Imaginery Friend Romance Story thing! 8D

[ChristianKitsune]

Artists' Note:
I don't have a title for this yet, (any suggestions would be awesome!)

But yeah this is a side story I'm working on, when I'm not working on my Stick Monkey Chronicles Comic.


I will let you all know this is PURE FANTASY! It has nothing to do with Christ or against him. It's just for fun! I promise! I'm not going to go all wierd and grotesque or anything ^^; But this is just a fun fantasty romance story that I decided to try. I've never written romance before or even really fantasy...so I thought this would be a fun experiement.

So far, I only have chapter one completed...It's kinda long and I aplogogize for that, I do hope you will enjoy reading it though!

But for the sake of fairness, please don't steal my idea. I know you guys probably won't but I'm putting this out there.

whenever I finish Stick Monkey (in the far future XD) I'd like to continue to write comics, and I think I would love to draw this one next.

So yeah...

I hope you like it...and please read this with an open mind about Imaginary Friends... If you have any complaints please PM me. But I assure you, it's nothing more than a modern Fairy Tale. Okay?

Thanks so much everyone! ^_^

The story will be posted with multiple posts. So bear with me please.

If you feel like proofreading it, that would be great! XD I'm an editor for my college paper, but I'm not copy editor... XD I just edit the content that comes in.

EDIT: oh yeah! I'll probably post illustrations for this story in this space too ^_^

EDIT 2: Just so you guys know, this story begins when everyone is still young, just to show some background, but that's not where it stays. ^_^;

[ChristianKitsune]

Chapter One
History of the Imagined Friends and Smiles

The human imagination is something that is sometimes very unpredictable, and yet it has the capacity to create objects and ideas that are out of this world. Without imagination, many of the comforts of this life would have never been invented. Things like the plane, or the light bulb and even televisions and computers had to be thought up by someone. Then, after that thought, they were created through tests and experiments until they were finally introduced into this world.


Those who imagined these inventions, were probably laughed at by their peers, and were told they were crazy; after all, who would have thought that moving pictures could be seen in a box? Or who would have thought that man could actually fly? Yet these inventors proved that the human mind can create extraordinary things.


The ability to imagine has always been a part of the human existence; and unfortunately, despite it’s extreme potential it is often looked down upon by others. Even when imagination is sometimes all that some people have.

For example, when many children around the world reach a certain age, they realize the importance of companionship, sometimes they can meet children their age and friendships are born; and other times, be it because of distance, or lack of social skills, a child may not have developed the ability to make friends with other children. When this happens, they take matters into their own hands, and create their own friend. These friends have come to be known, simply as, “Imaginary Friends.â€

[ChristianKitsune]

“Silly! I’m you friend!â€

[ChristianKitsune]

Lindsey smiled at that comment, but just as suddenly as the smile appeared she frowned, as she thought about the answer to his question, “She seems to have made a friend, Elijah.â€

[ChristianKitsune]

Suddenly, as she stepped down her boot slipped on a piece of bark that had come loose. Time seemed to stand still as Rea fell backwards.

Edmund’s eyes widened as he watched it unfold. Their tiny hands suddenly separated and There Rea was, falling…closer and closer to the ground.

“EDMUND HELP ME!!” She cried out fearfully.

Without thinking, Edmund lept off of the branch and fell toward her. He outstretched his hand toward her. He wasn’t sure how he was getting closer to her, or why they suddenly seemed to be floating in air as they came closer and closer to the ground. But Rea was suddenly in his arms and they weren’t falling nearly as fast anymore. It took them almost an entire minute before their feet finally touched the ground.

Rea opened her eyes and looked up, Edmund was staring at her with fearful eyes, and he was breathing like he had just run a long distance marathon, but more than that, they seemed to come through the fall unscathed.

“Edmund? Did you just fly?” She asked.

Edmund blinked. “…I think I might have floated?” He asked. “Although, I’m not sure how that happened…” He said as he looked down.

The two children stared in silence at each other, both trying to replay the scene in their minds the events that just occurred.

Edmund’s eyes lit up and he looked at Rea. “I think I know the answer…” He said as the two had finally decided to walk back to the house.

“Yeah? What is it?” Rea asked as she crossed her arms behind her back and looked at him.

“You simply asked me to help you…” Edmund answered with a shrug. “My body just kinda acted on it’s own after that…” He said with a smile. “I told you, I’m your friend, so I like to help you.”

