All That Glitters Is Gold

Chapter One

I open my eyes. There are trees above me, spreading their changing leaves into a canopy. The ground feels strange beneath my feet, sort of springy. Everything looks faded, like a four-year-old used watered-out colors to paint the landscape.
“Ashtin!” A voice calls gleefully.
I spin around. Molly stands before me in a champagne-colored dress, her sepia curls bouncing around her heart-shaped face.
“I’m so glad you’re here!” She cries, grinning. She races forward and jumps into my arms, touching her lips to my cheek. She smells like roses.
I lean forward for a real kiss, my arms wrapped around her waist, but she wriggles out of my grip and darts away, her dress flowing behind her. “Catch me if you can!” She teases.
I smile and chase after her, my feet hardly hitting the ground. I feel like I’m flying. “Molly!” I call, laughing. “Wait up!”
But she doesn’t slow down. I’m not covering the distance between us very well, and I keep losing her around the corners.
“Molly!” I yell. I stop running. I can’t hear her anymore. “Molly, where are you?” I’m starting to panic. “Seriously, this isn’t funny! Molly!”
She doesn’t answer. The trees are starting to close in, the sky darkening, my voice catching in my throat.
“Molly!” I scream.
 
I keep my eyes closed long after I’ve woken up, not wanting to open them and find trees above me. I exhale and tell myself I’m being irrational. To my relief, the Coldplay poster on my ceiling stares back at me.
I wipe sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand and push back my sheets.
I look away when I pass the mirror hanging on my wall. Have you ever had that feeling that someone’s watching you? Like, somehow, if you look into the mirror, you’ll see them behind you, watching you, unmoving?
I shiver and pick up my cell phone. I dial her number and drum my fingers on the back impatiently as it calls. She picks up on the third ring.
“Yello?”
“Red.” I answer, smiling. It's good to hear her voice.
“Hi, Ashtin.”
“Are you rolling your eyes right now, Molls?”
She laughs. “Possibly. So what’s up?”
“I just had a really weird dream. You were in it.” I say, and the chill comes back.
“Yeah?” She says carefully, sensing the change in my tone.
“Yeah.” I run my fingers through my hair nervously. I hope she doesn’t think I’m crazy. “We were in this... forest or something. Together. And then you ran away, and I was chasing you, just as a joke. But then you disappeared, and I couldn’t find you. Freaky, right?”
“Freaky.” She confirms. “Well, obviously I’m right here. It was just a dream. So don’t worry, okay?”
“Okay.” I say quietly.
“Hey, is this really bothering you, Ash?”
“No.” I lie. “You’re right, it was just a dream.”
“Look, why don’t you come over later? Gabe’s taking Libby to a friend’s birthday party at noon. We can watch a movie or something. You can see I’m perfectly fine, and stop obsessing over this dream.”
I smile. “Cool. Does Batman Begins sound good? It’s a little scary.” I warn.
“You just want me to cuddle with you.”
“Maybe.” I smirk.
“I think I can handle it. I’m a big girl, after all.”
“Yes, you are.”
“Shut up!” She laughs, and hangs up the phone.

 
Hey, it’s Wish. I’ve started a new story. As you can see. From this... new... story. Um. Never mind, I think y’all get the message. Enjoy!