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

She was very good with guilt, so before I did something stupid, I would think of the guilt trip she’d lay out…and change my mind.

I took a juice box and a granola bar from the pantry. Grabbed my coat off the hook and headed out the door.

It was hot and sunny out and I instantly regretted the coat. Shaking it off, I ran to my car; a used silver, blue Toyota Rav Four, that was given to me for my sixteenth birthday, for reasons I didn’t feel like dwelling on. It was an older car, but I didn’t care, mostly because I didn’t have to pay for it, with money anyway. I paid for the insurance and gas with the money I made working at the multiplex. With only a few shifts a week, I didn’t make a lot. But I was pretty good at saving.

As I drove, I noticed that only a few leaves had changed. It was the second week of September, and this beautiful weather wasn’t going to last long.

I arrived at my school, Hamilton High, a large gray stone building that slightly resembled a prison. Parking in the student parking lot wasn’t always easy, since I was usually late. I was often left with the spot farthest from the entrance, and today was no different.

Rushing to the front doors, I noticed my mom’s car, a red Jaguar convertible. It was her gift to herself after she turned forty. She worked here, unfortunately, as the vice principal. It’s not as bad as it sounds, having a mother that works at your school. It was pretty big, and I didn’t see her that often. This was my last year of high school anyway. In the fall, I was heading to NYU for their teaching program; I was going to become a music teacher. I had been in piano since I was five. My mother’s dreams for me were to become a teacher, so I thought combining our dreams was a good compromise.

I was running from my locker, after having put my bag inside, when the bell rang. Crap. I was late again. I’m not good with mornings, so this happens every so often.

Just as I turned the corner heading to my first period English class, I slammed into someone, our sneakers squeaked against the white linoleum as we collided. A pile of books fell to the floor in a heap.

I bent down to pick them up. “I’m so sorry” I stammered, but the words were barely out of my mouth before he took off down the hall.

He had picked up his books so fast I didn’t even see his face. All I noticed was the back of his head; his hair was shaggy and brown. He was quite a bit taller than my five foot five. The gray sweatshirt and jeans he was wearing wasn’t helpful at identifying him either, since a lot of kids in this school dressed that way.

“Miss Samson, is there a reason you’re just standing in the hallway when class is starting?”

Turning toward the voice, I saw Mr. Henderson standing in front of his classroom. His build was short and stout, with a receding hair line that made his forehead look gigantic. And since his glasses always fell to the bridge of his nose, no matter how many times he pushed them back, a few kids made fun of him. I however, would never do such a thing.

“You wouldn’t want me to report you to your mother would you?” he said in a snarly tone.

“I’m going,” I mumbled as I took off in the direction of my first class. I wasn’t that late, the kids were just getting settled, opening their books and getting out their pens, when I snuck into my seat.

“You’re late,” Derrick, one of my best friends whispered from behind me. Miss Reynolds, our English teacher was just starting her lesson, and didn’t notice him talking. “We’re meeting Emma outside today for lunch,” he whispered again. I nodded my head, focusing on the rest of the lesson.

My next class was my favorite, Music. We were studying a piece that our teacher had composed. It was complex and challenging to learn, luckily I loved a challenge. I was to play the piano for the piece and was excited for the night we would get to perform for the school and our parents. We were working on our own today, each of us learning our parts.

I was lost in the music when Miss Fitzgerald came over and stood beside me. My fingers stilled as I glanced up at her. “Wonderful Sarah, your doing great, I can’t wait to hear the whole piece. Julliard will be lucky to have you,” she said smiling. She stood with her arms crossed in front of her, leaning on the edge of the piano.

“Thank you Miss Fitzgerald. But I doubt I’ll get a job there after University.”

“Sarah, you could be a concert pianist, and yet you choose to teach. They should welcome you with open arms.”

I blushed, unable to hide my excitement at her words, even though I couldn’t get my hopes up. I have always wanted to teach there, except I knew it was a difficult position to acquire. I would just have to wait and see.

Her words put me in a good mood, so after class was over; I headed to my locker, humming the tune I had been playing.

