Page 46 of See You in Your Dreams

“You need to hit up the cafeteria?” Ash asks.

I shove down a sneering mental image of Tommy and shake my head.

Ash studies me, his brow furrowing in concern. “If being public about this makes you uncomfortable,” he says, gesturing between us with his free hand, “we don’t have to—”

“It’s fine,” I say a little too quickly. He gives me a skeptical look, and I exhale, squeezing his hand. “Seriously. I meant what I said before about not trying to hide who I am. I’m just not used to being the focus of everyone’s attention, that’s all.”

He nods, facing back forward as he charts a path for us through the crowded hall. “They’re just jealous they don’t get to be with the hottest guy in school.”

I chuckle. “Well, can you blame them? You’re the most exciting thing to happen to Banton all year, and that unapproachable air you cultivate doesn’t help.”

“I wasn’t talking about me.”

He glances over, the intensity of his emerald gaze searing my skin and almost making me stumble.No onehas ever looked at me like that before—like I’m the only thing in the entire universe that matters. Like I’m something precious instead of a disappointment.

“Guys, wait up!”

Greta’s familiar voice rings out behind us. I catch Ash’s muffled sigh as he reluctantly slows, halting near the door leading outside and waiting for her to approach.

“How are you feeling, Ash?” she asks once she reaches us. She smiles at him despite his growing scowl. “You hadquitethe exciting night on Saturday.”

Her eyes flick to our still-joined hands, her smile widening as my cheeks turn crimson.

“I’m fine,” Ash grunts.

“Glad to hear it.” She turns her attention to me. “Sorry again, Dylan, for calling you like that. It looks like everything worked out for the best, though. I guess the universe is funny like that.”

My blush deepens. “Yeah, I guess so. We were just about to head outside for lunch. You’re welcome to join us if—”

“I’m sure she’s got way too much shit to do,” Ash interjects. “Like more meddling,” he mutters under his breath. He tugs me toward the door by my hand. “Come on.”

I frown, annoyed by his rudeness, but Greta seems unperturbed. “Thanks for the offer, Dylan,” she says with asmile. “But Ash is right. There’s no rest for the overachieving. I’ll catch you both later. Have a great rest of your Monday!”

I wait until she’s skipped off before whirling on Ash. “You know, it wouldn’t hurt you to be a little nicer to her.”

His brows shoot up. “And it wouldn’t hurtherto mind her own business.”

“If she had, I wouldn’t have shown up at that party to grab you, and none ofthis—” I hold up our linked hands “—would’ve happened.”

Something unreadable flashes across his face, and my stomach plummets. “Is that what you want?” I ask softly.

His uncertain expression clears, firming as he shakes his head. “Of course not.” He hesitates a moment before admitting, “Even if that probably would’ve been best for you.”

I stride purposefully through the door, yanking him after me. “Yeah, well, too bad. We’re in this together now whether you like it or not. Got it?”

An incredulous laugh ripples out of him as we approach our favorite picnic table, passing under the shade of the oak’s wide branches. The changing leaves gleam with brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red. “Got it.”

We sit down closer than we used to, and I lean against his firm side. He wraps his arm around me, shaking his head. “I still can’t believe you’re not freaking out more about all this. I was worried it’d seem a lot crazier once you’d had some time to think about it.”

I fiddle with the straps on my backpack. After a moment’s consideration, I shrug. “Maybe I should be. Itispretty wild. But, well…I guess I trust you. If you say this is what’s happening, then I believe you.” I unzip my bag and take out the thick folder I’d prepared, plopping it onto Ash’s lap. “Plus, I did some research of my own.”

Frowning, Ash flips open the folder. “What is all this?”

“Everything worthwhile I could dig up about dreamwalking on short notice.”

Ash sucks in a breath, his green eyes widening.

“There are lots of examples in popular media,” I say while he leafs through the assortment of printed pages and jotted notes. “Everything from Neil Gaiman’sSandmanto Tel’aran’rhiod in Robert Jordan’sWheel of Time. Of course, those are hardly reliable sources. Real-world examples are more valuable. For example, did you know that many Native American cultures believed in the ability to explore dreams as part of rituals or vision quests?”