Keep Dreaming

By A. A. Vogel

Aria Price has just come out of the worst experience a teenage girl could go through: the loss of her father in a roadside bombing in Afghanistan. Relocating to her mothers hometown of Harpers Landing, she tries to reconnect with old friends and start her new settled civilian life. The life that she always feared would be boring quickly became the opposite when a secret in her lineage threatens to derail getting her life back on track. When it becomes clear a classmates life is in imminent danger due to an age-old feud, Aria is surprised to find herself thrown right into the battle for their life.

Shes already lost one person in her life. Will Aria be able to put her fears and grief aside in order to save someone else?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 18, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984525741

A. A. Vogel

About the Author A. A. Vogel currently works and lives in Michigans beautiful Upper Peninsula and has a love for her dogs, the gym and the paranormal. She began writing at the age of nine and a hobby quickly turned into a passion when she published her first novella in 2010. Nearly ten years and three published works later shes still pursuing her dream to write for the masses with no plans of stopping anytime soon. She was born to a military family in Germany before the wall fell and has a healthy interest in international culture and history.

Book preview

Copyright © 2018 by A. A. Vogel.

Edited by: Laura R. Porterfield

ISBN:                          Softcover                         978-1-9845-2575-8

                                     eBook                              978-1-9845-2574-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 04/28/2018

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Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

For Auntie and Uncle Spock.

Chapter One

It wasn’t as long of a walk as I thought it’d be, and I still hadn’t worked out what I was going to say when I got there. I leaned against a tree across the street for a few moments longer trying to work out anything that didn’t sound callous while the boy working on a motorcycle in the driveway swiped at the fly-aways coming out of his small ponytail as he worked on an older motorcycle. The house hadn’t changed at all. I spent a good part of my younger years here, it was like a second home, and the boy in the driveway had been my best friend though I barely recognized him these days. He had been eleven and tall for his age the last time I’d seen him and his long legs made him appear unsteady on his feet.

Five years later he seemed to have finally grown into them a bit, I could see leanly defined muscles in his arms now and you could tell he had acquired some rhythm by the way be bopped his head to whatever was flowing through the ear buds he was using to shut out the rest of the world as he worked. Now or never, Aria. It was better that he find me here than in the halls of Chester A. Arthur High School Monday morning. But for some reason I still couldn’t will myself to move. It wasn’t going to be my return that rocked him; it was going to be our history.

In sixteen years I’d moved six times, the curse of a military family. You’re never in one place for too long. The boy with the blond hair in front of me was River Casperson, and he had been my best friend since the sandbox. Throughout my father’s various overseas deployments we had come to Harper’s Landing, my mother’s hometown, where were lived with my grandparents while he was in Korea, Germany, places that would uproot the family overseas with him. Mom and Dad were trying to keep it somewhat normal for us, though normal is a relative term in the military life. You can get really close to people in the span of two or three years but it’d different when you’re little and fearless, those are the friendships that last a life time if you’re lucky. The last time was so abrupt though, that we didn’t even get to say goodbye. He had been visiting grandparents when we got orders that it was time to move on again. Unanswered letters and emails had led me to believe this wasn’t going to go over well any way you looked at it.

So I straightened my black leather jacket and swallowed my pride as I crossed the street, my heart thudding against my ribcage the entire way. He hadn’t heard me coming for the music but he must of have seen movement out of the corner of his eye as he looked up at me at my approach. I saw the flicker of recognition, then surprise, and finally maybe a bit of disdain as he pulled his ear buds out.

Here for another fly by? He asked me coolly.

Almost be better if it was. I raked a hand through my long raven colored hair.

So you can leave again? He set the wrench in his hand down and grabbed a cloth on the seat of the bike to wipe his hands.

You don’t have to worry about that this time. I took a deep breath mentally preparing for what came next.

Your dad finally get out? He narrowed his eyes at me.

You could say that, I avoided his eyes, here it was. he’s dead.

River looked away sheepishly as he cursed under his breath and tossed the rag aside.

I’m sorry. He finally looked back up at me. Are you okay?

Still a bit numb, if I’m honest. I nodded slowly, lingering on the question a moment. But marching forward, you know. Don’t be sorry, I kind of deserved that.

It’s okay to be sad. He told me plainly. I’ve been telling you that since we were kids.

I am sad. Just – I’ve got Everett to worry about, if I lose it, he’s going to lose it and, let’s be honest, one fire at a time. I reminded him of my younger brother in all of this.

When are you going to let him look after himself? River came closer to me.

Are you really going to tell me you don’t look after Jocelyn and William? I raised a brow at him.

Jocelyn is a lost cause. He tilted his head in defeat over his twin, but yeah, you’re right about Will.

