Only In My Dreams

Sleeping with an Empty Shell

  Someone appeared beside my reflection and I turned around. Ben Looked back at me, his dark gaze intense and pained. I couldn't tear my gaze away as I felt my mouth open and close, trying to find the words to tell him what he did to me. I closed my mouth finally and just stood there. I finally tore my gaze away from his and turned around, not facing him.

  "Yes?" I asked, fighting to keep my voice steady.

  "I saw you standing over here and decided to say hello..." he answered, trailing off.

  We both knew that he was lying.

  "Then say it," I said.

  "What?"

  "Hello?"

  "Oh," he said, letting out a sigh of relief. "Hello."

  "Now go away."

  "Lacey," he whined.

  I whipped around on him. "Don't you Lacey me! You were the one who sat there kissing some other girl while we were supposed to be on a date! If that's what you want to call it anymore," I hissed.

  He flinched. "I'm sorry, you never gave me a chance to explain..." he muttered.

  "Well I never-" I started.

  "Would you care to argue over a dance?" he asked, stopping me.

  I opened my mouth to decline when I faltered. I did want to dance....

  "Fine," I agreed.

  His eyes lit up as he led me into the flowing skirts of the dancers.

  A woman stepped up with the orchestra and the dancers stopped, and posed to dance. I bit my lip and put my hand into his and the other on his shoulder. His other hand he placed on my hip. I looked up at him, he didn't look as sad, but the pain was still present. Take care of Ben. He needs someone to support him. I remembered Lori's words and I smiled weakly at him. He smiled softly at me, which made my heart flip. The orchestra started to play once more and everyone started to move.

[A/N: Play song :A/N]

  We moved slowly, following the others as the flute played. I smiled at the choice of song. It was one of my favorites, though a lot of people would beg to differ, since it was from the "Titanic". That just made the song have so much more meaning.

  My feet glided over the floor with a grace that I would've never suspected came from me. Ben led me silently, as if not wanting to ruin the moment. His gaze burned into mine and I felt us being transported somewhere different as we became only aware of each other.

  Every night in my dreams,

  I see you, I feel you.

  That is how I know you go on.

  Far across the distance,

  And spaces between us.

  You have come to show you go on.

  Near, far, wher ever you are.

  I believe that the heart does,

  Go on.

  Once more you opened the door.

  And you're here in my heart

  And my heart will go on and on.

  "Hey, Lacey?" Ben asked, breaking the silence.

  "Hmmm?" I inquired.

  He paused, and looked away for a moment, then back at me. "I see you found you comb," he said quietly.

  "I didn't find it," I answered.

  "Then where did you get it?" he asked, looking at me strangely.

  "A woman named Lori gave it back to me."

  His face froze, surprise and more pain stretched across his face as he frowned. "Lori?"

  "Yes, Lori."

  "Did she have brown hair?"

  "Yes."

   "And brown eyes?"

  "Yes. Now that I think about it...." I trailed off as I realized something.

  Ben looked like Lori. The resemblance was almost uncanny now that I look closely. I frowned. Something wasn't connecting. I might as well shut up before I say something stupid. Lori was most likely to be Ben's mother, but there was something big that I didn't know. Nora was probably related, also. My brow furrowed as I thought about it. Ben looked at me.

  "That was my mother, she died about a year ago," he whispered.

  "Oh my," I whispered, also. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up, I'm so stupid. I-"

  "Stop. You didn't know," he interrupted.

  "But-"

  He swept me across the floor, causing me to stop talking. I raised an eyebrow and he smiled. I couldn't help but to smile back. My heart almost stopped beating as he leaned closer to me, causing our breaths to mingle. His eyes sparkled in the light and they intimidated the stars as my breath caught.

  "I'm sorry for the pain I caused you, Lacey. I truly am," he said. "I won't be angry if you never forgive me, but I need you to, for reasons that you probably can't understand."

  "I might understand if you tell me," I answered softly.

  "I can't. I'm sorry."

  I sighed. This isn't working out as I thought it would. I was hoping that I would yell at him and leave him in the middle of the dance floor alone. It was harder than it seemed, now that I was near him. He smelled of chocolate, and everyone knows I love chocolate.

  The song would come to an end soon, and I knew if I didn't leave, I would end up doing or saying something stupid. It always ends like that. I will forever be a klutz and a spaz and I will always ruin a moment. Especially special ones just like this. I felt my eyes tear up at the thought and I looked away, hoping Ben didn't see.

  "Lacey?" he asked, pulling my face up to his. He searched my eyes, looking for something, but stopped and tried to focus on the emotions on the outer surface.

  "I'm fine," I said, my voice cracking.

  He shook his head and brought his hand down. "You can tell me anything."

  "I know," I said, finally letting the tears run.

  He leaned in and stopped, just bringing his hand up to wipethe tear off of my cheek. I exhaled the breath I was holding. He looked at me sadly. I stepped back and he let me go and bowed. I curtsied and walked away, tears falling more rapidly now. I opened the door and was consumed again by darkness, not feeling my heart anymore, knowing it was in someone else's hands now.

[A/N: I'm sorry if the song doesn't correspond when you read. People read at different speeds, so please don't get mad at me after you read this. I'm also changing the title so I can mix up the dreams a little. If the title is already changed and you're just reading this, now you know. :A/N]