Rea blinked. “Wow! Really?” She said as she looked around she saw a little dandelion on the ground and smiled. “Can you get me that flower then?” She asked.

Without questioning, Edmund nodded and knelt down and picked it for her. He then handed it to her.

Rea smiled. “Hmmm, how about you go eat a thousand yucky carrots!”
Edmund stared at her. “Not on your life!” He said as he ran away from her.

“Heeeyyy! Edmund! Come back!” She said as she stamped her foot.

“I have to get home! My mom’s calling me for dinner.” He said as he turned and ran backwards. “I’ll be back tomorrow though! I promise!” His impish grin returned.

“Haha! Okay!” Rea said happily. “See ya tomorrow!”

Rea ran inside and dashed past her mother toward her bedroom. Once there, she grabbed a little vase that held a little daisy in it and placed the dandelion inside it. She then jumped back and looked at it.


“Today was so fun! I can’t wait to play with Edmund tomorrow!” She giggled as she sat on her knees and looked at the little weed.

~~~~

Edmund returned to his home and smiled as he entered his room. Years of training to be educated, kind and considerate to others, had prepared him for meeting his assigned friend. He knew his day would come when he would meet the person he was to spend the rest of his life watching over. It was standard practice to tell the friend that they had made them up. It wasn’t a lie entirely. But the friends that are thought up, already live in their own little world, waiting for the day that their friend creates them.

Today was just a test to see how well received he would be. He had been told that minute that his new friend smiled, that he had passed the exam. And Rea had smiled multiple times.

He took out a suitcase and placed a few mementoes in its contents and walked out of the room he called his since he was born.

“I’m leaving mother… I passed the test today.” He said trying to remain proud and strong, but feeling little tears well up in his eyes.

His mother, a tall lean woman with gentle features and hair as white as snow turned and looked at her son. Her face was young in appearance, around the age of 30 if she were a human. Her hair was simply white, because that’s how her little person had imagined her long ago.

She knelt down and hugged her son. She was very happy for him, occasionally some children never passed their test…and they were simply used as helpers. She was relieved that her son wouldn’t be just a helper. He was going to be a special friend to a little girl who needed him. Still, he was her son! Even though she knew this day was coming, she knew it would be a long time before she ever saw him again. She wiped a few tears from her eyes and smiled warmly.

“Your father and I are so very proud of you!” She said as she squeezed him tight. And then held his little face in her hands and kissed his forehead. “We knew you and that little girl would be great friends.”

Edmund smiled. “I think so too, she’s really weird though.” He stuck his tongue out and cringed. “But it’s probably just because she’s a girl.”

His mother laughed. “Before you go, I want you to have something.” She said as she turned and left the room for a moment. Edmund blinked and waited patiently.

After a few moments his mother returned with a medium sized violin case. It was black with little red stones adorning the top of the case.

“Your father said that he wanted you to take this with you.” She smiled. “To remember us, He told me to tell you that he wished he could be here to send you off, but he has a huge problem to deal with at work.” She sighed and held it out to him. “Learn how to use it, please, Edmund. You can play it for her.”

Edmund’s eyes widened. This was his father’s violin. How he loved to hear his father play it when he was just ready to go to sleep. He couldn’t believe that it was now his!

He held out his hands and braced himself for the heaviness of it.

“Thank you, mother,” he said as he looked it over with eyes full of wonder. “Father taught me a few notes.” He said proudly. “But I’ll definitely improve.”

He jumped suddenly as the clock struck the new hour. And he looked up at his mother.

“Edmund, You know I would love to spend another night talking with you, and instructing you, but it’s time for you to fulfill the future you have….” She wiped away a tear and sniffed. “You have been training for. It’s time for you to leave.” She said as she bit her lip.

Edmund felt his eyes begin to water as well. He sniffed and stood on his tip toes and hugged his mother around the neck. “I’m a big kid now mom! I can take care of myself!”

You’re only 8! In her world you couldn’t leave me for another eight or ten years! She thought to herself as she nodded with a smile. “You’re ready, Edmund.”

