I awake with a jolt. I let out a breath that I have probably held in while I was dreaming. My arms are shaking slightly and there is a light sheen of sweat on my forehead. I can still smell that familiar scent. I look around my room, finally recognizing the scent. I see Aerrow sitting at my desk, watching me. I try to get up, but fall out of my bed. I have somehow managed to tangle myself in my sheets. Aerrow rushes over to help me untangle myself and stand up.
"Thanks" I mumble, disoriented, as the light from my window stings my eyes.
"Are you ok? You weren't having another flashback were you?" Aerrow asks gently.
I smile weakly up at him and answer, "No, not really."
Once I am up on my feet, I hug Aerrow and bury my face in his chest. I hear him chuckle as he wraps his arms lightly around me. I sigh contentedly, happy that I am awake.
"Want to tell me about it?" He asks.
I shake my head and point to my scar.
"Were you in here all night?"
"Would you believe me if I said no?" He asks with a sheepish grin. I roll my eyes at him and give him a stern look.
"That's two nights in a row you haven't slept, you can't just stay awake all the time, Aerrow, and you have to sleep" I say.
"I did sleep, but your snoring woke me up," he says teasing me.
"I don't snore!" I say defensively, playfully shoving him.
"Ha-ha. You're right, you don't snore, and I was joking. But I did sleep last night, no need to worry" He says in his soft, velvety voice.
I let go of him and go to make my bed. Just then I remember that I had fallen asleep with the ring and necklace in my hand. I shake out the blanket and sheets searching for them.
"Looking for these?" Aerrow asks gently, handing me the ring and necklace.
"Oh thanks", I say, smiling up at him. I place them on my desk and continue making my bed. Once I'm done, Aerrow suggests we go get breakfast, to which I agree strongly as my stomach is rumbling loudly.
As we get to the kitchen, Finn is stuffing his face as usual and Piper is doing the dishes.
"Morning love birds", Piper says teasingly. I blush immediately, and stand there staring at her, shocked, "Calm, down, I was just joking." I breathe out a barely audible sigh of relief, and relax.
"Ha-ha, yeah I knew that" I feign a laugh, and proceed to walk over to the counter and start making breakfast. Damn it, I probably just gave it away, Piper will definitely know something's up now, I think to myself, and cringe inside.
"Phoenix, if you're not too busy later, could you come to the lab? I need your opinion on something," Piper asks over her shoulder.
"Uh, yeah, sure, what time?" I reply.
"Anytime is good, I guess, the sooner the better," she says.
"Alright, there's just some stuff I have to do first, then I'll be there."
"Ok" is all she says in reply.
I leave the kitchen and head back to my room. My clothes are still all over the floor, so I start tidying up. Without folding them, I throw them carelessly back into my wardrobe, trying not to think about what I had dreamt. When my floor is free of clothes, I take my ring and necklace and place them carefully back into their velvet pouch, which I decide to put into my desk draw instead of the wardrobe to avoid any future mess.
Flopping down on my bed, I let out an audible sigh. The sun shining brightly through my small window holds not much comfort or warmth for me, not after that dream...nightmare Yes, nightmare is the appropriate word, I think to myself. What did it mean? Has it any meaning at all?
"Probably means nothing", I mutter to myself quietly. Yet, I still have a strange feeling, a dark unfamiliar feeling in my lower stomach.
What did The Dark Ace have to do with anything? A small shiver runs down my spine at the thought of his name.
Most of the day has passed slowly, and to my surprise and relief, uneventful. I sit at my desk twirling a thread around my index finger that has come loose from my pants. Sighing boredly, I place my head on my hands and leaning on my desk, I try to think of something I can do to make this day finish quicker. Since one pm, it seems all the clocks have decided to go rather slowly, just to make me bored. I reach across my desk and pick up one of the crystals Piper gave me my for my birthday. It is a good quality Floater Crystal. It glows as I pick it up and the light pulses ever so slightly. I examine the angular contours of it, rolling it around in my hand, feeling the smooth faces of it. I place it back in its holder and return to playing with the loose thread on my pants.
Sighing again, and resting my head on my free arm, my thoughts wander back to my dream of the previous night. Maybe I am going mental, I muse silently, reining my thoughts back into the present. Piper had wanted my opinion on whether or not Fynn liked her. Hardly what I had expected from her of all people. I let out an uncharacteristic giggle at the thought of one day Me and Aerrow and Piper and Fynn possibly going on a double date. I decide to go find Finn and make him ask Piper out. I know they've got it for each other, but have too much pride to admit it.
Walking into the kitchen, I spot Finn stuffing his face.
"Hey Finn" I call to grab his attention.
"'Atsuppenix?" he mumbles with a mouth full of food.
"Put a bit more food in your mouth, then try talking, Finn" I say sarcastically. He rolls his eyes at me and swallows his food.
"What's up, Phoenix?" He asks his mouth now free of food. I walk over to him.
"Piper likes you. Go ask her out" I say.
"This isn't a prank is it?" He looks up at me, with hopeful eyes. I smile and reply "Nope". I turn on my heel and head down the corridor to my room.