"Alek." She called him from down the hall. He started running toward her. She looked like Deryn but had long blond hair, in ringlets, and a soft light blue nightgown that made her eyes look as though they were glowing. She was radiant.

"Yes?" He was panting.

"We need to talk." She was not happy.

"Alright." He was nervous. She was always smiling, always laughing. What has Volger done?

"Why didn't you leave?" she inquired.

"I want to stay on the Leviathan." The best way to get out of this is to answer straightforward and honest.

"Why?" her face is blank.

"I like it here." Where's that smile?

"Are you sure that's all?"

Yes "No…" what are you saying?

"Continue." With what?

"I don't want to leave you." He said. Oh, that.

"Why is that?"

"I have feelings for you that I don't want to admit." What are you saying? If you ruin this friendship you can't get it back.

"Oh really?"

"Yes, I love you." But I shouldn't.

"There you go." Now she smiles, and her face lights up. The hall gets shorter and the light turns on. They are in a ballroom and his parents are dancing to an invisible orchestra. Her soft, simple blue dress becomes a ball gown. He's still in his pajamas.

"Excuse me?" he's back in the dark hall. Her face falls.

"You've confessed."

"You knew?"

"No, you're dreaming." Back to the ballroom. "Your subconscious knew, you just needed to say it."

"Oh I see." He lies. In the hall again.

"No you don't."

"And what am I missing, may I ask? Because this back and forth thing is making me dizzy and I would like to speak with my parents."

"You have to ask yourself."

"If this is a dream, then you are myself, and I am asking you."

"Just think, you dummkopf." He shouldn't have taught her German. Now in the ballroom, they dance side-by-side with his parents. They look so happy, so in love as they dance across the floor; almost happy to be away from the torment of society telling them that it's wrong for them to be together.

"I love Deryn, but I don't want to tell myself, because she's common and I've seen how that worked out for my parents. Volger has already seen to it that even 'Dylan' is out of the question. Even if 'he' is a 'boy'."

"There you go! Good boy!"

"Deryn wouldn't say that"

"You've come to realize your new weakness, boy."

"No, that would be Volger."

"You see, your princeliness?" Slap back. "You're smart when you want to be. You just have to think."

"There we go" he smiles, she smiles back, they continue to dance.

Then Alek wakes up. I need some air.

As Alek walked, he thought. He thought about his parents and the Leviathan and Volger and his future, but mostly he thought about Deryn. He wondered and pondered and thought. How could they be together? How could he tell her? Did she like him? Would she like him? Would she run? Where would she go on a flying whale?

Alek was distressed. He knew it, too. But he didn't know how distracted he was, or how far he had walked, until he literally ran into her, the cause of his anxiety. They fell facing each other.

"Barking spiders." Deryn moaned, rubbing her bum. "That barking hurt."

"I'm so sorry! Let me help you." Alek got up quickly and reached for her hand.

"No." she looked sad. "I can do it myself."

"I just wanted to help."

"I know." Deryn sighed. It wasn't sad; it was pained. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't snap."

"Are you alright?" he touched her upper arm. "You look upset about something. Can I help?"

"Stop!" She looked close to tears, but slapped away his hand. "Stop being so bloody nice all the time."

"What's wrong with you? Did I do something to upset you?" Alek was genuinely concerned for his friend, although his voice came off as angry.

Another sigh. "Alek we have to talk." She led the way.

Alek begin to worry again. That sounded like his dream, but she wasn't happy. Maybe she knew?