Stay With Me

I sat on the old wooden steps of my vacation beach house. It was small and blue with falling shingles that you would imagine an old married couple were to retire in, the quiet life. The back faced the ocean, raised up on wooden beams like a 4th place trophy, only 5 steps to the patio.

A gray blanket coated the sky making everything slow and sleepy but the waves roared and tumbled as if it was a teenage girls 16th birthday party. It was so peaceful. Surprisingly there were still people roaming the wet sandy beach strip despite the wind and drizzle. With my elbows on my knees and my thoughts in the clouds, I watched couples walk by.

A group of people in the distance caught my eye. It was a group of young people in their prime, about my age or mid 20s or so. I watched them come closer to my house, laughing. They looked like they were having a good time. I saw what I counted 5 guys and about 9 girls, I couldn’t really count them. All the girls looked the same with fake blond hair, tan skin, tall, beautiful. The men were different. They looked like rock stars and most likely were, here in California, full of Tattoos, black spiky hair, dark clothing, some leather here and there. Yes, they were most likely rock stars. Being at their age, with beautiful girls surrounding them in California. It seemed like the only option. I watched them closer.

Soon the group was directly in front of my beach house. I remained still, lost in thought. The tallest man looked at me and smiled. He waved. A little stunned I waved awkwardly back a little unsure. Why in the world would he wave at me when he's surrounded by all those models?
The man stopped and said something to his friends. Did he point at me? Oh God what were they saying? He started towards me. I shifted uneasily fighting the urge to run inside my little blue house and hide not from the man but from my social awkwardness. He was cute.

“Hiya,” He greeted me with a little wave of his hand and leaned on the wooden raining.
“Hello,” I waved back trying to be as normal as possible. Treat people like friends not bears I remember my friend from North Carolina words of wisdom she gave me before I left for a long needed vacation. I smiled.

“My names Jimmy,” He said. Oh wow. He had a speech impediment when he talked. Majorly cute I thought silently. He was tall and well built. Tattoos of monsters and creatures painted his skin around his arms and neck. His hair was black and spiking in the back but smoothed out to bangs that framed his face. Normaly I was not attracted to this genre of men but he got to me, I detected butterflies starting to flutter in me.

“Jessica, but you can call me Jessie,” I smiled and tried to think of things to say.
“Do you want to sit?” I motioned to the wooden steps. Stupid! He doesn’t want to sit on some old sandy steps, but he did sit down.
“Yea, thanks,” His eyes were blue like mine, but more icy. He had a piercing below his lip. I know him from somewhere. He was definitely in a band I knew but which one? I knew tons of bands.

“So what are you doing out here on the beach in the rain?” I asked. I felt nosy.
“Ah, I like the rain and the beach so its a perfect combination. Those chicks wouldn’t stop complaining though, god damn. Its cold, its wet, its sandy. Of course it is, it’s the beach,” He made a high pitched mock voice which made me giggle. I tried to breath. What was wrong with me?

I saw a huge gray wave crash down in the distance.
“What about you? Is this your house? Its real nice,” I looked at Jimmy. He was staring at the waves too but his smile was there. I knew I had seen him somewhere. I was having a frustrating time trying to remember where he was from. I knew who he was, I just couldn’t remember.

“Well its not really mine. I'm renting it for all of June and July. Vacation kind of. I live in North Carolina,”

“You're a long way from home,” He chuckled.
“Yea I think I'm going to move here though, I like it here,”
“It is, it is. What is it you need a vacation from if you don’t mind me asking,” Jimmy looked at me. His face was soft and kind. If it was possible to look though and kind at the same time, this guy was doing it perfectly.

“Well there's just not that many opportunities I want there. In other words, its boring,” I smiled at myself and shrugged. “I came here to do something I guess,”

“That's probably the best reason I've ever heard to do anything,” I nodded. Should I ask him what he does for a living? Maybe then I will know where I've seen him from.

