In My Dreams (First Tracks Book 2)

by Kristen James

  It wasn’t just a weird emotional thing and it wasn’t just me. Jazz felt it too, and it shook her up so bad she had to run away.

  And somehow I had missed how shockingly beautiful she was until today—the gaze I couldn’t tear away from, the softness to her voice, the seriousness in her words. She had the longest, darkest hair that glistened in the sun. I wasn’t one to write romantic things, but she could inspire me. This was unlike anything I’d ever felt before, even way beyond what I ever felt for Avery, and that was saying a lot.

  I chased these thoughts and feelings around in circles until a stream of passing people made me check the time. I wasn’t worried about my classes or anything else except Jasmine. I wanted to catch her again…and there she was, just starting to turn her head my way.

  Her mouth popped open. She stopped, causing a big football-player-size guy to stutter stop behind her, trying not to knock her over. She didn’t notice, and suddenly she was in front of me, looking at me with those dark, dark eyes…eyes that went on forever, like deep pools of secrets.

  “Nash.” She glanced at the bench and back at me. “Did you just sit here all this time?”

  “I wanted to talk to you more.”

  It’s okay.

  I thought that and I could tell she heard me. She slowly shook her head in disbelief, moving to one side and then very slowly to the other. In contrast, her brain was clearly running in overdrive. I waited it out a few minutes, somehow feeling all that activity inside her head, and then she finally took two steps toward me.

  “Maybe we can talk later.”

  It was too much for her right now. I felt that. And I nodded. She kept her gaze on me as she started to walk away. I wasn’t upset that she needed time. She could tell that too. She stopped down the path, turning and staring at me for another minute, before turning around and walking away.

  It didn’t make any sense to her, and that terrified her. It didn’t make sense to me either but I grabbed onto it.

  While thinking about, I realized I was scratching my arm. It itched like crazy. I pulled my sleeve up to check why, and did a double take.

  What the hell?

  There was some kind of blue drawing on my inner forearm, like a long vine. If I went to parties, I might have wondered if I got drunk or drugged or something and someone did this as a joke, but I don’t party. So where could it have come from?

  I grabbed my phone and googled blue skin stains and found some information about jagua ink, something similar to henna, which is more popular.

  Jazz had a henna drawing on her arm. Curious.

  This was getting bigger and stranger by the second. It wasn’t like anything I had ever heard about, not even on one of those paranormal shows.

  I sat down again, trying to wrap my brain around all of it. I jumped to a few conclusions before, involving Avery, and what really happened, but it would have been beyond human understanding for me to accept what she told me. With a flutter of nerves in my stomach, I texted her.

  Hi Avery, I’m sorry about the other day. Friends?

  A few seconds later, she texted back, YES!

  A minute later, another text said, What changed? Or should I ask?

  I had anticipated this and still wasn’t sure how much to share, so I simply said, I talked to Jasmine.

  Hopefully Jasmine wouldn’t mind. Avery didn’t text back, so she might have sent something right off to Jasmine. I finally got up and started back toward my dorm. At least a dozen times, I pulled up my sleeve and looked at that vine.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Avery

  I wonder what Jasmine said to Nash to change his mind so drastically? It didn’t make any sense that he could have such a big change of heart so suddenly. I thought about texting and asking but decided to talk to her in person—we were planning to get together with Kris later so maybe we could talk about everything.

  I had another class to go to, and I tried to keep all the trains of thought from zipping around my head. Today already felt complicated. I kept thinking about what I’d say to Kristina when we finally talked, and now I had questions for Jazz… and then I kept thinking about Nash. I really hoped we could be friends.

  If only Marcus were in my head to help me sort it all out.

  I accidentally laughed out loud and got annoyed stares from everyone in the room. Hope they enjoyed seeing my red face. Apparently I didn’t need Marcus in my head to embarrass the hell out of myself after all.

  A few hours later, I rushed home and found Jazz sitting on the couch and drawing on her leg with jagua. Kris couldn’t come for another hour so this gave me the perfect opportunity to talk to Jazz about the other things.

  “Hey,” I said, pausing to check out her artwork. Her laptop sat on the coffee table with a photo of a tree in bloom with pink blossoms. The version on her leg had a more spindly tree going up her calf with a few flowers and a swirly vine growing up the tree. “That’s so pretty. The detail is amazing.”

  “Thanks… So I talked to Nash today.” Jazz kept her focus on her leg—I liked watching her work too. She held a small bottle full of the blue ink to draw with.

  “I did gather that.” I went to the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water before sitting down on the couch with her. I was careful to sit a cushion over and not make the couch move while she drew. She’s explained that if you smear that ink it stains that way.

  “You don’t mind?”

  “No! He texted, and he’s not mad at me anymore. What happened? What on earth did you say to him?”

  “It wasn’t so much what I said.” She glanced over so quickly I almost missed it. “It’s hard to explain…” When she looked up, I realized this was hard for her. She didn’t want to tell me about it. But why not? I poured my heart out to her before when I thought I’d lost Marcus. So, why?

  Did she like him? Did he like her? Jazz and Nash?