We stood in the driveway in silence for a few moments uncertain of where to go from here. As it would turn out I didn’t have to think about it too much because River closed the space between us and hugged me. He smelled of grease and oil and though this was the powered up version of River, there was something about the way that hugged me that was reminiscent of the eleven year old boy I once knew.

I wanted my friend back – but not like this. He mumbled to me. I’m sorry for the way I treated you.

I hoped you’d come around. I let out a sigh of relief. I was afraid to come.

I probably would have been too. He admitted releasing me finally. Does Hadley know you’re back?

I sent her a letter. I nodded.

I think you’re the only person in the world who still writes letters. He gave me an endearing smile playing with my long hair. Look at you.

Me? When did you become a hippie? I motioned to his ponytail.

Yeah… this is mostly to annoy Jocie, and a lot of laziness. He tucked a bit of hair behind his ear with a familiar boyish laugh.

Some things haven’t changed at least, what’s the story with Jocelyn these days? I smiled as I felt my heartbeat start to slow finally.

Come inside for a minute, I’ll give you the update. He jerked his head towards the house.

Lead on. I agreed and followed him up the driveway and into the house, where he held up an index finger to me.

Hey Will! Get down here! He paused and waited for a response with his characteristic smile.

Be right there! I heard someone bellow from inside the house.

William? I mouthed to River.

Just wait. He grinned at me before leading me into the living room. I’d barely had time to take in my surroundings when I heard what sounded like a herd of wildebeest on the stairs and a hulk of a boy burst into the room.

What do y- His eyes fell on me and he gave me a slightly crooked grin. Wow, who’s the hottie, big brother?

Oh my god. I looked away embarrassed.

My little brother, Casanova. River smirked, Will, you remember Aria Price.

Will looked between us in surprise.

Ari! I didn’t have time to react before he scooped me up in a back breaking hug and spun me around.

Holy god… I clutched on to his biceps in surprise. William! Put me down!

She still calls me William. He followed my request and set me back on the ground. Jeez, Ari, I didn’t even recognize you.

Me? Jesus puberty hit both of you like a truck. I see you’re still looking up to your big brother for appearance tips. I ruffled William’s shaggy, chestnut hair that apparently waved a little when it was long enough, on tip toe.

River wishes he could be this cool. William told me dismissively.

You’re massive. I motioned to him.

Football training, he’s trying to make Varsity as a freshman. River filled in.

Right – I don’t think they let that happen. I nodded to William.

Yeah, they put me on JV but I won’t stay there. Gonna come watch me play, Ari? He draped a huge arm over my shoulder.

Yeah, I’m not exactly Miss. School Spirit these days. I told him.

Well there’s a game tonight and you’re both going. William obviously thought he wasn’t giving us the choice.

River, you want to help me out here? I motioned to his brother.

I have to go anyway. River held his hands up in surrender. One of our friends is on the Varsity team…

Bram Sutherland. William muttered the play by play for me. Junior, big muscles, soulful musician.

Is he single? What’s happening here, William? I raised a brow at him. Does he like long walks on the beach?

Hadley’s going to be there, bring Everett. You may as well warm yourself by the gates of hell before you actually enter on Monday. River smirked as William held his hand up in surrender.

I can’t argue with that logic. I let out a defeated sigh.

Is Everett still tiny? William went on.

He’s taller than me but doesn’t have your muscles.

Or my charm and good looks but you can’t have it all. William released me at last.

You forgot to mention that whole humble thing, William. Sometimes I couldn’t control my sarcasm.

There she is, I knew the little girl with the biting wit was still in there somewhere. River beamed at me proudly.

Maybe being back in Harper’s Landing wasn’t going to be so bad, I had my best friend back and his little brother seemed like he was going to keep me on my toes as well.

Football was never going to be my thing but Everett, who always had a little more trouble settling in after a move than I did, seemed keen to go at least. He made me fill him in on William before we headed out of the house anyway. Everett was more like Mom in the sense that she and he weren’t ever so confident about themselves as maybe Dad and I were. We did discover though that, apparently football games were one of the things to do in Harper’s Landing on a Friday night, I circled the parking lot twice before I found a parking space. Everett hunched his shoulders as we headed for the gates, and most would think it was against the fall chill but I knew my little brother. He hated being the ‘new kid’ all the time. New wasn’t the term you could technically apply to us here but it had been five years since we last went to school here and by those standards, you may as well be the new kid again.

Are they meeting us? Everett itched the back of his head nervously.

Yeah, I texted River before we left. He said he and William would meet us at the ticket booth. I nodded. Don’t let him get you into trouble.

Will? Will was born for trouble. Everett scoffed. It was true River and I were, surprisingly, the good ones most of the time. William and Everett were the ones making bombs out of the MREs.

Just don’t blow anything up, be the voice of reason. I smiled at him as we slipped inside the gates.

I think you’re severely overestimating my moral compass. Everett was smart, sometimes almost too smart for his own good and that was what could mean trouble where William Casperson was concerned.

