effortless

[This chapter marks the start of my ability to have my dreams feel like a movie. I am able to watch/feel anything from any person's point of view and everything is just centered around drama instead of dream logic or common dream weirdness or events. This is why I am able to watch Chris and Brad talk about me even though I am not present.]

Arriving at the Turtle Inn, it's nothing short of a tropical heaven. White sandy beaches, clear blue water. Except for myself and the occasional employee, there is no one else in sight, since I have made sure to reserve the entire place for myself.

The second full night I am there, I am enjoying a lobster dinner at sunset when I am approached by the Inn's manager, a man I have already met but have forgotten his name.

"is the meal to your liking?" He asks, making smalltalk.

"Oh yes, thank you." I say, smiling appreciatively. "Everything is lovely." I expect him to fall back and to leave now, but he still stands there uncomfortably, without saying a word.

"Is there something wrong? Am I doing something?" I am terrified at having offended anyone, and my mind races with things I could have done or said to warrant a special visit from the manager.

"Oh no, please excuse me for making you think that. It's just.." he hesitates, and stammers a bit. "I know you specifically rented out the entire inn but we have someone that is very insistent on wanting a villa, a very special guest that we do not like to say no to.." His voice trails off there and he coughs.

I nod, already knowing I should relent, as it's only the polite thing to do. Having been here only two days, I already feel so much better and at peace with myself, that I know I won't be minded by other guests. "I understand, please do not say no to this person on my account, I do not mind the added company like I once thought I would."

The manager brightens, clearing his throat once more before he briskly takes his leave. I am a little taken aback by everything, but clear my mind of any negative thoughts and go back to enjoying my dinner.

The next morning, I decide I want to pitch a tent on the north side of the island, a short walk away from the villas. I spend the entire day swimming in the ocean and running around in the sand and exploring. By sunset, I am in my tent, reading a book by halogen light.

Back at the Inn, Brad arrives. Since our introduction, he hasn't been able to get me off his mind. He cut the visit with Chris short, and after much sweet talking and trying to bribe the workers of various airlines figured out my destination and decided to follow me there.

As the bellhop helps him with his bags, Brad looks quizzically over the vacant landscape. "Isn't there another guest staying here?"

The bellhop nods and says "Yessir, at the villa number one, on the other end of the island."

After his dinner, Brad decides to take a "casual stroll" down the beach towards the villa where I am supposed to be staying, only of course to see me not there.

By now the sun is almost completely gone and it begins to rain, so Brad heads back the way he came.

Back in my tent, the wind is howling now and the rain is torrential. I am in a sleeping bag but wide awake due to the noise. Suddenly the tent collapses, rain getting everywhere and I shriek.

I grab my book and light, leaving the rest to the beach and start make the long run back to the inn.

I am soaked to the bone quickly, and I start laughing at the absurdity of my life. Staggering past the villas now, I don't even notice the extra villa with the light on, and continue to the other end to mine.

Brad sees me just as I make it to my door and I walk inside. He begins to sprint to my villa, overtaken by the need to see me.

I am still laughing as I close my door, running my fingers through my long hair trying to get the excess water off. I grab a beach towel lying on my bed and use that to dry myself as best I can.

Dropping the towel and before I can begin to undress and change clothes, Brad is at my door. As everything is transparent, I can tell it's him instantly and let him in.

"You followed me?" I stare at him incredulously.

Slightly out of breath from running and now as soaked as I am, he responds "I saw you running in the rain, are you okay??"

I laugh at his concern "Yeah of course, I was going to try staying in a tent on the shore but it capsized in the storm so I had to make a run for it." I pause for a moment and then ask "Are you okay?"

Brad smiles with a hint of embarrassment and replies "Yeah, I guess I just forgot to pack an umbrella."

I laugh loudly "Yeah, me too. But..what are you doing here?"

Brad runs a hand through his hair, embarrassed to tell the truth. "I didn't know how to deal with this."

"Deal with what?"

"The fact that I've fallen for you and I don't even know your name."

Wide-eyed, I am at a loss for words for a moment. I try to read Brad's face, and can see nothing but sincerity and I already know whatever I do, that this is going to end badly.

I step closer to him, both of our clothes dripping and let go of all the inhibitions I can muster. "My name...is Sera."

And suddenly we're kissing passionately, wet clothes are discarded and we are making love on the bed.

Post coitus, listening to the thunder and rain outside, my head resting on his chest, I can't help the next sentence that comes out of my mouth.

"Can I ask you something? Was I...okay?" I blush, unsure if he could tell I was a virgin before then.

I pull back from him now to watch his face and return to my own pillow and he smiles easily and says "Yes, you were great" and pulls my waist to be closer to him.

With a second thought, he replies "Wait..was I okay???"

I grin toothily at him "You were..amazing." and we begin kissing again, leading to more sex and finally sleep.

The clock reads 4am and I am wide awake in the dark. The storm has long passed and so has my reasoning to believe that a relationship between Brad and I could actually work. As quietly as possible, I get dressed and leave the villa.

Making plans with the manager, I leave on the first plane back to the States before Brad has even awoken.

Brad, after finding I have vanished, makes the flight back to LA, rushing to Chris' house unannounced.

When Chris opens the door Brad is frantic. "Where is she? SERA!?!?!?" He shouts past Chris into the house "Sera, are you here???"

Chris is shocked and tries his best to calm Brad down as he let's him into the house and Brad runs into the guest room I had previously stayed in seeing it still empty. "Has Sera said anything to you about where was going? I need to talk to her. I need to.."

Chris shakes his head "Brad, you need to calm down. Tell me what happened."

Brad sits down on the bed and tells him about following me to Belize, and admitting falling for me, and the amazing sex. "..but then I woke up and she was gone, man. Management said she had a family emergency and left and wouldn't give me any of her info or anything."

Chris tries to process all of this information "You slept with..?" unable to finish the sentence, he sits down next on the bed next to Brad.

"Yeah I mean, you know, you've slept with her. She's amazing."

Chris stares blankly at the floor "No X and I, we never..I mean we've kissed but that's.." Chris looks at Brad and Brad instantly feels like shit for saying anything.

"Oh man, I'm sorry. I just thought you know, that you and Sera had something. I'm sorry. But seriously, can I have her number? I can't leave things like that."

Chris feels like he's been punched in the stomach everytime Brad calls me Sera. He knows the pain Brad is in for and knows there's nothing he can do to stop it.

"Brad, I don't have her number. She's gone. The last time I will ever see her or talk to her is when you were over here."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I have no way of contacting her. No email, no phone, no name. Nothing. She's gone"

"But her name is Sera?"

Chris sighs and stands, trying to control his frustration. "No, her name isn't Sera. It's not X, or Lennox, or anything else she tells anyone. She's completely closed herself off from everyone, Brad. And there's no way for you to find her. She's a ghost. She's -gone-."

It finally starts sinking in for Brad as he tries to come to grips with everything that has happened.