January Dreams Carrigan Richards (the mitten read aloud TXT) 📖

Vincent: Are you okay? I miss you so much.

Casper: Megan, we need to talk. 

My heart skips a beat when I see Casper’s name. My heart swells. He’s awake and I’m so relieved. I immediately send him a message asking if he’s okay.

While I wait, I reply to Cherry and Vincent letting them know what’s wrong. Cherry tells me she’ll drop by after school to give me my homework. Vincent simply apologizes and tells me to get better soon so he can see me. I don’t hear from him more than that. His texts sound rather formal. I can’t figure him out. Anytime I can’t see him, he gets weird and upset.

My phone rings and it’s Casper. I answer in a mumbled voice, though my throat feels like sandpaper when I talk. It’s late and I should get some rest, but I long to talk to him for some reason. It’s been a while.

“Casper, are you okay? What happened?”

“Someone’s after us.” He speaks with a gravelly voice. He sounds weary and angry, but I detect a hint of sadness.

“What?”

“I only remember bits and pieces. I was driving home from school after the fight with Vincent and next thing I know, I wake up in a hospital. I remember feeling mud though. The police said there were several bullet holes in the car. They think someone might have thought I was someone else or something. One of the bullets hit my shoulder. But I’m okay.”

My breathing accelerates. Bullets? Someone tried to shoot him. Casper could have died. The thought overwhelms me. I don’t know what I would do without him. Where did that thought come from? “Someone shot you? Did you see anything?” I’m shaking all over.

“I don’t remember. They said my car was crumpled in the ditch and that I must have crawled out. They’ve been questioning me, but I’m no help and there weren’t any witnesses.”

A breath leaves my lungs. Someone attacked both of us, like in our dreams. “Adam,” I say.

“What?”

“It had to be Adam. You attacked him, so he came after you.”

“Why would he be after us?”

“I don’t know.”

“How can we find out?”

“I don’t know. I’d make sure someone guards your room. He could still come after you.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“What if he comes after me again?” I ask.

“He doesn’t know where you live. You’ll be safe.”

A few minutes pass in silence. I’m trying to figure out a way to find Adam. I can ask Vincent to help, but I can’t mention Casper’s accident. Why is he after us? Or am I completely delusional and have no idea what’s going on? That’s possible. With the dreams, the medications, all of it makes my brain foggy. I take a breath and focus on what’s important. “I’m so glad you woke up. I was so scared.”

“I’m much better now.”

“Good medication?”

“Uh, yeah. Sure, that’s it. Did you ever.” He pauses. “Visit me in the hospital?”

“Um, yes.”

“I knew it. I felt you.”

“What?”

“It’s hard to explain. I had this overwhelming sensation. I felt you and I think it gave me the strength to pull through. You saved me.”

I’m speechless. I remain quiet, biting my lip.

“I have to ask you something. Did you send Vincent to fight me?”

“What? No! Why would you think that?”

“He threatened me to stay away from you. Said you were his and wanted to make sure I understood it. Told me to stop hurting you and spreading rumors about you. I never said a word to anyone about you staying.”

My chest aches. “Then how did everyone find out? What am I supposed to think? Vincent and Cherry didn’t say anything.” My heart is pounding and I’m crying which wears me out. “Vincent said you told him we slept together. Why would you say that and then wail on him?”

“Of course, he said that. He threw the first punch, but you believe what you want. And I never said we slept together.”

Did Vincent lie about the fight? Or is Casper lying to me now? “Tell me what happened.”

“You won’t like it.”

“Tell me the truth.”

“He asked me about Adam. I told him what I knew, but that he didn’t need to worry about it because I took care of it. We said a few choice words. He punched me and we fought.”

“That’s the truth? You aren’t lying?”

“Megan, I have never lied to you.”

My stomach twists. I keep thinking about the two versions of the story. I watched Casper attack Adam, so I know it’s possible for him to beat up Vincent, but it seems like he would need a good reason. I’ve never seen Vincent violent, but I’ve witnessed his jealousy, which seems somewhat possessive at times.

“Aren’t you supposed to be in school?” Casper asks.

“I have mono.”

“Oh, wow. Sorry.”

“It’s okay. I feel terrible.”

“Do you want me to let you go so you can rest?”

I should say yes. “No, it’s okay. What happened? When did you wake up?”

“Last night. Or the night before. I don’t know. My days are mixed up.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. About to go crazy from boredom in the hospital room. Luckily, my mom brought my phone. It’s hard to stay awake for very long because it feels like every bone in my body is broken.”

“I’m so sorry, Casper.”

We talk more and joke around. I hear him laugh and I miss that. I miss this. Him. In my dreams and out. This can’t be healthy. But he’s my friend, and I care about him.

He asks about my writing and we talk about our dreams. He says he doesn’t dream of me. He was shot but didn’t die. His friend found him, and they returned home. He describes his home as if it’s really his.

 “It’s