“I know, mother…I’ll see you again someday.” He said as he hoisted the violin case over his shoulder and turned toward the doorway. “I love you, and I love father as well.” He said as his foot touched the step that he had walked upon so many times before, but wouldn’t step on again for another several years.

Wherever Rea went, Edmund would follow silently. Even when she would no longer see him; he would always see her.

Chapter One End

[ChristianKitsune]

I decided to use this for Nanowrimo! (I'm only counting what I ADD not what I didn't)
EDIT NOTE: Elijah's name has been changed to Jason.
Thanks for reading!^_^

[SIZE="5"]Chapter 2
Play[/SIZE]

Rea hadn’t slept well the night before, thoughts of the things she and Edmund would do the next day kept her wide awake. Maybe they could go and explore the fields surrounding the house. There was lots of space to do anything they could imagine. She tossed and turned and waited for the sun to rise. It wasn’t quick enough and she found herself leaning against her window sill and looking up at the sky.

“Aw, come on Mr. Moon. You’ve been awake long enough! It’s time for the Sun to come out to play,” she pouted and she crossed her arms and rested her head on them. Before she realized it, she was asleep and dreaming of far-away lands and fun places. Edmund was there too, together they walked down roads that were made of peppermint, trees made of gumdrops and lollipops dotted the streets and buildings that smelled like cookies were everywhere.

It was truly a child’s dream world… until it all began to melt away and disappear. Rea found herself alone and scared in a pitch black world. The candy streets and trees were gone, and so was Edmund. She called out his name many times but no one answered. And then she began to fall.
Rea jolted awake as she was falling to the floor. She winced as she hit her shoulder. Tears started to well up in her eyes as she remembered why she wasn’t in her bed. She looked up at the window, which now sun light poured through, and remembered that she must have fallen asleep waiting for the sun to rise. She sniffed and stood wobbly, her legs were tingling. How long had she been sleeping there anyways? It must have been hours.

After she waited for the weird feeling in her legs to go away she rushed to meet her mother, who she could hear cooking in the kitchen.

“Mmm! It Smells yummy, Mummy!!” She giggled called out as she entered the kitchen. Lindsey turned and smiled at her. “Wanna help? Daddy’s going to be REALLY hungry when he comes in from feeding the animals.”

Rea’s eyes lit up and she seemed to dance toward the counter. She pushed a stool close to her mom and onto it awkwardly. “What can I do?” she asked eagerly.

“Well, first things first, what do all good chefs do before they cook?” Lindsey asked as she looked at Rea expectantly.

“Hmm…” Rea looked thoughtful and pressed one finger to her chin. “OH! Good chefs always, always wash their hands before they cook. If they don’t they could get other people sick.” She made face and reached as far as she could to turn the faucet on, but her fingers couldn’t quite reach. “Um…Mummy? Can I have some help?”

Lindsey smiled and twisted the creaky knobs on to a decent setting.
After Rea washed her hands she and her mother prepared a meal of biscuits and gravy with eggs on the side.

As Rea carried the plate of biscuits to the table something in the window caught her eye. She looked up and smiled. Edmund was jumping as high as he could and she could see his tan-sleeved arm waving at her. She looked at her mom who was still cooking the eggs and she slipped away.

“Good Morning!” Rea said as she leapt off the porch and hugged Edmund. “Did’ya sleep well?” she asked.

Edmund smiled sheepishly as Rea hugged him. “Um…kinda, I was too excited to sleep though.”

“Me too! But when I did go to sleep it was horrible! You and me, we were walking in a really pretty place! But… then you and all of the pretty things went away and…and I was all alone, and then I started falling and I bumped my elbow, see?” She lifted up her arm and showed him the light purple mark near her elbow.

Edmund winced, “Ouch! Does it hurt a lot?” He asked as he reached for it.

“Don’t touch it!” Rea hissed and twisted away.

Edmund looked hurt. “Oh… sorry it must hurt, huh?”


“Mmmhmm… Mummy said I should put some ice on it. She said it would feel better if I did.” Rea looked up and saw that Edmund looked really worried.

“Ah, sorry I yelled at you… It does really hurt though.” She sniffed.

Edmund was about to speak when something he saw caused him to stiffen.

“Um, Rea?” He said as he pointed to something behind her.

Rea stared at him. “Mm what?”

“Good morning, Rea! Did you sleep well last night?” Jason asked as he reached the front door and opened it.

Rea turned and looked at her father. “AH! Hi, Daddy!” She said as she ran to him and hugged him tightly.

“Why are you outside and not helping your mom?” He asked her. “I heard her calling your name, did you hear her?”

