Maybe

Chapter 9: All in Your Head

"Jordan," I said calmly, not bothering to turn around. "What do you want?"

We had appeared in the woods this time, sitting on boulders that dotted the banks of the river in a forest nearby my mom's house.

"To talk to you. But you don't seem to like me very much." His deep, sandy voice seemed loud, in comparison the the quiet of the forest and the rushing of the river.

"It tends to alarm a person when people they don't know regularly visit them in their dreams."

"Once doesn't count as regularly."

"What about twice? And that weird thing you did on the bus? What was that?"

Jordan merely shrugged, watching me intently.

"You're not like them," He paused, as if to think if he should continue or not. "You're.. Different."

"Thank you for that little philosophical moment."

"No - really," He looked frustrated, as if there was something he couldn't tell me but felt he should be able to.

A bird called from somewhere nearby, it's melodic song dancing in the wind. We just looked around, anywhere but at each other. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, just at peace. The wind ruffled our hair as is blew gently, bringing in the fresh smell of summer.

"How do you know Bayla?" I asked, breaking the trance.

"She can do this too."

I sat up, surprised. I had expected him to say that he says her at some store, or their parents knew each other--even that he was her boyfriend-- but not that. In a way, I was relieved that they weren't dating, but still. Its not something that usually pops up in a conversation.

"Shit!" He looked alarmed that he had told me about Bayla, his dark eyes wide, and his casual posture disturbed. "I really wasn't supposed to tell you that. Now you're stuck with me," He half joked, looking sullen.

"I've gotta go, but I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay," I said, closing my eyes.

'Bayla?' I texted, 'C u in class, but I need to talk to u'

Content, but anxious, I bit my lip and set down my iPod.

...'§-§'...

The day was painfully normal, I reflected, sitting in the library beside Bayla.

A shadow caught my eye, and I looked up to see Jordan entering the library.

I scrunched up my eyebrows in confusion - I'd never seen him here once, all year. Bayla noticed my expression, and perked up, following my eyes to Jordan.

He looked into my eyes, and I felt warm and happy as he walked over to me and Bayla. He nodded at Bayla, and I felt slightly panicked as he opened his mouth, his gaze set on me.

"Hey, Pierce. Remember me?" I shivered, knowing how strange it was that I'd accepted the fact that I could visit him in my dreams. Or did he visit me?

"Yeah." I curled my hands into fists and dug my nails in. "Why?"

"I wanted to see if you'd be interested in going to the Valentine's day dance with me." He said it with a touch of nervousness, but without making it sound like a question.

"Sure?" I cocked my head at him, and he laughed. A deep, harmonious sound that made joy pulse through my veins. I cracked a smile.

"Cool." The relief in his voice was evident in the way he exhaled, like he'd been holding his breath.

I let myself take him in- his whispy black hair, his strong jawline and how when he smiled, it reached his eyes.

"So, do you want a book?" I asked him, glancing around the library. I believed that a book could solve any problem, even if it's only temporary.

"Yeah," He smiled, nodding.

I barely touched the ground as I swooped over to the CLA section, and picked out a copy of The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare, one of my favorites. I set it down in front of him, and explained the plot.

"There are five right now, but the sixth is coming out soon," I added.

"I'm taking it," he assured me, flipping it open on his way to the checkout.

When he returned, I tapped the seat on the other side of me.

-How is it? - I felt my voice echo in his head, and my eyes grew wide as he looked up at me.

"How did you do that? How did she do that? Bayla! How did she do that?" Jordan gaped at me, astounded.

"What? Is it her?" Bayla shut her book.

"I'm right here! Someone tell me what the hell that was!"

"Please keep it down!" Mrs. Johnson reminded us, "Or we'll have to separate you."

"You," Jordan lowered his voice, "Shouldn't be able to do that. How did you do that?" He was terrified and impressed, he was urgent and worried.

"I just.. I don't know. I wanted to ask you without disturbing anyone, and then I heard my voice in your head. Shit, is it bad?" They were scaring me with their urgency.

Bayla's tone was a menacing whisper. "No one can do that. No one. It's impossible. It's.. No."

They looked distraught.

"Try.. Try it again," Suggested Jordan, trying to figure something out. I could see the gears turning in his head.

-What the fuck, guys?- I demanded, stretching my voice to Bayla's mind, like string unraveling.

"How." Bayla looked pale, and scared.

I needed to get them back to reality. "Out. Now. The bell rang, and I'm not going to be late for lunch." I didn't eat lunch in the cafeteria, neither did Bayla, but he didn't need to know that.

I grabbed her books and piled them on top of mine, grabbing her arm and pulling her up.

Jordan ripped a piece of notebook paper out of one of his notebooks, and scribbled on it furiously, before setting it on top of Bayla's books.

"Seriously, call me," He didn't mean it in a flirty way, just like it was life-or-death important. Great.

"I will. Now we've got to go." I turned around and Bayla followed me out, looking at Jordan for help.