Every Waking Dream

by Lauren Eason

  “Everything’s fine, dear! I was wondering if you could be a doll and help me in the store tomorrow. I know we talked about you taking a break, but I have a rather large delivery of flowers for the football game tomorrow night for all those homecoming floats. Would you mind since you’re going to be there anyway?” she asked with a smile.

  “Sure thing! I’ll be over to pick them up after school,” I reassured her with a smile before getting back into my car to pull it into the garage. I saw her go back inside as she watched my movements. Once inside my home, I blew out a sigh of relief as I turned off the vehicle.

  Jess met me at the garage door, a look of worry on her face. As I reached her, we walked into the living room, where our parents talked over a glass of wine. Laying my bag down, I headed over to one of the cushions and took a piece of cold pizza, and tried to enjoy the small amount of normalcy my family was trying to hold onto.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “My dad kicked Denise out last night,” Raven told me as we dressed after our day of self-defense training.

  “You told your dad already?” I asked, surprised, pulling my shirt over my head.

  “It all kind of came out. After you left, Denise and I were obviously not on good terms, and I exploded at dinner. I’m glad she’s not there anymore. I always felt like I had to watch over my shoulder, even in my own room,” Raven admitted, shoving her gym clothes into her bag.

  “I’m glad you’re alright. Maybe it’s for the best. None of us really knew her that well. I just hope she doesn’t show up at my doorstep looking for my mother,” I mumbled.

  Raven slung her bag over her shoulder. “She’s such a leech.”

  “By the way, I forgot to ask you the other night. Who was the friend that helped you with the—”

  “Shh!” Dropping her bag, Raven placed her hand over my mouth and glanced around. Melissa eyed us from the other side of the locker room before turning her attention back to the group of girls around her. “I told them it would be confidential.”

  My eyes darted over to Melissa and then back to Raven, a telling sign. Raven sighed and gave a slight nod of her head. I knew she couldn’t keep a secret from me for long as a slow grin spread across my lips.

  “Stop with the face,” Raven muttered, picking up her bag from the ground.

  I chuckled under my breath. “She may not be my first choice for you, but it’s kind of cute. Sounds like your type.”

  “What? Bad girls?” Raven mocked.

  “Wait, she’s the bad girl in this situation?”

  “It’s complicated,” Raven sighed, following me out of the locker room into the hallway. “I still hate her.”

  “But...?” I pressed.

  Raven shot me a warning glare.

  I placed my hands in the air. “Can you at least tell me how she got so good at hacking computers?”

  “She came over to my place, but only because I paid her for her services. Melissa used to be into computers and engineering before she got swept up with the popular kids and became a big rugby star. And before you ask, no, I didn’t tell her what it was for or why. Funny enough, she didn’t really ask any questions about it. She mainly wanted to know what I had been up to,” Raven mentioned, rubbing her chin as we made our way outside.

  “Really? She had no problem hacking the outreach program for you?”

  “Not really. She thought it was rather dull and wanted to know if I wanted to try learning something harder like the IRS or the Pentagon,” Raven laughed.

  “She can do that?” I asked incredulously.

  “No,” Raven laughed again. “She wishes. We were actually having a pretty good time together. Kind of like old times.”

  “Old times that you have to stay quiet about. Sounds like a completely different person when she’s not around her crew,” I stated.

  “Yep,” Raven said curtly. “Well, I have to get to my last class. I’ll meet you and Jess after school by your lockers.”

  “I have to pick up some flowers at Susan’s store today. Are you okay driving with us there first?” I asked before she had a chance to escape.

  “Sure,” Raven said as she left me by the greenhouse doors, scurrying off to her last class.

  I joined the crowd of students inside the greenhouse as they whispered among themselves. One of the campus security guards pushed me aside as I saw the crowd part revealing Mrs. Richards lying unconscious on the ground. Jason had her head in his lap as the guard reached him, checking for a pulse. He clicked on his radio on his shoulder.

