… it’s fine.” She sat up and buttoned up her shirt. “I should go…” she got up and rushed across the room. I was the one grabbing her wrist this time.

“Don’t… stay with me, Sharon. Stay with me… I… don’t want to be alone.” I looked at the floor and her wrist came free of my grasp. “Stay with me, Sharon.”

I heard her footsteps advance not toward the door… but toward me. Unexpectedly, she wrapped her arms around my waist from behind and we stood there like that for a few moments until her arms faded from my waist.

I turned to face her. “Sharon… Would you like to stay for the night? My parents won’t be home for at least a week.”

She looked to my door then back to me. “Sure… I guess.”

“Uhh… There’s soda and leftovers in the fridge if you’re hungry.”