I sat straight up. Not the best way to wake up but better than the screaming and bleeding of previous days. Mom didn't come in my room, presumably because I wasn't causing the neighbors to call. I went down stairs to where I am now but what stands before me, is by far the most confusing thing I've seen all week.
All of my friends are standing in front of me. And they all have the same giddy look on their faces.
"What do you want?" I grunt towards them.
"We are here to question our favorite friend, who met a new kid and had him over to her house for dinner without inviting us, about how her date went." Ashton spoke up for the group.
"First of all, it wasn't a date. We were in my own house and we did homework the entire time we weren't eating. And second, I know you're just mad because it was chicken tetrazzini night and you didn't get any. Sorry Ash." I pushed past them and went into the kitchen to grab breakfast.
"Well at least tell us what he's like. If you don't like him, maybe I will." Olivia looks at me and grins while rubbing her hands together like he's a meal about to be served.
"Fine. He's tall, probably about 6'2". He has blue eyes and dirty blonde hair. He has a thick English accent, and he has 4 sisters. Two older, two younger. Anything else you want to know?" I take a bowl from the cabinet and fill it with cereal.
"Why do you know about his sisters?" Sam asks, eyes quietly challenging me.
"Because him and my dad were comparing how bad it is to live with girls." I pour the milk over the cereal and put it back in the fridge.
"I still don't like him." Ashton says, always the protector.
"Well you don't have to. He's just my chemistry partner, there is nothing going on there. Calm down big bros." I sit down and start to eat. "Are you guys just going to stay here until school starts?"
"Well, you dad kind of asked us to take you since we're here and you have yet to take your test. So as the person of interest, you get to choose who you're going to ride with." Preston comes up and sits next to me at the island. The island is pretty large and can hold up to six stools.
"Actually, I was going to ask if you would ride with me. I need to talk to you." Sam says, looking slightly uncomfortable.
"Ok, but you're waiting a while. I still a have to get ready."
I finish my breakfast and head upstairs. Everyone stays in the living room like they own the place. I throw on a pair of jeans and a pale blue t-shirt. I grab a white cardigan and put it on as well. I do my makeup but I do wings, which I never do. I put on white high tops and put my hair into a ponytail.
"Someone is feeling herself." Riley speaks up when I step off the stairs. I level a look at her.
"Lets go." I head put the door with everyone trailing me. I walk to the passenger side of Sam's truck and put my stuff in the backseat and climb into the front.
"What is going on?" Sam asks as soon as he closes his door. He pauses before he puts on his seatbelt.
"What do you mean?" I ask looking in his direction.
"You know exactly what I mean. You've been acting weird since school started and all summer for that matter. You woke up crying the other night. Something is going on and you're not telling me. We talk about everything so spill." He pulls out of my driveway and starts the trek to school.
"I can't even talk to my parents about it. I don't understand what is happening. All I know is I keep having these nightmares and they repeat themselves sometimes. And every time, they get worse. I wake up screaming, crying, or like this morning, silent. I never know. I don't know what's happening and Mom and Dad are trying to take me to the therapist again. I can't go back there. You know what that did to me. I'm just trying to see what happens." I confess for the first time.
"What are the nightmares about?" He asks, glancing at me from the road.
"All of you. Every single night I see a different person, always someone I'm really close to, dying. I've seen Sebastian, Liv, Mom, Dad, even you. They night you woke me up, I saw you die. And every time it is always worse than the last. The ways I've seen you all go," I suck in a breath, "are extremely disturbing."
Sam looks out the windshield, contemplating. He is trying to choose his next words carefully.
"I won't tell the others. Or your parents. I just need you to promise me something." He looks over towards me, "Promise me that you won't go through this alone. Even if I'm the only one who knows, I'm here. Don't push me away. I'm here for you if you need me."
I look out the window, "I know you are. I know."
The rest of the ride is silent.