Aria! I looked up at the sound of my name to see River and William standing nearby.

And so it begins. I waved to them in acknowledgement. Ready to do high school again, little brother?

Little brother? I’m taller than you big sis. He rested his elbow on the top of my head as we headed for them.

When you qualify for hobbit status, it’s not hard. I shoved him away playfully.

Everett Price, what the hell man? William greeted Everett with an infamous bro hug. Aria just shows up at the house today, neither of you think about Facebook?

Not worth the drama, Will. Good to see you man. Everett nodded to him.

People who haven’t been sucked in yet. River marveled. He had since showered and now his hair fell to about the middle of his neck which somehow seemed to accent a set of chiseled cheekbones I hadn’t noticed earlier. Here’s your tickets.

You didn’t have to do that. I gave him a look.

We, and by ‘we’ I mean Will, dragged you two along, this one’s on us. River explained as we started for the stands as William offered me what he must have thought was a charming smile.

I think the appropriate thing to say is: Thanks, River. Everett mentioned to me in a loud whisper so they could all hear.

I expected a bit of a protest, wouldn’t be Aria if she didn’t. River wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

See? He understands me, I pointed to River, but thank you nonetheless.

You’re welcome. He rubbed my shoulder and we parted ways with our younger siblings. Surely River and I weren’t nearly cool enough for Football player William.

Told Hadley you’re coming. He went on. Be prepared for squealing and hugs.

Oh no, she’s one of them now? I sank a little at the knees.

Not as bad as Jocie, but she’s up there. He allowed for the different levels of the ‘girl gene.’

Well, it’ll be good to see Hadley anyway. I resigned to the fates that lie ahead. She was great at keeping in touch.

River looked a bit guilty as we scanned the crowd in the stands. We found her half way up with a couple of boys I didn’t recognize a few moments later. There was a bit of excited jumping, a great hug and some very fast but fond sounding words when we arrived.

I literally have no idea what you just said, you’re going to have to slow it down and try again Had. I grinned at her amused.

Milo King, River took over and pointed to a lean boy with casually messy hair, wearing a set of Buddy Holly glasses as he slid past him. Sebastian Lafontaine. He pointed to the boy next to him with sandy brown hair that was pressed up in the front and pretty blue eyes. Boys this is Aria Price, she doesn’t scare easily but good luck.

The infamous Aria Price. Milo gave me the once over as I sat beside him.

I have a reputation that precedes me? I looked around at Hadley as she sat on the end.

Not everyone can break River’s heart. Sebastian told me.

Oh, yeah. My eyes moved from him to River, Yeah, I could see how that would make me infamous.

But we’re clearly all besties again, so welcome to the team. Milo broke the tension by offering me some of his blanket.

I’m okay, thanks. I laughed gently.

I’ve known her five seconds, and she’s already rejecting me. Milo mentioned casually to Sebastian.

Your lot in life is to be rejected by women, bro. Get used to it. Sebastian didn’t miss a beat and I heard River laugh out loud.

This is what I deal with every day. Milo added to me as Sebastian and River fist bumped.

He’s used to the abuse. Hadley dismissed him.

That hurts, Hadley Anne. Why do you want to hurt me? Milo clutched his heart dramatically.

I don’t know what we were doing at a football game, because it appeared that none of us had any real interest in what was going on down on the field. Hadley, who had grown into a pretty girl with long curly chestnut hair, once in a while would cheer on the mysterious Mr. Bram Sutherland, but mostly Milo seemed to be the gossip king of Chester A. Arthur, giving me a play by play of the students surrounding us. Mean girls, jocks, academics, art kids; anything that struck his fancy he could point out a student to fit that stereotype with the others casually making corrections to the titles he gave them as they saw fit.

We ended up winning the game though, points for Chester A. Arthur. Apparently we were decent at sports. We filed out of the stands with the rest of the student body, it seemed, and waited near the fences to find out what Everett and William were up to.

You know Jocie, I’m sorry that you’re constantly surrounded by losers. I looked up at the sound of someone addressing us. I recognized the brunette on his arm immediately as Jocelyn, River’s twin sister. Apparently Jocelyn had become a mean girl?

Always nice to see you, Dominic. Hadley’s cold look didn’t match her kind missive.

You too, Hadley. The tall boy with dark red hair and gray eyes tilted his head at her tauntingly until his eyes fell on me. I see we’ve added a new member to your pathetic little family.

Aria Price. I stepped forward, immediately disliking this kid.

Aria? Jocelyn’s face changed at my name. I – wow, welcome back!

I cringed a little as she hugged me.

Hey Jocelyn… I gave her an awkward pat on the back.

She was our best friend growing up, O-M-G. Are you back for a while? This is my boyfriend, Dominic. She said this all very quickly.

We have very different memories of our childhood. I heard River say as Dominic and I exchanged curt nods.