Rea looked back at Edmund and then back at her father. “Umm, sorry Daddy. I didn’t hear her…” she frowned.

“Well, it’s time to go eat so come on, okay?” he held his hand out for her and she grasped it. She turned and looked at Edmund. “I’ll bring you something to eat!” She mouthed. Edmund nodded and took a seat against the wall.

Edmund watched after her until she disappeared inside. He sighed as he sat on the porch step and rested his elbows on knees. “Rea’s dream sure sounded scary…” He said with a shiver. “I hope that never comes true…”

Rea sat at the table and kicked her feet under the table. She smiled happily as she watched her parents as they ate and talked. She finished her food in a few bites and took them to the sink.

“Mummy? I can I go and play with Edmund now?” She asked as she turned around with her hands behind her back, her wide smile still on her face.

Jason looked up and eyed Lindsey; he knew that whenever Rea talked about this Edmund friend she got anxious. He reached for her hand and smiled.

“Go ahead, Rea! Have fun, okay?” he squeezed Lindsey’s hand as she sighed and turned to watch her daughter. She smiled and nodded. “Your father said it was okay… don’t get lost!

Rea squealed excitedly and dashed out the door.

Lindsey got up quietly and started on the dishes, she didn’t notice Jason getting up as well. He wrapped his arms around her stomach and leaned in and whispered. “It’ll be fine. Rea’s young, I’m sure she’ll grow out of this. Just let her have her fun for now, alright?”

Lindsey sighed. “Is it normal Jason?” She asked worriedly. “I mean…should we be worried?”

Jason kissed her cheek. “She’s fine! I don’t think it’s anything we should be concerned about at least not yet.”

She turned as he let go and walked to the door and put his hat back on his head. “Relax, hon. I’ll be back for dinner!” He winked at her as he walked outside.

With a sigh she returned to her dishes. “I hope you’re right, Dear.” She whispered to herself. Her daughter’s laughter caused her to look up and look out the window. Rea was running backwards and skipping. She was definitely talking to someone who wasn’t visible.

“Come on Edmund!” She giggled. “I wanna show you something!”

Edmund followed after her eagerly. “I’m coming, Rea!” I hope it’s not another tree! He thought to himself as he caught up to her.

“What is it this time anyways?” he asked.

“It’s reeaaally neat!” Rea exclaimed. “I mean it’s like the neatest thing ever!”

“That doesn’t really answer my question, Rea…” Edmund pointed out.

“You’ll see! We’re almost there!”

[ChristianKitsune]

Edmund continued to run in silence his little legs were starting to feel a little tired…but she didn’t’ seem to want to stop. He wondered how much longer they would be running when Rea suddenly woke his thoughts when she cried out in the usual ringing voice, “Here we are!”

Her wide, excited green eyes looked at him. “What did I tell ya?!”She smiled.

Edmund looked around and saw the field that Rea had led them too. It looked like a gardener had grabbed a bunch of different seeds and just started throwing them randomly. There were wildflowers of many colors. He didn’t know the name for them, but he could definitely see why Rea brought him there. The wind picked up slightly and brushed the flowers and they seemed to dance in the direction they were blown. In the distance was a large fallen tree trunk and a few chipmunks were chasing each other over a piece of food. He let out a little laugh.

“Well? Do you like it?” She asked hopefully.

Edmund had to admit it was pretty here. It wasn’t like his home. His home was far, far prettier than this place. But he couldn’t deny there was something about this place that he liked too.

“Yeah, it’s really nice!” He said. “Do you see those chipmunks over there?” He asked as he pointed them out. “I was laughing at them! Aren’t they funny?”

Rea saw one of them tumble off the trunk and onto the ground. She giggled when it peeked its head up and looked around as if it had been taken by surprise.

“Mummy, Daddy and me come here when it’s nice outside. We bring food to eat and games. It’s a lot of fun!” She said. “We can play a game too if you want!” she said excitedly.

Edmund smiled, “Yah? What kind of games?”

“Weeelll. I like to play Hide and Don’t Peek a lot. Someone hides and the other person counts and they have to find one that hides. Wanna play?”

Edmund thought a moment. “But what if I can’t find you?”

“Then you yell “Oley-Oley-Oxen-Free!” REALLY loud and hopefully I’ll hear it and come running!

I’m telling you, it’s A LOT of fun!”

Edmund could see how much playing this game would make her happy. So he shrugged. “Okay!
Can I hide first!?”

Rea laughed. “Sure! I’ll go count as high as I can. And you go hide, okay?”

