Dreams

Chapter 1

No one ever told me falling for someone wasn't like floating down from a cloud, more like falling swiftly from a tree and hitting every branch on the way down.

I know I should just forget her, I only knew her for a semester but damn. That smile could light up a room, she's the only one that's ever made me like this. I could get lost in those eyes, dark and vibrant all at once, like morning light filtering through linen sheets.

Her touch still lingers on my skin, and the worst part is I think she knows it. I know "heyyyy ;P" isn't super creative but leaving me on read for a week is not what I expected.

"Hey, Alex. You good? Your coffee's gonna get cold." Filters through the white noise in my head, snapping me out of my daydream. Very quickly I realize where I am and wish I was still dreaming, Zara doesn't seem to notice though. She knows how spacey I get.

I look up and nod in response, a stray strand of hair falling from my headphones, wasn't quite long enough to stay. "I'm good Zar, just thinking." I mumble as I lift the aforementioned coffee to my lips, as the aroma fills my lungs I see flashes of her face but I'm quickly snapped back by the realization that my drink had indeed gotten cold already.

"It's way too crazy out there, we'll be stuck for at least another hour." Zara says as she sips from her own drink, steam still rising from the green liquid. I wasn't exactly listening but I still nod and  let out a simple "uh huh" as an agreement to what I assumed was a statement about the weather.

Zara starts to catch onto my distant state, waving a hand in front of my face before gently flicking me in the forehead with her manicured nails that stung more than she probably realized.

"Girl you gotta get out of your own head." She huffs, knowing she's the only person on earth that can get away with calling me that. I nod in agreement once more, raising a hand to rub my forehead. "Look I invited you to coffee to hang out. Not for you to be mopey." She continues, tapping a finger on the table to keep my focus like a parent jingling car keys in front of their toddler.

I slope down into my chair, burrying myself into the plaid scarf she'd forced me to wear. She's right, I hadn't been very good company, but I have a good reason. Or at least I try and tell myself I do. "You're right Zar, I'm sorry. I'm shitty company right now." I say, barely audible from the layers of fabric muffling my speech.

"It's ok, I know what your problem is." She shrugs. Does she know? I didn't tell Zara about her, is she really as psychic as she keeps saying? "You don't like the cold either, got a case of seasonal depression my friend." She states, confident in the validity of her answer.

She wasn't entirely wrong so I nod and shrug in agreement, averting my eyes before she has a chance to read the real reason from them. I can't even say this girls name but she's made me a complete mess, what is wrong with me.

I stand abruptly and reach down to grab my unintentionally iced coffee, brining it back to the counter to ask for a fresh one. While I wait I find myself studying the barista, the smile she gave me, the bounce in her step as she prepared my drink. I cannot believe this, I'm actually hallucinating.

Before too long the barista sets the coffee mug back on the counter with a sarcastic "Now don't let this one get cold." That I replied to with a quick smile and nod before grabbing my drink and returning to Zara.

"You should get her number." Zara whispers as I sit, catching me off guard to the point I nearly spill my freshly made coffee. I set the drink down rather aggressively and turn to give my friend the stink eye. "What? She's pretty, you're a mess. I can't always solve your problems. You need a date or something." I sigh and lean back, my gaze fixed on the ceiling.