The Dream Bear

t w o

I see her smile in her sleep; I know that she's a dreamer.~Chiodos: Notes In Constellations

I wrapped the coat around me, snuggling into my scarf as I made my way across campus. It had been a month since I'd gone to the club. Since I'd had sex with Wade. I shivered thinking about it, deciding the only reason I felt that way about him, even now, was because he'd been my first. When I thought back on that night, I couldn't believe that I'd given myself so freely to him. It wasn't like me, and there was a reason I'd been a twenty one year old virgin. But his very presence had me wanting to jump his bones. I hadn't seen him since, and I tried to tell myself that I wasn't disappointed about the fact. 

I kicked at the thin layer of snow, holding my bag slung over my shoulder. I walked faster, puffing air out of my lungs, but refused to slow down. It was easily only ten degrees out, and I was already frigid. I wrenched the double doors of the building open, stepping inside and sighing in relief as the heat embraced my skin. The hall wasn't too busy, but there were still a few minutes to spare until the class began. It was my first day in the course, and I was excited. The course would delve into legends, and of course, dream interpretation. I'd wanted to be able to study that since I was a little kid, always wondering if my dreams had ulterior messages, things I couldn't yet comprehend. I turned to the right, opening the door to the large room. I took a seat in one of the middle rows, not wanting to be outcasted but also not wanting to be the center of attention. The professor was already in, writing things on the board down in the front and drawing symbols. 

"Is this seat taken?"

His voice. That voice would always be recognizable. 

I looked up slowly, like in the horror movies where the killer was standing behind the girl and as long as she turned her head slowly, the killer wouldn't...well, kill her quite yet. I gulped, taking in his appearance. He still looked as drop dead gorgeous as he had when we'd met. He wore dark wash jeans, red kicks, and a red T. He had a black coat slung over his arm. A red baseball cap hung from one of his belt loops, and I just about wanted to...

I shook my head, and snapped my open mouth closed.

"Wade." I acknowledged him. "No...it's not taken."

He smirked at me as he sat down in the seat beside mine, as if he knew the effect he had on me. I turned my attention back to the board at the front of the room, trying to distract myself from his presence. But all these plans went out the window when his arm rested across the bench, behind me, and his fingertips parted my hair, tracing across the sensitive skin of my neck. I feigned a couch to hide the shiver that passed through me. 

"Don't hide your reactions, Everleigh. They make this so much more...interesting."

"I didn't think I'd see you again," I commented, trying not to dwell on what he said. 

"Yes, well, I did say maybe I'd see you around. So, here we are. We've got a lot of time on our hands, don't we? Together for this course."

"Yeah...uh huh." I murmured. I refused to look back at him, sure he would be smiling that dazzling smile. 

"Ever," he whispered, and suddenly he was really close. His arm still rested behind me, but his other stroked my knee; his breath fanned across my ear. "I can't get that night out of my head."

I didn't bother hiding the shudder that passed through me with his words. "I can't either."

"Let's grab a coffee after class. I know a place." His hand had travelled up my thigh, and my hands clenched around the desk's edge. I forced one of them to reach down and push his away. 

"Okay. But no touching," I compromised. He chuckled a little. 

"I'll try."

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