Awakening from my dream, I opened my eyes slowly and stretch my hand to reach for my phone. It was 6 o’clock. Yawning and stretching my body, my first thought was to remember my dream. What had I dreamt? Was it about Oliver? Maybe it was about Kristin? I’d have to write down everything I remembered. I would post it in my forum later on.

I kicked off my blankets and stared at the ceiling. Seeing as I couldn’t see much, I reached for my glasses. The ceiling didn’t look familiar. I racked my brain, trying to find out where I was. Then I remembered. I was in a hotel in New York, because I won a contest. The price was a 4 day trip to New York. There was also a surprise included, but I didn’t know what that was yet.

I just got enough time to grab my clothes together, call my friend to take care of my cats and grab my passport, before I headed to the airport. There my ticket was waiting for me. My first trip to New York! I was excited, for sure, but also a little nervous. I never travelled that long on my own before. But here I was, in a hotel in New York. True, I had arrived the day before, but was so devastated from the flight, that I had spent my day sleeping and walking around the hotel.

A little ray of early sunlight was trying to creep through my window. I stood up and grabbed the phone from the table. What had the lady told me the night before? Just dial the number on the phone for room service? Looking at the phone, sure enough there was a number on the phone. I punched the buttons and listened to the phone ringing. After three rings someone picked up. “I’d like to order up some coffee please?” I said after a mumble from the other side of the line. “Room 14G, thank you”. I smiled, thinking about the room number as I hung up and placed the phone back.

As I stood up, I felt stiffness in my body that let me know I needed to ask for another pillow. Quickly I shuffled to the bathroom and turned on the hot shower. The heat of the water melted my stiffness like snow in the sun. I quickly washed my hair and enjoyed my shower for another couple of minutes, before I turned it off. I would enjoy my day today. I had all sorts of plans in my head. Shopping, checking out what musicals were playing on Broadway and maybe do some sightseeing.

Grabbing a bathrobe, I stepped out of the shower. As soon as my feet touched the icy floor, a shudder went through my body. I would have to remember to were slippers when I came in here. Quickly I put on the robe to keep in the heat of the shower. I stepped on the bathmat and stared up in to the mirror. I whipped my hand over it, to remove the steam that had formed on it. The person staring back at me looked like a zombie. Well, that wasn’t something new, I thought to myself. I brushed my teeth and blow-dried my hair.

I walked in to my room again and went over to the window. I opened it a crack and listened to some birds chirping their morning song. It was awfully quiet for a New York street, I thought. But then again, what did I know of New York streets? Plus, it was only a quarter past 6 in the morning. Most people would probably still be asleep right now. The weather seemed nice enough, like it was gonna be a warm day with a nice breeze. I decided to dress in jeans, a t-shirt and wrap a vest around my waist. If I got cold, I could always wear the vest.

I was just making my bed, when a soft knock on the door let me know my room service had arrived. I opened the door and let the guy put the tray on the bedside table. Since I had no idea how much to tip the guy, I gave him 5 dollars and prayed he wouldn’t find me a cheapskate. I wasn’t rich; I had a normal job, owned my own house and paid my own bills. I shouldn’t feel worried about what I was tipping the guy, right?

I poured some coffee, added a little milk and went back to the window. A sweet breeze was coming in to the room, bringing with it the scent of fresh bread and cinnamon. I inhaled deeply and sank down in a chair. I took a sip of my coffee as I watched the sun rise higher in to the sky. Not a bad way to start the day, not a bad way at all. I sighed deeply, feeling a sense of relaxation come over me.

I decided I would try a little meditation. I got up from the chair, cleared the room a little so I could draw a circle big enough on the floor that would represent my meditation circle. I opened the curtains a little further, put on my cd player and stepped back in to my circle. I sat down crossed legged and breathed deeply until I felt my whole body relax and my mind seem to wander away from the room. I sat there for a while, feeling completely calm and happy, when I noticed something was different in the room. I opened my eyes and turned around slowly. When I looked at my bed, my mouth fell open in surprise. There, sitting on my bed, legs pulled up, her hands resting lightly on her feet, looking at me sweetly was none other then my idol.

Kristin Chenoweth.

I just gaped at her, my eyes wide and all the breath knocked from my body. She smiled at me and I closed my mouth abruptly. “You’re… you’re…you!” I could barely say out loud. She laughed, a nice melodious laughed, filling my stomach with butterflies. “Yes, I know” she responded. She got up from the bed and walked over to me. She stuck out her hand and I just looked at it, like it had appeared out of no where. “I’m Kristin” she said. I stared at her hand and then suddenly I realised how stupid I was acting. I stood up quickly and wiped my hand on my jeans “I know” I blurted out. She laughed again. I could just die right there on the spot “I mean I’m Monique”. She grabbed my hand and shook it firmly. “Nice grip” I commented “that means you have a strong character” I looked in to her eyes and smiled. “I’m happy to finally meet you” I said with sincerity in my voice.

