Howie woke with a start. He was painfully aware of what had just happened. 'God...this hasn't happened since I was 13. But damn, the dream was so real. What am I going to do if I actually meet this girl?' He got up and went to the bathroom where he looked in the mirror at himself. He hadn't been sleeping well lately, plagued by a recurring dream but he wasn't upset by the dream. In fact, just the opposite. He was obsessed with the dream.
Later that day, Howie was with the guys at Kevin's house and he kept staring out at the ocean. Kevin noticed that he was distracted so he went over to talk to him.
"Hey, 'D'! Whaz up? You've been REALLY whacked lately."
Startled out of his daydream, Howie looked up at Kevin. "Oh, it's nothing. I just keep having this dream about this girl.."
AJ had overheard him and cracked, "It's good to know you don't dream about guys. I was beginning to get worried about you!"
Kevin laughed but saw that Howie wasn't amused and stopped short. He said, "Age....back off. This has Howie bothered."
"No...just the opposite. Kevin, this girl is SO real in my dreams. I mean....god...I haven't had dreams like this since I was 13."
AJ stifled a laugh and Kevin said, "Describe her."
Howie thought about the girl in his dream. "She's wearing this white sundress and she has shoulder-length brown hair that is kind of curly..."
"Like yours?"
"No, it's not THAT curly...anyway, she's got the most amazing blue eyes, like...I can't describe them. They are just amazing and she's got a killer tan, like she stays outside all the time."
"Sounds like an angel. Where can I meet this girl?" asked Nick as he sat down with the others. He had heard Howie's description and was curious.
"That's just it, Nick. I don't know where to meet her. I keep dreaming about her and I don't know where I've seen her or if I've EVER seen her for that matter."
"In your dreams, where do you usually see her?" asked Kevin.
"Shows...the beach...at the club."
"Places you normally go," pointed out AJ.
"Maybe she's just a combination of the women you've seen at all those places," suggested Kevin.
Howie knew his friends meant well but he couldn't shake it. He HAD to find this girl...this angel of his dreams.
****************************************************
Sarah drove through the neighborhood, searching the numbers, trying to locate Becca's house. Becca was her best friend and college roommate and now her saving grace. Sarah had married her high school sweetheart her junior year in college and now, after only three short years, had left him. The divorce would be final in six months but Sarah hadn't been able to stay in Fernandina where all his friends and family were. That's why, when Becca had offered, she had jumped on the chance to move to Orlando. She could start fresh and hopefully forget the painful memories.
Finally, she spotted the house and saw Becca out front cutting the grass. She pulled into the driveway and before getting out, put her shoulder-length brown hair into a ponytail. To herself, 'God...I hope I'm doing the right thing.'