Free True Fate by Shayna Varadeaux Page A

was playing from the MP3 dock.

 
    "Whew! Just a dream!" she whispered,
noting the song that was playing and laughing to herself at the oddity of it.

 
    She took her time getting out of bed careful not to
disturb Rhea. Going over to the dresser she grabbed some clothes and as she
reached for the drawer she stopped short stifling a scream.

 
    On her left wrist was the bracelet that Eric had
given her in her dream.

 
    Her knees gave out and she stumbled to the edge of
the bed and rubbed her eyes.

 
    She could feel the hum between the bracelet and her
tattoo like she could feel the plush carpet beneath her bare feet. Nia looked
at the time and saw it was six forty seven in the morning. If she didn't get
showered and ready to go she'd be late for her day with Aaron. Shaking herself
deciding she would deal with the bracelet later, she figured she had better get
moving.

 
    Nia gathered her things and went into the
bathroom taking her phone and setting it on the counter. She was pretty freaked
out about the bracelet being real and what that meant and she didn't have time
to tell Rhea all about it.
    Nia promised to make time to tell her soon. Showering
quickly she got dressed and snuck to the front door as quietly as possible.
Rhea would just have to forgive her.

 
    'Crap!' She
had never gotten his address! She would make her way to Starbucks to get her
morning fix, she'd handle directions after that.

 
    Clicking the door shut softly she locked up with
her spare key and noticed a text that had come during her shower. It was Aaron
with the address, gate code and an apology for forgetting to give it to her
before. Also reminding her that he wasn't used to getting picked up.

 
    ‘Perfect!’ Nia laughed at the last part and replied quickly with a Thank you and see
you soon. Well that takes care of that she glanced at her phone and it read
seven thirty five. She had plenty of time to spare. She double checked Rhea's
door and walked groggily to her car.

 
    "Let the fun begin. I hope."

 
     
     
    Chapter 4

 
    Aaron woke up startled, his heart pounding. He got
up and went to splash water on his face. He had never dreamed so vividly
before. He reached for the faucet and froze staring at his wrists.

 
    "What in the hell?" He examined the
beautiful new and completely healed, marks.

 
    'It was just a dream, wasn't it?' He thought to himself.

 
    This didn't make any sense. He splashed cold water
on his face, slapped his cheeks and looked again.

 
    "Yup! Still there." he said looking at
them closer rubbing a hand over the marks trying to see if it would smudge. But
it didn't. "Oh man!" he said to no one.

 
    The buzzing alarm was going off when he came back
from the bathroom signaling that it was seven. This was going to be a long hour
and a half. He quickly sent the text with his address and an apology for
forgetting to send it yesterday. He took his shower, got dressed and waited.

 
    It was seven thirty four a.m. now and he was
anxious for eight thirty to roll around, that was when she said she'd be there.
He also gave her the gate code, thinking she might as well see the place now.
He got a short reply, a simple "Thank you. See you soon.” he smiled and
went to the living room and sat in his recliner and drifted back to sleep…

 
    Nia mapped the directions and it really wasn't
that far so she sat in Starbuck's and drank her coffee. She had breakfast
worked out and had loads of ideas for the rest of the day but was still wary of
the lack of a solid plan.

 
    ‘Oh
well here we go.’ She finished up and was on her way in no time. She
pulled into his parking garage and checked the time. Seven fifty-five. She
sighed.

 
    "Well I could wait here.” she said to no
one.

 
    She turned on the radio and flipped through the
stations.She turned if off after realizing it was too early for good
music, it's all just annoying morning shows. Blek! She had to pee after that
Venti so she did the