Regret

The moment I whirled I found Dace, I was about to speak but my words hanged when I took in his appearance more clearly and I was merely stunned, his looks were primal, those handsome gaze of his were ardent murderous. My heart sky jumped, it scared me and chilled my insides, I felt my breath caught as pure fear flushed through me, that wasn't the Dace I knew, this was something I could not explain, and his eyes, were dark gold and they seem to gleam even as the school halls suddenly darkened, his eyes remained the glowing light and it was haunting, I suddenly remembered why I never watch horror movies, the mere view of it always haunt my sleep.

My palms were sweaty and my heart was in my throat. "O-O-O-Owen!" my tone held fear, I was unable to look away because I was scared that if I did he might attack me. But hearing no response from Owen I was forced to turn and he was gone, my adrenaline kicked in and I panicked more. I turned and gleaming gold eyes were already before me, I screamed.

~

"Emma!"

I jolted against my seat, sitting up.

"Please I do not appreciate sleeping in my class," our math teacher told me.

"Sorry" I muttered wiping my mouth of drool and the class chuckled. Was that a dream? It felt so real, I was still shaking.

The school bells rang. "Next class we will talk about the- at least let me finish before you go" but they were already in a hurry.

"Hey, you okay?" Owen asked, before me.

"Yeah," I said under my breath rising to my feet, except that I wasn't, the past 3 days now it was all the same dream, so real that at first, it didn't seem like a dream until I woke up. I whirled, eyeing the empty seat Dace normally sat at, the past one week he hasn't come to school.

"Hey"

I darted my eyes back to Owen's. "Haven't you been sleeping?" he asked, referring to the bags under my eyes but I quickly looked away.

"I am"

"You look so tired Emma, is something wrong?"

"Look" I faced him. "I'm fine"

"I don't think you're Emma, you haven't sat at the lunch table with us, why?"

Because of Sarah.

"I want to be alone okay," I said hoping to end the topic, I walked away.

"Emma. Is this about what happened at the mall? Look I know you feel that I'm keeping something from you but trust me when I say it's nothing you should worry yourself about"

I whirled. "Then tell me how my aunt knew you would come over when I didn't tell her anything"

He paused and I huffed, it was just as I thought. "You are keeping tabs on me for her aren't you?"

"No no no, Emma" he closed the distance between us. "It's not like that, but yes…" he sighed, closing his eyes for a brief second before opening them. "I did tell your aunt I was coming over to pick you and that I would bring you back but I only meant good"

I nodded, licking my lips as my gaze leveled. "It still doesn't change the fact that you're keeping something away from me" I turned on my heels walking away.

~

I sat alone at my table poking my fork in my cheese, my eyes darted to the gang seated far away from me, they shared looks at me, of worry and I regret not seating with them but when my gaze dropped on Sarah I felt that sting again. My food became the best view right now, I wasn't so sure I could be near her anymore after what she did. I slid my phone out of my pocket opening the message Dace sent me a week ago, I was yet to answer. Not seeing him I felt downhearted and slightly drained, it was an odd feeling, I didn't know why I couldn't stop having thoughts of him, it was haunting just like the dream I had, what is that dream exactly?

I groaned... I thought I was old enough not to have nightmares but I guess I was wrong.

"You should just answer him"

I jumped at the voice which belonged to Emilia as she slid into the seat in front of me, did Emilia just sit with me? I thought she didn't like me.

"I thought you said I shouldn't be close to you guys"

She smirks, popping her gum, not breaking contact with me. "I know what I said and I still stand by it… but…. You're like a drug to my brother, he's getting addicted"

I blushed. "W-W-What do you mean?"

"Except throwing a tantrum like a 5-year-old that you won't answer his message although I told him he should have just left tons of messages and at least called you. You know what I mean Emma"

I suddenly felt regret washed upon me, regret that I didn't answer his message, he was having as much internal battle as I was.

"I know you're drawn to him too…" she crossed her legs, elbows on the table. "The pull, the feeling when you both make contact, maddening isn't it?"

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked with a gulp, I didn't want to let her know how accurate she was about Dace and me, how exactly could she know all this?

"The truth is what you're feeling, you're not supposed to, you shouldn't" she mouths the clarity of her words to me.

"W-What do you mean?"

"You're different Emma" she mouths and then sighed. "I'm not supposed to say anything but I'm not your friends or your aunt or Dace who wants to protect you away from it, I'm hardcore"

Should I be grateful or scared of her words? She tilts her head to the side, an action I figured she was very accustomed to and whenever she does it, it felt like she was reading me. "I can't read you, why are you so quiet?"

The same words she said to me at the restaurant. "W-Why can't you read me?"