When the girl didn’t move, Gavin summoned her near with…

““When the girl didn’t move, Gavin summoned her near with his fingers. His heart thrummed as she obeyed, stepping up close to him. Her young stature was much shorter than his tall, wiry form. Gavin regarded her prettiness—pale cheeks, pink lips, inquisitive eyes. Fascinated by her, he longed to know her name. “Who are you?” he asked. He heard the girl utter the same question at the same time. Cocking his head, he claimed, “I asked you first.” “No you didn’t,” she protested, shaking her red-hooded head. “I asked you at the same time you asked me.” Gavin grinned at her insistence. It was hard for him not to chuckle. “Well then, I suppose we’ll have to go with ‘girls first.’” His grin widened into a white smile. The girl gestured to herself. “I’m Little Red Riding Hood.” He recognized the name of a fairy tale character and groaned under his breath at not having discovered this dreamer’s real name. “Actually,” she confessed almost immediately, “I’m not really Red Riding Hood. My name is Annabelle, but I’m pretending to be her because… well… because this is my dream and that’s what I wish to dream about.” Oh glorious day! He had learned her name! Annabelle! Annabelle! What a perfectly sweet sound was this utterance of… Annabelle !””

— Richelle E. Goodrich