The Dream World Series
Author S.J. Hitchcock
Dream
World: Book 1
I spot my mother’s car approaching me. I see her
wave, and smile as our eyes lock. Then as if in slow motion, the most horrific
scene plays out before my eyes. The van switches lanes once again, right into
my mother’s path. The look on her face as she steps on the brakes shows SHE HAS
REALISED it’s too late, the car ploughs into the van as such speed she had no
time to react. I watch in horror as my mother flies forward. I close my eyes,
and crumble to the floor, shielding my eyes, not wanting to see the scene
continue to play out. Hearing metal on metal as screams fill the air, it’s only
then I realise it is me who is screaming.
My name is Debbie Conway, I am thirteen years old
and FROM the day I witnessed my mother’s death I could think of little else. To
ease my pain, I spent more time in my dream world, in the arms of Joshua
Lawson, the guy from the poster above my bed, and staring in my favourite TV
show, Victor.
Meet my best friend,
Wendy, former best friend and school bully, Karen, and a boy who will confuse
my love for Joshua Lawson, Mark Hobson. A new student from America, WHOSE
accent alone sends shivers up and down my spine
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Amazon UK: http://getbook.at/Dreamworld1
Daydreaming:
Book 2:
My life has been turned
upside down since I WITNESSED my mother's death nine months ago. To ESCAPE the
reality of the accident, I would slip into my dream world to be with Joshua
Lawson, the star from my favourite T.V show, Victor. Then it all CHANGED, when
Mark Hobson joined our school.
Wendy, my best friend was sure he liked me, and
I liked him, but would we ever be in a relationship? I doubted it, when every
girl in the school DROOLED over him.
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Dream World: Book 1
Prologue
The accident
~ Debbie ~
Ten minutes, just ten more minutes that was all I would give my mother
before ringing home again.
Perched
on the edge of the wall, holding on tightly to the strap of my bag I watch the
passing traffic. A single droplet of water makes its way down my face, stopping
at my chin, before dripping onto my hands, staring briefly at it before turning
my attention back to the road. Searching for my mother’s green hatchback,
wishing I was buckled up in the car.
I sighed, wishing she would hurry up. My hair
dripping and the chill of the air causes me to shudder; regretting not drying
it as Wendy had suggested. She of course washed her hair after our swimming
session.
I had
been trying for days to talk to my mother about the changes to my body, or the
lack of them. Other girls were sprouting these enormous breasts. Where were
mine? It was enough to make me scream.
The road was busy because it was
Saturday and the market was on. Cars whizzed past, I watched them, praying my
mother would come alone, and that neither Greg nor Sally had tagged along. They
always wanted her attention. I rarely got time to speak to her alone. A double
decker passes; watching it until it disappears. I would have been home by now, if
I had been allowed to catch the bus.
Another bus passes by, a single decker
this time; the children at the back of the bus waved to me as I noticed the
number. If mum hadn’t of insisted on picking me up, it was the one I would have
caught. She had stood there, hands on her hips, blue eyes sparkling, telling me
you maybe thirteen, but you’re not old enough to ride a bus on your own.
She was not serious was she? It was a
waste of time arguing with her. Once she gave me that look, I had no choice in
the matter.
I couldn’t blame Wendy for leaving me
alone, since she had to go visit her grandparents. She had talked her parents
into allowing her to go swimming on the understanding that they would pick her
up afterwards. Of course, she agreed. My parents were the same, and since my
grandad died, we visited our nan every two weeks.
Steve
reminded me that we needed to visit her as often as we could, we had no idea
how long she would be with us. When my grandad died, I should have spent more
time with him. Steve was right about that. For a brother, he could be so sweet,
and often teased me about boys. There was only one boy who captured my heart. I
only had to hear his name, or see his face and would melt into a puddle on the
floor. Joshua Lawson, he was a
gorgeous talented young man. He may live in my dreams, but he was real to me.
