In my Dreams by Courtney Barnes (each kindness read aloud .txt) 📖

walked out the door.

“What’s with you?” Alex asked me after mom had left.

“Nothing.” I shrugged my shoulders and took another bite of cereal. “I’m just in a good mood.”

“You’ll have to get a ride home with mom, I have to work,” I told him, once we were settled in my car, fifteen minutes later.

He was slouched down into the seat listening to his Ipod, “whatever” he mumbled.

We arrived at school, and this time I scored a space closer to the entrance. Alex took off before I had the car shut off. I guess he didn’t want to be seen with his older sister.

I stepped out of my car, and headed inside. Telling myself, I wasn’t scanning the lot for Lucas, but when I saw his black mustang, I knew I was kidding myself.

Derrick was waiting for me at my locker. “Well hello there, hottie. Who are you dressed up for?”

I glared at him as I turned my combination. This was getting annoying. “Nobody, I just woke up earlier, so I had more time to get ready,” I said for the third time as I opened my locker door and shoved my bag into it. Did I usually look that bad?

He wasn’t convinced. “Well here comes Lucas and his eyes are about to pop out of his head.”

I turned to see Lucas walking toward us. “Hey Derrick, Sarah. Is Emma still sick?”

I was quite happy to see that he couldn’t take his eyes off me. Derrick answered for me. “Yeah, but she’ll probably feel better tomorrow. Sarah said you had the flu on Monday. It sucked didn’t it?”

“That’s for sure,” Lucas said, barely moving his eyes away from my face. “It must be going around. I hope you don’t get it too Sarah?”

“I don’t get sick often, I think I’m safe.” I shut my locker door and leaned against it.

Derrick spoke, his head bobbing from Lucas to me. “Well I guess I’ll go to class. I’ll see you there,” he said, nodding at me with a huge grin.

After he walked away, Lucas turned to me. “If it’s just you and Derrick today, maybe Andy, Kyle and I will sit with you at lunch again?”

My face heated slightly. “Sure.”

He smiled at me as the bell rang. “I guess I’ll see you later.” He leaned in, his face just inches from mine. “You look amazing.” he whispered, then walked away.

I felt a little queasy as I ran to English class.

I slid into my seat while Derrick grinned at me. “Now I know why you’re all dressed up.”

“Shut up,” I said dryly, without turning around. I heard him chuckle behind me.

In music class, I was daydreaming about Lucas when Miss Fitzgerald called us to order.

“Okay class, I know you have been working really hard on my original piece for the upcoming recital, but I have thought of a way to make the night more exciting. I want each of you to compose a short original piece of your own.”

There were a lot of moans among my classmates. I thought it was a good idea and couldn’t wait to get started.

“Don’t worry, if you need help just let me know. I want them to be about your emotions. I want to hear each one, and know what you were feeling when you wrote it.” She was leaning on her desk with her back to it. She pushed off and began to pace back and forth in front of the class. “We can show emotion through music, I want you to show me yours. It could be a happy song, angry, or sad, even fear, anything. But have fun with it. Okay, go to your instruments and start. If you need any help, let me know.”

I sat down on the piano bench, and tried to think of my emotions. I closed my eyes, and saw Lucas’ face and all I could think was happy. A tune came to my mind and I started tapping my fingers on the cold keys, trying a fast melody with a turn at the end. It actually sounded pretty good.
Ch.9 Hero

Lucas didn’t show up at lunch, he didn’t even come into the cafeteria. Even though Derrick’s friends Pete and Cory sat with us, the table felt empty.

Since Lucas was late for History, I couldn’t even ask why he didn’t show, and when class was dismissed he rushed out.

I didn’t see him for the rest of the day. I looked for his mustang after school, it was no where to be seen. I climbed in my car and sat quietly. Willing myself to turn the key in the ignition, but I couldn’t, there was a tightness in my chest and my eyes burned with the threat of tears. Maybe he wasn’t interested after all. Was I just imagining his attention? He really seemed like he wanted to spend time with me, what kind of game was he playing?