They broke apart then and Edmund looked for a decent hiding spot. He thought a moment as he scanned the area. He could still hear Rea counting as he ran toward a rock a few feet away. It was large and he thought the moss covering it could disguise it from her eyes. He jumped behind it and waited.

“Ready or not, I’m coming!” He heard Rea call. Edmund giggled to himself as he hugged his knees tightly. Yeah but my hiding space is really great! He thought.

To his surprise he heard her footsteps coming closer and closer. He froze as he heard her climb onto the rock. No way?

“Hah! I found you, Edmund!” she giggled as she laid across the rock and looked down at him with her hands in her cheeks.

“B-But? I thought this was a good spot…” He pouted a little. “You peeked!”

Rea giggled, “I didn’t! I’ve hidden here before when I play with Mummy and Daddy…This rock is a great hiding spot isn’t it?”

Edmund sighed and got up. “I guess it’s my turn to count…go hide! And you better make it a good one!”

“Mmkaay!” Rea exclaimed as she dashed away.

Edmund began to count silently to himself. He wondered if it was really because Rea had hidden there before, that she was able to find him so easily. Or was there some other reason? He shook his head and chided himself that was a silly thought wasn’t it? What other reason could there be?

Still, why was it that he could feel exactly where she was running now. Actually, it was more like he could see her. He wasn’t peeking, his eyes were shut tight. The image was cloudy…he could only make out a few colors. Yet he knew that she was huddled inside some sort of crevice…no it was a cave? And…he could also see she wasn’t alone. Something large was inside the cave… right behind her.

“REA!” Edmund exclaimed as he forced his eyes open and he ran toward her. “Wherever you’re hiding! MOVE!”

Rea blinked. He peeked, that cheater!” She stood to her feet awkwardly. “Edmund! You’re aren’t supposed to---“She stopped talking when she heard a low rumble from inside the cave. She turned back slowly and saw a row of sharp teeth snarling at her from within. The row of teeth was attached to a large furry cat’s face. It stalked closer to her as she started back away. A small whimper erupted from her throat.

“REA!” Edmund cried as he finally reached the cave. He was panting heavily as he watched the large cat ease closer to her every second. She was paralyzed with fear.

It only took a second before Edmund was in front of Rea his arms outspread. His expression was as fierce and determined as an eight-year old boy’s face could be. Tears of anger were streaming down his face. He couldn’t lose his friend now! He only just met her!

Rea stumbled backwards and looked up and watched Edmund. Her eyes were wide with fear and she couldn’t speak.

“Go away! Bad Kitty!” He shouted! He was surprised when the cat seemed to hear him. Even though he knew the cat probably couldn’t see him. Maybe it would hear him. He looked back at Rea. She looked so frightened. He leapt backwards and grabbed her by the arm. It was tight enough to wake her up, from her fear-induced hypnotic state of shock.

“Rea, you must get up. We need to get away from here…slowly.” He said as he dragged her to feet. She obeyed and they backed away.

The cat watched them with anger in its eyes. And Edmund stared right back. Hoping he could help Rea escape.

It wasn’t until the cat turned around with a frustrated yowl that he could fully relax. They were several hundred feet away now. And they turned and ran.

“That was REALLY scary!” Rea shouted as they reached the large rock from before. “I’m sorry! I didn’t know there were any large kitties around here…” She said with a whimper as she sat down beside it.

“You always get into this much trouble?” Edmund asked. He was sitting on top of it and he looked at her seriously.

“N-no…not really. Not until yesterday!” Rea said honestly.

Edmund’s mouth fell open.“So, is it my fault?”

Rea giggled. “Nah! I just haven’t had anyone to have any fun with since I met you! Mummy and Daddy are big people. So they keep me safe!”

Edmund sighed. “I want to keep you safe too, Rea.”

Rea looked up at him. “Really?” She asked.

“I’m not very big…but someday I will be! And… I think that friends should do that for each other, don’t you? We should help each other, protect each other.” Edmund was blushing now.

“Heehee! That does make sense, Edmund!” Rea agreed. “I want to protect you too!”

“So it’s a promise then?” Edmund jumped down and faced her with a smile

Rea stood and hugged him tightly. “Yah! It’s a promise! Of course!”

Time passed and soon it was time to return home. Rea and Edmund ran home happily. Both were a mess by the time they reached her house. Edmund had leaves stuck in his curly brown hair and Rea’s leggings and dressed were scuffed up from her fall.

[ChristianKitsune]

Lindsey saw her daughter’s outfit and her hands instantly were placed on her hips.

“REA! You’re pretty dress! It’s ruined! Where did you go?”

