Nightmares and Daydreams

A beautiful woman was watching him from across the Common Room, leaning back casually in one of the armchairs, her fingers twisting around each other as she uncrossed and recrossed her legs comfortably. His eyes were drawn to them irresistably, admiring their smooth, taut muscle tone. Her large brown eyes studied him carefully, drinking him in. His own blue eyes met hers, and for a second, it was like their gazes had melted into each other...
"Hi," she smiled.
He jumped. He hadn't been expecting her to speak. "Hi."
Her grin grew a little wider, and she straightened up, smoothing her black, tight skirt carefully. "How're you feeling?"
"Confused," he admitted, his eyes still drinking in her dark chocolate gaze.
She laughed, leaning forward and cocking her head. As she did so, her dark hair fell over her face, and Lee suddenly caught the sweet scent of strawberries. He caught his breath, shifting uncomfortably as he straightened up.
"Tell me," she said sweetly, tilting her head and watching him closely with those beautiful eyes. "Go on, you can be honest... do you think I'm pretty?"
He cleared his throat, immediately feeling himself go red. "I... I..."
"You can be honest," she replied, laughing softly. "She's not here."
"W-who?"
"Me."
The woman had disappeared, and Madeleine was standing in her place, her arms crossed and her face thunderous. "What the hell are you playing at, Lee? Who was she? Well?"
Lee felt himself stand up, but Madeleine was backing away from him now, her blue eyes like slits.
"Madeleine, I didn't do anything!" he cried pleadingly, completely flabberghasted now. "She was just there- this random girl. I don't know who she was. I really don't."
"Hmmph," Madeleine snorted, and it was like a slap to his face. "Right. Okay. If you say so."
"Madeleine, I love you," he reminded her imploringly. "I love you!"
She tilted her head, a perfect echo of the first, hauntingly beautiful woman, and he caught the scent of Madeleine's hair- that wonderfully familiar smell of limes. He moved forward carefully, his arms outstretched to her. She remained out of his reach tantalisingly, her lips pursed.
"Madeleine, I love you."
"Am I the only one for you?"
"Yes," he said weakly, pleased she understood him properly. "Yes. You are. Come on, Madeleine- you know there's nothing going on between me and Chloe."
Suddenly, she slapped him full across the face, and he slammed to the ground, flecks of blood clouding his vision.
"Say it again, Lee."
"I didn't mean to say that!" he protested, dragging himself upwards and dabbing frantically at his nose. "Madeleine! Madeleine- look at me!"
"Why'd you bring her up, Lee?" she demanded of him. "Why did you kiss her? Why did you look at that woman like that? Why did you kiss Will?"
"I didn't kiss Will!" he cried.
"You wanted to," she continued forcefully. "Pretty, isn't she?"
"What? No- I mean, yes- but not like you, Madeleine. Madeleine?"
She sighed, and wiped her hands, as though stripping his blood from her palms. Pretty red ribbons seemed to fall from her hands in place of his blood, and suddenly, the Common Room melted away around them, and Lee was stuck in a pool of blackness. Madeleine stood, watching him blankly, when suddenly, Lee saw the red ribbons twist themselves into Will- Chloe- the strange women and more.
It felt like every woman he'd ever looked at was there, all dressed in red and swarming around him; trapped in the crowd he called to Madeleine, but she didn't seem to see him. Stepping forward from the shadows behind her, the tall, handsome Levi was dressed up and down in sleek back. He offered her hand to Madeleine- and she took it. His lips brushed her smooth skin, and Lee felt his stomach wrench with jealousy and hatred.
"Lee."
"Hey, Lee."
"Look at me, Lee."
The women were pressing in on him on all sides, their voices rising and falling hysterically as they began to push and shove each other out of the way. His calls to Madeleine were lost over the hustle and bustle of the crowd- as their long painted nails clawed him, Lee struggled, but could do nothing.
"MADELEINE!" he called desperately, wrestling against the weight of the crowd pressing in on all sides. "MADELEINE! MADELEINE- LOOK AT ME!!"
She did- once, briefly- but just a glance. Then she shrugged and turned back to Levi, whose wicked hazel eyes gleamed as they drank her in. Dressing in black just like him, Madeleine stepped forward, until she was pressed right up against Levi- whose tongue was suddenly down her throat.
Hands were all over him- but all he could see and think about was Levi's hands as they traveled down Madeleine's body- the man's fingers were dancing up and down her like mad; tantalising him. Suddenly, the hands made a grab, and Madeleine's leg was hitched up around Levi's waist.
Leaning backwards together into the shadows, they were sinking out of sight now, and Lee was getting desperate. Suddenly, an almighty force hit him- and a terrible realisation.
He'd lost her again. Forever.
Suddenly, he couldn't take it, and he broke down in tears of anger and frustration. The strange woman from the Common Room was back, her arms pulling him despairingly closer to her chest.
"It's alright, Lee," she whispered, her voice low and husky. "You've still got us."
And her lips pressed against his.



With a yell, Lee sat up straight in his bed; shaking and in a cold sweat. It took him a few moments for the familiar, darkened Dorm to settle into focus around him, and even longer for him to realise that had only been a dream
Just a dream.
He breathed slowly and steadily, sliding back beneath the covers. It was strange- the dream had just been so vivid. He could almost still feel that woman's lips caressing his. And when he'd seen Madeleine and Levi...
Lee grimaced, rolling over in bed. Madeleine loved him, and he loved her. He knew that. Of course he did.
But there was always that chance- that horrible, horrible possibility- that one day, Madeleine's love for him would faded... and she'd move on.
Lee closed his eyes, knowing full well he wouldn't sleep again for the rest of the night.