Part 11
Isabel pulled back the bed covers and slipped between the cool sheets with a long sigh as her muscles protested over the run she had taken around town today. A few months ago, she would have been able to just swipe her hand over her aching body and the pain would disappear, but now it was not even an option. Alex currently had her powers leaving her to suffer like any other human on this earth.
Isabel blinked back the tears as she starred up at the ceiling.
It had been over 2 months and still not a word from Alex. So Isabel had decided that, instead of staying home pining for him, she’d immerse herself into the holiday festivities to get through. But at night, when she was alone and in the quiet of her room, Isabel would find herself, as she was now, near tears and wondering if he was thinking of her as she was thinking of him.
There had been too many sleepless nights because of her relentless thoughts and so Isabel had begun to run every other day looking for a way to clear her head and tire her body out so that she could fall into a deep slumber. Even with the draw back of the aches and pains that she experience, Isabel found that she was enjoying the exercise.
Today had been one of those days that she had pushed herself to the max and so, with one more glance up at the ceiling and a quiet whispered “Come home, Alex”, she turned over on to her side, closed her eyes to find that blissful slumber that she craved….
Isabel found herself walking through the park, admiring all the work she had done for the pageant. Decorations were in abundance and lights twinkled from every tree giving the night around her a romantic glow. She was overly satisfied with the whole project and so she walked around taking it all in.
Hearing running foot steps behind her, Isabel spun around to find a tall shadowy figure coming quickly toward her from the dark park on the outskirts of the lights. She readied herself for defense even as her heart raced in fear.
“Isabel!” the voice yelled out and her eyes widened.
“Alex!” she returned the call and a few seconds later his tall lanky form appeared in the clearing and the lights finally revealed him as he continued to run.
Isabel was unable to move from her spot as he closed the distance between them only to stop in front of her, and drop the duffel bag, that he had slung over one arm, to the ground at their feet. She suddenly felt like one of those girls whose boyfriends had come back from the war and her body shivered with anticipation as his green eyes looked at her with desire. He was going to kiss her and she had a feeling it would take her breath away.
Alex’s arms came around her waist, pulling her against him and she found that her own arms were slipping around his neck. They were only inches away, so close that she could feel his hot breath across her lips causing Isabel to shut her eyes in anticipation of the kiss she longed for.
“Excuse me.” a voice interrupted from behind causing her eyes to pop open in confusion.
This wasn’t the way the dream usually went. Alex was suppose to kiss her senseless and then apologize profusely for leaving her. Never had anything ever interrupted this moment and she could fill the anger rise up inside her at the fact that it had been ruined.
“Go away” she mumbled hoping whoever it was would leave and she could return to the best part of her dream.
“Do you really want me to do that?” the voice said again and Isabel realized that it sounded familiar.
Dropping her arms from around Alex, she turned to give whoever had invaded her fantasy an earful. Isabel’s jaw dropped in shock at finding another version of Alex standing there with a huge smile on his face.
Isabel looked back behind her to see that the Alex she had been about to kiss was still standing there with the exact same smile on his face and gazing at her with love in his eyes. She noticed that he was wearing the same outfit that she had been picturing him wearing in Sweden during the winter months. The cable knit sweater was soft but thick and in a color of green that brought out his eyes causing her pulse to quicken at the sight of him.
Turning back to the intruder she frowned. He was wearing baggy pants and a button up short sleeved shirt that she had seen him wear many times to school. It was definitely not an outfit that she had imagined him in her dreams, but it was something he wore.
“Isabel?” he questioned after a moment as she took in the difference of the two dream Alex’s.
“Okay, just play along.” She said mumbled to herself with a shake of her head as she wondered what this said about her subconscious. “Hello, Alex”
He stepped forward with a grin as she acknowledged him, “So is this what you think of me?” he motioned to the Alex still standing behind her.
Isabel frowned again, “What do you mean”
Alex glanced around at their surroundings and nodded in approval, “This is nice. I think it almost beats my dream dance with you in the gym.”
She looked at him in confusion as she realized something wasn’t right here. Never before had Alex talked this much in a dream besides apologize and kiss her senseless. What was going on?
