It wasn't until around third period when Lane started to release the images of her dream from her mind. She had a test to take and she realized that no amount of obsessing over a silly nightmare was going to help her. Attempting to concentrate, she shut her eyes to listen to her instructor speak. All she saw in her mind was a pair of eyes glaring back at her. They were the eyes belonging to the young man in her dream. His eyes were wide and gentle, with a color that matched the ocean. They were almost comforting to her, if it weren't for the goosebumps they had given her. Lane then realized she had not heard a word her instructor had said and when she opened her eyes back up, she saw that her test was sitting on the desk in front of her. With a deep, cleansing breath, she took up her pencil and proceeded to answer the questions that were before her.
After her class ended, Lane strolled along to her locker in a ponderous fashion. The test had come and gone and as soon as she completed it, there was not a thought of it remaining in her head. It wasn't typical for her to be so aloof about such things as her schoolwork, but lately, Lane had been preoccupied with other thoughts that were clouding her brain. The past week, feelings of loneliness her taking of residence in her heart. She wasn't quite sure why, but the unfamiliar feelings lingered within her and the only thought that seemed to keep her from giving into complete depression was the thought of her dream. It was a nightmare in every sense, but it gave her excitement to imagine that it meant something—that somehow, it was important.
The halls were swarming with students. Some were scurrying to their next class. Others were leisurely making their way, entertaining themselves with conversations and laughter. Lane retrieved a book from her locker and as she started to close it, she was slammed into it by a boy who was too busy playing around with his friends to even realize what he had done. A surge of annoyance arose within her, but she immediately swallowed it back up, realizing that it was no use saying a word about it. She simply rolled her eyes and started toward the stairwell.
As she approached the doors to the stairwell, a boy was in front of her with a pile of books and papers in tow. He seemed to be in quite a hurry and as he took his first step up, he tripped, causing a burst of laughter and taunting from other students passing by him. Books were scattered and papers floated like feathers to the floor. The boy laid still for a moment and then pushed himself back up, looking around timidly. Lane's empathetic heart felt his embarrassment as if it were her own and she knelt down to assist him in collecting his belongings.
“People can be such jerks, can't they?” Lane said in an attempt to comfort him. She shook her head, without looking up as she gathered the last of the papers.
“Yeah, I've noticed,” he agreed with a hint of humor. His sarcastic tone evoked a smile from Lane and an instant sense of connection to him. She laughed.
"Just be careful next time," she told him as she handed the boy a handful of papers. She looked up and what she saw was nothing short of a miracle. Her heart's pace quickened and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Goosebumps formed along her arms and her stomach felt as if it had jumped into her throat. "You!" She exclaimed in amazement, staring into a pair of wide, ocean-colored eyes.
"Me!" he replied back in a playful manner. He tilted his head with a mix of curiosity and amusement.
Lane had no intent of giving him an impression of craziness on her first encounter with him. She shook her head in awkwardness.
"You're new here," she managed to get out. Lane sighed in relief and as she stood back up, held her hand out to introduce herself. "I'm Lane," she told him. "Elaine, actually, but everyone just calls me Lane."
"Lane," he repeated, nodding his head. As he went to shake her hand, the books he collected from the floor almost escaped his grip. He managed to save them as his faced turned pink. "Kent Harper," he affirmed. He looked to his feet timidly for a second and looked back up at Lane with a smile. He was very handsome and his smile was warm and friendly. His golden blond hair had a hint of curl to it and his fair skin was dusted with light freckles. Despite his apparent clumsiness, he had an air of confidence that glowed around him. He was so alluring that Lane couldn't take away her gaze. "Nice to meet you, Lane."
Still taken with astonishment, Lane managed to muster up the words "You, too". Kent laughed a little and waved to her as he continued up the stairs. She stood there for a short while, staring at the steps that Kent had just been. Her stomach filled up with a flutter of butterflies and she finally came to terms with what had just happened. Lane had just met the man of her dreams.