Biting my
lip hard, pushing him out of my mind; I should be concentrating on watching for
Mums car. She was taking forever to get here, where was she? Come on Mum.
Four lanes
made up the one way system. It was a road I did not like crossing, as it was
one of the busiest. Some people did not know what a red light meant, and using
the zebra crossing, you did so at you own risk.
My backside
felt numb from the cold bricks, and standing seemed like the only way to get my
legs to stop shaking. I wrapped my arms around my body to keep warm, inhaling
the chlorine in my hair and the fumes from the cars. Wishing I had washed it.
Dropping my
bag to the pavement, between my feet, I wrung my hair again; the water drips
onto the concrete and creates wet droplets around my feet. Staring at them, as
my body shudders again. I am so cold, bored and ready to go home. She should be
here by now. Where are you Mum? I was searching for our
car, jumping from one foot to the other.
There is still no sign of
her. I sat down again, and shuffle on the cold brick
wall, wishing Wendy had not left me.
Five more minutes pass.
“Come on, Mum, “ I mutter to myself, craning my
neck to check down the road for her again. It’s not like mum to be this late. I
roll my eyes, chuckling to myself, as mum hates it when I do that.
More cars pass; one caught my eye, a blue van,
weaving across each lane, causing cars to honk their horns. I could not believe
the way he was driving. Watching until it turns left at the end of the road and
disappears from my view.
This is so unlike my mother, being this late, I am
debating whether or not to ring home, but that meant leaving the meeting point
and going back into the swimming pools entrance where the phone is. Deciding to
wait a little bit longer, I start counting red cars because I am bored. It is a
game my family often play on long journeys, but no fun on your own. This was
beyond the joke, where was she? Standing, people stare at me as I continue to
watch the traffic when I notice another blue van. Realising it’s the same the
blue van. It switches lanes again, and then again. The driver was all over the
place. Taking my eyes from the van, I spot my mother approaching. Seeing her
face light up as she spots me, she does not wav. I am more than ready to go
home now.
Then in slow motion the look of horror is etched on
her face. She looks from me back to the road as I noticed that the blue van has
switched lanes again. This time right into my mother’s path, she has no time to
react. I hear tyres squeal as my mother slams on her brakes, but there is
nothing she can do, and rear-ends the van. I can’t look; I don’t want to, I crumble
to the floor, my heart racing. Lying on the cold concrete floor, covering my
eyes with my hands, I curled up in a foetal position, hearing metal crunching
on metal, as screams fill the air. It is only then, I realise that it is me who
is screaming. I remain in a heap on the pavement and prise one eye
open, not wanting to see. It’s as if time has stood still; the sound
of sirens fills the air. I open my other
eye; watching people rush to the scene. I feel a hand
help me up asking me if I am okay, if I am
hurt. Shaking my head, staring at the two mangled vehicles, one
of which was my mother’s. This can’t be real. I’m
daydreaming.
As I watch the scene unfold not being able to find
but a whisper of a voice and gasping for breath. I stare at my mother as she is
slumped over the steering wheel. There is broken glass shattered everywhere on
the ground.
“Mum, Mum.”
Emergency vehicles approach the scene; the man
releases me; sobbing so hard my chest aches. I swallow
attempting to make my feet move forward; a police officer walks towards me, and
starts to talk, seeing her lips move, but not hearing the words that tumble
from them.
Watching the scene unfold as they pull my mother
from her car and lay her on a stretcher. The whole time the police officer was
speaking to me, I mumble that she’s my mum as I watch them cover her with a
sheet, screaming no. She can’t be dead, she can’t. They are wrong, they have to
help her, pulling away from the officer she holds me back.
I scream her name over
and over.
“She’s gone, love; she’s gone,” the police
officer says as she holds me to her,
and I sob uncontrollably.
Three days later, the death of my mother
does not feel real. A constant flash of the accident plays out in my
mind. It’s all my fault she’s
dead. I know it is, no matter what my family
tell me. I am to blame.
