by Lee Strauss
“Don’t worry about him.” I held a palm out, hoping to calm her. I was worried she’d bolt and I couldn’t chase after her half naked. “Just let me get dressed and we’ll get a coffee.”
I snagged jeans from the floor and a shirt hanging over the back of my chair, and I dashed to the bathroom. I dressed as fast as I could, hopping on one leg as I hurried to get into my pants, almost losing my balance and landing in the toilet. I quickly washed my face and brushed my teeth. I ran a hand through my hair and dodged back into the room.
Zed was awake with his covers pulled up to his hairy chin. He eyed Sage with silent curiosity, his dark brows jumping slightly in question when he saw me. I offered a subtle shrug.
I ran a hand through my hair, feeling self-conscious suddenly when Sage’s gaze landed on me. She wore her glasses and it reminded me to retrieve mine from my night table and push them on my face.
I tapped her elbow. “Let’s go.”
Java Junkie was always busy. Mornings attracted early risers who wanted to study or do homework before class and professors who needed a pick-me-up before morning lectures.
We bumped into one professor on the way in. He was slender in build with bright blue eyes.
“Hello, Sage!” he said. Then on further inspection, he asked, “Is everything okay?”
“Hi, Dr. Parker,” Sage said quietly. “I’m fine. Just tired.”
“Well, it is early! See you tomorrow?”
“Yeah.”
“Great! Have a good day!”
I led Sage to the nearest empty table. “He’s a chipper fellow. One of your professors?”
Sage shrugged and nodded at the same time. I told her to wait while I grabbed the coffees, my treat. She folded her arms on the table and rested her head, another sign that her dream had really shaken her.
When I returned I set the mugs down on the table and sat across from her. “You can’t drown if you don’t go near water,” I said.
“I don’t go near the water.” Sage sipped her coffee. “Not usually.”
“Especially not the canal,” I pressed. “No matter what.”
She sniffed. “For the first time, I’m thankful the dorms have shower stalls and not tubs.”
“Me too.”
Sage reached across the table and rested her hand on mine. It was warm and soft, and the small gesture made my heart skip.
“Thanks for being such a good friend, Marlow.” I blinked and forced a smile. I was glad Sage considered me her friend, but at the same time, the friend label kind of sucked. “Yeah, sure.”
“I mean it,” she said. “I don’t know what I’d do without you right now.”
I wanted to lighten the mood. “Just stick to dry land. Better yet, stick with me.”
I smiled and was rewarded with a small grin from Sage in return.
The door opened, and Zed walked in. I wasn’t surprised to see him because a green smoothie run was his routine, but I was surprised to see him with a girl.
“Do you know that girl?” I asked.
Sage turned to look. “Yeah, that’s Eliza. Why?”
“Zed has a crush on her.”
“Ah, now I remember. I was out with Eliza once and he was less than subtle. Good to see he’s making progress. She’s a nice girl.”
I took a closer look at her. Her curls were pulled back in a short, thick ponytail and she had several piercings on her face. “Is she in one of your classes?”
“She’s in my support group.”
“Oh.” That meant she had grief or depression issues. I hoped Zed was up to that challenge.
Eliza had ordered a green smoothie too. I smirked. “Maybe they are a match made in heaven.”
They waved as they left the café.
“Cute couple,” Sage said.
Couple? Was it possible that Zed had actually snagged a girlfriend?
Sage removed her glasses and rubbed her eyes. Gray circles were evidence of her sleep deprivation. Her shoulders sagged under the weight of her dream. My chest was tight with foreboding. I was more worried about her than I let on because there was something I hadn’t told her.
I also dreamed about her last night. That she’d drowned in the canal.
16

Sage
It was nearly impossible to function like a normal student. How was I supposed to concentrate on lectures and homework, much less get ready for my finals when all this wacky weirdness was going on? I’d always been an active dreamer, but lately the clarity and lucidness of my dreams was scary.
