It didn't take me long to shake off my dream and come back into the real world. My clock said 4:39, but I felt more awake than ever. My dream had been so vivid, so real... but what had it been about? Something about a young man, and water, and a crazy world that I always retreated to.
I shook my head to focus. My dreams were always crazy. They always had weird plots and twisted worlds, the worlds that I made up during the day and wished to be in. The ones that I could finally retreat to after a long day of hardships and thinking and complete madness.
But why did this one seem different?
Why could couldn't I stop thinking about this one dream?
After a few minutes I gave up, and lay back down onto my pillow. I could at least get the last two hours of the night for rest... before another day of school began to sap out what remaining energy I felt.
Just thinking of school made me sleepy.
Almost instantly, I felt myself being shaken awake.
"Mary Lee! Wake up, Mary Lee! It's 6:40! Time for school, Mary Lee"
My world was fuzzy and blank, but I could hear just fine. Whatever I had dreamed in the last two hours was gone from my mind, if I had dreamed at all.
My mom whisked back out the door when she saw me stir to go wake up my brother, Clark. I stepped out of bed and fell, as usual. Nothing out of normal or out of place. My unconcious mind was finally at rest, to my bitter disappointment. I would rather be floating around in a dream, maybe eating tropical fruits in an enchanted forest.
But I had to shake these thoughts away, and stand up to dress and get ready for another hard day in the real world.

It wasn't long before I had drifted in between the tall, heavy metal doors of the school that I was sitting in my first class, English. Oh joy.
Probably the only thing worthwhile in that class sat beside me. Mark Thomas, my absolute love. He had curly brownish-blond hair, with huge almond shaped light brown eyes. His skin was light, but radient, and you never wanted to take your eyes off of him. He was a little on the short side, only about five foot seven, but I was five foot four, and so it worked. To me, he was my life, and nothing would be complete without him. I did not care how many times he may rip out my heart, how many hearts he has broken in the past. I could do nothing for the future or the past, all I can have is a now. And for the past two years, he has been my now. I loved him as many people could never know.
When you looked into his eyes, you knew everything could be alright. There was no middle ground... it would be okay. He had a stupid funny way about him, always having a silly smile on his face, always acting stoned and without a mind, but was brilliant all the same. Mark rarely looked at the world as if it was going to kill him, he looked at the world as if he could kill it. He ruled, and loved to rule, and was proud of being the most kick ass boy around. He thrived for being the top, and he usually got his way.
And he loved to take risks. Damn, did he love to take risks. He loved sex, and everything about girls, there was no mistake in assuming that. He was a horny boy, and who was to blame? He is a guy.
He got in trouble a lot, got drunk once and had a few highs. But nevertheless, he was a great guy. Through it all, he still had that cunning smile, witty attitude, and still had the love that existed in his heart.
No matter what, he cared. He didn't just pretend... he cared. He would think and try to understand and force himself to figure things out. He cared.
And he always did for me. Through it all, he has always cared for me. He may not love me like I do him, but he has cared. And it matters to me when he cares. He's the only one that could make me look in the mirror and say... "Maybe I am beautiful"
That was Mark.
Mark the horny bastard who loved.
The greatest guy in the world.
At least, my world.

Mark and I talked all through English, conversing quietly as Mr. Plucinski droned on and on about only God knows what. The rest of my day was pretty much the same.
At least, until fourth period roled along about 10 minutes before the bell rang for lunch. Something a little crazy happened.