5 An Old Ex

I forgot to pack lunch.

I dig through my backpack again, tipping its contents over but, nope, no lunch.

Ugh. I open my purse, but I only have a dollar, and I need it to get the bus to Rosie's office presentation at the local bookstore after classes.

I sigh and put all my stuff back into my bag and walk over to the field. I sit on the bench for a few minutes but eventually I get bored and bend down to tie my shoelaces better. Jumping up, I tap my foot on the red mud before setting into a slow jog.

My sister and I used to run together whenever we were troubled. It made us think we were running away from our father and the people around us. It made us forget about caring for our mother and finances and let us think only of each other and what we were in that moment.

Children.

Who did not have to worry about finances, or about how to protect their mother or be scared of angering their father, of missing class because the teachers were sometimes worse than their father.

It has been 4 years since I last ran. My pace quickens into a fast sprint and I run 6 laps of the large field, panting and nearly falling over by the time I stop. But I haven't felt so happy in a long time.

A classmate, Sarah, hands me a bottle of water that I graciously accept.

"I didn't know you could run."

I think she's on the track team. "I haven't run in a long time."

She raises her eyebrows, "Practice could make you a star track runner."

I smile, trying to catch my breath, "I don't like running. It hurts my head."

I walk away with my bag, my dollar, and an even more empty stomach than before.

"A brand is more than a marketing tool; it's the way the world perceives your company. More than just using it to sell things, the most successful brands create a powerful and defined identity for their companies--"

I'm so sleepy. My stomach won't stop growing, I'm pretty sure the woman behind me can hear it.

My sister's giving a presentation that she worked so hard at, and instead of supporting her, I can barely keep my eyes open.

I throw my head back in frustration, but it somehow doesn't come back to position. And I can't seem to pry my eyes open no matter how hard I try.

"That's why I shouldn't have stayed up all night last night," I tell myself, but I realize I'm already in the middle of the same forest again. Oh, well.

I walk around, kicking my feet and I notice the same book that was there the last time. I throw it into the hollow of a tree and continue my walk to the waterfall.

I peek around the corner, "No one," I say and turn abruptly when I hear a sound from behind me.

The bushes rustle and as I take a hesitant step back, I see the first miracle. The beautiful beauty of my dreams is back. And what's more, he's looking at me.

After gawking like an imbecile, I say, haltingly, "Um, I'm sorry for throwing a rock at you," I laugh stiffly

He looks scared. Oh no.

"Who are you?"

I was so surprised that he came back that I didn't even realize I could talk in these dreams! And I can talk *to* him!

"I, uh," 'you're a figment of my imagination'? No. "I saw you a few times around here."

His face clears up bit, "Oh,"

After an awkward moment, I extend my hand, "Vanessa,"

"Jesse." He shakes my hand, and I know you can't tell temperatures in dreams but his hand felt warm.

"You threw that rock at me?" He asks, smiling unsurely.

I shrug awkwardly. This is weird.

"I wanted to see if I could interact with you." I raise my hands, "but I swear, I didn't mean to hit you. I just wanted to throw it next to you to see if you would react."

I'm sure my face is redder than a tomato.

After an agonizing second of silence, he bursts out in laughter and I watch, sure my blush just got deeper.

"Well, I've been wondering why I always ended up here," he gestures around us, "in this same forest. Don't you?"

He rests chocolate brown eyes on me and I nod, dumbly.

"So, it's nice to finally meet someone else here," he chuckles

"Yeah." I say, regaining my voice, "I thought I'd scared you away with the rock." I say, embarrassed

He brushes it off and slowly starts walking. I follow him unconsciously until we reach the edge of the lake I always dangle my feet in.

"I once found a book here," no...no, no.., "it was about birds." Oh, that one. The one I saw him reading once.

"Uh huh,"

"It's funny," he looks at me, "since there're no birds here."

Okay, I knew that, but that just sent chills down my spine.

"Boy creepy," I say aloud by mistake and he catches it, laughing once more.

I feel a distant shaking and I know someone's trying to wake me up, so I stand up, "I gotta go,"

"Huh? Oh, okay. See you, maybe."

I smile.

"Thanks for coming, Vee. I shouldn't have asked you to though." Rosie says, apologetically.

"No way. I'm sorry for sleeping through it all." I reply sheepishly as we head for lunch, finally giving my stomach something.

My phone rings, and I look down at it: Creevey.

I pick up, "Yo,"

"Nessie," I cringe. It's the wrong Creevey.

"What's up, Allie?"

"Harvey's in town," she says, "I thought you'd like to see him."

"Oh! I'll head over right away." my stomach growls adamantly, "After I have lunch."

A bit of backstory: Harvey is Allie's ex. But they're still good friends.

He was also always hanging around at the Creeveys', as was I, so we got onto good terms too. He'd gone off to California for his PhD interning for some bigshot there for the last year, and only now got back in contact.

"That jerk's back." Matt greets me, sourly.

"Aw, do you still not like him? You are such a protective brother." I laugh, punching his arm

He rolls his eyes and follows me in.

"Where is he?" I ask brightly

"It's discomforting that you asked that with so much enthusiasm." He cribs as we run up the stairs, me taking them two at a time.

"Harvey!" I jump on his back as he's bent over.

"Whoa!" He stumbles before catching his balance, grinning.

Did I say we were on good terms? I meant we were on very good terms.

"Geez, I've never seen you like this." Allie laughs from the side while Matt looks pissed.

"Nice to see you too, munchkin." Harvey teases

"Ugh. I'm a college student, mister." I inform with pride.

"You actually got into college? I thought you'd flunk high school." He puts me down

"Ha ha," I say sarcastically, "Well, how long are you here for?"

"Uh, 2 days," he says sheepishly

"What?" I shriek and turn to the others, "Then what're we doing here? Come on, let's get ice cream and go to the skating rink!"

"You guys head on ahead. I'll skip ice cream and be there for the skating. Gonna meet up with Seth."

All of us look dazed, I think, because she clarifies, "Hello? My boyfriend? Seth Adamson? Whatever."

"I'm not going." Matt says irritably

"That's okay," Harvey says, grabbing my arm, "we'll catch you guys later."

"Do you think that was a good idea, leaving her all to him, when you know how he feels about her?"

"What do you mean?"

"Come on, sourpuss, you can't hide from me that you like her. I've known since we were in elementary school."

"Whatever."

"Whatever."

"See you tomorrow, Vanessa." Harvey bids me goodbye as Matt glares at us from his house. As soon as he leaves, Matt comes over.

"What did he want? Did he do anything?"

"Hello to you too," I say sarcastically, walking in.

"Hi, whatever. How was your day... with him?"

"Don't worry. He didn't seem interested in Allie anymore. Plus, she made it pretty clear to him that she has a boyfriend." We walk up to my room, settling on my bed.

"Did he say if he likes anyone else then?"

I turn to him, "read my lips closely, N-O." I lay my head on his lap, "quit worrying."

"... Okay."

"Sleep over here, so you can cool your head without looking at Harvey."

"No, I should head back." He begins to move and I hold him back.

"Just stay already."

I hear him sigh, but he doesn't respond.

"Hi again," I whip my head around to see Jesse. Oh. When did I fall asleep?

"Uh, hi. Hi."

"Don't worry, you didn't scare me off again. Not that I got scared off the first time either. I just stopped dreaming I guess."

"What?"

"Anyway," he smiles, "what do you do?"

"I'm a college student. How about you?"

"I'm a lawyer. Boring."

"No, no, it's. Hold on. What. You... you're real?"

"Huh?"

"You're a real person?"

"Well, yeah."