I had to ditch my books and get my lunch. Fumbling with my locker door, my arms loaded with books; one slipped out of my fingers, and landed on the floor with a thump.

I bent down to pick it up and realized it wasn’t my name that was written on the front, it was Lucas Tate. Why did I have his book? I shoved it into my locker, and ran outside to meet my friends; I’d figure it out later.

They were at one of the far picnic tables. Since it was still warm outside, a lot of the tables that were placed throughout the schoolyard were occupied with other students that wanted to enjoy the sun.

“Hey guys” I said, sitting down next to Emma.

Derrick was on the other side, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they had been staring into each other’s eyes. They both had a huge crush on each other, but neither of them would admit it. The only reason I could think of for them to hold back their feelings was that we all had been best friends forever. Whether that was the reason or not, I had no idea.

“I heard you were late again,” Emma mumbled, her mouth full of ham sandwich.

I opened my lunch, taking out the pepperoni and cheese sandwich, saving the apple and caramel cake for later. “I wasn’t that late, besides it wasn’t my fault. I bumped into someone, and had to pick up my books.” I didn’t mention that I was running late before that happened.

Derrick opened his mouth to say something, except I wasn’t listening. I just realized why I had Lucas’s book. It was him that I bumped into. That explained the fast departure.

Lucas Tate was his twin brother. Oh yeah, I mean Logan Tate the most popular guy in school, although nobody knows why. He’s kind of a jerk, but gets away with it because of his looks. He’s the type of guy, you could stare at all day, but hoped wouldn’t speak. He’s also the boy who starred in my dream last night.

Emma waved her hand in front of my face. “What are you thinking about?”

Snapping out of my own thoughts, I looked over at her. “I just figured out who it was I bumped into this morning.”

Derrick glanced at me, with a confused look on his face. “What do you mean, you just figured it out? How could you not know, were your eyes closed?” He smirked at his own joke.

“Ah… no, but they ran off before I saw who it was. But when I was putting my books away, I had an extra one, with Lucas Tate’s name on it.”

Emma’s eyes widened. “Well that explains it.”

Lucas was Logan’s twin brother, but they were nothing alike. Logan loved to be the center of attention while Lucas went out of his way to avoid it. The only people I ever saw him with, were his two best friends, Andy Taylor and Kyle Roberts. They were normal, I had a few classes with them, and we’ve talked some.

Lucas was different in another way from his brother. He wore glasses and kept his brown hair long, almost reaching his shoulders, as if he didn’t care what it looked like. Logan’s was always cut short and styled to perfection, always dressing in the latest styles. Lucas however wore mostly sweatshirts and jeans everyday.

I was deep in thought when I heard Derrick’s voice. “What is wrong with girls in this school?”

“What are you talking about?” Emma asked, tossing back her long red curls and batting her olive green eyes at him. Why didn’t Derrick see when she was flirting?

“Look at Allison Morey over there flirting with Logan. He treats people like crap, and stupid girls like her still hang all over him, just because he’s a pretty boy.” He shook his head. “I just don’t get it.”

While he was ranting, I glanced over to where Logan was sitting with his friends and sure enough there were a few girls flaunting themselves at him.

“Don’t ask us, you don’t see me or Sarah over there do you?” Emma defended us, as girls who went to this school. I really couldn’t tell them that I was dreaming about him after this. It was true what they were saying, and I was not interested in Logan at all. Well, only to look at maybe. But why would I dream about him?

“Hey Derrick, guess what we did on Saturday?” Emma asked smiling at me.

“What?” he asked, absently playing with his sandwich wrapper.

“We went to the day spa in Langton; you know the one we went to a month ago.”

“Yeah I know, so what about it? And please don’t go into details about what you two got waxed, because I really don’t want to know.” He shook his head in disgust. We laughed; it was so much fun grossing him out with our girl talk.

“No that’s not it, Sarah saw that witch who cut her hair. And she was brilliant, you should have seen her.”

He smiled then looked at me. “Please tell me that you got in a chick fight and Emma video taped it.” A playful grin spread across his face before taking a drink of his coke.

“Would