Really scary.
I was desperate to grab onto some sense of normalcy, so when Nora invited me to attend a beach-themed social, I said yes. It didn’t occur to me until much later that a beach-themed social might take place on an actual beach, and at Detroit University, that meant The Lantern, a public meeting place along the canal.
“It’ll be fun, Sage,” Nora said. “Bare-chested guys, fruity drinks with little umbrellas, the Beach Boys blasting.”
“I’m not much for water events,” I said lamely.
“We’re not swimming. We’re just dressing up like we are. Here’s a chance to show off our curvy bods. When else can we wear our bikinis on campus and not get our hair wet?”
She had a point there.
But I couldn’t very well tell her I was afraid I might try to drown myself.
And I’d promised Marlow.
“What time is the event?” I asked
“It starts at three. There’s going to be a pig roast complete with an apple in the mouth—seriously, Sage, you can’t miss that.”
All the drownings had occurred after dark. I should be fine in the daylight. Even if I did do something completely out of character like try to drown myself, there would be hundreds of people there to stop me.
“Okay,” I said. “I’ll come.”
Nora got us into the mood by playing beach music in our dorm as we packed towels, sunscreen, water bottles and books—not that we’d actually read, they were merely props—into beach bags. I had brought one swimsuit to DU with me, a cute little lacy bikini and put it on under a pale yellow floral sundress. With white flip-flops, sunglasses and a sun hat, I looked beach ready.
Nora wore a green bikini under cutoffs and a flouncy blouse. “You ready?” she asked.
I nodded, grabbed my prescription sunglasses, and followed her out.
The weather was unseasonably warm, which just made everything so much more perfect. I listened to Nora’s spritely chatter and pushed all dark thoughts of dreams and drownings as far away as possible.
Whoever planned the event did an exceptional job with decor. Food and drink kiosks had grass roofs, striped lounging chairs sat along the length of the patio along the canal, Tiki lamps were set up and lit along the perimeter and a BBQ pit with an actual pig on rotation filled the area with a tantalizing aroma.
Nora and I bought a fruity drink and chose one of the lounge chairs. I removed my sundress, reclined and closed my eyes. The warmth of the sun’s rays felt like a massage. I relaxed.
“This is great,” Nora said. “With my eyes closed, I can almost convince myself I’m in Florida.”
I made humming sounds of agreement and took a sip of my drink. I started singing along to “Surfin’ USA” when I felt the coolness of a cloud cover blocking my sun. When I opened my eyes I saw it wasn’t a cloud blocking the warmth, but the shadow of a large, muscular body.
Tristan. He grinned widely and whistled. “Oh, baby!”
I couldn’t stop myself from smiling back. He looked super sexy with windblown hair, dark sunglasses and a nicely cut bare chest. Then I remembered how he had treated me at Harvey’s and I pulled my lips down into a scowl, tipped my hat down to cover my eyes and tried to ignore him.
He squatted low so we were almost face to face, and I couldn’t help but check him out from the corner of my eye.
“I’m sorry. I was a jerk to you the other night,” he said. “I guess I had too much to
drink, not that that excuses my behavior.” He sighed and raked fingers through his hair. “Can we start over?”
I wasn’t one to hold a grudge. “Okay.”
Tristan’s relief reached me like a wave. “Great! I think the roast is almost ready. Wanna go check it out with me?”
Nora cleared her throat. When I looked at her, she gave me a look that said GO.
“Sure, okay,” I said. I slipped back into my sundress, keenly aware of how Tristan took in my every move.
Jake appeared and I directed him to my empty seat. “Nora’s over there.” That was why she was eager to see me go with Tristan. So much for our hanging together now that Jake had arrived. I was newly grateful for Tristan’s company. Without him, I probably would’ve just left and gone back to my dorm and I didn’t think being alone was the greatest thing for me right now.