Eventually I started the car and drove off, angry at him, as much as myself.

At work, I felt a little sick. I was on ticket sales with Zack. At first I felt weird because of what Marcy told me about him. But soon it became easy to have a conversation; he was actually fun to work with.

I had an hour left of my shift, when my stomach started to churn. “Oh god,” I said clutching at my stomach.

“Are you okay?” Zack asked.

“No, I think I’m gonna throw up.” I stumbled out of the booth and ran for the washroom, barley making it before I heaved inside the toilet. Great, I had the flu, and I felt like crap.

I left the bathroom and told the manager I had to leave. He said it was fine; it was a slow night anyway.

I spent the rest of the night between my bed and the bathroom.

The next morning I could barley lift my head from the pillow? There was a knock at the door. “Come in,” I whispered.

“Still feel sick? Should I stay home?” my mom asked as she stepped up to the bed.

“No I’ll be fine, it’s not like there’s anything you can do. If it’s what all of my friends had, then I’ll be fine by tomorrow.”

“Okay. I brought you some gingerale, and I’ll call you when I can, to see how you’re doing.” She sat my drink on the nightstand.

After she left, I fell back to sleep. I must have been delusional because I dreamt of Lucas again, well not a dream, just a series of faces. His, at different stages and another face, someone I’ve never met before. He was around my age with sandy colored hair, cut short and blue eyes. He would have been good looking if his face wasn’t distorted in rage. The rage seemed to be focused on Lucas. It was all flashes, and the dream had a dark feel to it. Nightmares must be part of my flu.

I woke up sometime during the day, to the phone ringing. I grabbed it from beside my bed. “Hello,” I whispered roughly.

“Did I wake you? I’m sorry, I called to see how you were feeling,” Emma said on the other end of the line.

“I haven’t barfed in a few hours, so that’s a start.”

“You’ll feel better by tonight. Can I ask you a question, or do you want to go back to sleep?”

“Shoot.”

“What’s up with you and Lucas? Derrick said you were all hot and heavy yesterday, and I know you had lunch the other day. And just a few minutes ago he asked how you were, and he wanted me to tell you that he hoped you felt better soon, so spill.”

“Ugh…I am really not in the mood for gossip Emma, but nothing. Yes there were some sparks yesterday morning, but it cooled when he blew me off the rest of the day. We made plans for lunch, and then he never showed.”

“Why?”

“I have no idea, but I’m not going to stress about it. If something happens it happens. But if it doesn’t, oh well. “

“He doesn’t deserve you,” she said to cheer me up.

I groaned. “I know. Now I’m hanging up, or I’m going to throw up.”

I tossed the phone onto my nightstand and climbed out of bed, walking slowly downstairs, my limbs ached with every movement. I poured myself some more gingerale then headed back to my room. I sunk back into bed, pulling the blankets up to my shoulders. I was surprised that just getting myself a drink had weakened me. I fell asleep, and stayed that way the rest of the day.

My mom came in with juice after she came home from work. “How are you feeling honey?”

“I think the worst is over, I haven’t gotten sick since this afternoon.” I sat up to drink the juice. “I think I’ll come down and watch T.V, I’m a little bored.”

She smiled at me. “Sure, come on down and I’ll make you some toast and tea.”

I lay on the couch downstairs, ate my toast and drank my tea. It helped to settle my stomach. It was nice to sit with my family. I had been cooped up in my room for a day and a half; I needed a change of scenery.

I was feeling better by that night. I had a shower before I went to bed, then lay down for a restful, dreamless sleep.

I woke early, feeling normal again. I chose my short dark blue dress, and added black tights since it was a getting colder out. I loved this dress. It was one of the outfits I bought on my shopping trip with my mom. Emma had returned it the day after she borrowed it.

I curled my hair for a different look and applied my makeup. And for the finishing touch, I sprayed