Chapter Three
At first the dreams were pretty vague. They were usually clearer than the images I had seen on the sidewalk the other day, but they still didn't make a whole hell of a lot of sense.
The first one seemed to be a continuation of what I felt when I had touched those leaves. When the dream first started, I thought I was just reliving it, but then the scenery changed. Instead of a multitude of colors, everything was in black and white. I saw my hand crunch the leaves, but as the remains fluttered to the ground, the point of view changed. As if I were one of the leaves, I looked up into my own face as I fell.
I felt like screaming when I saw my expression. My face was gaunt and my eyes looked almost frightfully dead. I was sickly pale, as if I had never been out in the sun. But that seemed highly unlikely since I could feel the warmth of it, though I couldn't actually see it. The dream always ended with a muffled noise that I couldn't make out and then my eyes suddenly sprang to life. Then I was turning and running towards or away from something.
At first it just seemed like a strange nightmare, but then my dreams started to vary.
In another one, it still doesn't have any color, but I can tell I'm running through a forest. The dirt is soft and smooth, almost like sand. My feet start to sink into it every time they land, but in the next split second I raise my foot and continue sprinting. The wind starts out as a gentle breeze, but the farther I get into the woods and the more anxious I feel at never reaching the end, the harsher it becomes until it's suddenly pushing me backward. I want to shriek for help, but with a simple slap of air, it's blown away. My muscles tense and somehow I get it into my mind to try jumping through the gales. Suddenly I'm lifted through the air and catapulted backward. This nightmare always ends the same as well. Just before I make contact with a huge tree, I wake up.
The shortest of my dreams is also the most frightening. Probably because it's the least clear. There's no sound either. Everything is like a fuzzy old silent movie. There also seems to be some gaps, where time slows down so much the vision just turns black. But only for a second because in the next heartbeat everything speeds up before stopping and repeating the cycle. I can only make out a few parts. First, I'm in a small room and I can only see a few inches in front of my face, but I can feel something soft under me that feels cushiony, like a bed. I get a strange knowing feeling, though I have no idea where I am. Then everything goes black and when light reappears, I'm walking down a hallway faster than humanly normal. I only catch glimpses of doors and a few other people, but I can't make out their faces. I feel something touch my hand and when I look down, I see that someone has slipped their hand in to mine. Before I can look up and register who it is, everything goes dark again. When I can see again, I'm on a hard, cold surface looking into a bright light. Then in the creepy warp speed, people appear above me that are all wearing scrubs, aprons, masks that cover their mouths, and they're wielding sharp operating tools. But this time I can't even open my mouth to scream because I realize I can't feel anything. One of the 'doctors' starts to lower his knife towards my middle and to emphasize just how scary that moment is, the speed slows down til it looks like he's trying to cut through jello. Finally everything gets sucked into darkness and then I wake up.
I haven't told anyone about these dreams because I know what they would say. They're just dreams. Nothing true or real about them, though they may feel like it. I shouldn't put too much thought or weight into them or I'll go crazy.
Too late, I was already there.
Original Cindy and Sketchy haven't forgotten what happened on the sidewalk either. They've been walking on eggshell for the past couple days, waiting to see if it'll happen again. I choose to ignore it as best I can and don't offer any semblance of an explanation other than I had just felt lightheaded, probably from lack of food, and fainted. That was all. Now I vowed to always eat a healthy breakfast and my mom would watch me. I didn't acknowledge the supposed seizures specifically because I couldn't think of anything to say.
I tried not to let it bug me that all of that was basically a pack of lies. Especially since I hadn't even told my mom what had happened. I kept expecting my pants to blow up at any moment. But apparently I was saved from any third-degree burns.
They didn't really believe me, I could tell. I've got hardly any practice in the lying department, so little in fact that the reason they aren't openly confronting me about it is probably because they want to trust me. But after what's been happening to me lately, I'm pretty sure that's a luxury I'm going to be deceitfully stretching to within an inch of it's life. Guess I better get used to it.