If I had not needed a lift home that day, my mother
would still be alive. Refusing to leave my room, hiding in my bed underneath
the covers. My eyes red from crying, my nails chewed. I should shower, but that
meant leaving the safety of my bed. I don’t want to see them, any of them.
Knowing they all blame me. I know that everyone blames me; maybe even wishing
that I had died instead. I blame myself for the accident.
I’ve not eaten since my father brought me home from
the hospital. I can’t eat. My mouth feels dry, my stomach rumbled, but I cannot
fill it. I do not deserve food.
Even my best friend, Wendy cannot entice me out of
my room. Did they not understand my mother was dead, nothing would be the same
again.
If I had ridden the bus home; she would
still be alive. Sally being so young to lose mum is lost. And I know that
Greg being only ten years old is not old enough to understand. What have I
done!
Angry does not come close to how I feel. Throwing
back my duvet and standing as fresh tears replace the old ones, and mingle with
snot. I wipe them on the arm of my pyjamas and storm across the room. I am
angry with myself, the driver, and at my mother.
As my anger explodes, I take it out on every poster
on my wall, destroying them in seconds.
Sitting among the debris of paper, crying as more
tears trickle down my reddened cheeks. It’s not Joshua’s fault, it’s mine.
Scooping the pieces up, laying them on the bed. The posters beyond repair, I
fall back on the bed with a fist full of Joshua Lawson. He is and always will
be my favourite character from the show on TV, Victor. I like down and look up
at the only poster of him, which survived, the one on my ceiling. His face
stares down at me, smiling I close my eyes.
Joshua take one-step towards me and pulls me into a
hug and whispers in my ear.
“It will be okay, I will be here for you, always.
It’s not your fault, remember that.”
Chapter 1
The funeral
~ Debbie ~
It had only been a week since my word crumbled. Of course, I was taking
the death of my mother hard. Witnessing something like that will do that to
you. I could care less how I looked and smelt. Wearing the same pyjamas all
week.
My shirt hung on the back of the door, taunting me. Everyone left me
alone, which suited me just fine. I did not want to see anyone. Not even my
best friend, Wendy. She tried so many times to entice me out of this room, to
take me away from my thoughts. She meant well, but if I wanted to stay in my
room and wallow, I would.
I did my best to avoid the family, believing they all blamed me. They
were right to. It was my fault. She’s dead because of me.
The bluetac on the wall, a constant reminder of where my cherished
posters once were, now they were ruined, gone. Just like my mother. I never
even had the chance to say goodbye to her. Closing my eyes, the accident
replayed in my head, tears streamed down my face, as I attempted to push it
out. Losing the battle, my body ached from crying so hard. The pain of losing
her would never leave me.
The driver of the van took her from me. I will never forgive him.
Trying to think happy thoughts and that meant Joshua. He always wore a
constant smile. Staring at him, wanting to know what made him so damn happy. Of
course, he was stuck in that pose. All he had to do was hold me in his
arms and the pain melted away. Loving him was so easy. I often imagined him
here in this room, with his arms wrapped around me. If I closed my eyes, I
could see him clearly. Run to him, throw myself in his arms and have him hold
me.
It was harder to imagine mum, without the accident appearing. Helping me
deal with my guilt and loss was the image of Joshua holding me; until the image
left.
Two knocks on my door, told me someone had finally come for me, but I
buried myself deeper in my cave, unable to stop the tears from flowing. The
voice asked if she could come in, I ignored the question, knowing my nan would
enter regardless.
Hearing her cross the room and sit beside me, she removed the duvet from
me and wiped the tears from my cheeks, which just made me cry more. I sat up
and wiped my tears along the arm of my pyjamas. I knew I looked a mess; my eyes
were red from crying.
“Debbie, honey,” my nan began, pulling me into a hug. “Come on, please.
You’ll make me cry again. Your mother would’ve hated that.”
“I…” I stuttered. Knowing she was right. Yet it did not stop them from
falling, dripping onto my pyjama leg and expanding into large wet droplets.