  “Mrs. Cobb, I need an ambulance out to the greenhouse right away!” he stated before taking over Jason’s position with our teacher. “I need everyone to go outside. Now!”

  We turned back, filing out of the greenhouse as the rumors started circulating around outside. I found Jason in the fray and grabbed his arm, pulling him away from the others.

  “What happened? Is she...?”

  “No, she’s not dead,” Jason replied, wrapping his arms around me in a protective hug before letting me go. “I found her on the ground when I came in. Some students got there before me and were in shock. I’m not sure what happened.”

  At his last words, we heard the sirens of the nearby ambulance coming down the street towards the school. Principal Norman stalked towards us to gather the students away from the greenhouse entrance.

  “All students, please report to the library for your last period. You will be relieved to a study hall session until the last bell,” Principal Norman said through a bull horn.

  The students fanned out as Detective Highwater, and Officer Fleming made their way to the scene. I saw them briefly speak with the ambulance as they wheeled the gurney into the greenhouse to Mrs. Richards. Jason put his arm around my shoulder and led me away. I knew he was trying to protect me, but I couldn’t help but feel like I might be next. Or Raven. Or Jess. It made my stomach roll thinking about what could happen to the people I loved if I got any closer to this.

  As we entered the main campus building, Jason guided me towards the library on the first floor. We entered through the double doors into the spacious seating area past the circulation desk in the corner. I sat my backpack down on a table in the middle of the room as Jason seated himself in the chair opposite me.

  The media specialist watched us from her desk in her office near the front door before resuming the book she was reading. The other students whispered around us as some decided to get started on homework. Jason opened his history textbook and gave me a weak smile as our gazes met across the table.

  “Mrs. Richards will be okay,” he reassured, hoping his words would mean something to me. Little did he know, I was busy wondering if something more nefarious was going on.

  I sighed deeply, turning the page in my book, trying to rouse my mind from its dark place. My leg bounced underneath the table as my anxiety took hold of me and another emotion that seemed so irrational in this particular setting: fear.

  Jason reached for my hand as I slid it away, a look of hurt briefly crossing over his features. Noticing my error, I reached out for his trying to soothe his ego. It mattered to me even though I was dealing with my own complex emotions.

  “We could study for history together,” Jason offered, trying to ease the moment of tension between us.

  I nodded, taking a shaky breath as I flipped to the chapters for our next exam. We quizzed each other softly, both trying to forget about Mrs. Richards. As we did so, my eyes strayed to my phone in my lap as it lit up with text messages from Jess and Raven. Apparently, they had heard about the situation as the rumors spread throughout the school. I quickly sent them each a text back saying I would meet them at my locker.

  As soon as the bell rang, I slammed my book shut and popped out of my seat. Jason followed quickly behind me as we made our way through the clamoring halls.

  “Ais? Aislin?” Jason asked from beside me.

  “Jason, I’m sorry I’m not responding the way you want me to. I have a lot on my
mind...”

  “It’s okay. I understand,” Jason said as we stopped beside our lockers.

  “You do?” I asked, surprised.

  “I’m sure you and your family had a lot to talk about during the therapy session,” Jason commented, opening his locker.

  “Oh...right,” I muttered, grabbing some books from my locker for my backpack. “It was...enlightening. I think it helped us realize that we all need to try a little harder.”

  Jason smiled as he closed his locker, seeing Ben walking with Raven and Jess down the hallway. Ben grabbed his brother around the neck and ruffled his hair as the others caught up to me.

  “I can’t believe what happened to Mrs. Richards,” Jess started. “Do you think she’s going to be alright?”

  “She will be,” Jason said firmly, cutting the conversation off. I knew it was for my sake after noticing how upset I was since it happened.

  Jess caught the hint and dropped the topic. Raven opened her mouth to speak but decided against it as Jess laid a gentle hand on her arm.

  “You ready for the big game tonight, bro?” Ben asked, punching his brother in the arm. Jason rubbed the area acting like he was hurt.