Rea had just finished saying goodnight to Edmund when she heard her mom’s voice.

“Uh-oh…” Edmund and Rea said in unison. She winced and turned and faced her mother.

“Uh, hi Mummy!” She said as she stuffed her hands behind her back.

Lindsey repeated herself. “Rea, where did you go?”

“Um… to the field with all the really pretty flowes! Mummy it was so much fun! There were chipmunks and Edmund and me played Hide and Don’t Peek! And there was this really big kitty cat and Edmund---“

“There was a what?!” Lindsey was still hung on the “big kitty cat” part.

“Yeah, Mummy it was HUUUGE and mean!” She made a growly face. “I was really scared! But Edmund calmed it down and we got away!” Rea smiled proudly.

Lindsey grabbed the chair and collapsed into it. “Oh…” She said as she covered her eyes with her hands.

“Mummy? Are you okay?” Rea asked as she walked up to her and put her hand on her.

“Rea, go change… and stay in your room for a while, I’m not happy that you didn’t’ tell me where you were going, or that you ruined your dress.”

“But Mummy!”

“REA! ROOM. NOW!” Her mother furiously pointed toward her room. And Rea whimpered.

“Y-Yes, Mummy.” She said as she turned and walked toward her room and shut the door.

She changed quickly into her pajamas and sat on her bed fighting back tears. “I didn’t mean
to…” She said to herself as she stuffed her face into a pillow.

“Pssstt! Rea!” She heard Edmund call out from outside. She perked up and ran to the window.

“Edmund?” She whispered. As she opened it and looked down.

“I brought something for you!” he said. “Can I come in?”

Rea looked back and saw that her door was still closed. “Sure!” She stepped back as Edmund jumped inside.

With him, he carried a case with a red jewel on it.

“What’s that?” She asked as she sat on her bed as he opened it.

“My dad gave it to me… It’s a violin!” He said with a smile.

“Ooh! You can play it?” She asked with a smile.

“Sorta! Wanna hear it?” He asked.

“Yes!” She said excitedly. She winced as she thought she was a little loud.

(nanowrimo start)

Edmund cleared his throat and opened the case. Inside was the violin that his father had begun to teach him to play before he left home. It was a beautifully crafted instrument, made with the finest instruments that his father could afford to have made. It was almost a family treasure and Edmund felt fortunate to have inherited it. His father had left him instructions to play it for his new friend. He had told him it would always bring a smile to the faces of those who listened.

The heaviness of the instrument seemed to tell the story of its years that it had spent in his father’s possession. It was a little big, a smaller violin would have been better for Edmund to play, but his father had told him that he would grow into it.

As a child, Edmund could remember sitting on the rug in front of the fireplace and watching his father perform for his mother. He watched his father’s movements, as well as the way his fingers played up and down the strings. He remembered how those moments seemed to hypnotize him, and it was like the only thing there was his father, and the music he created.

He smiled as he rested his chin where it was supposed to be on the violin and eyed Rea. She had been waiting patiently, and no doubt she could see the awed look on his face. She grinned at him.

“Well? Are you gonna show me what it sound like?” She asked.

“Yes, of course!” Edmund replied with a snort. “I just had to set it up first, you know?” He cleared his throat once more, suddenly embarrassed that he was going to play this in front of someone else. “Now, I only know a couple of songs…I’m not great. I’m still learning!”

“Oh, just play it! I won’t laugh!”

Edmund closed his eyes and ran the bow down the neck of the violin creating a high-pitched squeal. Rea winced and reflexively covered her ears.

His eyes caught that and he frowned, “Sorry, my hand slipped.”

“That’s okay! Can you try it again?” She asked. “I’m sure it’ll be better this time!”

He took a deep sigh and envisioned his father starting out his song. The song that he had heard so many times before, it was the song that his father had taught him. He should’ve been able to remember it. As he listened to the song in his head he raised the bow once again and placed it gently on the strings and began again.

Rea’s eyes widened as he played. He was entirely focused on the melody and how he was playing it. She watched his motions as he seemed to gracefully move his arms and shoulders. Occasionally, his head would bob up down and a couple of times, he had taken a few steps.

The melody was almost as graceful as Edmund’s movements. It flowed gently and Rea couldn’t help but lay down and close her eyes. The music was so lovely. As she listened, she envisioned other-worldly creatures like fairies and mermaids moving and dancing along with the music. Even the flowers in her vision seemed to move in time.

