Page 19 of See You in Your Dreams

The final bell tolls, and I bolt for the exit. I’m cutting through the parking lot outside when the voice I’ve both dreaded and yearned to hear all day shouts, “Hey, wait up!”

I don’t, quickening my steps instead. It doesn’t help.

“Asshole,” Dylan pants when he reaches me. I can’t resist giving him a smug look, and he scoffs. “I never disputed you were an asshole—I just said you’re notonlyan asshole.”

“Andyoudon’t know how to take a hint.”

“I told you—dogged persistence is my superpower.”

“I’m not sure being a pain in the ass counts as a superpower.”

He grins at me. “Sure it does.” He falls into step at my side, and I reluctantly slow my gait. Apparently, this is happening whether I like it or not.

We walk in silence for a time, me sulking while he hums obnoxiously under his breath like he doesn’t have a care in the world. When we reach the turn for my aunt’s street and he turns with me, I raise an eyebrow. “You live around here?”

He gestures off to our right. “Nah, I’m a good twenty minutes that way. Though I’ve got a shift with Dr. Jenkins first today anyway.”

“Then, why the hell are you following me?”

“I’m keeping you company. You know, like friends do. Speaking of, mind if I stop by and see how She-Who-Has-Not-Been-Named is faring? Maybe I can help you decide.”

Tension roils through me. I stop, turning to glare at him. “Listen, I get that I’m your new charity project or whatever, but just because you helped me save a cat doesnotmagically make us friends. It’s not your job to save me. So, kindly fuck off.”

For a moment, he looks ready to do precisely that. Then, his lips firm. He gives me a long, assessing look, and I ready myself for another argument.

To my surprise, however, he simply nods. “See you tomorrow, Ash.”

I watch him walk away, never once glancing back. I should feel victorious. But staring after his retreating form, all I feel is a hollow sense of loss.

eight

Dylan

“It’s official,” Cat announcesat lunch about a week and a half after the commencement of Project Befriend Ash. “Dylan’s savior complex is out of control.”

I blink away daydreams of Ash’s rare smile. “Huh? What are you talking about?”

She raises an eyebrow. “Go on, tell me Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Broodyisn’twho’s had you staring off into the distance with that dreamy look on your face for the last twenty minutes.”

Fighting a furious blush, I pick at the peanut butter and jelly sandwich I’d brought from home. “What’s so bad about wanting to make a new friend?”

“Absolutely nothing,” Alexis says, giving me a supportive smile. Her long skirt swishes as she swings her legs from the edge of the table she’s perched on in Mr. Simon’s room. “I for one think it’s noble how dedicated you are to making the newest member of our class feel welcome.”

“More likeobsessive,” Cat mutters. I shoot her a glare, and she raises her hands. “Look, all I’m saying is you can’t fixeveryone, Dylan. Especially those who don’t want to be fixed.”

I stare down at the scratches left in my table’s surface from years of students carving their boredom into it. “Ash isn’t like that,” I say, tracing a squiggly line with my fingertip.

“The guy’s a total douche-canoe.”

“Language!” Alexis gasps.

Cat eyes her. “Really?That’swhere you draw the line?”

“It’s gross.”

“It’s apt. Besides, is this really the hill you want to die on?”

I leave them to their bickering and take another bite of my sandwich. Unfortunately, Patrick had already devoured the last of the grape jelly, so it’s mostly just peanut butter and bread. I catch Robbie watching me and raise an eyebrow at him in question as I chew.