The rest of the day passed by in a blur. English was fine, we were just finishing Macbeth so it was a bit...intense. Last class of the day was Law, where we finished a case study on a Heartbreaker victim. That was as interesting as it was chilling. Apparently she'd been made to kill one of the guy's kids that was being unruly, then dumped for the cops to find. Fuck.

A reminder that, despite me enjoying the world of Worm, it was pretty fucking bad. At least I wouldn't have to deal with all that shit. Now I was on the bus, heading back to a home that wasn't mine. Was it really not though? This was my dream after all. Even if I wasn't me me, I was still me right? ...Wow, that was a confusing train of thought. Whatever, at least there wasn't much left to the day.

Which meant there probably wasn't much left to this. I couldn't be sure, but it made sense I would fall asleep and then wake up in the real world. It had happened before, once, a dream I couldn't wake up from until I slept. If that was the case...I sort of hoped against hope that it would continue tomorrow night.

That had never happened before, so I guess I just had to enjoy what little I could. Once I got off the bus, I doubled back and walked to the park that I had been driven by twice now. It was barely five and the sun was only just starting to go down. I stopped on a little bench that looked out over the bay, letting out a quiet sigh.

I'd need to do more of this when I got home. There were so many parks and I never went outside to visit them. I took my time here and now, at least. Sure the boat graveyard was a haunting sight, but from here it added something unique to the bay. And of course the light of the Protectorate headquarters was unmistakable, now that I knew what it was.

Sights and sounds that were, quite literally, a work of fiction. This was an opportunity I doubt anyone had actually had before. I had to admit, there was a kind of beauty to the view, something unique that I shared with no one else. Sure it was a dream...but the feeling was still there.

There was ugliness too, though. Worm's wasn't a clean world, and Brockton Bay reflected it almost perfectly. Almost right across from the gleaming skyscrapers of the downtown core was the Docks, ranging from middling to slum. I saw the glittering MedHall sign amid a cluster of smaller towers and glowered. Right. That was there too.

I sighed and rose from the bench. Okay, this was getting less fun by the second. In my excitement of just being here, I'd forgotten that it was actually kind of a shit place. But...maybe it was for the best that I was reminded of that; that despite everything, all the bullshit, the suffering, my home was still a little bit better than living in this world.

I returned to the house. My mom, it seemed, wasn't home yet. Or judging by the note I found on the kitchen counter, she was going out for the night. That was okay, apparently there was lasagna in the fridge. I'd always wanted to try it anyway. I turned the oven on and stuck the dish inside, then sat at the island and waited.

It was weird, I'd always thought I'd prefer being here than home. And yet, here I was eager to get to bed so I could wake up. Yeah, I'd needed this. I let out a sigh as the smell of cooking pasta filled the kitchen. Maybe I'd ask my boyfriend to make some of this for us when I got back, try it for real. It smelled amazing, it probably tasted better.

After another couple minutes, I took the now steaming lasagna from the stove and set it on top of the island. There was a lot, to be sure, but I was starving. Skipping lunch had never done me any favours, and clearly still didn't. Lesson learned, I guess. I grabbed a fork and dug in, not minding the mild burns the hot pasta gave me.

It was even better than it smelled, as I hoped. I forced myself to slow down, to savour it. I needed to remember how good it was so I would actually try it when I woke up. The effort was worth it, but despite that it didn't take long for the dish to be emptied. I sighed and pushed it aside, resting my head on my arms atop the counter.

I shut my eyes and just...settled, for a while. This had been close enough to real that it was fucking with me. Like at the start of it all, my head was fuzzy. This time it was more to do with fatigue than the disorientation of being in a new, weird body. Dammit, I hadn't gotten my nap either. Small wonder I was so damn tired when I'd been interrupted by a near-literal ray of sunshine.

Even that wasn't the worst. Victoria hadn't been nearly as bad as I expected. Though the encounter had left me more tired than I wanted to be, I could hardly call it unpleasant. 'Are you two friends?' I sighed. I should have taken Amy up on that offer of lunch. Maybe...maybe if this dream continued tomorrow night I'd do so tomorrow. Not make her treat me to lunch just...hang out.

It was dumb, this wouldn't continue anyway. Even if it did, I knew exactly how good I was at socializing. I sighed and rose from the countertop. Thinking had been good for a bit, but if that's where things were going it was better to not. I grabbed my dishes and put them in the sink with the bowl from earlier.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

The pressure settled on my shoulders as I turned on the water and started cleaning. It was like the weight of the day was pressing on me, somehow. I hurried through the dishes and set them aside to dry, then headed straight downstairs. I used the bathroom, then returned to my own room, dropping my bag and falling face first onto the bed.

I let out a long sigh into the mattress. I needed a fucking smoke. That was kind of messed up, considering I was a teenager now but...well, I hadn't exactly been of age the first time. I could resist for the little time between now and sleep. And then, once I got up, I could roll over and grab my bong. Maybe I'd write a fic about this...nah, that was stupid.

