Green leaves all around, a gentle breeze strokes my face as I take a good look around me. An open valley surrounded by some really tall plants and trees. It could be classified as a forest, but I am no forest scientist. What I do know, though, is that the elegant creature which stands before me is a Brontosaurus. As I walk towards it, I realize that there are others of its kind just behind it. How could something so tall be so easily camouflaged by trees? When I finally get closer I understand just how magnificently tall the creatures are. I feel so small in comparison, nature sure is wonderful.
Just as I approach the one closest to me I hear the ground rumble. A baby Brontosaurus approaches me, it's slightly smaller than the others, but it's about as tall as an elephant. While I am still staring in awe, the creature stops and looks at me as well.
It lowers its head and I extend my arm. As my hand feels the rough scale-ish texture of its skin, I am in shock.
Dinosaurs can be petted? Happiest day of my life.
Until I hear a familiar voice that is.
I don't think it is in my head-
Wait dinosaurs can talk?
"EMBER WATERS!" A deep male voice shouted.
Huh, they also know my name?
"WAKE UP!"
With a jolted move I snap back into reality. And I am somewhat disappointed.
The first thing I notice is about a dozen of heads looking directly at me in a condescending way. The rest probably don't care enough. The professor is looking straight into my soul, his eyes full of disappointment.
"This is the second time this happens in this month, you know what that means." He says calmly this time.
I nod. I know I have to talk to the principal. I take my notebook with me, because I want to hold on to something while I am being scolded at.
On my way to the principals office I think about my dream again. That brontosaurus was pretty cute, I wish they still existed, so that I could have one as a pet. As I actively escape with my fantasy, I fail to notice my surroundings and bump into someone tall.
"Sorry " I say while my notebook slips. A page with a random dinosaur drawing on it slips out. I am too embarrassed.
"It's okay" a male voice says, while I see it's owner bending to pick my notebook from the ground. I am too embarrassed to look him in the eye, but I do it anyway since he sounds kind. I see a tall and slim guy with deep blue eyes smile cheerfully at me. As he hands the notebook back at me, he holds on to the page with the drawing though, as if he is trying to take a better look at it.
"Here, nice Spinosaurus!" he says happily as he hands me the paper back.
"Thank you!" I say. "I am surprised you could tell it's a Spinosaurus, given that my art isn't very good."
"What are you talking about, it's clear to me, though I have done my fair share of research." he winks and I feel my face get slightly red.
"I should get going, the principal is waiting for me after all" I say awkwardly. What am I even doing? A cute guy I can talk to and I try to dodge him too?
"I see" he looks a bit disappointed. "I am Skyler and by the way, you are in luck", he smiles again.
Skyler is a really cool name.
"Nice to meet you, I am Ember." I smile back. I am happy he didn't seem affected by my awkwardness. Am I in luck?
"Ember huh, you sure it's not Amber?" He said jokingly. A small laugh escapes my mouth.
" My parents have a sense of taste for uniqueness, and it has caused me plenty misfortune" I look up hopelessly. In a joking manner of course. He also laughs.
"Well Ember then, what I meant earlier is that the principal is in a good mood today." Oh, so that's what he meant about being in luck.
"Alright fellow troublemaker, I'll be on my way then~" I say bravely, then I start walking away.
"Aight- Good luck!" he says, smiling as he waves.
~~~
Turns out the Principal was really in a good mood. She let me go back to my next class after the break.
As I prepare my things for the next class, a familiar figure stops by my desk. Of course it's no other than Elle. My sworn enemy since high school started, though I am somewhat exaggerating.
"I heard you were sleeping in class and got sent to the Principal Office again." she pointed out to me.
"Indeed Elle, so what about it?" I am aware I sounded annoyed.
"Nothing" she replied while giving me a fake smile. She goes back to her friend group.
After a minute of them giggling and looking at me, Diona, one of her friends stops by my desk.
"I saw you talking to Sky on your way to the Principals?" She asks, waiting for confirmation.
"Mhm", I mutter.
"You are aware that he is out of your league right. Plus he has been Elle's friend since childhood." she says while raising her eyebrow.
I reply with an eye roll.
So they believe in leagues huh, I thought we lived in 2020.
