In Your Dreams

28 || Emmett Larkin

Something is wrong. I don't know what it is, I just felt like something is wrong.

When unsettling feeling doesn't subside, I slowly open my eyes to see what's going on. I half-expected to see Phoebe with a knife inches above my chest, but instead of that gruesome image, my eyes got struck by a kaleidoscope of sunlight that dapple through the canopy of soft, rustling leaves. The soft sun illuminates the delicate veins and vibrant hues of the leaves as they gently sway against the peaceful azure sky.

My eyes blink several times trying to make sense of this. I could have sworn I've fallen asleep on the couch inside the rehearsal room. Why am I suddenly outside, lying on the blades of grass below a large oak tree? Unless Phoebe had carried me to here and left me stranded. I shake my head at that thought, since it's impossible for that to happen—I would have at least woken up from how bumpy it took for her to bring me here.

The only last thing I could make sense any of this is that I'm dreaming again. This must be a real vivid dream if the surrounding scenery is this peaceful and solid. I slowly push myself until my back is resting on the trunk of the tree. I glance around, looking for anything out of the ordinary. When I thought this will be a normal dream—without Phoebe—my eyes slowly close and simply enjoyed the peaceful feeling of the soft breeze touch my skin.

Although, I may have spoken too soon since I can hear a distant crunch of grass with each step slowly approaching to my direction. I didn't bother to open my eyes since I already know who it is, and I'm afraid to have my breath blew away at the sight of her face again.

“Hey, you don't mind if I have some of your donuts, right?” Phoebe's familiar soft voice entered through my ears that forced me to open my eyes to finally look at her. It appears that she's still wearing the same clothes she had as I remember before falling asleep. But the bag of donuts that's in her hand, while the other is already holding the donut I've stolen from her in the cafeteria earlier.

Yeah, this is definitely a dream. She wouldn't hold me hostage in the middle of nowhere just for a donut. That's too much work for something that only costs five bucks.

“Not at all, you have the rest of it.” I mutter before shifting around and place both of my arms behind my head as I lean down on the trunk. I was expecting her to go away with her donuts, but I felt the shift on the ground that made me pop one eye open. I watch as Phoebe slowly sat down beside me until her back is also against the trunk. “Why are you even here?” I ask, despite that I'm well-aware this is certainly a dream and nothing about this is real.

The donuts she's eating right now, isn't real. The tree with its rustling of leaves isn't real. Her being here, sitting on the soft blade of grass, her back against the trunk of the tree, isn't real. Even after repeating those words, I still feel curious about her. This is the only time when I can trust myself being vulnerable to her, since she's also vulnerable towards me.

Phoebe shrugged her shoulders, “I like hanging around with you. I don't know why—” She pauses before stuffing a small bite of the donut. Her voice is now slightly muffled due to the donut she's chewing. “But I feel safe and relaxed when you're around. Despite the tension between us—it's weird, that's what I'm feeling.” She finally swallowed down the donut she was chewing before stuffing another bite of donut. Half of her words I was a hard time hearing it. By the time she finally stopped talking, she turns her head away from the distant azure sky and met my gaze. The corners of her lips lift into a small smile, there are smaller chunks of chocolate that got caught on her lips.

A hand of mine had lifted and was about to wipe the chocolate off from her lips myself until I've stopped myself. Instead of wiping it, I lift a finger and point at the direction where there's chocolate on her lips.