Edmund’s performance ended and he glanced up to see if Rea had liked it or not.

“Was that oka---“ he cut himself off when he saw that she had fallen asleep. Was he that bad?
He thought that he done his best! How could anyone fall asleep when he tried so hard! Tears began to well in his eyes. He quickly brushed them away and looked up. As he did so he saw something that calmed him down.

His performance hadn’t been as bad as he almost thought. There was no way...after all he had felt the music that he played. He knew he was at least close to the way his father played it. Yes, Rea had fallen asleep. She probably didn’t hear the last part of his melody. But there was no way that she hated it. Not when Rea was smiling in her sleep.

Quietly, Edmund tilted the violin up again and began playing softly. This was a lullaby that his father played for him.

“Good night, Rea!” Edmund said with a smile when he had finally finished. His arms were tired from playing so long. How did his father do it? Play for hours on end? He sighed as he rubbed his shoulders. He had already put the violin away and was read to jump out the window.

He had stopped when he heard Rea mumble something. He wasn’t sure what she had said and he wished he could wake her and ask. But she had a long day. Edmund sighed as he jumped down from her window and landed on his feet. He turned and looked up at it one more time that night before walking a few feet away from her house.

He had a long day too, and he was ready to rest for the next day. This time he wanted to show Rea something fun. And he hoped that he wouldn’t get her in trouble this time. Her mom had seemed really mad at her. He winced at the memory of her angry face.

With a yawn, Edmund snapped his fingers and a small, wooden cottage appeared in front of him. He opened the door and walked inside.

Edmund had always loved this trick. It was like a quick-shelter from the elements and an essential trick too.

He had never mastered making mansions like some of his friends had though. He never liked to be flamboyant and watching them waste their powers on huge buildings like that really bothered him. They only got a daily amount of their powers per day as children. Why not save it for a REAL emergency?

His cottage was always the same indoors and out. It was easier that way. He had a small bed by the window. To the right was a kitchen that was big enough for one person; although if Edmund really wanted to eat he could always conjure up a sandwich or something. The walls were almost bare except for a picture of his parents at their wedding. Maybe he and Rea could find things to hang on his walls tomorrow? A grin appeared on his face as he thought of tomorrow and the days to come. They had many years to play together didn’t they?

He stretched out on his bed as he imagined it. Imagined her smile, her laughter and how it made him happy too. He remembered how when he first got word that his friend was going to be a girl he had almost dreaded it. Girls were full of cooties and things like that…at least that’s what his buddy A.J had told him. But then again, A.J. was a bit of a trouble maker.

A.J. and he had been friends for as long as he could remember. He loved to dress in loose clothes with a weird style. No one dressed or acted like A.J at the prep school. Edmund remembered when he had gotten in trouble because of his friend. A.J. Didn’t like that they could only have a few minutes of recess. He wanted to stay outside longer than everyone else…but he didn’t want to do it alone. And he called Edmund a chicken wing if he didn’t stay with him.

He shook his head at the memory of their teacher grabbing them by the ears and pulling them back indoors.

But they had more fun play days than bad ones. They had gone fishing, swimming, they even played ball sometimes. It was a friendship that Edmund hoped he would never forget….even if things would never be the same again.

When A.J left a few months ago to find his friend, Ed began to hate how things were for his kind. Why did everyone have to leave so they could be friends with a complete stranger? The idea sounded weird to him at the time…how bizarre. He didn’t feel that way now. Now he was sure that if he had to be without Rea, for whatever reason…he would feel completely lost. He wondered if A.J felt that way about his friend. He wondered if his parents went through it. And if so, how did they ever leave theirs behind? How could they?

He rolled over on his side and closed his eyes. Whatever, it didn’t really matter now. He had only just met Rea, how fast could he loser her anyways? Hopefully never. He thought to himself as he drifted off to sleep.

[rocklobster]

Great story so far, CK! I've always wondered what would happen if we really met our imaginary friends.