In Your Dreams

49 || Phoebe Summers

There’s something different between us now. Even I can tell that the air between Emmett and me has shifted. It’s subtle, but I feel it. Chances are, he can feel it too. Maybe everyone else has noticed it, too, but it’s impossible to ignore. Emmett’s been a lot more relaxed around me, less distant, less cold and mean. Maybe he’s finally accepted that I’m going to be here for a while. Or maybe it’s something else. It’s hard to tell.

Though, I have to admit, my heart did skipped a beat or two when I thought of something else entirely. A slow smile even formed on me lips even after thinking about other reasons why the air had shifted between us.

But the realization of how little time I have left with them makes the feeling heavier. It's like lightning stuck directly to my chest after that realizatio. The foundation week is almost here, and I only have a few more weeks with these guys before I leave this band for good. That thought settles in my chest like an icy stone. I didn’t expect to get attached to them, especially not to Emmett, which was the most surprising thing that had ever happened. Never in my life I would have guessed that I'll be attached to Emmett fucking Larkin. But here we are, attached and confused, and the countdown has already begun ticking down.

I want to enjoy what I can of these last few weeks, especially now that Emmett seems to have softened. After that chat and time with him at the cafe, the air around us feels lighter. It’s strange to think of him being this… nice, without a hidden agenda. Usually there's some kind of motive underneath his nice attitude. But not this time, though. It feels genuine.

I was so lost in my thoughts when Emmett speaks up, pulling me back to the present. With a shake of my head, I turn to glance at him, pretending that I've already had listened to him from the start.

“What did you guys do last night that made Lance eat a ton of sour belt candy?” His voice is playful, and he turns to Alecks.

The three of them exchange glances, before shrugging in unison. I can't help but laugh softly, the sound escaping before I can stop it. I immediately cover my mouth, but it’s too late. Their eyes turn toward me, and I quickly meet Emmett’s gaze, offering him a small smile.

He narrowed his eyes at me for a while second, and I maintained eye contact through it all. There's a look in his eyes that I don’t think I've seen before. It’s new, something warmer, almost like he’s truly seeing me for the first time. I wonder if he realizes how much that look affects me. God, I hope he doesn't. That would be embarrassing. I would rather let the ground swallow me whole that to ever let him notice that he's doing to me lately.

Emmett looks back at the others, still waiting for an answer. “So? What happened last night?” He asks again, his eyes flicking from one to the other before landing on Samuel.

Among all three, Samuel is the one that looked most suspicious. The way he shifts his gaze around, avoiding Emmett's eyes every second was quite obvious.

Samuel lifts his head, clearly aware of the tension, and gives me a brief glance. The “SOS” in his eyes is hard to miss. I shake my head slightly, trying to silently tell him not to worry. But Samuel, to his credit, doesn’t hesitate for long before speaking up.

“After the rehearsal yesterday, I told Lance we could go to the candy shop near the dorm,” Samuel explains sheepishly. “We kind of got carried away. I brought a bunch of gummy bears, and Lance bought a ton of strawberry sour belts.”

I can't help but grin at the mention of sour belts—those were my childhood favorite. Suddenly, I feel a familiar longing wash over me. A memory I thought I’d buried deep comes rushing back, and the feeling of sweetness and sourness mixes in my chest. It’s bittersweet, and for a second, I feel overwhelmed.