  “Good luck tonight, boys,” Melissa said, sidling up to them. She completely ignored us, except for the brief glance in Raven’s direction. Kissing Ben on the cheek, she walked off down the hall, sashaying away.

  “Well, she’s very forward,” Ben laughed, rubbing her kiss away.

  “She’s a lot more than that,” Raven muttered, a hint of jealousy in her tone. I think I was the only one who caught it.

  “I have to get to Susan’s to pick up the order for homecoming floats,” I announced, awkwardly. Raven and Jess followed behind me after telling the boys we’d see them later on tonight.

  As we made it outside and into my car, Jess and Raven sat silently before they couldn’t contain themselves any longer.

  “Aislin, what’s going on?” Raven said from the back seat as I pulled out of the parking lot.

  “My anxiety has been pretty bad today, I guess,” I mumbled.

  “I’m sure Mrs. Richards is okay—”

  “It’s not that,” I snapped. “I don’t want...anything to happen to either of you or to me. I’m...scared.”

  “Ais, we’ll be fine. No one even knows what we’re doing,” Raven assured, putting a hand on my shoulder.

  “I know. I’m just really jumpy,” I admitted, shaking my hands out as I gripped the steering wheel.

  “I know something that could help you mellow out,” Raven teased.

  “What?” Jess asked.

  “A nice night out with friends watching some buff dudes destroy each other on the field. I’ll buy you some chocolate. How does that sound?” Raven always knew how to make a girl feel special.

  I sighed dramatically before shooting her a smile. “Sure.”

  I pulled off to the side of the road in front of Susan’s shop. Hopping out of the car, I walked through the tinkling shop door towards the counter. Stopping short, I saw Denise turn around after placing an order with Susan.

  “Aislin,” she said, surprised to see me there.

  “Denise,” I said back as she approached.

  “I’m sorry for everything that happened. I didn’t realize how detrimental it was to you and your family—”

  “As much as I understand you trying to comfort me in some fucked up sort of way, today is not the time,” I growled, pushing past her towards Susan.

  I heard Denise’s heels click hard on the floor as she walked out of the store. Susan met my gaze as I pulled up to the counter.

  “I’m not sure what you two have going on, but she is a paying customer,” Susan said sternly.

  “I’m sorry, Susan. I didn’t mean to offend you or drive business away,” I rushed to say. It wasn’t my best customer service moment.

  Susan held up her hand. “I don’t too much care for her either. The shipment of flowers is in the back. They’re packed up in boxes. Don’t worry. They’re light since most of them are loose flowers to be weaved into the floats this afternoon.”

  “Got it. Thanks,” I said as I made my way through the beaded door towards the back of the shop. I glanced around the dark backroom, spotting the boxes in the corner labeled for today. Grabbing the first one on the top, I placed it on a cart nearby to be wheeled out to my vehicle.

  As I continued to pile the boxes on the cart, I heard the bell from the front of the store go off with a new customer. Turning around, I glanced at the monitor in the room and saw Hunter Mathis approach Susan, taking his wallet out of his suit's breast pocket. Moving closer to the security cameras, I watched as Susan pulled up his account and completed the order, taking his cash and putting it in her pocket instead of the cash register. Mr. Mathis glanced up at the camera inside the shop before making a gesture and leaving.

  I quickly went back to the boxes and pushed the cart out of the back towards the store's front. Susan smiled as I walked outside, seeing Mr. Mathis step into his expensive sports car before taking off down the street. Raven got out of the car as she saw the cart and opened the trunk for me.

  “That’s a whole bunch of flowers,” she commented as she helped me arrange the boxes in the back. “Did you see Denise?”

  “What?” I asked, gathering my thoughts.

  “I saw her come out of the store.”

  “Oh, yeah,” I mumbled.

  “Well,” Raven urged, “what did she want?”

  “I don’t know,” I sighed. “She was placing an order with Susan. I don’t know what for.”

