Was It a Dream?

Alena's alarm went off for the third time. She groaned as she finally managed to drag herself out of bed. She was still struggling to wake up.

Great, I still have to work today. She thought morosely.

She got up and decided to shower first, hoping that it would wake her up. She grabbed an apple for breakfast and headed out to the shop. Along the way she decided to stop at Starbucks to get a cup of coffee she was definitely going to need the caffeine.

She was lost in thought, thinking about the previous nights events and about Jared. It had felt so good to be held in his arms. She had had other men hold her but none of them had given her that feeling of being safe and loved.

Loved? What the hell was she thinking? Get a grip girl, you are seriously retarded if you think that after one night he would love you.

"Well if it isn't our guardian angel." She heard behind her.

Looking back she saw a man in a hood and with big sunglasses on. She instantly recognized Tomo.

"Good morning." She said smiling. "You're up early." She was careful not to use his name, afraid someone else would recognize him.

"I just had to get my coffee." he said and laughed. "For some reason I was unable to get it yesterday."

Alena laughed.

"If you wait a moment I'll walk you to the shop." He offered. Alena agreed and waited while he got his long awaited coffee.

"Aren't you afraid of being recognized again?" Alena asked as they walked to the shop.

Tomo laughed. "No, I can usually sneak away for coffee. Yesterday was Shannon's fault. He likes to do silly things; he's gotten us into more sticky situations than I care to remember." He explained what had happened and she laughed with him.

"You seem to be more like a group of brothers, than band mates." Alena remarked.

"It’s great being with Jared and Shannon, they are like brothers to me." He smiled. "It's like having a second family."

They had reached the shop and Alena went in through the front door. She saw that Tomo looked disappointed.

"What's wrong Tomo?" She asked concerned.

"I thought we were going to go in through the secret passage." He said disappointment clear in his voice.

Alena couldn't help but laugh at him; he looked like a little boy whose favorite toy had been taken away.
"If you're good, I'll show you some of the other secret rooms and passages." She promised.

"Oh, I'll be really good." He said

Alena laughed at his enthusiasm.

After she opened the shop, she set out a new pot of coffee and some fresh snacks.

She watched Tomo out of the corner of her eye and couldn't help but smile, he was getting very fidgety.

"Are you finished, can I see those secret rooms now?" He asked.

She finally burst into laughter. "I'm sorry; it's just that you're like a little boy before Christmas."

Tomo laughed self-consciously. "I just think it's cool that you have these secret rooms, where are they?"

"Follow me." She said. She walked behind the counter. Against the wall was a black and white picture of a family in front of their house, beside it was one of these old wall lamps. Alena twisted it to the side and a door swung inwards, she walked into the room that was hidden there and Tomo followed her in. Inside was a bed, closet, bed stand with a lamp and some chairs.

"The owner sometimes sleeps here when he's in town."

"This would've been a great place to hide." Tomo remarked his eyes shining.

Alena laughed, "When you came in here the first time, I was seriously thinking of doing just that." Tomo looked at her surprised.

"Why would you want to hide from us?" he asked with a puzzled frown.

"When you came in with your hoods up and shades on, I thought you might be thugs or robbers, and then Shannon asked ' Did we lose them?' and I thought you might be running from the police."

Tomo started to laugh, "I guess we did look suspicious, if I were in your shoes I guess I would also have been afraid."

"Would you like some more coffee?" She asked him.

He smiled. "That would be great; will you show me the other hidden rooms then?"

"I’d love to." She quickly went to get him some coffee. As she was busy pouring she heard his phone ring.

"Hello Jared." She heard him say.

"Oh, I'm just getting some coffee." He replied grinning

"You know I can never have enough coffee, and when it's served by a pretty girl it's just so much better." He had a very smug smile on his face.

"I'm not telling, you'll just get jealous." He said with a wicked gleam in his eyes.

"Well, she's got nice grey eyes, and beautiful auburn hair. " he laughed as he watched Alena turn scarlet in embarrassment.

"See you." he said as he hung up, but he doubted whether Jared had heard him.

He walked towards her and took the coffee from her hands.

"Well Jared will be here soon, probably in the next few minutes." He said it with a knowing smile.

She just looked at him with a puzzled look. Why would Jared be in such a rush?