  I waited in case she would explain, but she got super focused on her artwork, almost like I wasn’t there. I sat back and sipped my water, puzzled and trying not to jump all over her with questions.

  They’re the last two people I would have put together, or guessed that they’d ever connect. She looks nothing like me, so it made me wonder which one of us was Nash’s type. (Does that matter? I remind myself.)

  It never occurred to me before, but their personalities were similar. Two reserved introverts who take logic to a whole new level, kinda like two Spocks. That made me laugh inwardly before returning to this strange new reality.

  “We had this connection today,” was all she finally said. For Jazz, that was a lot. She hasn’t always been too revealing with her inner thoughts and feelings.

  “So you talked and clicked? That’s cool.” So they had some kind of connection.

  A jolt ran through me, like when you hear bad news but it takes a few seconds for the reality to hit you. Only, this wasn’t bad news, just strange news...

  “Jazz, what kind of connection?”

  She glanced up, but not long enough for me to read her expression.

  “I don’t know. I mean, you know how it is when you talk to someone and it’s like you’ve been friends for a long time already?” She shrugged and went back to drawing.

  “So that’s why he believes my story now, because you two just talked?”

  “Yeah, maybe he got a new perspective.” Jazz looked off toward the front window. It opened to the street but you couldn’t see much from where we were sitting. I had so many questions, but how could I ask something so she’d open up?

  Tap, tap.

  Jazz and I both jumped, then laughed.

  “Come in!” she called out. The door opened and Kris stepped in timidly, wearing a really cute long shirt and leggings. She dropped her bag on the floor by the door, still our messy girl. Her hair was in full on curly mode today and pulled back in a loose ponytail.

  Jazz sat up and started picking up her jagua supplies. I scooted to the edge of the couch, searching for words. I decided to start wi
th the thing I’ve been needing to tell her all this time.

  “Kris, I didn’t try to steal Kyle from you, or even kiss him. I don’t know what that was back there at the coast.”

  Her eyes misted over and she nodded. “I know.”

  She sat in the big chair, her old sparkle completely gone from her big brown eyes. Jazz carried her things back to her room.

  “Where are you staying?” I asked. “And is Dawn gone too? I haven’t seen her.”

  “Dawn’s still here,” Jazz called, coming back down the hallway, “but I think you’re right. She’s been avoiding the house. Kris, tell her where you’re staying.”

  Kris barely got the name out before Jazz continued talking as she flopped back on the couch. “Don’t you think we should just put that whole thing behind us?” She looked between Kris and me. “Why let some stupid guy ruin our friendship? Kyle was an ass from the beginning, and now you both know it.”

  Wow. Now Jazz decided to talk.

  Kristina’s shaky breathing echoed across the room, and hearing that propelled me to my feet.

  “I’m sorry, Ave.” She stretched her arms out and I grabbed her in a hug.

  “I’m sorry too.”

  “You shouldn’t be,” she said, choked up. “I did steal Kyle, and then I stayed with him even though I slowly figured out what a jerk he’d been to you. I should have dumped his ass.”

  I squeezed into the chair with her and laid my head on her shoulder.

  “I have something to tell you guys about him actually.” I picked at a fray on my jeans. “I ran into Kyle a while back, and he apologized. He was really sorry.”

  Jazz scoffed. Kris stiffened next to me.

  “He thinks that makes it all better?” Jazz shook her head, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees.

  “It’s more complicated than that.” I pulled in a breath and asked Kris, “Do you know about Marcus?”

  “Huh?” Kris asked.

  “Wait,” Jazz said. “What does Marcus have to do with Kyle?”

  I glanced between my friends and realized I was confusing the heck out of them.

  “Well, nothing. But Kyle had these dreams, and I think they were similar to what happened between Marcus and me.”

  Jazz flopped back on the couch, her brow furrowed in thought. My mind lit up suddenly too—whatever was going on with her might be something similar. I couldn’t even make a guess about what it was, but I was starting to think it was related to all this other strange stuff going on.

  “I’m lost.” Kristina moved so she could see my face. How much did she know?

  “Okay, let me start from the beginning about Marcus and me, and then I’ll explain about Kyle.” So I went back to that trip when I crashed on the snowboard, then waking up with Marcus in my head, trying to act normal…

  Amazingly, Kristina listened with a curious expression instead of giving Jazz a look like, is she crazy? The room darkened while I talked because the sun was setting outside. It felt cozy sitting in the chair with Kris, keeping each other warm. Jazz lit her big apple scented candle that set in the middle of the coffee table.

  I finally got to the part about Kyle stopping me to apologize, although that word felt too small for what occurred between us that day.

  “Kyle said he had dreams where he was me, and he experienced what he put me through.” I stopped there due to a random thought. Marcus had originally learned about Kyle and that night through a dream too. In that dream, he’d been with me and experienced all of it, but I couldn’t see or hear him. That felt so very long ago, but I couldn’t help but remember how Marcus wanted to protect me, and how he comforted me.

  “And you believe him?” Jazz asked, her eyes narrowed, but her tone sounded off, like a little afraid instead of angry. I strained to see her expression better but the candlelight from below threw a strange shadow on her face. Why did she doubt? I’m pretty sure she believed my story.