“Do you want to walk with me?” I panicked suddenly. He wants me to walk with him? Why? Why didn't he keep walking with his friends? What is going on here, am I dreaming? I tried not to stammer.

“Sure,” Jimmy stood up and held out his hand and nervously, I took it. What was I doing?
“Ill try to make our walk fun,” Jimmy smirked and helped me up. Was this flirting? I could never tell. I dismissed the thought of grabbing my bag.

Our walk was troubled with small talk at first. We talked more about where I was from then this place. Jimmy told me all the cool places I should check out while I was here and all the things I should do. He was a very swift talker and always had something to say. It could be charming, funny, or smart. Even with my shyness he somehow got me to talk. Who was this dude. I was close to coming to the inclusion this was an overly realistic dream.

After a while Jimmy suggested we walk into town and he'd show me around some. I thought this guy was cool so why not. I had nothing at all planed. I expected myself to sleep my entire vacation because I was a lazy bum most of the time.

The town was well sized with a main street with some shops. It was of course all beach themed. Jimmy was walking up the the clothing store windows and mimicking the manikins that stood in display. It looked more funky than normal because Jimmy was a tall guy who looked all rough and tough but striking feminine poses. He was making me laugh more than I would like to admit. I tried to hide it to try to not look like a freak.

It felt nice, just going around doing random spur of the moment kind of things with someone I had just met that morning. I felt like I was actually having a good time. I was doing something with a person who was enjoyable who seemed to also enjoy my being too. Socializing. Living. Doing something different from my normal self.

Before I knew It I was joking with Jimmy like he was a long lost friend and he was actually laughing. I was making this cute man.. laugh. I felt accomplished.

The sun was starting to set and I found myself surprised. I made it through the day out and about with a new friend. He wasn't the typical friend you meet anywhere since I was fairly certain he was famous and he seemed to have a more joyful and loving atmosphere. I saw some people eyeing us as we walked down the street laughing at stupid things and stories but I ignored without worry because I was having fun. It wasn’t like they walked up to me to say hi anyways.

Jimmy said he would walk me home.

“Didn't I say I would make our little stroll fun?” The black haired man said as we approached my rented front door.
“Yeah, but little stroll?” I laughed. “Thank you. It was fun, the most fun I've had so far anyways,” Jimmy smiled and looked down for a moment.

“Me too. Do you want to do it again tomorrow?” I stared in surprise but a big smile cured onto my lips. I did want. I did want to spend the afternoon with him again. Maybe I would get to meet his friends I saw him walking with earlier today.

“Yeah. Id love to,” Jimmy jumped a little.
“Great! Okay, so like I'll come around maybe 1, is that okay?” I nodded happily.
“I already know where you live because I'm a stalker, and here is my phone number,” I shook my head and put his number in my phone.

“You are a stalker. You made those poor people out by the fountain so uncomfortable I'm surprised they didn't all the cops,” We both laughed at the memory of Jimmy staring at a young couple at the town water fountain. He stared at them creepily until the boy of the couple confronted them and asked him to stop. Jimmy said he had no idea what he was talking about but as soon as he left, Jimmy did it again until the couple got fed up and left the fountain. Me in Jimmy died laughing for a while.

“Thanks again,” I said before I went inside for the night. Jimmy waved.
“See you tomorrow,” We both said before I closed the door. When It was shut I resisted the urge to open it and invite him for just moments longer. I really enjoyed his company, he was unrealistically nice and funny. It must of been a dream but it was too real. For a while I did not know what to think. I plopped into my house's couch, and stared out the window at the gray ocean.

I did find out he was in a band, but not which one. It was like he kind of avoided the subject, like he didn't want to talk about it so I didn't ask. But it bothered me deeply when I knew something but could not remember it. I did get a hint that he was possibly a drummer. Just small things like rhythmic tapping of his hands and feet, interest in the displayed drum set at the music store, and of course the mad solo he had with two sticks he found on the side of the road that he played on a trashcan until they snapped in his hands. I said that was amazing and we just continued on our way, Jimmy smiling big and proud. I did not mention that I too, played the drums because I decided it was not worth mentioning since I wasn't any good.