Yeah, back for good actually. I told Jocelyn.

"You have to try out for the cheerleading squad!" She told me as I noted Dominic start to focus on Milo.

Um, no, not my thing. Being launched into the air doesn’t suit the uncoordinated. Thanks though. I wasn’t really paying attention to her.

What’s with the side eye, King? Dominic shoved Milo, who, to be fair, was barely half the size of Dominic, against a nearby chain link fence. River and Sebastian made for the pair but I got there first.

Back off. I shoved him away with all the force I could muster.

She’s a feisty one. Dominic’s eyes glinted maliciously as I stood between him and Milo, River and Sebastian flanked me.

Keep your shit up, Dominic. You’ll find out exactly how feisty I can get. I stood my ground.

Look how cute she is, Jocie, so tough with your pitiful little body guards behind you. His eyes didn’t leave mine.

Touch him again and I swear to god… I threatened as I could feel my heart in my heart in my throat.

Dominic, let’s go. Jocie took his arm and tried to lead him away, to her credit.

Take Milo and go. I told them as Dominic jerked his arm away from her.

River refused to move. Bash, go.

Had, let’s go. I heard Sebastian move Milo behind us.

You’re adorable trying to be brave in front of your friends. Let’s get this straight, Aria Price, I can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Which is it going to be? Dominic scoffed openly.

I’ve met your type all over the country. Here’s what I’ve learned: douchebags like you want to control people, you’re not going to control me. Touch Milo, Sebastian, Hadley, River – any of them? And you’ll regret it. My promise to you. My glare lingered on him a moment before River and I turned to leave, but it wasn’t over. I felt a large hand wrap around my arm, just above the elbow and he jerked me back.

You need to be taught a lesson. He grunted bringing me in.

You have three seconds to let me go. I told him. I felt his hand tighten on my arm. One… two…

When he didn’t relent I didn’t even bother with ‘Three.’ I flicked my fist up hitting his upper bicep at the brachial plexus causing him to release me via reflex, following it up with a punch to intercostal nerves just in between the ribs. Dominic doubled forward in pain and finished with an elbow just behind his ear knocking him to the ground.

Aria! The white noise cleared as I recognized my brother’s voice above the anguished grunts and groans of the crumpled heap that used to be Jocelyn’s snarky ass boyfriend.

Oh my god, what did you do to him?! Jocelyn stood horrified for a moment, to be fair it’d all happened very quickly.

I gave him every opportunity to avoid it. I was breathing shallowly as the adrenaline coursed through my veins.

You crazy bitch. He choked out as I spied my brother and William in the small crowd taking notice of what had just transpired.

You are the coolest girl ever! William punched the air, hopping around like an excited golden retriever puppy.

I’ll warn you one last time, Dominic, touch me or my friends again and you haven’t even seen crazy bitch yet. I ignored William. Everett.

Everett, William and River followed me without a word, somewhere I recognized the Casperson brothers exchanging impressed looks, my own wasn’t nearly as pleased with me. A good amount of cars had left the parking lot by the time we cleared the gates to the athletic field.

You want to explain what the hell just happened back there? Sebastian jerked his hand toward the stands.

We grew up in the military. Our dad made sure we knew how to defend ourselves. Everett supplied as he came over to me. You okay?

I’m fine.

And who’s he? Milo inquired of Everett.

Everett, she’s my sister. Everett barely spared him a glance as he focused on me.

Stop fussing, Ev, I said I’m fine. I shrugged away from him.

What the hell happened? He turned on River. Where were you?

It all happened real quick. River actually looked a bit taken back by my brother’s sudden tone.

Do you not see how little she is? He pointed at me. That wasn’t her fight.

Everett, that’s enough. Apologize. I barked as the group looked on nervously.

You used to protect her. He spat at River, clearly getting a little emotional.

I don’t know if you saw what just happened back there, but she doesn’t need any protection. Sebastian stepped up beside River.

Just because she can fight a battle, doesn’t mean she should have to. Everett glared at him.

He’s right. I got this, Bash. River put himself between Everett and Sebastian. The latter took a step back against what looked like his better judgment.

"You know how she is. She hasn’t changed. Everett told River only loud enough for me to hear. We’ve- she’s got enough going on right now that she doesn’t need to get dragged into something like this."

You have my word Ev, I’m not going to let anyone hurt her. River returned more steady but just as lowly. "She got there first, that’s all it is. You know how she is, she’s not going to stand by and let someone get tormented and Dominic Withers? He was born to play that role."

Everett. I said firmly.

You need to stop playing the hero, it’s going to get you killed. He finally turned on me.

I’m not going to let someone like that intimidate me. I countered, That’s all they want is fear. I’m probably one of the first people to stand up to him and knock him down a peg.

Come on, Will. Everett gave me a hard stare. I’m going to his house.