As if I'm Ms. Go With the Flow. Hah. Not.
Another interesting-or antagonizing, however you wanna look at it-change in my life came once again in the form of Alec. He was now officially in four of my six classes. Since I hadn't been in first period the first day, I hadn't realized he was in my PE class. So imagine my surprise when I come out of the locker room dressed in shorts and an old faded shirt that had a rabbit with a red bandage over his foot with the words 'unlucky' written above it, and found his smirking face. Then I mentally vowed never to wear that shirt again since it was obviously prophetic.
"Ah Christ..." I muttered and immediately maneuvered OC to stand between us while we waited for our instructor, Mr. Garrison, to come down the stairs and unlock the doors to the gym. It didn't take him long and luckily Alec didn't try to talk to me. At least not yet.
While we were doing warm ups, I made the mistake of venting to Original Cindy.
"Why didn't you tell me he was in this class?" I asked as we ran back and forth between the bleachers thirty times. I saw her roll her eyes.
"Why do you care? It's not like he's in your way. You're not the one who has to sit next to him in squads."
"We hardly do anything that's strictly in only our squads anyway. But you do see why he's so annoying right? He drives me insane." This time she just shook her head.
"Something's obviously going on between you two..."
"Don't even think of referring to him as my 'boy' again." As soon as the words left my mouth, our topic of conversation appeared suddenly at my elbow.
"Hey Maxie. Enjoying the run?" He asked, matching my stride easily when I tried to speed up. I could hear Cindy puffing alongside me.
"It was great before you came, now it's steadily going downhill," I snapped. I ignored the look Cindy gave me, refusing to analyze it even though I knew I was acting like a bitch for no apparent reason. "Go away."
"Aw Maxie you can't mean that. We're good buddies right?" He nudged my arm with his and I felt a charge go through me. After a sharp inhale of breath, I forced my legs to go even faster and I bolted forward. To my chagrin, Alec still managed to keep up.
"If by good buddies you mean someone who'd just as soon drop an anvil on you then yes, I consider us the best of friends," I retorted through gritted teeth. This only made him laugh.
"You don't mean that either," he replied, sounding very sure of himself.
I had lost track of how many times I'd run back and forth, but I didn't care. As soon as we reached one of the sets of bleachers again, I stopped and whirled around, jabbing my finger into his chest. He cocked a single eyebrow and stared right back down at me.
"Find me an anvil and watch me go," I growled, hoping he would just get the message. The corners of his mouth twitched briefly, as if he couldn't decide whether to smile or frown. Before he could make a remark, I turned and walked towards the other side of the gym where some of the others had finished running.
That was what all of our interactions consisted of. Smart-ass comments, uncovered frustration, and an undercurrent of something I still wasn't quite sure of. Needless to say, my senior year was definitely chock-block full of stress by the end of the first week. Now something else was going to be added to it. Something that I hadn't been sparing a single thought for lately.
College.
As was customary for the senior class of our school, on the first Saturday of every year-which just happened to be today-we'd go on a field trip to the local college to see the basic components of what it'd be like.
The instructors always tried to form the seniors into some semblances of groups, handing each a list of all the things they deemed important for us to go and 'drink in the knowledge'. And every year the seniors ignored them and just met up with friends to explore the campus on their own. Most ended up in the cafeteria or on the football/soccer/track field, depending on the weather on the day of the field trip. As today was particularly warm with the unmerciful sun trying to turn us all into little puddles of sweat, the favorable spot was the field. Though the caf was probably air-conditioned, living in Seattle didn't exactly offer many days like this so we usually took the rare choice.
Original Cindy, Sketchy, and I had already been to the campus plenty of times since we knew a few of the people that went there. One in particular we always came to see.
"Maxie!" His familiar deep voice sent a huge grin flying across my face. I turned to see him striding towards us, the sun making his blonde hair shine golden. His grin matched mine as he picked me up in a huge hug.
