The end-of-week buzz filled the halls of Iuveril High as students slammed lockers and hurried to their final classes, already mentally checked out for the weekend. April stood at her locker, stuffing books into her bag with one hand and holding a snack bar in the other. She was mid-bite when she heard her name echo down the corridor.
"April!"
She turned, just in time to see Danny barreling toward her, his green hair flopping into his face. His sneakers squeaked loudly on the floor, the sound matching the chaos of his arrival.
"What now?" she asked as he stopped, practically skidding to a halt.
"I had a dream," he said, a proud grin stretching across his face.
"Oh, boy. This should be good," she replied, leaning against her locker. "Let's hear it."
Danny frowned, his hand shooting to his head like he was trying to physically pull the memory out. "Uhh... actually, I forgot it."
April blinked, unimpressed. "Seriously? You sprinted over here to tell me you don't even remember?"
Danny shrugged, his grin turning sheepish. "I mean, I didn't know I'd forget till I did."
April groaned, letting her head thud softly against her locker. "This is just like last week when you asked if I'd seen the movie we went to together. Sometimes I think you're not all there, Danny."
"Hey, I'm all here," he protested, gesturing to himself. "Just, you know, maybe my brain works differently."
"Differently? Try barely," April shot back, grabbing her notebook and giving him a light smack on the head. "Do me a favor—before you tell me random nonsense, try sticking your nose in a book or something. Might help."
Danny rubbed his head, his grin reappearing. "Actually, that's not a bad idea."
She froze mid-step. "Wait. What?"
"I'm serious!" he said, eyes lighting up. "I'll get a notebook and start writing my dreams down. Problem solved!"
April raised an eyebrow. "Okay, but what happens when you lose it? Because I give it... oh, about a day."
He held up a finger like he was delivering the most important speech of his life. "Then I'll get another one. Easy."
"You're impossible," she said, shaking her head but smiling despite herself. He always managed to turn her frustration into amusement, and she hated that he was so good at it.
Just then, the familiar voice of Mr. Zee, the principal, cut through the noise of the hallway. "You two!"
April and Danny whipped around to see him approaching, his hands on his hips and his signature I've-had-enough-of-this look firmly in place.
"Class started three minutes ago. Why are you still out here?"
"Sorry, Mr. Zee!" they said in unison, their voices just a bit too practiced.
"Don't 'sorry' me. Get to class. Now."
"Yes, sir," April muttered as she started down the hall, glancing back at Danny. "See you Monday."
Danny gave her a lazy wave, but before heading to his own class, he noticed Mr. Zee smirking slightly.
"Those two lovebirds," the principal muttered under his breath as he walked away.
If Danny heard him, he didn't show it. He was too busy fishing a crumpled receipt out of his pocket, scribbling on it with a half-dead pen.
Step one: Buy a real notebook. Step two: Write dream stuff.
He nodded to himself, satisfied. Pocketing the receipt, he jogged off to class, green hair bouncing and a dozen unrelated thoughts racing through his head.