After we shook hands, I glanced around the room and notice it was a bit of a mess since I put all the furniture to one side. “Oh!” I exclaimed “I apologize for the mess” I took those view steps to the table and dragged it back to where it was before. Kristin stepped over and helped me put the chairs back. “It’s not so messy, it’s not like you have dirty underwear lying around or something”. That stopped me dead in my tracks. I quickly glanced around the room to see if I did have clothes lying around, but beside a few books and art supplies, nothing was out of the ordinary. I sighed of relieve.

Only then it struck me that I was standing in a room with Kristin Chenoweth, like it was normal. I sank down in my chair and poured a shaky cup of coffee. She sat down too and looked at me “what are you doing here?” I whispered, my hands clumsily trying to add that touch of milk, spilling it all over the table. I cursed under my breath as I grabbed a napkin and cleaned up the milk. Kristin giggled “you remind me of myself” she told me “I get clumsy too, when I get nervous” I smiled my gratitude at her for trying to calm my nervous. She took the milk and poured it in to the coffee and stirred it gently. “Sugar?” she asked. I shook my head “no thanks, I don’t use sugar in my tea or coffee”. She handed me my coffee and sat back, a grin on her face that I didn’t understand.

It took me one sip of coffee to find out why she was grinning. The coffee was stone cold. I swallowed the coffee and grimaced at the bitter taste it left behind. Kristin burst out in laughter “gross” I said as I shook my head. “Why did you just do that?” I asked her. “I’m sorry” she said, wiping a tear from her eye “you were just so nervous, I thought I’d play a little trick on you to calm you down.” I put down my cup and stared at the floor. I just got pranked by Kristin Chenoweth, how did that make me feel? I felt pretty stupid, to be honest. I glanced up at Kristin, who was looking at me. “I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings” she said, placing her hand on my knee. “I didn’t mean too, I thought a little joke would calm you down” I sighed again and smiled at her “it’s okay” I said, nodding my head “I just feel stupid, I guess. I just don’t understand how the coffee could get cold so quickly. I ordered it like 20 minutes ago”. I could almost imagine the little radars in Kristin’s brain rotating, forming questions “what time did you order it?” I thought back. “It was just past 6”, pointing to my telephone on the nightstand. Kristin cocked an eyebrow at me “what?” I asked “it’s almost 10 o’clock” she said looking at her wristwatch. My mouth fell open “I have been staring at you meditating for at least half an hour” she continued.

I jumped out of my chair “what?! You had been there for half an hour and you didn’t say anything? How did you get in to my room?” I looked around bewildered, looking at the bed, at the place where I was meditating. Spotting Kristin’s tiny shoes by the door. “Why are you here anyway?” I still couldn’t figure it out why this goddess was in my hotel room, I thought as I set down again. She pulled her legs up in the chair and looked at me “I am your surprise” she sat and smiled again. I think at that point my brain shut down “you’re what?” I muttered “I’m your surprise” she repeated again, smiling even wider. She must really like the reaction she had on my, a little voice in my head told me. “The contest you entered, that won you this little trip to New York, the surprise that came along with it? That would be me”. For the thousandth time my mouth fell open. “Close your mouth sweetie, you might pull a muscle if you keep doing that”.

My head was spinning. Was I still dreaming? That must be it, it was all a dream. I sat back and smiled “this is a dream, isn’t it? It would be the only way I could explain why you are here. I’m actually still asleep, maybe winning the contest was a dream too” Kristin looked quite amused “well, can a dream do this?” she said and pitched a high note, right there in front of me. I smiled widely as I remembered the many times she had pulled out that high note out of her hat. “Actually, I’ve dreamed about that before”. That stopped her “you did? Wow, I didn’t know I could do that” she laughed again. “Anyway” she said as she looked at her watch “you have until 10 to realise you’re not dreaming.” I got up and cleaned the coffee tray away “what happens at 10?” After not receiving an answer, I turned around to her and noticed her chair was empty. So it was a dream!

"Are you ready to leave?" a voice said from behind. I spun around quickly and saw Kristin standing there "where are we going?" She handed me my coat and shoulder bag and opened the door for me. "We're gonna have so much fun today!" she beamed at me.

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