“I know, honey. I do.” My nan, Sophie took my hand. Tears in her eyes,
making my own continue to flow. “You know your mother loved you, right?”
Nodding, I knew she did. She told me all the time; now she never would
be able to again.
“Do you think she would have wanted you stuck in here all alone?”
I remained silent, trying my best to stop the tears from falling.
“Debbie, sweetheart, it will get better. When your grandad died, I went
to pieces. Your mother was my rock, she helped me through it.” She released me
from the hug, and stared at me. “I can still hear her telling me how he would
be cross for me sitting in the same clothes and crying for days.”
“Nan, it’s my fault,” I mumbled. “She’s dead because of me.”
“Oh honey,” she said, pulling me into her arms again. “It wasn’t your
fault. How can you even think that?”
“She was coming to pick me up and…”
“Oh honey, never think it was your fault.”
Tears spilled down onto my nan’s shoulder. I wished I could
believe her.
Twenty minutes later, my nan released me from the warmth and safety
of her embrace. She stood, and left me to dress. Wiping the tears from my
face, needing to shower, but was unsure if I had time. They could wait. Walking
to my bathroom, switching the shower on, I placed a hand under the running
water, checking the temperature.
I stood beneath the flowing water, washing away the guilt, hoping
it would disappear down the plughole with the dirty water. Rinsing
the last of the soap from my hair, I switched the shower off and wrapped a
large towel around my body. Hair wrapped in a second towel, I made my way back
into my room.
They were waiting for me, but I needed to dry my hair.
“Your hair was wet that day too.”
Joshua reminds me.
He was right, it was. I knew then, I could not leave until every last
strand was dry. The only way was to blow dry it.
Once dry, brushing my hair until it was as smooth as I could make it,
then putting it up in a ponytail. Dressing, I wanted to believe my nan, but
still it felt as it was my fault.
Buttoning my white silk blouse, I reached for the
door handle, opening it to find my father standing there on the
landing, red eyed. I flew into his arms; he held me and laid his chin on my
head. I felt his body heave as sobs came deep within him. How stupid had I
been, we were all hurting, I was not alone in this. We all lost her.
We arrived at the church. Family and friends occupied every seat. I sat
between my father and nan, sobbing silently throughout the
service. My nan squeezed my hand. I did not want to think of her body
in the coffin. When would this be over?
Yet, we could not leave, not until the guests had given their condolences to my
father, and the family. It was too much for me to bear. Steve slid across
the pew and placed his hand on mine. It reminded me once again how selfish I
had been. Laying my head on his shoulder, wondering who arranged everything.
After the funeral we walked to the wake, which was being held in the
back of a pub. Why? They never came here, did they? I had no idea, but still we
were here now, in this small room, filled with family and friends who had come
to pay their final respects to my mother.
They all ate, joked and talked about what a lovely kind person my mum
was. Yes she was all those things, the anger boiling up inside me with them and
myself.
Leaning on the wall, closing my eyes, unable to look at any of them. I
was sick of the looks of sympathy and the whispering. Opening my eyes,
listening to them, were they talking about me? I had to get away from
them; I’d had enough, pulling on my coat I made my way outside. The
cold air slapped me in the face, but not hard enough, I deserved the pain.
Taking two steps towards the busy road, not thinking.
“Debbie, don’t do it,” Joshua’s voice said, causing
me to stop.
Turning towards the pub, sighing, I should go back in, but could not.
Instead, deciding to go home.
The first droplet of rain hit my face, stinging. Even with the pain, I
did not care as my feet hit the tarmac with such a force my legs ached. Moving
forward, my eyes filled with tears as the rain belted around me, soaking me to
the skin. Somehow, I arrived in town; how I ended up there I had no idea.
Walking towards the site of the accident, my head pulled me back, but my feet
urged me forward. It was then I saw them, the flowers from so many people. Some
who knew her, many who did not, yet they cared enough to lay flowers. Crouching
down I read each message. One made my heart stop. Holding it in my trembling
fingers my teeth were on edge as I tore it to pieces.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” a female voice questioned me.