"Hey Zack," I greeted between laughs. "Stop showing off your strength and put me down." He complied but kept one arm around my shoulder. He said 'hello' to OC and Sketchy by way of bumping fists. I rolled my eyes. "How ya been? Wishing for good ol' easy high school work yet?" He let out a huge comical sigh.
"Always. I'd give anything for Wilkins' high-pitched squeaky voice trying to explain the importance of proteins over my new science teacher's droning voice. You can never tell how excited he is over something. He regards the biggest issues in this world with the same enthusiasm as if he were just explaining why he picked a blue tie to wear instead of a black one."
Sketchy gave him a dubious look. "Dude, Wilkins was your teacher freshman year." Zack just stared right back at him, waiting for him to get it. He didn't.
"He's just saying that compared to the work he gets now, freshman year of high school was the best year and he misses it. Right?" OC clarified. Sketchy smirked as he finally got it.
"Well...that joke fell flat on its face," Zack commented. I rolled my eyes and lightly cuffed Sketchy's shoulder.
"Nah, he's just being extra slow today. I found your joke hysterical," I retorted sarcastically. Zack gave my shoulder a squeeze.
"Guess you just saved your laughter for the inside."
"Don't I always?" Zack made a disbelieving noise and playfully pushed me away.
"Ha ha. See if I tell another joke around you again." I pretended to think it over.
"But the occasion is so rare I don't especially believe it'll throw the regular course of my life off its axis. Probably the opposite will happen." I turned to Cindy and Sketchy. "Don't you agree?" Zack let out a small growl and grabbed me again, ruffling my hair.
"Am I interrupting something?" I felt Zack stiffen as I lifted my head to see the newcomer. My hair blocked the view since Zack had mussed it around and I hastily swiped it away from my face.
The guy looked a few years older than Zack with spikey blonde hair, though his was slightly darker than Zack's. He wore small, silver-rimmed glasses that almost hid incredibly blue eyes. By the neatly ironed clothes he had on and the two thick textbooks he was carrying I guessed he was either a serious book worm or a professor. As I stared at his eyes the traitorous girly-girl in me prayed that he was just a book worm; the lesser of two evils in this case.
"Not at all." The sudden coldness in Zack's voice startled me and my eyes immediately snapped to his own blue ones. The tense silence was confusing and incredibly unsettling. I looked over at Sketchy and Cindy to see their reaction. They seemed to be having the same thought process I was. Cindy loudly cleared her throat and offered her hand to the guy.
"Original Cindy," she introduced as they shook hands. The corner of his mouth turned up and I caught a glimpse of straight, white teeth.
"Logan Cale," he replied. I glanced up at Zack again as Sketchy introduced himself as well. He was still watching Logan with icicle eyes. I gently prodded his stomach with my elbow. As soon as he let his gaze drop down to mine, the icicles seemed to melt. I smiled at him in silent question. I heard and felt him sigh, as if he were giving in to some big request I'd asked of him.
"Logan's my new roommate," he suddenly announced. I looked back and forth between them in surprise.
That's how Zack reacts to his roommates when they come by? Geez.
"Interesting," I commented out loud. "I thought you lived with Zane?" Zack nodded.
"I still do. But with his new job, girlfriend, and all that he's hardly around."
"There was just enough room for a third," Logan added, smiling a little. I didn't even realize I was smiling back like an idiot until I saw Cindy giving me a weird look. Logan kept his eyes on me. "I haven't got your name yet." Zack shifted uncomfortably next to me, which I still didn't understand.
"Max," I replied.
"Nice to meet you, Max."
"You too, Logan."
"Great, now we all know each other. Anyone else starving?" Zack suddenly interrupted. I glanced at him again. Why was he being so weird?
"I could stand to eat something," Cindy said before quite obviously elbowing Sketchy's side.
"Umf...Me too," he stated quickly. I rolled my eyes for the umpteenth time that day.