Tristan brushed his hand against mine as we walked—a signal? I wasn’t ready to hold hands with him in public so I casually crossed my arms. His eyes flashed briefly with disappointment then took on that gleam I recognized so well. The look that said he loved a challenge.
“Sage!”
I turned to the voice calling my name and smiled when I saw Eliza waving at me. Three might be a crowd, but I was okay with a mild buffer between Tristan and me.
“How are you?” she asked.
“I’m good, you?”
“I’m good, too.” Her eyes landed on Tristan, and I could tell she wanted an introduction.
“Eliza this is Tristan. Tristan, Eliza.”
Tristan held out his hand and Eliza’s eyes brightened. “Nice to meet you,” she said.
My emotions were so unworthy, but I actually felt a flare of jealousy at the way Tristan smiled back at her.
“This is a great party, isn’t it?” Eliza said, presumably to me, but her eyes never left Tristan.
“Yeah, great,” I said.
Tristan touched my elbow. “Looks like the hog’s getting carved. Let’s get in line.”
I asked her if she wanted to come with us.
“Oh, sure. I’ll save a spot for Zed. He’s supposed to meet me here.”
The pressure I’d felt with her being a third wheel to Tristan and me lifted. Besides, I was being stupid. There was no Tristan and me.
Zed joined us just as we were approaching the front of the line. Eliza looped her arm through his and giggled. “There you are!”
“Sorry I’m late,” Zed returned, then he noticed me with Tristan, and I discerned an imperceptible frown. “Hey, Sage.”
“Hi, Zed.”
I didn’t introduce him to Tristan because belatedly I remembered Zed’s connection to Marlow and I didn’t want Zed to report back that I was with Tristan. Because I wasn’t with Tristan.
Thankfully, Zed and Eliza were into each other and once Tristan had his plate full of food his attention to me was noticeably diluted.
Tristan walked me back to my dorm after the feast. I made it home before dark and had successfully refrained from drowning myself.
Tristan reached over and moved a strand of hair off my face and tucked it behind my ear. “I have some free time now, if you do.”
He wanted to come in, but I wasn’t ready to be alone in close quarters with him yet.
“Actually, I have a statistics test tomorrow and I really need to study.” His face grew long with disappointment, and I quickly added, “but another time?”
“Sure, another time.” Tristan kissed me lightly on the cheek before stepping backward. “I’ll call you.”
His lips were soft and warm and the slight amount of bristle on his cheek had brushed against mine. I swallowed before turning my back and headed inside.
I showered and changed into PJs before opening up my laptop. A chat window was open.
@averagegeek99: You promised you wouldn’t go near the canal.
Busted.
@mathmatters: It was daytime. Lots of people to fish me out if I suddenly lost my mind.
@averagegeek99: Tristan?? Really??
@mathmatters: I didn’t go with him. I went with Nora. He just happened to be there.
@averagegeek99: Convenient.
Whatever.
@mathmatters: Where were you?
@averagegeek99: I don’t usually do social events like that.
@averagegeek99: But if I’d known you were going, I might’ve come.
To save me from drowning? Or to save me from Tristan.
@mathmatters: I’m home now, all safe and sound.
@averagegeek99: With Nora?
Read: Are you with Tristan? Marlow was acting like a jealous boyfriend and I didn’t think I liked it.
@mathmatters: I’m alone.
@averagegeek99: By yourself?
@mathmatters: Yes, by myself. That’s the accepted definition of alone. Do you want to borrow a dictionary?
@averagegeek99: I think I’m good. You can call me anytime, night or day, okay?
Now I felt like a jerk. Marlow knew what I was going through and cared. I was an idiot.
@mathmatters: Thanks, Marlow. You’re too good to me.
@averagegeek99: I know. Sleep well.
I studied until eleven, read until midnight and messed around on Facebook until one. My body was heavy with exhaustion, but I was too wired to sleep. Frankly, sleep frightened me, but I had to get some rest or all that studying I did wouldn’t have done me a bit of good.
