In Your Dreams // phan

t w e n t y n i n e

Everyone took their seats as the professor started to speak. I heard about half of it, figuring most of it was stuff I missed. I was no stranger to late and make-up work; I'd get it figured out. Something that was strange to me was the way Dan was acting.

He had been crying. I could tell, but I didn't want to say anything. But after he shook Adam's hand, brushed his along mine, and took his seat without a backward glance, I began to worry. Something was bothering him, and it was my job, as his soulmate, to figure out what. Or at least help him as much as I could.

I love you. I typed under my desk quickly. I glanced back at Dan but he was staring intently at the professor, seemingly taking notes. I was confused. Not that he was eager to learn, it was actually kind of cute. But he never struck me as the kind of kid to do that. As I remembered, the last time we were in here he didn't even take notes. Now he couldn't take his eyes off the board, jotting quickly. I saw him flinch slightly as my message came through but he ignored it. I felt dejected, but tried again.

What do you say to coming over to mine tonight? Have a "study" session. I hoped I wasn't being too forward, but Dan didn't even see it. I slumped in my seat and threw a scrap of paper at PJ, who took it and began scribbling on it. He threw it back, and I managed to make out his chicken scratch.

What the hell is going on?! I chuckled, and formulated a quick but full response.

Adam is my friend from Lancashire. Dan had a dream about him. I couldn't think of anything else that was relevant so I sent it flying back. PJ read it and nodded to me.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out quickly.

Can't. I have stuff.

What kind of stuff? I asked with another glance back at Dan. But he had already tucked his phone away. I sighed, looking over to Adam. I made a gesture like I was biting into a sandwich and pointed to me, then PJ, then Dan, eyebrows raised in question. He seemed to understand and nodded quickly, grinning.

Class ended and I jumped up, forgetting momentarily about everything at my desk and gained tunnel vision to Dan, who finally looked up to me.

I made to wrap my arms around him but he gave me a "stop. People" look, so I dropped them. "Is something wrong?" I asked, grazing my hand along his as he pushed his notebook into his bag. He sighed.

"Yes. But no. Not really." I nodded, only understanding a little bit.

"I invited Adam to sit with us at lunch, that okay?" He zipped his bag up and hiked it up on his shoulder.

"Yeah." He lied. I caught his hand before he could go, and he turned to me, his hard facade cracking.

"Something tells me it's not." He tried to look away but I caught his chin with my free hand. He gave me a small but genuine smile, finally making eye contact.

"It's okay. I promise." I let him go, and he started to walk away.

"I love you." I called. But I couldn't tell if he said it back after he joined the thrum of students outside.

Maths was pissing me off. Or maybe it was the fact that I had no idea what was going on. Or maybe it was just the fact that Dan still wasn't texting me back, even though I knew he was just in study hall. I knew he was probably catching up on work, but just yesterday he'd be searching for any reason to get out of school work. Either way, I was glad when lunch rolled around.

Adam was already sitting with PJ and Chris, his arm around a girl I vaguely recognised. He said something and all of them laughed, PJ snorting into his drink. I set my bag down on the bench after a quick scan of the room to try and find Dan to no avail.

"I mean, I knew you were weird, Phil, but I didn't know you were that weird." PJ laughed, hitting me on the back. I rolled my eyes.

"What have you told them, Adam?" I grinned at the new girl, Cat, I assumed, who wiggled her fingers back at me. Adam laughed.

"Do you remember that time you jumped out of a tree, trying to break your arm?" He asked. I groaned, resting my head on the table.

"You did not tell that story." I faked another groan, but felt myself grinning. Cat giggled.

"He had to. It was my first dream. It's nice to finally officially meet you, after everything I've heard about you from Adam." I felt the other side of the bench shift down and I looked up. Dan had joined me finally, and I decided to break the rules again, wrapping my arm around his waist. He didn't make me stop, so I pulled him closer to me, drawing circles on his thigh. He shivered slightly at my touch but smiled at the table, the obviously forced grin fooling everyone but me.

"I absolutely adore dreams," Adam said, running his free hand through his hair. "I love seeing my little kitten. I missed you so much." He nuzzled her head and she giggled, blushing slightly. I continued the patterns on Dan's leg, trying to tell him without saying anything that I loved him. I wanted to hear him say it back again.

"I do too. Seeing all those childhood adventures you two had." Cat nodded up to Adam, looking at me. "What about you?" She glanced at Dan. Adam had obviously told her he was my soulmate. Or maybe it was obvious by the way I held him, or the way my face shifted when the two of them spoke about their dreams.

The table suddenly became very tense as I searched for the right words to say. Chris and PJ would know if I lied, and Dan would be hurt. But Dan would also be hurt if I told the truth, so I was stumped.

After a few seconds of silence, Dan stood quickly.

"Excuse me." He picked up his bag and made his way to the double doors that lead into the hallway quickly. I glanced around at the people at the table.

"I'm going to go talk to him." I mumbled, picking up my bag and following him to the best of my abilities with the increasing numbers of students milling about. I discovered him in the bathroom, hand over his mouth as he leaned against a wall in the corner. He looked up to me when I came in with a sniff.

"I'm okay. Go back to your friends." I shook my head and went over to him, prying his hand away from his face, pressing a soft kiss to his nose, then his cheek. He pushed into my touch and brushed his lips against mine, briefly, before pulling back, looking away. I pushed our foreheads together and took both of his hands.

"Will you please tell me what's wrong, my little Dandelion?"