Dreamjumper

Chapter Eleven

"Are there any crosswords or something we can do while we wait?"

I slouched down on the themed white couch in Mr. Webb's office; Alistair sat beside me, twirling a glinting green ring on his finger. This simple action reminded me of Kim - I wondered if she suspected anything, if she was angry that I'd just completely ditched her for what she likely assumed was The Best Wait.

Alistair pulled the elastic off his wrist, tying his hair back as he replied, "Unfortunately not. But that will certainly be a future investment."

I tried to rack my brain for conversation. It was still incredibly nerve-wracking speaking to him - it was fine when I had had questions about the society, but now that I couldn't really think of any, I was suddenly shy. I was an extrovert through and through, but I was certain that anyone would be rendered speechless talking to someone like Alistair. I couldn't even look at him without staring, let alone strike up a conversation with him.

It was too bad, because he had made a good first impression. He seemed really kind and good-natured, albeit incredibly serious and introverted. He had stepped in front of me to protect me from the other dreamjumpers, and offered to escort me through the main building - if that didn't make a good impression, I didn't know what would.

"... Are you okay, Anne?"

I was suddenly jolted back into reality at the sound of his calm voice.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why do you ask?" I replied, hoping that he couldn't tell that I had been thinking about him.

He leaned back on the couch, his long hair now secured in the elastic; this made it easier for me to look at him without gaping. I didn't think I'd ever get used to his otherworldly appearance.

"I know I cannot possibly understand it, as I was born and raised a dreamjumper - but it must be difficult for you. All of this -" he waved a gloved hand around the room - "would be overwhelming for anyone."

I suddenly wondered why I wasn't reacting the way a normal person would. I was supposed to ask questions about everything, run out of the building, make a big scene ... but for some strange reason, I didn't feel the need to. It was the numbness of shock again.

I decided to vocalize this observation in a sudden rush of confidence. "I think I might be in shock right now. Let's hope I don't have a delayed outburst," I said, raising an eyebrow at him.

"We have enough of those already in the dorms," Alistair replied, and for the first time since we'd met, he fully smirked. It was an odd look for him - most of the time he was straight-faced, occasionally smiling.

"You really don't like the dorms, huh?" I asked, once again pulling on the loose threads of my sweatpants.

"Definitely not. But I must live there, to prove that just because I'm Lius's grandson, I do not receive any special treatment," he explained with a shrug.

"Grandson?" I exclaimed, bolting upright suddenly. Lius had to be in his early thirties - certainly not old enough to be a grandfather.

Alistair rolled his eyes only slightly, and nodded in confirmation. "Yes. Lius has ways of keeping himself young. He is what, now ... two hundred forty-six?"

My entire face had drained of color at this new information. I prayed to God that dreamjumpers aged - the last thing I wanted was to be sixteen years old forever.

"So ... how old are you, then?" I asked weakly. If he said anything older than twenty, I was sure that I was going to faint right then and there.