"You know what we're going to do? Jack asked, making Alek, Erin, and I turn to look at him. We had gotten home about an hour ago, and it was 11:00 at night.
"What?" I asked.
He pulled out a CD and put it into the stereo. Yeah, a CD. Old, and nerdy, I know.
But it was sweet.
Everybody Talks by Neon Trees started playing. This was one of my favorite songs.
"It has all of your favorite songs on it," Jack told me, and I jumped up and hugged him.
"You're amazing." I told him, kissing him on the cheek.
"Yeah, I know." He joked.
Alek grabbed me by the hand and spun me around, so we were pressed together. Erin shrugged and started dancing with Jack as Alek and I danced around the living room to Everybody Talks.
Alek and I swung around, our feet moving in sync. He dipped me backwards, making me laugh my head off.
I came back up and he lifted me up, and I held onto his shoulders as he spun us around. I loved moments like this. I kicked and screamed and laughed.
"It started with a whisper, and that was when I kissed her. And then she made my lips hurt, I can't even chit-chat. Take me to your love shack... Mama's always got a back track, and everybody talks back!" I sang in unison with Jack, Erin, and Alek.
I had admit, I had a hell of a birthday.
Oh yes I did.
We danced for hours, to 'Wings' by Little Mix, 'Run This Town' by Lucy Hale, and tons more. The CD had almost 30 songs on it, and it replayed 3 times.
It was past midnight when I realized I had school in the morning.
Erin headed home and Alek ended up spending the night. He slept on the couch, as usual. He's become really fond of that couch.
Yeah, I know. Alek and the couch, besties forever.
I drifted off into sleep, mentally laughing at my horrible joke.
~*~
"Help! I screamed as I tried to run fater, but my legs weren't working. They felt so heavy.
It was raining so hard I could barely see, and the fag made it so hard to breath, I was gasping for air. I tried crawling backwards, but it was no use. It was gaining on me.
The black figure finally reached me and I screamed as it raised the blade in its hand. I was mortified. Suddenly, it drops the knife and takes off its hood, revealing Alek's face.
Wait, what?
He leans in and kisses me. The ground beneath us breaks, and Alek disappeared as I started falling. I kept falling, I couldn't stop. And then everything started shaking so violently, just as I landed on the gound.
It shook and shook.
Then, I was back in Alek's apartment. The ground jolting, a bookcase falling over, the whole building collapsing.
I jump out the window, and I hear someone yelling my name from a distance.
"Ali! Ali! Ali! Wake up!"
"Ali! Wake up!" I jolt out of bed, tears streaming down my face.
"What just happened? Alek? Are you real?" I said to him, while I patted his face and pulled him into the tightest hug I've ever given him.
"I think you had a nightmare, and yes, I'm completely real." He said to me, pulling away.
"What time is-"
"It's about 7." Alek cut me off.
"Why are didn't you wake me up? We need to leave soon!" I asked, super confused.
"I was asleep too! And you started screaming, which woke me up. You were asleep, but you were kicking and screaming and you looked like you were having some kind of seizure. What the hell were you dreaming about?"
"Someone was chasing me, and then just as they were about to stab me they took off their hood and it was you. The ground broke, and i was falling and falling and I couldn't stop, and then just as I landed the ground started shaking like I was in an earthquake. Then I was in your apartment, during the earthquake. Just as we jumped out the window, I woke up." I left out the tiny detail of him kissing me.
Everything else was legit.
I couldn't believe I actually dreamed about him kissing me. Jeez, what was wrong with me?
Alek's just my friend. He's just my friend.
Just my friend.
Then why did I keep wishing he was more?
Alek left the room so that I could change into an oversized neon pink sweatshirt and a pair of leggings underneath. I slipped on my converse and ran out the door, granola bar in hand, to Rust Bucket, where Alek was waiting.
We drove to school, and I sat down at on Erin's desk, where she was on her laptop, ear buds in.
"What're you listening to?" I asked, taking out one of her ear buds.
"It's a new Taylor Swift song. It's called begin again. Here, I'll replay it for you." She told me and i put the ear bud in as music came out.
"Took a deep breath in the mirror
He didn't like it when I wore high heels, but I do
Turned the lock and put my headphones on
He always said he didn't get this song but I do, I do
Walked in expecting you'd be late
But you got here early
And you stand and wait
And I walk to you
You pulled my chair out and helped me
And you don't know how nice that is
But I do
And you throw your head back laughing like a little kid
I think it's strange that you think I'm funny 'cause he never did
I've been spending the last 8 months thinking all love ever does
Is break and burn and end
But on a Wednesday in a cafe I watched it begin again
You said you never met one girl
Who has as many James Taylor records as you
But I do
We tell stories and you don't know why I'm coming off a little shy
But I do
But you throw your head back laughing like a little kid
I think it's strange that you think I'm funny 'cause he never did
I've been spending the last 8 months thinking all love ever does
Is break and burn and end
But on a Wednesday in a cafe I watched it begin again
And we walk down the block to my car