"Guess we're going to the cafeteria," I said to Logan. He nodded. "Wanna come?" I saw his eyes fleetingly meet Zack's before answering me.
"I've got some things to do in the library first," he said, holding up the textbooks as if to prove his point. "But if I get done early I'll gladly join you." I smiled.
"Great. Hope you can." He nodded again.
"Thanks. It was nice to meet you all," he gave a wave as he headed in the opposite direction we were taking.
As soon as he was out of earshot I slapped Zack's arm. "What was all that frostiness back there? You looked ready to claw his eyes out if he made single move you didn't like." Zack didn't look at me.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he replied calmly. I made a 'phffing' sound.
"Whatever," I muttered as we neared the cafeteria. There were plenty of empty tables. "Alright. Better get a table before they all disappear." I was being sarcastic but I received three weird looks anyway. "I gotta make a run to the little girl's room. Be back in 5." Before they could say anything I hurried off in the direction of the bathroom.
And of course with my non-existent luck, collided with Alec. This was becoming quite the common thing. I glared at him as we both steadied ourselves. His green eyes were laughing.
"How come whenever we meet you're always hurrying off somewhere?" He questioned with that usual cocky smirk. I smiled dryly.
"I think you're mistaking my busy schedule with the urge to get away from you." That stupid smirk didn't even waver. So I looked pointedly at the girl's bathroom sign. "What exactly do you think you're doing loitering around here anyway?" He somehow managed to make his look both incredulous and deadpan.
"I've found the best time to pick up a girl is..." I interrupted him by slapping my hand over his mouth.
"Forget I asked. I should've known you'd make some crude comment." I felt his lips spread into a wide smile beneath my hand and I quickly let go, ignoring how soft they'd felt. He put his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels, suddenly Mr. Casual.
"So how have you found this college so far? Are you considering attending next year?" he sounded like such a pansy-ass I started to smile and forced myself to stop, but I could tell he'd seen it. "So the girl can smile...Interesting." I instinctively tipped my chin up a fraction of an inch.
"I smile plenty, thank you," I retorted, not caring I sounded like a petulant child. He grinned at me.
"So I've noticed," he replied softly, locking eyes with mine. My stomach did a funny little flip flop. Why did his eyes have to be so green? Then I felt that familiar fuzzy feeling creeping around my body and I felt my jaw tighten. He was deceiving me in some way, I knew it. But I was still clueless. I mean, maybe this wasn't deja vu I was feeling. Maybe it was just nausea...
Ha. Yeah right.
"You okay?" A voice startled me out of my reverie. I was still looking at Alec but he clearly hadn't spoken. I could tell because his mouth was pursed and he was looking disapprovingly at someone who wasn't me. I glanced over at the newcomer and instantly recognized Logan.
I couldn't help it, a big smile spread across my face.
"Hi Logan," I greeted. Then I remembered he'd asked me a question. "Yeah, I'm fine." He smiled, seemingly satisfied with my answer and turned to Alec, who was giving him the same steely treatment that Zack had. But Logan didn't pick up on it, probably because when he spoke, his voice was the same as it always was and consisted of none of the coldness that Zack's had. It was laid back.
"Alec," he introduced with his usual smirk. Only his green eyes were showing the slightest glint of something unfriendly. "You're Logan I take it?" He nodded.
"Yeah that's me." Alec's smirk widened.
"So what brings you to the girl's bathroom?" Logan and I both gave him startled looks, probably for different reasons. I felt like tackling him for being such a smart ass.
"Uh, well I just finished at the library and Max had invited me to join her and the others when I was done." Alec's eyes flew towards mine for a split second but I couldn't read the expression they held. "So I came in but saw her over here, with you, and the others at a table. I came to say hi and see if the invitation still stands."
More coldness began to show in Alec's face, but his voice still didn't waver from its usual happy-go-lucky sound, even though what he said next wasn't exactly gentlemen-like. "How courteous. How old are you?" Logan's brow furrowed.
