Chapter Eight:

My mom came up to my room the next morning at exactly eight. She called for breakfast before going to church and she quite surprised to see me already wide awake. I was there sitting on my bed with my legs crossed, and typing away in my laptop for another essay that's due in yet another two weeks. I was bored, and I couldn't get back to sleep so why the hell not?

I've been awake since five in the morning, with a nagging headache from a terrible dream. I vaguely remembered that I was with a group of people, in a crowded and brightly lit place while whispers and continous conversations can be heard everywhere. I was there with the crowd, hanging out like we're all best friends.

The people in my dream were all friendly. I couldn't see what they look like. They had faces that were familiar, but I didn't know who they were. They seem so friendly enough to make me enjoy my time with them.

But everytime I speak, the volume of their voice increases. I thought at first that they didn't understand what I said, so I would repeat myself louder. But they got even more louder.

I was confused. I didn't say anymore and just listened. Overtime, each and everyone of them started to scream at me. I got scared, and I was screaming back at them with a voiceless cry.

Then, I couldn't breathe.

That was when I woke up, feeling completely horrified. It was messed up, and I didn't like it one bit. Sure, I had nightmares from when I was a kid but that was mostly because I watched a scary movie.

This time though, I literally felt like I was drowning. Drowning from people and their screams. I was in complete and utter fear. I wanted someone to comfort me, someone to talk to me, to calm me down.

So I went to my parents room and was going to knock, until I realized how childish I was being. I dropped my shaky hand, and went back to my room with a sinking feeling in my chest.

At that point, I was in panic and almost in tears. I tried calling Natasha, but she didn't answer and it went to her voice mail. Then, I called Dennis but his phone was off.

Sniffing, and wiping away my tears, I sat down on my bed and leaned back. My feet were on the edge, my head resting on a stuffed bear, and my whole face felt uncomfortably hot.

I scroll down to my limited contact list and skipped Thomas. Then the name Dani Dubois stopped me on my tracks and I actually thought about calling her.

Would it be weird? What the hell, what's the worst that could happen? She probably won't pick up anyways.

So I dared myself to press the call button. It rang twice, and she picked it up. She didn't say anything for a while, and I didn't either.

"Hello." It was a greeting, and she knew it was me. She didn't sound groggy from sleep, she sounded like she's wide awake. "It's five in the morning." She stated the obvious.

"I know." I replied, my voice sounding disgusting and phlemy. I cleared my throat but end up coughing instead. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have bothered you. I should just hang up-"

"No, don't." She said. "Have you been crying?"

Immediately, I wiped my tears again, and pressed my face against my hand, as I exhaled softly and tried to control my breathing.

"No." I lied. "Just sick."

"Is that why you didn't text me yesterday?" She asked. "Because you were sick?"

"Um. No..." I admitted, feeling a little guilty. "I didn't text you because... you didn't text me."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"Well that's lame." Dani said, chuckling.

"I'm sorry." I said.

"Nah, it's fine. I can't sleep anyways. Why are you up during this ungodly hour?"

"Same as you." I lied again. "Couldn't sleep." Of course I wouldn't dare tell her, oh hey, I couldn't sleep because I had a terrible nightmare, can I talk to you for a bit? It's beyond embarrassing.

"Mmhm." Dani said in her annoying voice, the one where it seems like she knows something that I don't.

Then it got awkward. Neither of us was speaking, and I was feeling a bit anxious. So I said the first thing that popped up in my mind.

"You should go to church later." I said.

"No, thank you."

"It'll be fun."

"If your definition of fun is going to church, then you and I are different people." She said, laughing at me.

"But we are different people." I answered sassily. "That's a fact. Besides, I'll have you know, church is not just about religion it's also being a part of a community." I reasoned.

"Like I said before, I'm bad with people."

"You could bring your parents." I suggested.

"Um." She said, as she pauses. "I'm actually living with my Grandparents right now, and I'm pretty sure you know them already... They are definitely going."

I remembered what my mom said. The Dubois are active Catholics. I wanted to ask where her parents are, but I didn't want to snoop and be rude about it. Ha. Look at me. Ha. Who knew that I had manners?

"You can go with them, then you can sit with me." I suggested.

"Why are you forcing me to go?"

"I'm not."

"You are." She said. "I would burst into flames as soon as I step a foot in there."

I frowned at Dani's remark.

"So you're defintely a demonic vampire, then." I said.

"Definitely."

I burst out laughing and decided not to push it. If Dani doesn't want to go, then that's fine. I'm just having a problem adjusting to the sadness that I'm feeling all of a sudden, and I guess me reaching out to her was pretty normal, but I couldn't get my mind off the dream, and I'm still scared.

"Um, maybe after... you could show me where I can buy new books. I'm bored out of my mind." She suggested. I smiled, and stared at my own bookshelf. Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea. "You should text me."

"You should text me." I argued.

"Oh my god, you're making this more complicated than it should be." She complained. "Fine, I'll text you. What time does church starts anyways?"

"Why, are you planning on going?" I asked, a smirk on my lips.

"No." She denied, scoffing at me. "You wish. I was just asking to know when I'll get ready. I like to sleep until mid afternoon during the weekends."

"Yes, but usually, in this situation, people ask when it ends, and not when it starts. It definitely sounds like you're seeking information." I observed, and can't help but grin when I didn't hear a reply. "So, you're lying."

"Oh shut up."

"You're planning to go!" I accused. "I promise, you wouldn't burn."

"We'll see." She said, softly. "This is insane, why am I doing this?"

"Because I'm irresistible." I replied.

"Irresistibly annoying." Dani added with a snort.

"You're just mad that I caught you lying." I responded, still grinning.

"Says you." Dani muttered.

"What?" I asked in confusion.

"You sound completely fine now. You're not sick. You were crying earlier."

She got me. She caught me lying as well. I ran my hand through my hair and sighed.

"Well I couldn't tell you that I had a bad dream. It's completely immature, and pathetic."

"You had a bad dream?"

"Y-yeah."

"How bad?"

"It's pretty effed-up."

Then Dani and I stayed quiet again, and I thought that maybe I weirded her out.

"It's alright, I get them too..." She said, her voice low and comforting.

"Oh."

"Yeah. So, it's fine. I don't mind the call. It's... Nice."

"It is." I admitted. "Well, I'm glad. At least you don't find it weird."

"Oh trust me, I find it weird."

"That makes me feel better." I rolled my eyes. Dani just laughed and I couldn't help but do the same.

"I'll text you, okay? I'm going to get a few more hours of sleep."

"Okay."

"Try not to think too much about the dream you had." She said. "It helps a little if you forget about it. A distraction, maybe?"

"I'll try." I replied, and we ended the call.

I tried. I really tried. I tried not to think about it, but I'm anxious... I couldn't sleep because of it, and I'm afraid that I'll get the same dream again. So I took out my school binder and flipped through it, and busy myself with assignments that won't be due after a while.

I was just glad that my mom thought that I was just being a good student, so she didn't ask any questions about it when she saw me. I don't want to worry anyone, so I decided to keep it to myself.

Canon or Nikon?