Maybe

Chapter 5: Dreamer

(This chapter on have yet to be edited)

The day is painfully long, and I have to drag my feet, and keep my eyelids from closing without permission.

If I shut them for too long, I'd see Nolan's palm, bloodied and torn, in the blackness.

By the time I got to the bus, and settled in beside Michaela, ready to look for Savannah, I was exhausted.

Slowly, I saw a tall, auburn-haired figure escape from the school, making its way through the snow, without his coat, in his Converse. The snow left chalky marks up to his knees, and I didn't doubt he'd be cold later. Or did I? Something about me recognized something about him from the dream, and I stared at his palm as he walked closer. Nothing. Maybe I was crazy.

He jumped up the stairs, and dragged his red-black coat on behind him. He caught me looking at him, and his eyes bore into mine for a split second. He inhaled sharply. My heart did a double-beat. He knew something.

Jordan nodded his head, ever so slightly, and I had a sinking feeling I'd get another dream, maybe more.

Just like that, he walked on.

That night, homework done, I decide to write down anything I remember from the dreams in my journal. I have a feeling it might help me, somehow. It was like there was a different person, a different mind, inside of me. It was as if I had memories I'd never experienced, and people I never knew just inserted into my brain. I wasn't sure if that was good.

I set the journal beside me, and lay down. Closing my eyes, I didn't bother prolonging the agony of the dreams, I just stepped right in.

"I'm not sure if I'll wear it, or even if I'll go," I'm telling a girl with a long brown ponytail. We're in a local dress-boutique, and I'm trying on dresses while she sits on a futon.

"You have to!" She pleads, " Go get it! I want to see it on you."

I sigh, giving in. I leave the room, and come back with a dove-grey dress that's down to my knees, skintight, and catches my every curve. Including my ribs. I need to eat more, I think to myself.

"AHH!" She squeals. "I love itttt!!" she adds, drawing out the last syllable. "It so matches your eyes!"

She's right. My stormy grey eyes are exactly the same color as the dress. It's kinda creepy.

"Maybe. Let me go find another one."

I rushed off, and returned in a black, sleeveless dress that reached the end of my thighs, hugging them. It wasn't something I'd usually pick out, but I had the perfect pair of boots to go with it.

"This is the one. This one is it." She claps her hands and stands up. "You are going to the dance and that's final."

Some of her enthusiasm has rubbed off on me, and I'm actually close to being excited.

"Fine."

Opening my eyes, I saw that it was 3 am. Quickly, I scribbled in my journal and turned over, welcoming a new vision.

"Hey. Over here."

A deep voice called out to me, sending shivers down my spine. I had a sudden urge to have my back against a wall, so no one could sneak up on me, but I could see nothing in the utter blackness.

A light flew on, and suddenly, I was at the park, sitting next to a boy on the bench.

I sighed, irritated. didn't even need to guess as to who it was- I could feel that it was Jordan.

"So. You had questions?"

He raised his eyebrows, nonchalant.

"Yeah, I have questions. How do you know me?" I snapped, standing up uneasily. Something in my gut told me I could trust him, but I didn't trust my gut right then, either.

"I think you know that. I think you know me."

"Give me an answer," I demanded, furious at myself for thinking about how hot he looked, sitting there, looking at me.. Stop!

"I-"

The lights turned back off, and I was surrounded by blackness again.

It lasted only a second, before my eyes opened.

Be-be-be-bee. Be-be-be-bee. Be-be-be-bee.

God DAMN IT! I was so close! So CLOSE!

I scrawled into my journal:

•Valentine's day dance? Black dress, tall girl

•Jordan, park, calm, no answers

Nothing useful. But maybe.. Could Jordan have something to do with the dance? Today was Wednesday, and tomorrow would be Thursday, and Valentine's day - and the dance - would be on Friday. I had a day until the dance.

I had to go to that dance.