“I think you can go now…I don’t need the competition” the newly arrived Alex said as he waved his hand in the vicinity of the one, causing him to vanish, “I was hoping that would work.”
Isabel turned and looked at him in wonder as he smiled down at her. He was using her powers!
“Alex?”
He nodded and stepped forward opening his arms to wrap around her as the other dream Alex had done just moments before, “Yeah, it’s me. I’m dream-walking you.”
“Your what!?” She stepped back from him as she realized that he was the real Alex and not another figment of her dream.
Alex stuffed his hands into his jean pockets and looked at her with hurt in his eyes that she had moved away from him, “I thought this would be the best way to talk to you.”
“Umm…Hello Alex? Haven’t you heard of email or this little invention called the telephone? Why haven’t you used either one?” She asked her voice strained with anger, “It has been over 2 months and nothing. Not even a goodbye”
“I’m sorry, Isabel.” He said pulling a hand from his pocket and slipping it through his hair, “I couldn’t call you or have any contact with you.”
“Couldn’t?” she focused on that one word, “What do you mean ‘couldn’t’, Alex? What is going on?”
He sighed and shook his head, “We do need to talk, but not now. I don’t know how long I can stay and there is just too much to tell you.”
Isabel stepped forward with worry needing to be near him even when she was frustrated with him, “When can we talk, then? When are you coming home, Alex?”
Alex looked up and smiled again and she had to catch her breath at the sight, “Tomorrow. I am coming home tomorrow.”
“When? What time?” She wanted to be the first thing he saw when he landed, “I’ll pick you up at the airport.”
Alex shook his head and she could see that what ever he was about to say was painful to him, “You can’t, Isabel. It’s complicated.”
“How is it complicated, Alex?” she was tired of this conversation and just wanted answers.
“Look, meet me at the pod chamber Wednesday night at 9:30 and we will talk.”
“If you are coming home tomorrow…why can’t I see you then?”
Alex sighed in frustration, “Just trust me, Isabel. I will tell you everything. Until then we can’t see or talk to each other.”
“What about school? You will be there. Can’t we just talk then?” she pleaded “It doesn’t have to be about whatever big secret you have. I just need to see you, Alex.” A tear appeared in her eye, “I have missed you so much.”
Alex stepped forward and lifted a hand to cup her cheek tenderly, “I’ve missed you, too.”
Her heart was in her throat as she leaned forward and pressed her lips gently to his. Even though she knew that this was just a dream, and he wasn’t truly there, Isabel could swear that she felt the kiss all the way down to her toes. Alex then deepened the kiss, as his tongue dipped between her lips and all thoughts vanished from her mind.
A few moments later, Alex pulled away with a groan and pressed his lips to her ear as he held her close, ”I need to go, Isabel.”
“No” she murmured and held him closer not wanting him to leave, “Don’t go.”
“I have to.” he whispered, “There is something I need to finish before I come back. It’s only one more day, Isabel.”
“What do I do if I see you before Wednesday night?” she questioned as she pulled back to look at him.
“Just treat me like you did a year ago.” Alex smiled as he brushed her cheek with his fingers, “Ignore me and pretend I don’t exist.”
“I can’t do that, Alex.” she sighed, “I don’t want to do that.”
“You have to.” he brushed his lips across her temple, “You will understand after Wednesday night. I promise”
Isabel was tired of fighting him and decided to give in. Alex had to have a reason for the secrecy and she would just have to wait for him, “Okay.”
He smiled at her and hugged her once more tightly, “Thank you.”
She returned his smile with her own as her eyes lit up with mischievousness, “Better be prepared to grovel, Whitman.”
Alex laughed and gave her another kiss before stepping away from her, “I will see you soon.”
Isabel slowly opened her eyes as her dream began to fade. Looking over at her bedside she realized that she only had 20 minutes before her alarm would go off for her to get up for school. Alex had been with her most of the night in her dream world and that thought made her smile.
Quickly the smile dissolved into a frown as Isabel wondered how she was ever going to get through the next 48 hours.
TBC...
It took me a while on this and though it still doesn't answer a lot of questoins.. I hope it breaks my writers block so that I can continue to come up with the answers you ask for 
(I find it funny that out of all the chapters that I have written for this fic...this is the longest)