Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Derek
Amber was as resilient as a weed. I kept trying to evade her only for her to pop up the next day. I knew I couldn’t hide forever, and with our paper due in a few weeks, it wasn’t fair to her either. If I kept treating her like this, then I deserved the hate I was getting from the others.
I eyed my phone, silently berating myself for not answering her texts, because a phone call was so much worse. But I only had myself to blame for her name being plastered on my phone as it rang. I took in a steading breath, then answered.
“It’s Derek.” I cringed when I heard how formal and awkward it sounded.
“Hey!” She greeted me cheerily. “It’s Amber. I know you’re busy, but can you meet up in the library tonight? We have a lot to go through and I think we need to start comparing notes.”
That had been the one thing I had thought about to save myself time, telling her we should each find references and read up on the subject before meeting to “save time” and now, it seemed, I was out of said time.
“Okay,” I agreed, knowing I was had. But I could do this, right?
I could meet up with another person and carry on a conversation.
I hoped. Remi and I were doing fine these days, granted he was acting a bit off, but he’d just broken up with his girlfriend and I knew how people tended to get worked up over that.
I was just glad he wasn’t sitting around crying and listening to sad music like the movies warned me would happen.
I did read up on how to console someone who was sad, so if it did happen, I would be ready to be there for him.
He’d also given me a new t-shirt, so I was indebted to him for life it seemed.
I’d slept better than I had in months since he returned, and I was eager for more.
“Perfect!” Amber replied. “Let’s meet at seven and work until nine, does that work for your schedule?”
I nodded, then remembered I had to actually answer. “Sure.”
“See you then!” She hung up as soon as I’d grunted my agreement.
Now I just had to figure out some food before meeting up with her.
Maybe research what people did in these sorts of situations.
Was there small-talk? Or was the topic just about the assignment?
I opened my laptop and started googling. Then I would eat something.
I was about to meet up with Amber, but as soon as I went to stand up from my chair, the sound of keys came from the door, alerting me that Remi was back.
I selfishly wanted to spend some time with him, so I sat down again and pretended to work.
I just hadn’t expected Juno to be carrying an unconscious Remi inside with one of his friends trailing behind them.
“Is he okay?” I asked, fearing the worst. Had they hurt Remi? Was that why he was acting off? Were these two guys messing with him?
“He fainted,” Juno’s friend answered. I was about to ask how, when I saw Juno’s worried expression. I knew then that he cared about Remi, so I closed my mouth and observed instead.
Remi was placed on his bed and I eyed them as they searched through Remi’s things. I didn’t like that they were taking his clothes, so I dared ask. “Why are you packing? Does he need to go to the hospital?”
Juno didn’t stop packing as he answered. “No, I’m taking him home with me.”
“Why?” I demanded, feeling uncomfortable about the whole thing. The fact that I couldn’t see if Remi was okay with this made me uneasy.
“I’m Nix,” Juno’s friend said, finally giving me some eye contact. “Juno and Remi are mates and Remi needs to go back to our home world to heal. What should we pack for him?”
I blinked, then figured I might be dreaming this and simply answered. “His laptop and his journal. He’s very protective of both.”
“We need socks,” Juno said, pointing to Remi’s side of the dresser. Nix hurried to comply and took out what looked to be all of Remi’s socks.
“So, you’re his mate?” I asked, wanting to know more before I woke up.
There was some kind of comforting feeling, so it had to be a good dream.
Normally my dreams were all dark and full of shadows and pain.
I never dreamt like this. Never in color.
Never happy. Or as happy as seeing Remi knocked out could feel like.
Compared to my other dreams though? This was fucking Disneyland.
“Yes,” Juno replied, not offering me anything else.
“Cool,” I muttered looking at Remi with concern. I finally figured out why I felt comforted. “Why do the three of you smell the same?” They both stopped packing and eyed me curiously.
“What?” Nix asked.
I pointed at them one at a time. “You all have this smell that’s super comforting to me. Right now, I feel so safe. Like I’m home somehow, and I technically am, since I live here, but like home home. You know?” I really hoped they knew.
“No,” they replied in unison.
“Whatever,” I muttered, slumping back into my chair and trying to resume my ‘work’.
I felt like my body was humming with anticipation.
Were they feeling this too? It didn’t feel bad, so my dream wasn’t about to turn dark, or I hoped not.
It felt like whatever was coming for me would be good.
And I really needed something good. Dream or not, I only hoped I wouldn’t wake up before it happened.
Three knocks on the door told me whatever I was feeling was about to happen. I held my breath, not knowing what was about to happen, but feeling like I needed it. Whatever it was.
A tall brown-haired man walked in and his eyes instantly found mine. They were a dark green shade filled with so many emotions I felt like I was getting lost in them.
A soft gasp escaped me and then he made a startled breath before striding over to me, kneeling in front of my chair and taking my breath away.
He was gorgeous. I finally knew why people wanted to date.
To kiss. To… fuck. It had never interested me.
But this stranger had me feeling all sorts of foreign feelings, all very much welcome.
I needed to know his name, needed it like I needed air. “Who?” I began to ask, but his voice interrupted the rest.
“Mate,” he stated.
“Fuck,” Nix muttered. “Horrible timing, man.”
“Please, Nolen,” Juno begged. “You can return to Derek as soon as we’re back home.”
Nolen.
My dream man stood up, and nodded to Juno, even if he kept his eyes locked on mine.
What did he see when he saw me? Did he like my blonde hair?
My brown eyes? Was my body okay? I’d never bothered much with how I looked, because why would I care.
I wore hoodies and comfortable pants. I kept my hair shorter on the sides and longer on top because of my headphones.
If I had short hair, it was noticeable that I had been wearing my headphones.
It wasn’t about style, more about functionality.
“Please stay here. I’ll be back in three hours,” Nolen said, holding my gaze until I nodded. Like I could even leave with my legs feeling like jelly.
Nolen walked over to Remi, but then seemed to think something over.
He rushed out of his black t-shirt and handed it to me without a word.
I almost cried as I accepted it and held it close.
I had been wrong before, Juno, Nix, and Remi hadn’t smelled like home.
This T-shirt right here, that was what home smelled like.
I watched them as they picked up Remi’s bags and carried him outside.
Nolen’s chest was the biggest distraction; I wanted to touch him so badly.
They walked to the door and I sent a longing gaze Nolen’s way, which he returned.
Then I closed the door when they were out of sight, sat back down in front of my computer and decided Amber would have to wait.
Eying the t-shirt I still held close to my chest, one thing was obvious; This wasn’t a dream.