I stood, the pieces floating to the ground, landing in a muddy puddle,
the black ink, merging into one big mass as I spun around.
“Doing,” I spat.
“Yes. That’s disrespectful,” the woman began, staring at me. “A woman
died here a little under two weeks ago.”
“I know!” I said, through gritted teeth.
The woman studied me, her eyebrows raised.
“She was my mother,” I sobbed, turning and sitting beside the flowers.
“And he left her this…” I indicated to the remaining pieces of paper. “...saying
he was sorry.”
“He did?” the woman asked.
“Yes, he did. How dare he?” I said, pulling the heads of the flowers.
“Ah. Maybe he’s sorry. It was an accident after all.”
“An accident,” I bellowed. “He was drunk and swerved into her lane.”
“Yes, he was.” The woman nodded, placing her hand on my shoulder. “He
should not have been driving, but he is sorry.”
I looked up at her, and shrugged her hand off.
“You’re his mother aren’t you?”
The woman nodded, I saw tears in her eyes.
“Why was he driving?”
“I don’t know, but I do know this, his life is ruined too. He has to
live with the fact he killed your mother.”
I nodded again. “Yes he does, but…”
“It doesn’t excuse it, I know, and I’m ashamed of his behaviour, but he
will have to live with this for the rest of his life.” She paused and
sighed. “Some may say he was lucky for surviving, but he doesn’t think so, he
wishes he died too.”
“Me too.”
“You don’t think that really, do you?”
“Yes,” I snapped. I did. At least I thought I did. “No, I
don’t know what I think. All I know is he killed the most important person in
my life. You tell him that. Tell him he ruined my life too.”
The woman stood silent watching me, the rain still falling upon us.
“Debbie,” I heard my brother’s voice call.
I turned; he ran towards me. I saw the look of worry on his face and
suddenly felt ashamed for running off.
“There you are! Dad’s going crazy, because you disappeared.”
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t…” I mumbled as he held me.
“Take her home,” the woman said. “Tell your father my son is sorry, and
so am I.”
Steve led me towards his car.
“Was she?” he asked.
I nodded, as I climbed inside and buckled up.
Steve drove us home, where our immediate family now were.
Opening the door, my father pulled me inside and held me. He later
ranted about the worry I had caused. I apologised and excused myself, racing up
the stairs to the safety of my room. Throwing myself down on the bed, I closed
my eyes, seconds later; Joshua’s warm arms engulfed me.
“It’s going to be okay, Debbie, please don’t cry.
No more tears.” He wipes them away as I look up into those brown eyes and allow
a flicker of a smile to appear on my lips.
“I will try,” I promise him.
~ Mark ~
Loud music played, the band N & N stood centre stage, the crowd went
wild. I knew all the words to the songs, but never sang them. The crowds sang
along, knowing all the lyrics, thousands of them in unison. Turning from the
stage, I walked back to their dressing room, knocking shoulders
with my cousin. We stared into one another’s eyes, for a brief
moment.
“Sorry, Mark didn’t see you there,” he said.
“Of course you didn’t,” I muttered reaching my parent’s dressing room.
He may be my cousin, but how I wished he would go butter up his own parents.
●☆● ☆● Author Bio ●☆● ☆●
Sarah Hitchcock was born in Norfolk, in a small town
called Kings Lynn. She always was a keen reader, and one day decided to attempt
to write her own, and never looked back. Today she has many novels in various stages
of editing and re-writing and ideas for many new ones.
After finishing high school and then training to
work with children, Sarah started her first job. She currently works as a
pre-school teacher.
Sarah has four children, and three dogs, and a
partner who has to put up with her rambling on about all her WIP’s.
She recalls spending hours thinking about her
characters and their storylines. To this day, she often falls asleep thinking
about where she can take new and old characters.
●☆● ☆● Author links ●☆● ☆●
Website:
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