  “What was that big wig, Mathis doing down here? Shouldn’t he be busy taking care of the Ocean Blue Lounge that burned down the other night?” Raven questioned as she slammed the back door closed. I wheeled the cart away from us as Susan came out of her store to grab it.

  “You girls have fun tonight,” she said. “Don’t worry about this, Aislin. I’ve got it from here.”

  Getting into my car, I watched as Susan took the cart back inside her store. Jess stared after her before turning her gaze back to me. “I’m guessing there are some things I don’t know about?”

  Raven glanced between us both in the front seat. “You want me to fill her in?”

  I started the car as Raven sat back and told Jess all the dirt she had found on Susan’s husband and Denise. I listened to the story as I thought about Gabrielle and how I couldn’t figure out a way to reach her.

  “That’s it...” I whispered under my breath as Raven and Jess ceased their chattering.

  “What’s it?” Jess asked.

  “The pills we found—my pills—they found them mixed in with other drugs in Emily’s body during her autopsy,” I stated. “That’s why I’m having such a hard time connecting to Gabrielle in my dreams. My sleeping aid can cause a person not to dream. No dreams mean—”

  “You can’t find them,” Raven said flatly. “There’s no way these people know about your ability, though...right?”

  “No, they shouldn’t. I think it’s just a coincidence and a really bad one, at that,” I said. “If their victims aren’t dreaming, there’s no way I’m going to be able to find them that way. It’s a dead end.”

  “But we do know one thing,” Jess added. We waited for her to reveal her knowledge. “Steven definitely has something to do with it.”

  “Detective Highwater will be looking into that,” I said as I pulled the car into the school parking lot. A trail of cheerleaders stalked past us towards the back of the school towards the fields. I got out with the others, each of them grabbing a box from the trunk.

  “Do we know where to drop these off?” Raven asked as I followed behind the students filing along the sidewalk past the auditorium.

  “Just follow the crowd,” I replied, finding our way to the ticket booth for the game. I bypassed them and headed straight for the trucks and their hitched trailers near the football field. Raven and Jess followed behind.

  Setting my box on the gr
ound near one of the coordinators, I saw Zahara and Abby standing nearby. I tried to hide, feeling guilty for not talking to them sooner since our meeting at the outreach program. Before I had a chance to get away, Abby spotted me, bounding straight over.

  “Been a long time, recruit,” she stated as Zahara walked forward.

  “Sorry, I’ve been kind of busy—”

  “You delivered these flowers for the homecoming court? I didn’t know you worked with Mrs. Ridgway,” Zahara remarked sweetly.

  “I’m really sorry I haven’t been very active. There’s been a lot going on with my family, but I’ll definitely be there for the meeting,” I tried to say.

  “We understand. But since you’re here, do you think you could help us put together a piece on the homecoming floats for the game tonight? It would be really helpful. You could turn it into us on Monday morning?” Zahara asked. Jess and Raven walked up behind me to see what was being said.

  “Uh, sure. I’ve never written an article before. I’m not sure I’d be very good.” I knew it was some sort of test to see if I was reliable for the newspaper. Zahara made it really hard to turn her down. She was the kind of person you wanted to impress.

  “Great! I can’t wait to read it,” she smiled. “Abby, I need you to take some shots of the floats tonight for the piece.”

  “Got it, boss,” Abby answered, her camera dangling from around her neck. She picked it up and jumped into action.

  “I’ll see you around?” Zahara asked. With anyone else, her question would have appeared to be pleading, but with her impeccable attention to detail and assertive attitude, it was more of a request.

  “Of course,” I said. She smiled before turning back towards her work with interviewing the homecoming court.

  “I like her,” Raven mused as we walked away from the floats down the sidewalk next to the fence. I glanced out over the field as we passed by the cheerleaders practicing their routines.

  Melissa and her teammates were seated in the front row. I could feel their eyes following us as we made our way up the bleacher steps towards the top. Taking a seat on the cold steel, I glanced out over the expanse of the football field as we waited eagerly for the game to begin.