Sweet Nightmares

I rub my forehead. Alright. I walk into my house bringing the candy bowl in while I'm at it. Grab the broom from beside the ice box and shut the smoke alarm off. The girls are all looking a little scared. I put the broom back and lean against the counter.

"Tell me what happened." I try to hide the tension in my voice.

"So remember when you said you got this place cheap?" Samantha pipes up.

"Yes? And?" I try my best to stay calm.

"And you know how randomly it would feel weird when getting changed or taking a bath?" She adds with a pause waiting for a response.

"Go on." I tell her.

"So like an old guy ghost was creeping on you, like all the time. Not okay! So we got rid of him!" The pink fairy chimes in.

"That explains the burning of incense." I look at the incense that was put out in the sink. I take a ragged breath setting my candied apple on the counter. "Are these three spending the night?" I gesture to the group while looking at Samantha.

"Would it be okay? They can wear my clothes. It's no biggy." Samantha says shyly.

"There's no way I can fit in your clothes!" The blue haired one said.

"I'm bigger than I look." Samantha looks down and grinds her sock covered foot on the wood floor.

"If not I have some old sweats and some shirts I don't wear no more. Have parents and guardians been notified?" I asked.

"We are on it!" They all start typing away on their arm translators/communicators they had stuffed in a pocket in their skirts. It's similar to a phone but uses mana and depending on the strength of mana determines how far the message will go.

"My mom is asking if you're thee Hazel of hell fire?" Asks the green haired fairy.

"Wait. Like the person the instructor talked about last month? The one with incredibly strong fire mana that's more like lava?" Asked the blue fairy.

"Yeah. I guess so?" The green haired one looks at me. Then they all look at me.

I sigh. I never have liked the nickname.

"Yes that is the nickname I was given." I fold my arms.

"No way." They say looking at Samantha.

"You have totes been living with a legend. Why have you not said anything?" The pink one asks. 

"Ummm. I didn't know?" Samantha says shyly.

"How!?" They all exclaimed.

The trio all start asking me and Samantha questions at once.

"Sit. Now." I point to the floor. They all get on their knees including Samantha. "Have guardians responded." I demand.

Their guardians responded they can spend the night. Along with their parents telling them to be on their best behavior for me and apologizing for their kids intruding.

"Good. Now starting with you. What is your name?" I start with the kid to my left.

"Purcila! Mage in training!" The pink haired one said with a peppy tune.

"Ginger." Said the one with green hair. "I'm a mage in training too."

"Bell. I'm also training to be a mage." The blue hair one added.

Wow mage's are popular this time around.

"Samantha. Hunter in training!" She puts her hands on her hips with pride.

Oh she tries so hard to be funny.

"Alright. Off to bed for all. I'm tired, don't wake me in the morning." I say.

"Unless it's an emergency!" Samantha added in.

"Yea that." I make my way to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth so I can sleep.

They all fit in Samantha's clothes and figured out sleeping arrangements on their own.

Aw man I didn't get to eat my candied apple. I run out to the kitchen counter and grab it to keep it safe in my room. 

I lay in bed twirling it. I am so happy. Til I drop the apple on my face. Yeow that smarted! I lay on my side and set the apple safely onto my nightstand. I drift to sleep while looking at it.

.............................................................................

I'm standing in a field of flowers and rolling hills with a forest way in the distance. Not far is a bubbling creek twisting and turning with the hills.

"Hazel?" Says James.

"Yes?" I twirl to look at him while he climbs the hill I'm ontop of. Letting my red sundress dance around me. He is carrying a picnic basket.

"This is a good spot to stop don't you think?" He asks.

"Yes I like the view." I skip to him and help set out the blanket. Then the sandwiches, thermos of tea, some cookies I don't remember baking and some fruit.

The conversation was light and fun. Mostly the fluff of life of how we have been feeling and doing. The random little side jobs Aba sent one of us on that most anyone could have done. How he liked my baking.

We never realized the sky getting dark but it more happened in an instant. We packed the basket and ran the way we came.

Now we are running though town. I'm dressed in my ears and tail, grey sweater and black leather pants. This. This isn't right. I look over and James outfit was changed too he is now in his fitted green long sleeve shirt and tan cargo pants.

Then the rain started to pour. He pulls me under and awning to the Cafe. He holds me close while he leans against the brick wall.

"Hazel. I have something to ask." He says turning us around so my back is to the wall. He steps back and gets down on one knee.

Sitting straight up in bed is when it hits me that was a dream. That was a dream right? I look over to the sun peeking through the black lacey cat curtains I had bought two weeks prior. The candied apple glistening in the sun. I look to my left hand just to make sure there was no ring. I slap my face a few times.

Ahhhh! So the flower field and town thing never happened. I flop back onto my bed.

Would that be considered a sweet dream or a nightmare? Maybe a sweet nightmare?