20; 5 AM
It's 5 AM, close to sunrise. I walked down the empty streets of the city next to him, couldn't keep my smile off of my face. I hooked my arm around his, leaning my head onto his shoulder and brushed my face against it.
The feeling of the cold fabric pressing against my cheek immediately turns warm from my body heat.
His hand went up to feel my cheek, rubbing it softly with his thumbs and he tilts my head upwards.
His lips slowly curved up, turning into a smile. His eyes were slightly squinting from the cold air. His chest was pumping slowly as he was breathing.
I looked back at him, pressing my lips in a thin line.
I draped my arms around his neck and pulled him in tightly; he did the same with his arms around my waist. We were swaying under the light of the moon and the peak of the sun. I breathed in the cold air deeply and buried my face into the crook of his neck.
"Juni," he says quietly.
"Juniper!" he suddenly screams.
"Juniper!" the voice calls again, but distorts into a rather deeper voice.
"Juniper, dear," Joseph's voice echoed through my ears.
My eyes flashed open and the first thing that they landed on was the ceiling. I was staring up at the ceiling, catching my breath.
"Wake up," I heard Joseph say, as he was peeking through my bedroom door.
My mind wanders immediately around about the dream. Who was he? And why did it just hurt me so much to wake up?
I suddenly got a little bit sad knowing that I woke up from something that I enjoyed. I need to know what happens next.
I vaguely remember his face, but my mind couldn't exactly pinpoint who it was.
Isn't it a little sad? Dreaming about a boy and being happy, but realistically being in a relationship requires so much work and effort; and having to know that some relationships don't work out simply just because people aren't meant to be together is just upsetting.
I sat up from my bed.
I gave Joseph a nod before he leaves my room.
I dragged myself to my bathroom, brushed my teeth slowly and just thinking about the dream.
Today was the day that Ryan and I planned to go out to the movies with Jacob and Leah. I texted Leah last night about the problem between her and I. She was always very easy with forgiving, and she's understanding. A simple apology got past her and we were back to being good friends like how we always were.
After finishing up in the bathroom, I dressed up in my uniform, did my hair and makeup, and went to school for another day.
---
I came home and immediately collapsed on my bed. I couldn't get the guy from my dream out of my mind. I felt sad, I started to feel lonely. Leah comforted me by saying that the reason why I had the dream and had such a deep feeling about it probably connected back to Dylan; I miss him.
I shut my eyes tightly, trying to replay what I "saw" in my dream. But my mind couldn't remember anything.
I opened my eyes and rubbed my temples softly.
Let's not think about this anymore.
I've spent the whole day today thinking about the dream. It took a drain on my body.
It was already 5 PM. Ryan and I planned to meet at the movies an hour before the movie starts at 8 PM. I took a deep breath and twice today, dragged myself off of the bed and towards the bathroom. I hopped in the shower and took a nice hot shower.
When I hopped out, I blow dried my hair and straightened it, and of course, my mind wanders off again. It was so hard to keep it out of my head, maybe because I'm so desperate to find myself another Dylan. Post break up mentality.
I moved on to doing my makeup: full face this time. I kept my makeup as natural as possible, but added lashes to make myself feel a little more confident.
I went over to my closet and pulled out a cropped baseball tee, and high waisted jeans. I put on my clothes and double checked myself in the mirror. The shirt was short, it stopped right at my rib cage, but it's fine, you have to feel good about yourself sometime. I grabbed my black mini backpack and threw it on before putting on my white tennis shoes.
I sighed and glanced at the clock.
I finished just in time: 6:30. I walked myself out of my room and asked Joseph to give me a ride to the movie theaters.
Joseph drives me nearly everywhere. I have my license, I have a car, but I'm simply too lazy to drive. Joseph enjoys driving me around anyways, he gets to use my car; and he doesn't have to worry about me driving to places safely.
By the time I arrived at the movies, Leah, Jacob and Ryan were already there. I squinted my eyes through the glass door before walking in. I can easily spot Ryan with his bright blonde hair. The closer I started walking towards the door, three people suddenly turned into four, then five.
I furrowed my eyebrows and by the time I opened the door to the movie theatres, it was too late.
"Juniper!" Leah calls out, skipping towards me.
I looked behind her because the sight of Dylan caused me to freeze in place.
Why is Dylan and Kate here?
Why are they both here?
Why is Ryan talking to Kate like nothing had happened?
Leah grabs my arm and pulls me towards the group.
"Hey, Juniper," Ryan greets me as I followed Leah towards him.
Ryan smiles at me, and nudges his head in Dylan's direction, "I invited Kate and Dylan. I hope you don't mind."
I pressed my lips in a thin line before smiling at Dylan.
I had a feeling that I was supposed to react a little more surprise, or be a little happier knowing that the first boy that I liked was here, but I wasn't.