"Excuse me?"
Alec's smirk widened. "You know, age, old man. How many years do you have?" Then he looked at me. "You too Maxie." Now I really wanted to hit him.
"You know how old I am," I growled.
"Yeah, but does Mr. Spectacles?"
"I'm a senior here," Logan replied uncomfortably. A blush had steadily crept up his neck. He glanced at me. "I assumed you were a freshman." Alec let out a snarky laugh.
"Well when you assume you really just make an ass out of you."
"Okay, we're going. Lovely talking to you," I snapped sarcastically at Alec and put my hand on Logan's arm to guide him away. Alec's face became hard as soon as Logan's face was turned. His voice was even scarier.
"Always a pleasure," he snapped as well. I blinked in surprise, but turned around nonetheless. He'd never gotten angry before. It was too startling to think about.
"There you are..." Zack's voice trailed off as he noticed my hand still on Logan's arm. I quickly dropped it and cocked an eyebrow at him. He smiled but it was a little tight. "That was longer than five minutes." I shrugged.
"Got ambushed," I replied before realizing I probably shouldn't tell Zack about Alec. But he only squinted at me and Logan. "Did you order food already?" They all gave me weird looks again. "What?"
"It's not a restaurant, boo. You go buy your food at one of the little mini 'walk-thru's," Cindy commented with an eyebrow raised. I felt my face redden.
"Ha. I knew that..." I glanced at Logan in embarrassment, but he only smiled. I relaxed. "Well have you 'bought' your food then?" They shook their heads. "Well, uh, how 'bout I go get stuff for you? I'm feeling generous. What do you want?" After they gave me their orders, Logan offered to help me carry everything. I agreed of course because I didn't want to be rude. I was not as OC later said, giddy.
"So, how old are you?" Logan asked as we waited in line at one of the burger places. I laughed uneasily. Damn that Alec. "If you don't mind my asking."
"No, it's fine. I'm, uh, seventeen. I'll be eighteen on Friday." His eyes widened slightly.
"Seriously?" I nodded, biting my lip and refusing to look at him. "Then you're a senior in high school?" He sounded hopeful. I would have laughed if the situation wasn't so uncomfortable. I nodded again and I actually heard him let out a small sigh of relief. I allowed myself a smile at that. "Then you must be a part of that field trip, when the seniors come every year." More nodding.
"Yeah. I've been here a few times before though. Zack's an old friend."
"How long have you known him?" My brow furrowed and I nibbled on my lower lip as I tried to remember. I saw his eyes fleetingly lock on and I almost cracked up.
"Um..."I began, trying to hold in my laughter, wondering what brought on this strange hysteria. "Since I was about eight, I think. You could ask him, he's always had a better memory than me." He nodded in understanding, smiling. He did that a lot. But it wasn't like Alec's smirk. It was more genuine and didn't make me continuously feel like he knew something I didn't and enjoyed watching the gears in my head furiously try to figure it out. The stupid ass...
My sudden frustration must've shown on my face because Logan looked at me, slightly concerned. "You okay?" he asked for the second time that afternoon. I could only nod and force another smile on my face. I didn't want to tell him about Alec. He didn't really seem to believe me, but he didn't push it either, for which I was grateful.
Once we got all the food and brought it back to the table, I was feeling very comfortable around him. And throughout lunch I found out he was twenty-three, loved pasta, wine, and cats. He told a very cute story about his old cat whom he called Fluffer Nutter. I can't remember anymore, but I swear I was listening and not just staring at his eyes. Really. I also found out he wanted to be a reporter, so he was majoring in something to do with journalism. I really was paying attention, it's just slipped my mind for the moment...
Anyway, eventually he had to go work on a project. But we managed to exchange numbers without Zack noticing. Don't ask me why I decided to keep it from Zack at the moment, I think it's pretty obvious from his earlier behavior that he'd get plenty pissed.
