Page 45 of See You in Your Dreams

My aunt’s heavy footfalls mark her descent down the stairs. I wait until I hear the clang of pans in the kitchen before turning back to Dylan. “So, I guess I’ll, uh, see you later?”

The soft smile he gives me is like my own personal beam of sunshine. “Definitely. But first…”

He leans in, the kiss catching me by surprise. Not that it takes me long to adapt, closing my eyes and losing myself once more in our shared closeness. In the irresistible feel of Dylan against me, our lips and bodies joined as one.

The kiss ends far too soon, Dylan moving to gather up his things and tug on his shoes. “See you tomorrow at school, Ash,” he says with one last parting grin.

Then, he’s gone.

I stare after him, my hungover brain struggling to make sense of everything that’s happened. Somehow, I’d gone from missing Dylan and thinking I’d never talk to him again to kissing him and confessing my deepest, darkest secret, all in the span of a single night.

In some ways, this path feels like it had been inevitable—like no matter what I did, the eventual outcome would’ve always brought us here. As I heed Aunt Claudette’s call for pancakes, however, I can’t help but think of Harvey, and I send a silent prayer that our relationship doesn’t end up suffering the same sorry fate.

seventeen

Dylan

Tiredness weighs down myeyes as I trudge into my first period History class, slumping into my seat right as the bell rings. Mr. Redburn wastes no time launching into a lecture on the American Revolution. I try half-heartedly to pay attention, but any thoughts of tea and the British are quickly drowned out by memories of this past weekend.

I can still barely believe how swiftly everything had changed between Ash and me. We’d gone from not speaking to making out in the middle of his bedroom, all thanks to a single phone call. I’ll have to thank Greta the next time I see her. Of course, kissing Ash hadn’t been the weekend’s only grand revelation.

“I can visit people in their dreams.”

Sitting here in class listening to Mr. Redburn drone on about dates and names, it seems impossible—the kind of thing meant for a Marvel movie, not real life.

Yet I’d experienced it for myself, seen Ash invade my dream with my own eyes. Even if I wanted to pretend it had beenan incredibly lucid dream, his reaction afterward had all but confirmed the truth. As impossible as it seems, the explanation fits too well to ignore.

My hand strays to my open backpack, rustling the top of the folder stashed there. I’d spent every free moment I had on Sunday researching Ash’s ability. That folder contains the sum of what I learned.

The urge to pull it out now and read it for the umpteenth time is near overpowering, but I resist. There’ll be time enough for that once I meet up with Ash.

Somehow, I make it through History and American Lit without the anticipation killing me, evading Cat and Alexis’ questions about what has me so distracted. As I rush out of PE and down the hall to AP Econ, faint nerves squeeze my gut.

What if Ash doesn’t want to see me after what happened? What if he’s gone back to pretending I don’t exist? He’d done it before under the guise of protecting me. Now that I know his secret, will he feel the need to do it again, no matter what he promised?

My heart clogs my throat when I step into class and spy a familiar head of styled black hair. Ash reclines in his usual seat, his long legs stretched out in front of him with his ankles crossed. He glances up, his bright green eyes fixing on me and freezing me in place.

I hold my breath.This is it—moment of truth.Relief floods me when his stern lips quirk into a smile. He cocks an eyebrow, giving me a questioning look, and I realize I’m still blocking the doorway. Blushing, I hurry to my seat.

Econ passes in a blur. Thank God Ms. Pederson hadn’t given us a pop quiz today because I’m pretty sure I’d get a zero in my current head space.

I’m on my feet the instant the bell rings, hurrying over to Ash. “Hi.”

“Hey.” He rubs the back of his neck. “I, uh, wasn’t sure if I’d see you today.”

I frown. “Why wouldn’t you?”

He shrugs, chewing on his bottom lip. It’s only then I realize that I’m not the only one who’s been nervous about this reunion. Ash isn’t the type to open up easily. I’d be willing to bet I’m the first person he’s confided in since he got to Banton—maybe longer. He must have spent yesterday worrying about how I’d react…not to mention everythingelse.

“Up for some lunch?” I say, offering him my hand.

He eyes it for several heartbeats, then takes it and hauls himself up. “Sure.”

I expect him to drop my hand as soon as he’s standing, but to my surprise, he keeps his grip.

“Well?” he asks, tugging me toward the door when I don’t immediately move. “What’re you waiting for? Time is wasting, and I’m starving.”

Suppressing a grin, I let him guide me out the door into the hall. Our linked hands draw quite a few stares from the other students, along with a few knowing nods. Hushed whispers trail in our wake. If the attention bothers Ash, he gives no sign. I hunch my shoulders, trying my best to follow his lead. Let our classmates gossip. I’ve got nothing to hide.