I groaned and forced myself up. I wasn't going to sleep in jeans like I was actually sixteen. I changed numbly into the pyjamas I'd woken up in and spared a glance in the mirror. Yup, unchanged. Still a strange girl, coincidentally named Amelia, like me...or us, I guess. And soon, probably, to be totally forgotten. Well, that was the nature of dreams. They just had to be enjoyed for the short time they lasted.

And I had, I decided as I rolled into bed. The pressure settled on top of me like a lightly weighted blanked. Coupled with the actual blanket it made for a damn cozy feeling. I let out a content sigh and turned the lights out, blanketing the room in darkness. I rolled over and closed my eyes, smiling. Yeah. I really had enjoyed my time visiting Brockton B--

The door of the house slammed shut with a bang that made the ceiling shake. I sighed and opened my eyes as someone thumped around upstairs. Considering I hadn't heard the sounds of breaking glass or the crash of the door being kicked in, it probably wasn't a burglar. But still...I should probably go see what it was. Not like I'd be getting to sleep with this racket.

I rose and flicked on my lamp, stepping into a pair of slippers at the foot of the bed. Missed them this morning, but they were actually really nice. I padded up the steps slowly, making sure not to be too loud. Whoever it was, I didn't really want them to notice me til I figured out what to do. I peeked around the corner to the upstairs and let out a quiet sigh. It was just Mom, rummaging through a cabinet of clinking bottles. I stepped out into the kitchen and waited til she'd grabbed one and had set it on the counter.

“Hey uh, Mom.” She started, and I was glad I'd waited.

“Oh, Lia.” I could smell the liquor from here. “You're still awake, that's no good, you have school tomorrow.” Her voice slurred and lilted and I held back another sigh.

“It's fine,” I replied. “Do you need any help?” I glanced at the bottle as she took it and swiftly poured herself a tumbler full. She drained it in a single swallow, then went back for more. Damn. “Uhh, maybe slow down?” She let out a shrill laugh.

“Please,” Mom said dryly. “I've been doing this since before you were born, I'd know if I needed to... to--”

Her words were cut off as I saw a familiar convulsion. I walked over and grabbed her arm, pulling her firmly along to the bathroom. I should have asked first but, well this was sort of an emergency. Mom didn't object, but she'd turned a very sickly green and had a hand over her mouth. I led her in and, for the second time ever, thanked the inconsiderate douche that left the toilet seat up. She dropped to her knees and heaved into the bowl, making me grimace.

At least her hair was short enough that I didn't need to hold it back. I couldn't say I'd done this with my mom before, but I had enough experience with friends to know what to watch out for. For her, Lia, this was...not the first. Sadly, probably not the last either. Well, it wouldn't be the last if she was real, at least.

After ten minutes spent worshipping at the porcelain altar, Mom groaned and shifted, leaning over the bathtub. I heard the faucet run and the telltale sounds of slurping water. Either a drink or just washing her mouth out. After another minute of that, she turned around and sat with her back pressed against the tub, staring at the tiled floor. She was silent for a while.

“Men are a poison, Amelia.” The way Mom spat it sounded like she wanted to kill someone. “Never forget that.” I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

“What happened?” I asked, sitting next to her. She reeked like liquor but...it was hard to turn away.

“Do you remember Mark?” I had vague recollections of some guy with dark hair and nodded. “Well, it seems the rotten bastard was already married and thought I wouldn't find out.” Ah.

“That's shitty of him,” I said honestly. “They're not into those like, open relationships or whatever?” She curled her lip.

“If they were he certainly didn't tell me,” my mom retorted. “And I wouldn't have agreed to it anyway.”

“Okay.” There was a beat of silence. “Want me to get you some water or something?”

“I'd like to finish off that bottle of brandy and then set Mark's house on fire.”

“...I'll get some water.”

“Thank you, Amelia.”

I moved as quickly as I could, almost stumbling twice. It seemed the quicker I wanted to get anywhere, the harder it actually was to move right. Fumbling through the cupboard only took a few seconds at least, and I carefully got a glass and filled it in the sink. I trudged back, making sure to take it slow enough that I didn't drop it like the plate this morning.

Mom was snoring lightly when I came back. I gave her foot a gentle nudge with my toe, then a couple more times until she stirred. I wordlessly handed her the water and she nodded in thanks before draining it in four, swift gulps. She set the glass down on the floor with a gentle 'clink' and ran her fingers through her pixie cut.

“I'm sorry Amelia,” she spoke quietly, weakly. “I've been a shit mother.”

“No you haven't,” I said automatically, before remembering...yeah okay maybe she had been kinda shit. “Everyone goes through bad stuff, and you can't help when you do sometimes. Maybe just...try a bit more?” She looked at me with wide eyes, brimming with tears, and nodded solemnly.

“Alright,” she said haltingly. “I'll...I can try.” That would be more than my mom did...

“Cool.” I yawned and blinked, realizing just how tired I actually was. “I'm gonna go to bed. Night.”

“Good night Amelia.” I barely caught a whispered 'I love you' as I headed back downstairs.

Yeah, dealing with drunken, shitty parents was something I'd had enough of. Just because it hadn't been my mom... Whatever, I'd be out soon enough. I rolled into bed, under the covers again. I was exhausted, so hopefully I'd could just get to sleep like tha