Then our principal announced over the intercom that all the high school seniors were supposed to report to the front of the campus if they wanted a bus ride back to the Lakewood. Otherwise we'd have to find our own transportation.
I didn't want to leave yet since I hadn't seen Zack in a while and I still wanted to talk to him. But OC and Sketchy both said they had to get home.
When I hugged them goodbye, OC whispered in my ear, "Please tell me the reason you're staying is because you want to tell him about your little 'episode' last week." I swallowed. "And not just 'cause you're hoping to get another glimpse at your new boy-toy." I rolled my eyes.
"I thought Alec was my boy-toy," I muttered mockingly. She glared at me. "Alright, fine. But I don't see how he could tell me anything new. I already told you why it happened."
"Don't take this personally, but you suck at lying." I could only stare at her. I knew she was right, but it wasn't like I'd thought of a better excuse yet. She looked like she was gonna say something else, but Sketchy interrupted.
"Come on OC, I don't want to get left behind like on that trip to the EMP last year..." he said. Cindy gave me one last warning look before leaving with him. Then it was just me and Zack.
"What episode was she talking about?" he asked bluntly. He never was one to beat around the bush. I searched frantically for another lie but found none, so I just repeated what I'd told OC and Sketchy even though it had already proven to be pretty sucky, especially since Zack probably knew me better than either of them.
Or not.
He studied my face for a few beats, then he slowly nodded. I tried not to let my relief show. "Well, what else is new?" he asked with a light-hearted grin. That simple question got us babbling for the rest of the afternoon.
I told him about my mom's sudden promotion and how we moved into such a prettier house. I told him how she still won't let me have a car and I was considering just jacking one, except I knew nothing about cars. He told me about how his parents were pressuring him to do better in school, join more sports teams, etc. They've even hinted that maybe he'd be better off in the army. Shocking, huh?
We wandered all around the campus and he pointed out certain teachers that I could look forward to if I went to this college next year and the ones I'd need to have my guard up with. He also introduced me to a few of his friends. Before we knew it, the sun started to slide downwards. Merciful as far as the heat went, but it meant I had to get home.
Zack offered me a ride. I pretended to think it over.
"Well, what kind of car would you be allowing me to grace my presence with?" I asked, as if I gave a crap or knew the difference between a Toyota and Honda Civic. Zack smiled.
"I don't have a car," he said simply. I stared at him with my eyebrows raised.
"Then how exactly are you planning on getting me home? Flying like Superman?" He laughed and shook his head.
"No, I've got a motorcycle." I felt my jaw slowly drop.
"A motorcycle," I repeated dumbly after a few beats. He nodded, enjoying my astonishment. "When...in hell did you get a motorcycle?!" My face had broken into such a huge grin of excitement I'm surprised I didn't bite my own ears. "What kind?" As if it made a difference.
"Ninja 650."
"Color?"
"Black." I nearly keeled over. "I've always wanted to ride on a motorcycle. My god Zack, I love you!" I threw my arms around his neck. He laughed as he returned the hug.
"Nice to know what makes you happiest." I scoffed and pulled away, but kept a grip on his shirt.
"Where is it?" I asked, even though I was already headed in a general direction, tugging him behind me.
"Keeping going straight, it's in the parking lot at the front of the school," he replied, still laughing at my eagerness.
When we reached it, I nearly keeled over again. It was so pretty! I felt like a raccoon, being attracted to the shininess of it all. I looked up at Zack hopefully.
"Can I drive?" He rolled his eyes.
"Please, like I want to get in a crash or arrested," he replied as he swung one leg over the side. I pouted, trying to work my 'feminine charms'. He just looked at me after he put on his helmet, handing me one.
"I'd drive real careful."
"Hah. Still no. Now get on. I don't want your mom chasing me with a broomstick for not bringing you home at a decent hour." I rolled my eyes as I copied his movement and swung my leg over the side before wrapping my arms around his waist.
