CH 10

Gia nervously drummed her hands on the steering wheel of her BMW as she waited at the light before the parking lot at Homes Of Hope. She felt on edge since her dream last night. She felt weird coming to work, because that’s where the dream took place. In her dream, she was bouncing, like a child, so free and happy. She was having fun with the kids, jumping with Noah, and that’s when she saw him. “Nikolas Cassadine.” She said aloud as she moved with the traffic. She sighed as she pulled into a parking spot and stopped her car. Her dream seemed so real. She brought her fingertips up to her lips as she sat in her car. They still tingled, like little bolts of electrify when she thought about the dream, and the incredible kiss they shared. Her heart began to pound as she let the feelings from the night before re-enter her body. The quickness of her breath, the exciting tug she felt from deep within. Her whole body reacted to his touch, and her heartbeat would do funny little things when she thought of him. It was mind blowing to her that it was a dream that was making her react this way. She had never felt this way about anyone and she had yet to meet this man. Gia laughed into the air. “Meet, Gia? What are you thinking? He’s not real!” She said before getting out of her car.

Gia stepped inside the main playroom of the center, memories of her dream filling her as she looked around. The kids were all up and playing and having a great time. A huge smile spread across Gia’s face as her eyes landed on the person in the corner of the room. “Caleb, where have you been? I haven’t seen you in weeks.” She asked as she made her way over to him. “Hey Gia. Sorry I just kind of dropped off the face of the earth. I’ve been working a lot. The bookstore just got in a huge load of books and I needed to shelve everything. I missed the kids though so I thought I’d come in.” Caleb explained. “Oh well it’s always fun when you volunteer, and the kids love you. I assumed it was because you missed me though, guess not.” Gia said shrugging. Caleb laughed. “Of course I missed you too.” He said walking up and kissing her cheek. “Good.” Gia said smiling as she nodded her head.

“So tell me what’s going on with you Gia.” Caleb said as he and Gia got snacks ready for the kids. Gia looked up from the cheese and crackers she was putting together and smiled at him. She had known him since she started going to Colombia. He was an art major and he had his paintings displayed in the Student Art Festival on campus. She was intrigued by a painting he did of a little girl in the snow. They started to talk and realized that they had a lot in common and Rory liked him right away so that was the beginning of their little group of friends. She liked Caleb a lot and trusted him as a friend. She decided that she could use a friend to talk to right now so she thought she would tell him about what was going on. “Well, I’ve been having these dreams.” Gia started. “About a guy right? You’re still dreaming about him?” Caleb asked. “Yeah, it’s been going on for weeks now. I even know his name.” Gia said. Caleb laughed. “Know his name? Gia he’s not real though. How can you say that you know his name?” Caleb asked. “Well I don’t know for sure. But I’ve been thinking about it and I think that maybe he might be real. I just feel this connection to him like nothing I’ve ever felt before. I know it sounds crazy but I just think that he might be out there somewhere waiting for me to find him.” Gia said moving to set out cups of juice on the little tables for the kids. Caleb helped her with the task. “OK so lets say he is real. He could be some psycho or something. Or he could be married and has kids.” Caleb said. Gia stopped walking and whipped around to face him with a panicked look on her face. “Married? Oh god I never thought of that.” She said her heart pounding. Caleb placed his hands on her shoulders as he smiled down at her. “Gia I was kidding. I’m just trying to nicely tell you that you’re crazy.” Caleb said. Gia smiled back. “Fine, make fun all you want. But I’m telling you, it feels real.” Gia said. “Well then look him up or something. It couldn’t hurt.” Caleb said. “Yeah, you’re right it couldn’t hurt. I think I will.” Gia said smiling. When Gia called the kids over for their snack, they all came running up to eat it. Gia felt a tap on her arm and turned around to see who it was. “Here Gia.” Jordyn said handing her a daisy. “Thank you Jory, it’s beautiful.” Gia said smiling down at her. “It’s just like the one I gave Nikolas.” Jordyn said. Gia’s heart skipped a beat as she looked down at the little girl in shock. “Who?” She breathed. “My friend from my dream. Nikolas Cassadine.” Jordyn said. Gia stood there in shock, not believing what she just heard. “Well thank you sweetie, that’s very nice of you.” Gia mumbled, her heart pounding. Jordyn smiled at her brightly as she nodded her head and then went and joined the other kids.

  Gia walked into her room, finding Rory’s note that said she was out and wouldn’t be back until later. She got out her textbook and began to study. She let out a yawn and slowly felt her eyelids getting heavy. She looked over at the clock and saw that it was only 5:00 in the afternoon. She tried to wake herself up a little but the words on the page she was reading were becoming hard to focus on and she slowly drifted to sleep.

Gia was on the beach again. The smell of the ocean filled her nose. Giving her a feeling of freedom. A smile spread across her face as she looked out at the waves. The ocean always reminded her of her childhood. It made her think of family vacations with her mother and her brother at the beach in the summer time. She always loved the ocean and was sad that she didn’t live close to one. As she stood gazing at the beauty of the ocean, the sunset casting an orange glow across the glistening waves, she felt a presence behind her. She didn’t gasp or jump when she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her from behind; she was expecting him and she felt completely safe and content in his embrace. “I thought you’d never come.” Gia sighed as she leaned into him. “How could I not?” He asked in her ear and then placed a gentle kiss on her shoulder. “Will we always have this? Our dreams.” Gia asked softly. “I want more than anything to say yes. But sometimes I feel like this whole thing will just end, and I’ll lose you forever.” Nik replied, kissing her cheek. Gia caressed his cheek as she turned her face to finally look at him. “I don’t want to lose you.” She said. Nikolas leaned in and kissed her, softly on the lips, as his fingers traced the contours of her face. He slowly pulled back. “I have to go.” He said. Gia shook her head. “Stay.” She whimpered. “I can’t.” Nik replied. “I have to know Nikolas, are you real? I want to find you.” Gia asked. Nikolas pulled back from her and she watched his face as a sexy smile spread across it. “Yes Gia. I’m real and I have to meet you or I’ll die. Come find me.” Nik said softly before he disappeared.

Gia jumped when Rory shook her awake. “Gia, I wanted to know if I should fix you dinner?” Rory asked. Gia moaned as she looked around her; she realized she had fallen asleep. She rubbed her eyes and sat up in the chair she was in, her mind racing as she sat there. “Yeah sure, I have to call someone real quick though.” Gia said nodding her head. “OK. Grilled cheese sandwich and soup coming up.” Rory said smiling. Gia smiled back at her and walked over to the phone and dialed a number. “Caleb? It’s me. He’s real and I have to find him. You’ll help? Good.” Gia said, hanging up the phone, her heart pounding with a new excitement from the idea of finding Nikolas.