Briar was panting. Staring straight ahead, he recalled what he had just seen.
That dream had been so real, so chillingly real that it scared him. It had been so life-like....and yet, it had never happened. It was not like the other dreams; the events in this new dream had never taken place in real life. This one had shown two alternate realities; a world where he had come too late to save Evvy at Lady Zenadia's mansion, and one –Briar shivered—where he had not come at all.
This new vision had been specifically about Evvy, that much he was sure of. The message behind it, however, was a bit cloudy for Briar to make sense out of.
They had seemed a bit like a warning to Briar. Almost like it was telling him to act, or something dangerous could happen to Evvy. What he should be acting for, he could not fathom.
Briar tried to run a hand through his sweaty hair, but found he was unable to. He looked down and saw that he was already clutching a small hand in his own.
Glancing up, he saw Evvy's startled face. She blushed a vivid red and stuttered, "I, I um....well I was s-supposed to come in to—"
"Evvy!" Briar exclaimed happily, pulling her into an enveloping hug.
Explaining the dream to himself had not been enough to soothe his uneasiness. However, seeing the Evvy he knew best sitting before him had erased all of his doubt and worry. Once he had caught sight of her, he knew that there was no need to be concerned.
"It was all a dream," he whispered, clasping her tightly, not daring to let her go for fear that pulling away a mere inch would cause him to lose her forever.
In contrast to Briar's joyfulness, Evvy was petrified. She was paralyzed with shock. Her heart beat so fast and violently against her chest that she wondered if Briar could feel it himself. She wished he would let go; the sudden flutterings in her stomach had begun to make her feel nervous. Evvy had never felt such sensations before, and the thought scared her.
It took all of Evvy's will to find her voice and squeak, "Pa-pahan? You're-you're squeezing the life outta me."
Briar, suddenly realizing how long he had been holding her, abruptly let go as if she were contagious with a disease. Briar felt his face burn. Horrified, he turned away and looked down. "Sorry Evvy. I just...." he trailed off.
Evvy was making escape plans in her head when she noticed Briar's earnest attempts at avoiding her gaze. Examining closely, she realized that her teacher's cheeks were splattered with red. Her own embarrassment was replaced by curiosity as she leaned in closer to validate her observation.
"Are you blushing?" Evvy asked, trying to catch another glimpse of face. Briar angled his head in the opposite direction, attempting to look anywhere but at Evvy's rapidly approaching face, fearing that if he did she would start laughing. Forgetting to ask himself why he cared about what Evvy thought, he made an effort to scoot as far away from the girl as he could.
This girl was not in a patient mood.
Evvy seized his wrist, dragging him toward her so she could look him in the eye. "And you say I'm fussy." She frowned and questioned, "What's wrong with you? You usually blush only when there're pretty girls around, unless....." Evvy eyed Briar's blankets suspiciously.
Briar's head snapped up. Ignoring his student's hint that something inappropriate had taken place, he asked hotly, "Pretty girls? How shallow do you think I am? If I'm not mistaken, there's one right—" He was cut off as Sandry burst into the room.
Smiling broadly she announced, panting in between, "They're here! Briar, Evvy you should—" Sandry's eyes enlarged when she saw the awkward position her two friends were in.