"Please. That was only when you took me to a 7-11 and all we had were slurpys and candy until nine o'clock. I'm seventeen now, not ten." He shrugged.
"All the same. I don't want to risk it. Those bristle things really irritated my skin." I laughed out loud.
"Whatever. Just drive then." I hurriedly gave him directions.
"'Kay, here we go." The sound of the engine revving was like music to my ears and I let out an involuntary squeal as we took off. I could feel Zack laughing as we roared down the street. I felt the urge to take off my helmet to feel the wind blow through my hair, but Zack would probably get mad. He's overprotective like that. So I hung on for dear life and just enjoyed the ride.
We arrived at my house way too soon for my satisfaction. I let out a pitiful sigh as I swung my leg back off the motorcycle.
"You so have to take me on that thing again," I stated as I returned his helmet. He smiled.
"Sure. Now do I get or hug or what?" I gave him a kiss on the cheek as well as a big hug.
"It was great seeing you again. Thanks a lot for the ride," I said as I pulled away. He had a slightly startled look on his face, but he quickly hid it by putting his helmet back on. Then he cleared his throat.
"Uh, thanks, yeah. Um, you too. See ya later," his voice sounded strangely constricted. I just smiled and waved before heading towards the door to my house. I heard him rev the engine and take off.
Someday I'd get my own one of those. Screw cars, a motorcycle was so much more fun.
"I'm home!" I called as I went inside my house. No one answered so I went upstairs to the kitchen. According to the note written in my mom's handwriting, she had to work late. I sighed and crumpled it up before throwing it in the waste basket. It wasn't the first time.
I went into the living room to grab my bag then headed towards my room. It wasn't that late yet so I figured I'd attempt to do some of my homework. I usually wait til Sunday night like a typical teenager of my generation, but I felt weirdly compelled to get it done.
One 500 word essay about the current situation in Somalia and 50 problems of math and science later, I was ready for bed. I stared at my blue-green quilt cover and matching pillows and knew I was done for. Nothing sounded better than changing into my comfy pajamas and sleeping the rest of the night away. Preferably dreamless.
Yeah, that'll happen.
As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was off to la-la land.
A sudden roaring noise made my eyes snap open. I flipped off my covers and ran to the window. All I could see in the dull yellow light of the street lamps was a motorcycle and a figure waving at me. I couldn't see their face, but I recognized the motorcycle.
It was Zack's.
I motioned that I'd be right down and quickly turned to put on some better clothes than a tank top and boxers. But when I looked down at myself, I saw that I was already changed into a gray t-shirt and the kind of pants that soldiers in the army wear. Camouflage.
It seemed a bit absurd to me, but I just shrugged and hurried out of my room and down the stairs. Zack was waiting.
When I exited the house, I noticed how eerily silent everything was. No infamous cricket chirps or even the slightest rustle of a branch. I looked up at the sky. It was pitch black. Not a single star.
At first I began thinking about how horrible our pollution is in this world, but then my gaze dropped down again.
The yellow light was gone. I mean, there was still light, but it was just white. I looked around at everything. It'd all transformed to black and white. Again, I only shrugged and walked the last few feet to where Zack was standing by his motorcycle.
I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. I looked into Zack's eyes and I suddenly realized it wasn't him at all.
It was Logan.
He smiled that easy smile of his, eliciting one from myself. I couldn't help it. It was just so...easy. He nodded towards the motorcycle, which was still the same. I knew instantly that he was asking for me to go with him.
Instantly I started to nod, but then I found myself hesitating. Something wasn't right. I looked up into his eyes again and I swear for a second they were an amazing shade of green. They were familiar, but for some reason my brain wouldn't comprehend whose eyes they'd reminded me of.
Then Logan took my hand and held it for a bit. It was surprisingly warm. Then he led me over to the motorcycle and gestured for me to get on. I complied and then looked at him expectantly, thinking he was going to get on ahead of me to drive. I figured he knew I didn't know how to maneuver one. Instead, that smile remained on his face and he got behind me. His arms wrapped around my waist and suddenly the motorcycle started.
