January Dreams by Carrigan Richards (read people like a book .txt) 📗

I exhale, but I feel bad. I don’t like being mean to people. But does he really expect me to be like all the other girls and fawn all over him?

“What’s his problem?” Luke asks from behind me as he mops the aisle.

“He’s a jerk,” I say.

“Yeah, sounded like it. Reminds me of some of the guys at my school.”

“Reminds me of all guys.”

“I resent that,” he teases.

“Sorry. Most guys. Anyway, when are you going to ask Cherry out?”

“What?” His eyes widen and he stops mopping.

“You heard me.” I’m not being subtle at all and I’m sure Cherry would kick me if she heard me, but I don’t want it to drag out since she’s putting me in the middle. Of course, I could have said no, but I want Cherry to be happy.

He sighs. “Does she even like me? Sometimes I wonder.”

I laugh. “Are you kidding me? I think you need a lesson in what it means when a girl acts like this.”

“She doesn’t really talk to me.”

“She’s shy. Around you.”

“Oh. I wasn’t sure. Sometimes she seems mad at me.”

“Yeah, she’s masking her feelings.”

“Oh. She really likes me?”

I roll my eyes and nod. “Yeah. You should ask her out tonight.”

He smirks and continues mopping past me.

Our shift finally ends and the three of us walk out together, but I tell them goodnight and leave them. I see a piece of paper under my wiper on my windshield. I yank it out and read it:

I’m sorry, but please call me. We need to talk. Casper. He left his number again. I sigh, wad the paper up, and toss it in the backseat. Can’t he get a clue? I slam my door shut and run my fingers through my hair. What is wrong with me? I repel the nice guys and yet attract the jerks.

I won’t call Casper and Vincent never called or texted me which worries me. Whatever happened, he doesn’t seem to like me as much as I thought. This is another reason I hate having my parents meet my date before we go out. Because now they will constantly ask about him and wonder what happened to him.

Dejected, I drive home, and when Savannah sees me, she frantically runs around in excitement. Hopping on her hind legs, she begs me like a child to be picked up. I toss my purse and keys on my bed, and pick her up, wherein she licks my face dry and gets her black and white hair all over my shirt. But I don’t mind. I love the little goober. And she makes me feel better. I set her down on the ground, round up my pajamas and head for the shower, in which she follows.

She patiently waits for me on the rug in front of the bathtub until I finish my shower. Our nightly ritual. I climb into the bed, and she burrows under the covers, until she’s comfortable. Which can take anywhere from five seconds to five minutes with her turning around in circles, moving the blanket, and burrowing some more. Crazy dog.

Same as always. I really need a life. And not the messed up weird, crazy life that my dreams are.

Why am I even still thinking about these stupid dreams? Because they feel so real? Because Casper is in them and it’s like a little fantasy?

I shake my head. There is no way that Casper is remotely a fantasy. But I’m still left with a cruel desire deep down like I’m missing something in my life, but I don’t understand how I can when I don’t even know what it is.

I dread falling asleep, so instead, I take out my notebook and write. So much comes to my mind. If anything, it will ease the stress. I hope.

Chapter Ten

After running through the forest with Casper, I dress for school. Is that the only time a boy is ever going to like me? In my dreams? I shake my head. I shouldn’t be so focused on boys anyway. I should focus on school so I can get out of here.

When I arrive at school, I close my car door on my backpack strap which spills out my books. Anger fills me, and I just want to sleep. Without dreams. I want to know what happened to Vincent and why I deter him so much. I want Casper to leave me alone with his stupid pranks.

Just as I pick up my last book and free the strap from my car door, I start walking toward the school, but stop when Vincent approaches me.

Rolling my eyes, I walk around him. He didn’t have the decency to tell me he doesn’t like me in private. Has to wait until we’re at school so he can make me cry.

“Megan—”

I spin around. “You never called. If you don’t like me, at least tell me. I mean, what was that Friday night? I thought we hit it off, I mean, you kissed me. And ran.”

“Something happened. I didn’t know what to do. I freaked out.”

“Wow. I never heard that excuse before. But thanks for helping my self-esteem.”

“Come on, Megan. What do you expect me to say when something like that happens?”

Has he never kissed a girl before? “We kissed. What’s the big deal?”

“It was more than that. It was intense.”

“Yeah, it was. Does that scare you?”

“A little. I don’t know how to explain it. I just…I saw something.”

That brings me up short. “What?”

He drags his hands down his face. “When we kissed, I saw us, I guess. Like we’ve known each other forever.”

What is seriously going on? I’m dreaming about one guy and sharing visions with another? What am I? A freak? Am I a witch?

“I knew you wouldn’t