Clea never really thought of how she was going to die. She was only twenty-six. There was so much ahead of her life. There was so much planned in her life. Dying was not an option for her at all. Especially not from a damned ring.

"Rise and shine, Miss Asher!"

A blinding light hit her face. Clea flinched at the light and raised her hand to cover her face. Who the hell was that? It then soon processed in her head that she didn't have any roommates. And no one has ever called her 'Miss Asher'.

Clea jumped and sat up; she realized she was sitting in bed. Her eyes finally adjusted to the room, the unfamiliar room. Also the unfamiliar woman in her room. It was definitely not her room. A tall ceiling with pastel themes, what was strange about the room was it was decorated in a Victorian theme.

"You're parents want you to be all ready for the banquet today. For, you know dear," the woman said.

Clea looked up to finally acknowledged the woman in the room. Her eyes widened as she recognized who it was.

"B-Boss?" she squeaked.

The woman before her quirked an eyebrow at Clea, she then laughed and waved her off.

"Miss Asher, already up and making jokes in the morning! You know you can just call me Collete."

"What the fuck," Clea whispered.

Collete Turner, Clea's mentor and previous boss when she was in medical school. She taught her everything in managing too. And Clea saw her as her idol. She was what Clea strived to become; rich and powerful. This! This woman in front of her was not Collete! There was no possible way the woman would be calling her 'Miss Asher', and there was no way in hell she would let her call her by her first name.

But, what was making Clea beyond nervous. Was remembering how their last conversation went.

"How's your relationship going?"

"Ugh, don't even remind me. It's over."

"Oh, really? Why's that?"

"The idiot! He said he heard 'a calling'. He's dropping all of pharmacy school for becoming a missionary. Have you ever heard of something so stupid? I gave him a good—

"My cousin."

"—Excuse me?"

"That was, my cousin. You bitch."

How the hell was she supposed to know Collete was Benedict's first cousin!? Turner was such a damn common name!

Basically the conversation ended with the two women having a catfight and Clea was the one escorted out by security. Even though that insane woman was the one who started the fight and pulled a weapon on her.

So, saying Clea was nervous was beyond what she was right now. She remembers in the fight she had with Collete the woman pulled a pair of scissors on her.

"Come on Miss Asher! Time to get up and dressed!"

***

A dream. This all has to be a dream.

After her nerve-wracking dress up with Collete (she kept waiting for the woman to pull a pair of scissors on her), Clea was escorted out to meet up with her parents.

This is possibly her worst dream ever.

She was currently in a carriage with both of her parents sitting in front of her. Clea fidgeted in her seat. It wasn't like her parents were rude or she had bad relations with them. It was just a one sided love Clea didn't care for having.

Clea took the fan she had to cool herself. This corset really was restricting her breathing and with the stress so far from this dream she needed to cool down.

"You must be so excited," her mother said with a grin.

Clea stopped her fanning to look at her mother with a raised eyebrow.

"Um, it's been a long day. Where are we going again?"

"Clea darling." Clea winced at her mother calling her darling. "It's a banquet for celebrating the Duke Chestire's engagement." All right, that's a new name she hasn't heard. "But, the important part is that there are going to be a multitude of bachelors."

Suddenly, Clea sat up in her seat and her breathing problems were gone.

"Bachelors? As in, rich bachelors?" Clea wanted to clarify. You know, the important parts.

"Of course, we wouldn't throw you at unworthy individuals." Well, isn't this the best dream! Clea sat back in her seat in content. "Unfortunately, your brother couldn't make this event. He's still going through a small internship."

Her brother?

Clea couldn't help the frown that came on her face.

"What kind of internship is Zaire on?" she asked to her parents.

"With the navy. You know this Clea. He tried so hard to be on the King's court, but even though Zaire was talented for some reason the other courtsmen didn't seem to believe so. I still need to write a letter to those men!" She said this to her father who nodded in agreement. "So, instead he found his talents to be better in the navy. He'll definitely be an officer after his internship! Oh, it's just so exciting!"

Her parents then began to excitingly speak of how great it would be for Zaire's success in the military. But, from across of the two Clea had a clear frown on her face. She then smirked at the two.

"So, I should just shut up and look pretty at this banquet," she asked. But, clearly with disdain in her voice.

Her mother's face flushed a bit at Clea's choice of words and began to use her own fan to cool herself. "Well, yes. But you don't have to word it like that dear." She then ignored her and went to continue talking about Zaire with her father.

Clea snorted and looked out the window.

Her dream knew how to imitate real life a little too well.

***

Alright, this dream sucked.

After her conversation with her parents. Clea merely went straight to the alcohol and began to drink a glass. She finished a glass and then threw it behind her into a potted plant. Clea couldn't help the growl that came from her. Like hell she's playing her parent's perfect little doll.