Petty competition and high school popularity is supposed to be meaningless. But that's just an idealist's point of view. They certainly haven't read those reddit -what happened after high school- stories though.
"I am afraid you misunderstood the situation." I said calmly. She raises an eyebrow. "He just bumped into me and happened to see my drawing." I added.
"May I also see it? It was the one you fell asleep drawing right?" She asked curiously.
Oh boy here we go again.
I take out my notebook and show her the infamous Spinosaurus drawing. She makes a gesture and invites the rest of the class to see it, including Elle.
"DUDE SICK DRAGON" Andy, the classes biggest fantasy nerd, said in awe.
"Um, excuse me, it's clearly a stegosaurus!" Elle proclaimed with confidence, while flipping her hair.
"I am not sure, but that means it's BAD, right Elle?" Felice asked.
"I mean yeah, but it's still a stegosaurus', Elle replies with sass.
At this point I'm not even mad. It's pretty sad how she wants to look so smart about everything, even when she knows nothing about the topic. So I'll let her have it. But it would be really tragic if her life depended on it. There is a big difference between a Stegosaurus and a Spinosaurus. That is that one would definitely not hesitate to devour you. And my drawing was kinda realistic.
After school had ended, I took the bus home. I greeted my parents and we sat for lunch. After that I go to my room and I started doing my homework. Even though it's hard to focus, I try my best to hurry, so I can meet my best friend at our usual spot at our usual time.
When I am finally done, I arrive at the usual place. A beautiful view of the sea surrounds me as I wait for Jen to arrive.
"Emby~" I hear a high pitched melodic voice call to me. That's definitely her.
She waves while she is walking towards me. She is also holding a bag, probably filled with snacks.
"Sorry for the delay, I got you muffins and soda as a compensation!" She makes a puppy face.
"I was thinking about never forgiving you but now I am forced to reconsider" I joke.
"Thank Goooood" she lets out a sigh of relief.
As we open our sodas and eat out muffins she tells me about her day. We go to different schools, so we meet up here at the city's bay to share our news.
After that I tell her about my day.
"What, so you're telling me that a cute guy you bumped into, held a wholesome conversation with you?? It sounds like it came straight out of a high school love story!" She almost singed that part.
"Well yeah, but apparently he is Elle's childhood friend." I sigh.
"That Elle... first stealing your friends and now stealing your man" Jen rolled her eyes.
"But wouldn't I be stealing him if she knew him befo-"
"THAT'S NOT THE POINT" she interrupts me looking kinda angry.
"Are you really going to let her have this one too?" She asked me with a sad look.
She is right, why should my interest be dictated by Elle. It's not like the world revolves around her. And she didn't care about how I felt when she stole my friend group back in freshman year.
"She also was wrong about dinosaur trivia and I let her have it too..." I say, feeling weak about my decision not to destroy her when I could.
"YOU WHAT?!" she looks at me. Her eyes full of shock and disbelief.
"But it's the last time." I smirk.
"Good" she smiles.
~~~
After I return home, I hear about a special planetary conjunction happening today. Apparently there hasn't been any since the age of Dinosaurs.
There are blogs all over the internet claiming that if you make a wish about something you genuinely wish to change, it will come true.
Before I lie down, I open the window above my bed. I take a good look at the planets that appear to be merged into one. The night sky is so beautiful, dark and endless.
I think of Skyler, his eyes were also dark blue, just like the night sky. For the brief moment that I mustered up the courage to look into his eyes, I lost myself in them. It was like they were home to another universe, one I'd love to explore one day. But what am I saying, could I be falling for him? Elle's friend since childhood?
I sigh. Then I look up again, I remember my conversation with Jen. I remember about the wish. And as the memories and secret thoughts are flooding in, my feelings overtake me.
I make a wish.
I won't let anyone steal my life away from me again. I'll do what I can do best and prove my true worth to everyone.
After all this I feel tired and sleepy. So I finally let my head rest.
When I open my eyes again I am greeted by something I didn't expect.
Green leaves all around, a gentle breeze strokes my face as the plants move along with it. It somehow feels familiar, and I am no paleontologist.
But, this IS a prehistoric jungle.