I removed my purple frames, picked up the little plastic bottle and shook out a gel pill.
17

The soft lapping sound of oars working through the water was like music to the ears. It was a quiet night with a quarter moon—perfect. There was a moment of concern that the beach party could ruin things, that stragglers would remain long after the administration shut things down, but the pressure of the looming exams seemed to have done its work to pull the student body back indoors.
All except for one important person.
The moonlight shone on the girl’s dark, glossy hair. She stepped tentatively into the canal, down the cement steps by the dock, one foot at a time. She tossed her purple-framed glasses into the stream before slipping under its surface.
18

Marlow
My eyes snapped open and I shivered in a cold sweat. My breathing slowed as I took in my dark bedroom and kicked off my sheets. It was just another bad dream. Sage was safe and sound, fast asleep in her dorm. I knew this because I’d chatted online with her just a few hours ago. She was fine. On her way to bed.
Not in the canal drowning.
It seemed so real, just like all my dreams do: Sage slowly walking down the cement steps beside the dock, into the cold water of the canal, her dark hair fanning out with the current. I shouted for her to stop, but she never even turned her head to my voice.
There was a wooden rowboat nearby with one lone occupant, a silhouette against the vast moonlit sky. I called for help, but the observer never grabbed the oars. The boat bobbed gently in the waves as the water reached Sage’s face.
I screamed when Sage disappeared under the slick surface. The rower’s face snapped to the sound of my voice. A darkened face with burning yellow eyes.
I was surprised my yelping hadn’t woken Zed. His snoring was almost louder than my heartbeat pulsing in my ears.
My head pounded with a raging headache and I strode swiftly to the bathroom for painkillers. I was back in bed when I realized I hadn’t turned on a single light, not even in the bathroom where the lack of windows resulted in pitch blackness. It was like I could see in the dark, but that was crazy. I’d made that trip so often, taken those pills so regularly, I could do it with my eyes closed.
The image of Sage drowning herself burned in my mind and there was no way I was going to be able to get back to sleep. I wanted to call her to alleviate my concern, but it was the middle of the night, and I knew how much trouble she had sleeping. She’d kill me if I woke her up.
Then again,
she has trouble with sleeping. She might be awake. I grabbed my phone and sent her a text.
I stared at the screen, willing her to text back, longing for the ping announcing that Sage was fine. That she was alive.
After five minutes, I couldn’t stand it anymore. I pressed her number prepared to deal with her wrath if it meant she was safe. It rang incessantly and she didn’t pick up. Probably had the ringer off as a precaution against being awakened by an unwanted call.
She was fine. I was just overreacting. No one had died after one of my dreams.
But they had died after one of hers. And the last dream Sage had was of herself drowning!
Oh, God.
I sat upright in bed. I had to find her.
Her roommate, Nora O’Shea would know. Damn, I didn’t have her number. I tossed my blankets, kicking frantically with my legs to detangle myself, and scrambled to my desk, waking up my laptop. I looked her up on the student directory of Detroit University and felt a flush of relief when I found her cell number listed there. My fingers trembled as I dialed.
Nora answered with a sleepy hello on the fifth ring.
“Nora! Is Sage there?”
“What?”
“Sage? Are you in your dorm room? Is Sage there?”
“Who is this?”
“It’s Marlow Henry. Please. I just need to know if Sage is with you.”
“Hold on. I have to turn on a light.”
The few seconds that passed felt like eons.
Her sleepy voice returned. “No, it doesn’t look like it.”
All the blood in my body flushed to my feet. I groaned.
“I’m sure she’s fine, though. She’s probably with Tristan.”
Something black stabbed me at the sound of his name. “Do you have his number?”
“Why would I have his number?”
“Okay, I gotta go.”
I hung up. As much as I disliked Tristan, and as much as the thought of him touching Sage made my blood curdle, I actually hoped beyond hope that she was with him.