Dream Boy

Chapter Twelve

I have been laying in bed, staring at the book Evan left behind, for probably three hours. I know, it's a little weird. But I have a good reason. Yes, I thought about leaving him messages in the margins, but a) that seems a little stalker-ish, and b) it's a library book. I've been staring at the book for so long because it is a book about dreams. No, not the same creepy one Taylor had bought me for Christmas, but still, it's a book about dreams. It explains what your dreams mean, or attempts to anyway, and it explains how you can predict your future through them. Obviously I have to read it, right? I mean even if it seems like bogus, I still have to read it.

I stop halfway through, hit with a wave of guilt. Maybe I shouldn't read it; it feels like I am reading something personal and private. But then again, it came from a public library. I crack open the cover and begin to read again. I will not put it down again until I have taken in every word, every picture; I need to know if there is any clue that can tell me if he is having similar dreams.

Most of the book is bogus; it talks about how if you see certain colors it means certain things. One thing does catch my attention though: there is a chapter titled Your Dream Prince Charming Could be Real. The corner of the page is turned down, dog-eared. I frown...disrespect to the book man--use a bookmark! I roll my eyes at myself and read the chapter with a glimmer of hope; Evan had read it too!

Have you had reoccurring dreams about a special someone? If so, they may be real! Your brain may make up how they look--or maybe not, maybe you've seen them before without knowing.

I pause for a moment. Evan did say he lived around here, so maybe I had seen him at some point.

Your brain is trying to tell you that someone is out there, looking for love just like you are. Go and find them! Remember, the one you love may not always resemble the one in your dream. It is the emotions you feel around the person that are similar.

Maybe Evan isn't the one. Maybe it really is Christian.

***

The next morning, I carry the book in my bag, ready to give it back to Evan in English class. We still have a week left until our project is due, but the class seems tenser than normal. Everyone wants to impress Ms. Gables with our first big project, so stress fills the air. And stress, it's contagious. Very contagious.

I walk into class, book in hand, ready to walk over to Evan's desk. But he isn't at his desk. He is standing over Christine Rainette's desk. She is laughing, her face slightly pink, and his is inches away. I sigh. Maybe the book is right about the dreams. I walk over to his desk and leave the book on top. I am about to walk away when Evan looks up from Christine's eyes and sees me.

"Hey, Sarah! Wait!" I turn back around and can't keep myself from smiling as I see the look on Christine's face. "Thanks for bringing that back! I couldn't find it anywhere. Did I leave it at the library?"

"Yep. Sure did. Interesting choice of a book." He looks at me, confused, and then laughs.

"Well, I remembered that you told me about your dreams, and I wanted to see if I could read up on it and give you some answers. You know, as a thank you for doing so much work on the project." Sarah, you are so stupid. I totally forgot that I told him about my dreams.

"Oh, yeah. Right." I laugh awkwardly...never try to force a laugh. It's not cute, trust me. "Well, thanks. I hope you don't mind, but I read some of it too." Actually, you read all of it, liar.

"Oh, cool. Well, it didn't seem to help much, but um, I hope you find your prince charming then? Wow, that sounded awkward..." This time I laugh for real.

"Thanks, really. Well, the bell is about to ring, better get back to my seat."

"Yup, yeah, you do that." Okay, he seems strangely awkward and uncomfortable. Christine's beauty must be messing with his head. Eye roll.

*****************************************

"Okay, class. Today is the day! Are you ready to present your projects?" A lame "yes" fills the air, responding to Ms. Gables' enthusiasm. "First up, Christine and Christian. I just love how your names are so similar!" Wow, she gets excited by the strangest things. "I randomly picked the order," she sure likes to pick things randomly, "so you won't know if it's your turn next! Don't you just love the suspense?" No, Ms. Gables. I really don't.

Christian and Christine walked to the front of the class, and she begins explaining their project as he cues up the smart board.

"Hello, everyone. Today you will be traveling into one of the world's most treasured love stories, Romeo and Juliet." I gag slightly. I do not want to see my almost-boyfriend "fall in love" with Christine. "Our assignment was to make a short film," oh thank goodness, no live action, "placing the story in another time period, like many film producers have. We chose the future in space as our setting." She turns and looks at Christian, and he nods, signaling her to continue. "And now, we present to you, Galactic Love."

I roll my eyes (this has become a really bad habit) and prepare myself for major cringing. The scene opens with Christine wearing a silver dress, standing in front of a green screen image of space. She is standing on a balcony, probably one at her giant house, calling down to Christian who is attempting to fly up with space boots. Apparently her uncle is a movie producer, so they had a little help. All in all it was pretty impressive, but also really corny. They only hug, thank goodness, and the credits roll. They even had the Star Wars text thing in the beginning. I am left feeling like I have been told 10,000 dad jokes--I had cringed that many times.

"Oh my, that was spectacular!" The class claps along with Ms. Gables, but all the students faces read the same thing: how are we going to get full credit after that? "Alright, up next we have Evan and Sarah!" Oh, here we go.

I slowly stand up from my desk and meet Evan at the front of the room. He begins his part of the introduction, and I stand there, awkwardly nodding.

"Hello class. So, the play we had to read was Much Ado About Nothing. It is a comedy in which two characters that seemingly hate each other are tricked into falling in love."
"We decided to write a rap, replicating a scene in which the two characters, Benedick and Beatrice, argue. We hope you enjoy." I survive that part...now I only have to survive the rap without sounding ridiculous.

"Yes he's her father, but he's just an old man." Evan starts, setting the beat, while I try to pretend that no one is watching.
"Wow, you're still talking? No one's listening cuz nobody can." There are a few "ooh, burns" from the class.
"Lady of scorn, why aren't you dead?"
"How could I die in front of your selfish head? Even Lady Courtesy about you has read, and turned to scorn, your presence has led."
"Well then, she must be a traitor. All the ladies love me, no one's a hater. But you, you hate me, and it's okay. I don't love anyone, any day."
"Oh, thank goodness, I feel blessed. No woman has to deal with you, though I confess--I feel the same. I'd rather hear a dog bark than a man call my name."
"Well, I hope you keep thinking that, so you don't scratch a man's face."
"Well, it wouldn't make it look any worse if he was in your place." That one gets them laughing, and I try not to lose composure.
"You're just repeating back like a parrot would."
"I'd rather be a parrot than you if I could."
"I wish my horse moved as fast as your mouth, I can't take it, that's it, I'm out."
"Oh, boo boo. You never change, You always leave the argument with that exchange." I smile, so glad that we are done, but my smile falls as Evan kept going.

"In the end, the characters have a change of heart, and that's where the love did start. With that in mind, I'd like to ask Christine something, if you'd be so kind?" He looks to Ms. Gables, and she nods, just as confused as I am.
"I hope I'm not stepping too out of line, but Christine Rainette, will you be mine?" Christine and I put our hands over our mouths at the same time. "Christine Rainette, will you be my girlfriend?" But, what--they haven't even been dating yet!

"Of course, of course! Aww, that was so cute!" She squeals and ran up to the front of room, and the classroom filled with claps and whistles. I stand there awkwardly next to them as they hug, clapping without even thinking about it. I force a smile (which is worse than a fake laugh, to be sure) and slowly walk back to my seat.

Well, now I knew, what the book said was really true.