But I hadn't touched it. I looked down at the handles, gas gauge, everything, trying to comprehend it as the bike started to steadily move forward. Without thinking, I gripped the handles and pushed forward on the accelerator.
The bike shot forward with inhuman speed. We were going faster than Zack had. Shocked, I lifted my foot off the accelerator. We immediately slowed.
The scenery had changed. Instead of the streets outside my house, we were in the same woods from my dreams. I looked over my shoulder to see what Logan thought of all this, but he'd disappeared.
I stepped off the motorcycle and touched my hand to a nearby tree. It was the same as any other tree, but for some reason it evoked some feeling that I was becoming familiar with.
Deja vu.
For a split second the woods transformed into another forest, one I would've bet big bucks, if I hadn't known any better, was the forest park a few blocks from my house. Which just confused me even more.
Then I glanced to the left and stiffened immediately.
Alec was leaning against another tree only a few yards away. He wore the same army fatigues that I did as well as his usual smirk. He unfolded his arms and waved at me. It was a taunt.
I took one step towards him and he suddenly sprinted away, jumping over tree roots that would otherwise trip him and pushing leaves and branches out of his way. Without hesitating, I took off after him.
It became exactly like my dream of running through the woods, complete with the sandy dirt and gradually harsher wind, with only one exception. I was chasing Alec.
When it came time for me to jump like I did in that other dream, something inside told me to do otherwise. I saw the tree that I would crash into if I tried to clear the wind. I sprinted around it, keeping Alec in my sight.
It seemed like forever, but eventually I got close enough to grab him by the shirt. I tugged and he retaliated by dragging me with him. A big hill appeared and we went tumbling down. I kept a hold on his shirt and he did the same to me. We amazingly missed all the trees and when we finally reached the bottom, we collided again.
Our limbs were entangled. I let go of his shirt first as I tried to sit up, but he yanked me back down. I could only stare at his eyes as his face was just a few inches from mine. I knew we were both breathing heavily, but I couldn't hear it. And why weren't his eyes green?
My brow furrowed as I tried to contemplate what was going on. That familiar smirk appeared again and to my shock he lightly brushed the side of my face with the back of his hand, but he didn't say anything.
I watched him for a beat longer, then we both sat up. He got to his feet first and offered his hand to me. I took it without hesitating, but when we stood together he didn't let go. I still couldn't do anything except look at him in confusion.
When he reached his hand up to my face again, I stepped away. I didn't understand anything that was happening. His expression wasn't one of hurt, though. He just cocked his head slightly to the side, waiting to see what I would do next.
I kept walking backwards and without warning a sharp pain shot up my leg. I opened my mouth to cry out, but of course there was no sound. Now Alec looked concerned. In a split second he was by my side. It startled me so much I fell over.
He grinned at me as he gently lifted my leg for inspection. He rolled the bottom of the pant leg up to see that a branch or something had scratched me. His grin turned into a smirk as he mouthed 'baby'. I hit his shoulder in response before looking down at my cut. My eyes widened in shock.
The blood coming out was bright red against the rest of the black and white scenery. I looked at Alec for an explanation. He just stared back.
His eyes flashed a brilliant green.
I blinked in surprise and in the single beat that took, he was gone.
I woke up with a gasp and stared at my ceiling, trying to catch my breath. That dream was definitely new. I lifted the covers and saw that I was still wearing my tank top and boxers, instantly feeling foolish for even checking. Then I felt a sharp pain in my leg and bit my lip from letting out the cry of shock that was bubbling in my throat. A wave of foreboding passed over me as I slowly sat up and lifted the covers all the way off my body.
There was a very obvious cut and dried blood around my ankle.
A/N-Heh heh. Hope you all are liking this so far. Reviews are incredibly appreciated ;o)