Clea turned around to look for more alcohol, but was displeased to see there was only wine. She then found one of the busboys and snapped at him. He jumped and quickly walked over to her.

"Y-Yes, Miss Asher?"

"What hard liquors do you have?"

"E-Excuse me?" he squeaked. Looking slightly appalled at her question.

Clea rolled her eyes at him and grabbed at his collar, making him yelp a bit. "This is my damn dream, now hurry up and give me something hard!"

"W-We have whiskey! But, I don't believe a lady," he whispered.

"Just bring it out!"

She didn't have to say another word. The busboy quickly turned and left to the kitchen to find her the whiskey.

For being a dream, it sure didn't like to listen to her.

"Clea?"

Clea froze in her spot. She turned around to the voice and almost couldn't speak.

"K-Kain," she couldn't help the stutter.

In front of her stood her first boyfriend and of course ex. From the looks of his crisp, blue uniform. Seems he stuck with the navy here in her dream world. He was probably giving her the same look she was. Confused, a little angry, and surprised.

When was the last time she saw him? In June? When they graduated? But, she remembers even during graduation they didn't say hi to each other. But, he looks the same. Of course even though it's been years she still stalked his social media. She was a little bitter when she found he only grew even more handsome through the years. But, still stuck with the boy-next-door look. If they didn't have a nasty break up, maybe she would of teased him for sticking with his same hairstyle from high school. Brown hair that frames his forehead. The only difference in this dream is that he's a little tanner.

"I'm surprised you let your parents drag you here," he asked with narrow eyes.

Clea snorted and flicked her hair back a bit. "As if, how do you know my parents are the reason why I'm here? Maybe I came on my own and maybe I already seduced some men."

"Because scaring away the busboy is surely a way to attract men," he deadpanned.

Clea flushed in embarrassment. She then turned her head away from Kain. "I didn't know my parents were bringing me here just to look pretty. Wouldn't have come if I knew."

There was some silence between the two. Wow, thanks dream, she thought, running into her high school sweetheart was not an awkward moment she wanted to experience. However . . .

She quickly glanced Kain up and down.

He still looks as good in his photos.

"You're still the same then," he said with a smile. Clea couldn't help but blush at the familiar smile. The one that still made her heart beat a little faster. "Selfish."

Her mouth dropped a bit from the word, and her heartbroken a little. With the same smile he turend and began to walk away from her. And with every step she grew angrier. He was the one who was selfish. He was the one who ruined their relationship. They were supposed to go to the same college. Graduate. Get married. And live happily ever after. If he didn't throw their relationship away, she wouldn't be struggling with her current love life right now!

"M-Miss Asher! Here's your whis—

Clea turned and grabbed the drink from the busboy, making him yelp, and turned back around to try and throw the glass towards Kain. But, that was when the glass from all around her shattered and there was an explosion.

Clea, standing next to the ballroom's windows, was thrown to the ground from the explosions impact.

She got whiplash from it and struggled a bit with where she was at. From around her, the situation was fuzzy, but soon she was able to focus and started to hear the sounds of screaming and frantic running.

"Miss Asher!"

Was that Collete?

She then felt hands attempt to pick her up from the ground. Looking up she saw Collete for the first in her life with a look of concern. Clea was able to get on her feet and the second she did Collete began to lead her out of the ballroom and to the exit of the home.

"C-Collete, what's going on?"

"Pirates, Miss Asher," she responded.

Clea wanted to stop right there in her tracks. Seriously? Pirates? Why pirates? She's never dreamed of pirates! She didn't care for pirates!

"Your parents have thankfully escaped and are waiting for us at the back of the manor. Oh dear, this is just a disaster."

It was then that from in front of them one of the door was blown down, and uncharacteristically Collete let out a high pitched scream and clung on to Clea. Clea didn't know what should have shocked her more, the explosion or Collete's scream.

From the room came some ruffians in dirty clothes with weapons. They surrounded the two with weapons pointed. Clea rolled her eyes at the situation. How cliché.

More poured out from the room, it wasn't until the last person walked out that Clea froze and at the same time desperately wanted to wake up.

"Well, looks like I finally found you Clea," the man hummed.

"Oh, you've got to be shitting me," she whispered.

Jackson Timber, her horrible last ex, was a pirate.

____________________________________________________________________________________

So sorry this is so late! But, here is it! Next chapter we'll see Rufus again, and more Kain and Jackson, so you guys will actually figure out their characters more. Also, maybe get to understand more about Clea in the next next chapter.

Thanks so much for your guy's patience and thanks to everyone who reviewed! ^^ They seriously helped me feel better about this story :)