  “Yeah, after what happened to me, I have to believe me. He acted really genuine and really sorry. I’ve never seen him like that. Jazz, he was completely changed.”

  “But!” She pointed a finger at Kristina. “That does not mean you can take him back.”

  “Don’t worry about that,” Kris said flatly. “We’re over. You can’t go back after certain things.”

  We were quiet after that. She couldn’t mean that about the three of us… It didn’t apply to our friendships. We couldn’t let it.

  A few minutes later, Kris said thoughtfully, her voice sounding far away like she was thinking, “I wonder if that’s why he’s been texting me.” She glanced over at Jazz. “I’ve been ignoring him. I don’t know if I want to talk to him, but…”

  “But maybe you want some closure?” I asked. Jazz didn’t add anything so I did. “You don’t have to do anything but listen if he wanted to apologize or talk. If might help.”

  She twisted up her mouth as she thought it over. I’d be curious later on if she did talk to him.

  “What about Dawn?” I asked. “Maybe we should have invited her here to talk too.”

  “First, Kris, are you coming home?” Jazz asked. I turned my head to look at Kris.

  She was watching me too and said, “If you’ll have me back.”

  “Of course. Friends forever.”

  “Thank god!” Jazz said, jumping up. “I’ve had enough drama lately! Maybe we can get back to regularly scheduled life.” She trotted off down the hallway.

  Kris tilted her head, brows scrunched in thought, and slowly asked, “Is it just me, or is something a little off about Jazz, like something’s going on with her?”

  I answered with, “And it might involve Nash.”

  Her head jerked my way and her mouth dropped open. “Seriously? And hold on, you’re okay with that?”

  I held a finger over my mouth because I didn’t want Jazz to hear us talking about her. Kris and I both wore unbelieving expressions.

  “I’m okay with it…but she’s not. There’s something strange going on.”

  Kris’s eyes went wide, catching the flickering candlelight.

  “You know,” she said, one corner of her mouth coming up in a smile, “they’re both so secretive and serious.”

  I thought about the homework Jazz had collected for me from Nash: organized and color coded. She probably got high just flipping through it.

  I tried not to giggle. “Isn’t it funny that she’s so artistic but so neat and tidy?”

  “But Nash? What’s going on there?”

  I had to think for a minute and finally gave a little shake of my head. “They started talking when she got homework for me. At least, I think that’s how it started. And she’s been holding something back when we talk about it.” I stopped there, realizing I was gossiping. We’re all close friends (again!) but it was still Jasmine’s business, and she liked to keep a tight lid on her life.

  Kris knew that too. She leaned her head back, thinking, but didn’t ask anymore. Then she closed her eyes on a sigh. “I’m so glad we worked things out. It’s been hell without you.”

  I lifted my arm over her head to pull her in closer, and we both said, “Friends forever!”

  “About fucking time!” Jazz yelled from down the hall. “Haven’t you two heard of hoes before bros?”

  Kris burst out with a hard and fast laugh that sounded so funny I cracked up. Tonight might get a little crazy…and we needed it!

  Chapter Eighteen

  Jasmine

  I left Kris and Ave laughing their heads off in the living room to go to the bathroom and then my room because I’d left my phone on my desk. It blinked and I stopped with my hand over it, wondering if Nash had texted.

  Nope. Corbin did. Hey girl.

  Corbin, popping up again. Did he even have any idea what it did to me when he texted? He was probably sitting there with his friends when he shot off the text. Or maybe he was with another girl and trying to line something up for later.

  That’s what I picture, him no
t giving a damn and just wanting another girl for the night, and yet I haven’t been able to shake my feelings for him. I’ll stop everything and lose my breath because he sent a fucking text.

  I never answered his last one. That was something. It’d been the first time I ever ignored anything from him. I usually answered within minutes. But life had gone all strange on me, and Nash came into the picture. Maybe I had finally broken free from Corbin. Well, maybe that was the one good thing coming out of this freaky Nash situation.

  There were a few times before when I deleted Corbin’s picture so it didn’t show up with his texts, but I always added it back on. This time I opened his contact and hovered my thumb over the delete button.

  I couldn’t let this go on any longer. It hurt too much. I don’t mean anything to Corbin except a good time once in a while—once in a great while now.

  I held my breath and pushed Delete.

  My phone popped up with, “Are you sure you want to delete this contact?”

  Yes, I’m fucking sure.

  It hurt and felt good at the same time.

  I turned the phone off and set it back on my desk, then just stood there in a daze. Sometimes life felt like a cannonball had shot through my chest and left a big, burning hole. It felt better when I spent time with Corbin at first, but now he was a part of that pain.

  But why? Why was I stuck on him, and why did I hurt like this?

  I rubbed my face and fixed my hair into a tighter bun, then got some art supplies out.

  I ended up drawing Nash.

  Fuck.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Marcus

  I listened to Jen roll over and fluff her pillow again. Then again. Then she flopped back the other way.

  “Hey, sis, why don’t you go to the hotel to sleep?” I asked into the darkness.

  The rustling got quiet.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Ha! No you’re not. I can hear you rolling around trying to get comfortable.”