18. Summer

I stood back, observing my freshly painted room. A fresh start; this is what this was about. Mum had wanted to move to Australia and I was only so happy to oblige. Home wasn't a good place. Everyone had known me as a nerdy kid and although it necessarily wasn't bad in my books; it certainly was in theirs. I had just wanted to fit in; but I hadn't. Instead I'd succeeded in outcasting myself even further.

But no more. I'd still do well in tests, of course; but I wouldn't advertise the fact that I was smart. This new school was going to give me new opportunities with new people. My Facebook had been deleted and remade; my Tumblr kept intact, because no one was going to find out about it and my life was about to be redone.

I was going make friends at this school; I was going to be accepted and under no circumstances was I to be mocked.

"Get out!" Mum shooed me out of the house, placing my purse in my outstretched hands as I looked at her helplessly. "I've got a business call coming in and I need you to get out so that you won't interrupt me like you always do!"

I walked backwards out of our driveway, glaring accusatorily at the house, hoping that Mum would feel it weighing down upon here. I then proceeded to trip on the sidewalk, and laughing at myself; dusted my weary soul and made my way to the local bookshop. I'd seen it on the way here; and although it was small and thus not going to have many books, it was quaint and looked quite adorable. And if I could get hot chocolate there, well; wouldn't that be a bonus?

I found myself suddenly in the book shop. It was quite large; very spacious but there it was sparse. How did I get from my sidewalk to here? … Must've just been me walking really fast.

"Hello there," a lady appeared from thin air, smiling agreeably at me. "Can I help you?"

"Do you have any coffee?" I asked hesitantly. I loved coffee; it was hands down my favourite drink. Hot chocolate on the other hand disgusted me to no end. It tasted foul; too much chocolate and all that.

"Arya!" My mother called in frustration. "Stop reading that book, you fool!"

"What?" I stared at her. "I was just in the bookshop."

"Yeah," she rolled her eyes nonsensically. "And then you came back."

And then I was aware. I was dreaming. Dreaming about another life; one where I wanted to fit in. Was that my subconscious?

"Maria?"

"I thought you said my name was Arya, mum." I scolded her.

 

"That's your sister." She scowled, swatting me over the head with the book that I had had in my hands only a minute ago.

Obviously, I was lucid dreaming; and considering this was the first time that I had done it, I was somewhat interested in how I could manipulate my body. At least I wouldn't be flashing between times; unless I wanted to. How cool would it be to time travel?

"Maria?" My mother looked at me in alarm.

"Yes, mother?" I looked at her pleasantly, glad that I had finally realised that I had been dreaming.

"You're floating." She looked dubiously at the air between my feet and the floor and then up at my manic face.

I smirked at her. "I sure am!"

"How?" She looked at me in confusion. "That doesn't make sense?"

And then I was jerked out of my dream abruptly, my eyes opening wide and looking into another person's.

"Your subconscious realised that it had been caught out." The person explained kindly. "Flying's not natural and your body was trying to prove that. Next time you try to fly; you have to convince your mind that it is possible; it's normal to do so."

I nodded at them tersely. I had entered a dream course; one where we slept all day in an attempt to induce lucid dreams. For me, it was easier to realise that I was already in a dream rather than stay awake while my body dreamt. Doing my research, I had been plenty interested in the theology of being able to discover ourselves better.

Finally, finally, I had been able to succeed though. And I was so glad about it. The next couple of years was going to be a hell of a bumpy ride within discovering myself.

Eh. Could've been better. Disregard this one. YOU'RE A DAY LATE, MISSY. And so was I uptil two minutues ago...

Allons-y!