"Hey," Dylan says, and smiles at me.
"Hi," I responded, trying to be as friendly as I can.
I couldn't help but to feel a mix of emotions. I was sad that Dylan came with us, but I was also annoyed that Ryan invited him here knowing how much it hurts to recover from a break up. And now he's here?
"Come on guys," Jacob says, "Movies is starting soon."
Just then, I watched Ryan grab Kate's hand, and Jacob grab Leah's. I looked over at Dylan who was smiling at me in a friendly way. He has his hands in his pocket and kept a safe distance from me as we walked towards the theaters.
Ryan handed the worker all of our tickets and in exchange, they gave us directions to the room the movie was premiered in.
"You look good," I heard Dylan say from beside me.
"Thanks, you too," I responded with a smile.
It wasn't awkward that he was here, but I also didn't know what to say to him. I was just not in the best mood. I'm glad that we are going to watch a movie though, it means that we don't have to talk until the movie is over.
When we got inside the theater, we sat: Kate, Ryan, Jacob, Leah, me, Dylan. I couldn't help but to feel disturbed the whole time watching the movie; even during the most interesting parts.
Why is it that I feel like this?
The rest of the night flashed before my eyes today. In no time, the movie had finished and we were all getting up from our seats, stretching and heading out the door.
I soon started to feel comfortable with Dylan next to me again.
"Did you enjoy the movie?" Dylan asks me, as we were walking out of the movie theatres.
I nodded, "It was funny," I smiled at him.
He smiles back at me, and looks at me deeply like how he did when we were together.
We were interrupted when Leah and Jacob walks up to us, giving us goodbye hugs and they soon disappeared.
"Do you need a ride home?" Dylan asks me.
I shook my head immediately.
I could be regretting my decision, but a few hours with Dylan was enough for my mixed brain to handle. I couldn't handle anymore of the emotional stress this whole dream and relationship thing had put me in.
"I'm okay, Joseph will come pick me up in a bit," I responded.
He smiles back and nods.
"I'll be leaving now then," he says, holding his arms out for a hug.
We hugged for a quick second, said our awkward goodbyes and then I watched him walk to his car.
I crossed my arms and looked up at the moon. I checked my watch and it had already reached midnight. The movie was a little bit longer than I had expected.
"Sorry I didn't tell you earlier," I heard Ryan's voice from behind me.
I turned around and watched him walk towards me with his hands in his pockets, "I wanted it to be a surprise. I talked to him and he says that there was no hard feelings anymore."
"Next time," I trailed off and frowned, "Please tell me."
Ryan nods apologetically.
"Where's Kate?" I asked him curiously.
"She drove herself here," he simply explained.
"So you guys are back together now?" I lifted an eyebrow.
He nodded and grinned, "She finally gave in and talked to me."
I smiled at him. I was slightly jealous. Jealous that he got back with Kate while I was left feeling guilty and sad around Dylan. He didn't do anything wrong towards her anyways; not intentionally.
"Do you need a ride home?" he asks me.
"I kind of just want to be out here for a little longer," I pucker my lips, looking around us as few cars drive along the streets.
"It's late though," Ryan rebuttals.
"I just need to breathe," I said.
"I'll stay here with you then," he says.
We were in the downtown area of our city. There were lights left on inside of buildings, and bright neon signs flashing from signs of clubs. The city was extremely beautiful when there are no business workers walking around and pushing people back and forth. There was nothing but the sound of cars driving by, and music playing faintly from the clubs around the corners.
"Do you want to walk around?" I asked him.
I realized that I've walked away from him and he was sheepishly following behind me.
"Sure," he answers, slightly jogging up to catch up with me.
"What's up?" he asks, "Are you upset because I invited Dylan?"
"Kind of," I answered honestly.
I stopped walking and faced him.
"I have something on my mind that might sound a little weird," I said uncomfortably.
"What is it?" he asks and he stops his tracks.
The only other person that made me feel a lot better after my breakup was Ryan. I was hoping that if I came to him for advice on how to get rid of the dream, it would help me feel better again.
I realized that we were standing there well over thirty seconds and I haven't said a word.
Ryan's lips started to curve up, slowly turning into a smile. Suddenly, the cold breeze starting to come our way. His eyes started to squint slightly from the cold air. Lastly, his chest started pumping slowly from his breathing.
I stared at his face with my mouth slightly opened.
The dream started to come back into my mind.
"Juni?" Ryan asks quietly.
I furrowed my eyebrows, staring at his lips and his eyes.
"What happened?" he asks, taking a step closer.
"I want to go home," I said, trying not to panic.
Ryan stood still, studying my face carefully before he nods slowly.
"Okay," he says, "We'll go home. I'll take you home."
---
have u ever had a dream about someone
then ended up liking them
bc same
this euphoria soundtrack inspired the beginning of this chapter :")
x apricitys