As I remembered my drum set, I remembered I missed playing. I brought my practice pad and sticks but it wasn't really the same as on the kit. I was not in a band but played with some friends back in North Carolina sometimes but a lot of the time, I had to work. My dream of making music was there, but not encouraged by anyone so I left the dream, a dream.

I had so many questions I wanted to ask Jimmy but I didn't want to creep him out by being overly nosy. I fell asleep on the couch thinking about anything and everything.

I was dreaming. I always knew when I was dreaming because things didn't feel real. Things didn't add up when you look at them. Nightmares are different. I do not call nightmares and dreams the same thing because they are not. In a dream you are not afraid, you are in another place where it is your own world, your own peace. A Nightmare a place of fear and omens where your mind tell you of the bad things it sees in the past, future and present. I believed all nightmares had a purpose, a hidden message, a warning, to enlighten you on things you don't want to believe are real. It may be little things but you know when you are in a nightmare. You may just be uncomfortable, in a place you don't like, you may realize you are not in control, then the nightmare reveals its show of warnings and fears.

Then I knew I wasn't dreaming. It was a nightmare and I could feel it. I had no control all of the sudden. My movements, emotions, words were all lost to the other part of me. I was suddenly put into a spiral sadness and depression. My chest felt heavy like I had no more breath to give and my face was dampened with tears.

I was in my little beach house sitting on the couch. Someone was beside me and they radiated warmth and happiness, but it was fading, just like everything around me. The light, the blue walls, the windows, the couch, the person and their warmth, and lastly me. I disappeared into a black void. There was nothing and I was alone. No light, no air, nothing but my own conscious being. Some faintly familiar smell come to mind. Something sanitary like a hospital, that sterile kind of smell. Then it was gone.

There was a doorbell. Why was there a doorbell? What kind of dream was this? My eyes shot open. It wasn't a dream. My doorbell had rang and I was in bed. I snapped my head over to my clock. 1:12. That must be Jimmy! I jumped out of bed and looked around in panic. I wasn't dressed, my hair was a mess! Oh he will think I'm lazy and gross and... I went to the door not able to keep the man waiting any longer. I wiped my face of my night tears and opened the door.

Jimmy smiled and looked me up n down. He leaned on the doorway.
“You look ready as ever! Lets go!” I laughed nervously and sniffled on accident. He immediately looked concerned.
“Whats wrong?” He didn't need to know about my nightmares. He'd just think I'm a psychopath. I smiled like I always do.
“Nothing. I'm not ready, I kind of forgot and slept in late, I'm really sorry. If you still want to go, It'll just take me like 5 minutes to get ready,” Jimmy looked at me unsure, but he nodded his head. I stepped aside and let and he came in and looked around, then at me. He looks like a giant in this little house, his head not too far away from the ceiling. I stood insecurely with my arms crossed over my chest and I pulled my shorts down a little to be more lengthy. Jimmy took a step towards me as I wiped my face again. Our hights were so different, I looked like a midget standing next to him.

“Are you sure you're all right? Do I need to kill someone? Ya' know you can tell me,” He smiled at me sweetly. I blushed slightly and felt like a fool. The people back at home either tell me to suck it up, or go behind my back and talk about me, so it was a nice dose of care.
I shook my head hurriedly walked to my little room. “Five minutes, I swear!” I called as I closed the door. I heard him laugh.

“Every woman says that! I bet you I'll be waiting here for an hour!” I heard him call through the door. But he was wrong. Quickly I changed into some clean clothes and simultaneously brushed out my bond hair. Then I rushed to the bathroom and brushed my teeth while just adding a little mascara, then I was done and ready to go. I hopped out of my room on one food, applying my converse on the other. I was greeted with a smug look from Jimmy. He pointed at the kitchen stove.
“Six minutes to be exact,” I brought my palm to my forehead.
“Well it wasn’t an hour,” We laughed and went out the door ready for another fun day.

Notes