I walked into class feeling like a zombie. I had stopped by the cafeteria to pick up a large cup of coffee. Last night had really freaked me out. It all felt so real. I know it was just a nightmare but the pain and fear... it was all too real.
I took my usual seat right next to Brenda. She was too busy looking in her mirror, fixing her makeup to notice me at first. When she finally did, her mouth dropped open.
"What happened to you?" she asked.
"I didn't get much sleep," I said, pulling the hoodie of my sweatshirt off my head.
"I see that. You look like you were hit by a bus," she said, bluntly.
I glared at her, "Thanks."
"I'm just saying."
"Don't just say."
Brenda didn't have time to reply, our teacher cleared his throat and began the lecture. All throughout class, I was constantly thinking about the nightmare that I had last night. It gave me chills every time I thought about it, but I couldn't get over how real it felt.
Class couldn't end soon enough. As soon as the lecture was over, I bolted for the door. I didn't bother to wait for Brenda, I just wanted to see Vince before my next class. I made my way to the campus' café where Vince was already waiting with a cup of coffee in his hand.
"Thanks, I really needed this," I muttered, taking the coffee from his outstretched hand.
He smiled. "I figured you did."
We walked for a few moments in silence while I kept taking sips of my coffee. I had to be careful not to drink too fast to avoid burning my tongue and throat. Vince was walking to me to class like he usually did but this time, there was some tension in the air. I couldn't place my finger on it so I gathered up the courage to ask him what was wrong.
"George called me in today," he said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Oh."
"I don't have to go in-" he began but I cut him off.
"It's okay. I should probably clean the apartment before Hazel comes next week."
Vince gave a nod. "You are a very messy person."
I lightly punched him in the arm. "It's all you," I mumbled, taking another sip.
He chuckled. "You'll be alright?"
We stopped in front of the Literary building where my English class was. I gave him to biggest smile I could muster. "I'll be fine."
"That's him. The cute one in my physics class," a girl about twenty feet away said in a hushed tone to her friend. "He has the black hair."
I smirked at Vince. I know he could hear their conversation as well.
"Go ask him for his number," the girls friend replied.
"Should I?"
Vince had a wicked grin on his face. I narrowed my eyes at him wondering what he was thinking. Before I knew it, he leaned down pressing his lips to mine. I smiled against his lips.
"What are you doing?" I asked when he pulled away.
He shrugged. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
I rolled my eyes. "I'll see later tonight?"
His face turned grim. "Tonight."
Class wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It went by faster than I had actually expected and the coffee that Vince had gotten me really helped. If I didn't have that coffee, I probably would've fell asleep.
I gathered all my things quickly shoving it all into my backpack not caring if it was organized or if I was squishing my papers. I threw my backpack over my shoulder quickly walking out of the classroom.
I headed towards the quad pulling out my phone from my back pocket. An unknown number had called me. As a breeze blew by, I felt a strange sensation of being watched take over me, making the hair on the back of my neck stand. I glanced up my phone and that's when him. I couldn't make out the details of his face, he was too far, but I could see that he was a young guy, maybe a few years older than me. He had dark hair and was leaning against a tree while looking in my general direction.
I don't know what it was about the guy but something about him made my skin crawl. Without thinking, my feet took several steps towards him. I didn't get far; another student in a hurry ran into to me, knocking the coffee out of my hand.
"I'm so sorry," the kid sputtered.
I frowned. Thankfully I had finished most of the coffee so none of it spilled on me. "It's okay."
He bent down to pick up the now empty coffee cup. "Let me buy you a new one."
I shook my head. "It's really okay. I was finished with it."
"Are you sure?" he asked.
I gave him a small smile. "Positive," I said then took a step around him to head in the direction of the man I saw by the tree, but he was gone.
Maybe I had imagined it. I didn't get much sleep last night, so it's possible I was just hallucinating. I bit down on my lip. That had to be the reason...
Upon entering the apartment, I immediately through my backpack on the couch and headed straight for the room to change into some comfy clothes. I threw up my long hair into a quick messy bun before heading to the guest bedroom to do some cleaning.
An hour later I was satisfied with the room and decided to take a break from cleaning. I made my way to the living room, plopping down on the couch while turning the tv on. Some time passed and with each minute that went by, my eyelids grew heavier and heavier. I had drifted off to sleep to be woken up by a soft voice calling out to me.
"Wake up," they said, gently shaking me awake. "Open your eyes."
I tried to open my eyes, but they were to heavy. I let out a small groan in response.
"Please, wake up. They'll be here soon."
Finally, I opened my eyes, but I wasn't in the living room. I wasn't even sitting on my couch. I don't know where I was, but it looked familiar. I had been here before at one point. Nothing came into clear view, everything stayed blurry.
I could make out the outline of a young girl's face. The only thing that I could see clearly was her freckles and baby blue eyes. I blinked several times trying to readjust my eyes, but it was no use. Everything around me began to fade once more.
"No, don't-" was all I heard before everything went black.
I woke up with a startle. My breathing was coming out in pants. I was struggling to breath. This dream wasn't as bad as last nights, but I still felt terrified. I touched my hair and shirt just to make sure that I was actually awake. I looked at the time to find that I still had a couple hours before Vince would even be home.
All I could keep thinking was what is wrong with me?