I gasped quietly to myself, noticing there were a few people around me giving me a questionable look. They stared for a brief moment before moving along- ignoring what had just happened.

I cleared my throat and I realized it was dry. I reached for my water bottle and stared at my arms and hands.

I had expected them to be black from the flashback of the dream I had. But like every time I woke up in reality, they were not black and were just normal arms and hands. My normal, skinny arms and my normal tiny, thin hands.

I reached for my water bottle to take a long, swing of my drink. I enjoyed the feeling of the water coating and re-hydrating my dry throat before letting out a small sigh of relief.

I swirled the tongue in my mouth, enjoying the wetness before rubbing my face with my hands. I took in a deep breath and let it out, trying to rub the tiredness and weird feeling that took over my body.

I had done it again.

I had slipped into my memories and remembered 'that' dream. The same re-occurring dream that I've had since I was little.

I don't remember the exact age that I first had that dream and chalked it up as a childish, imaginative dream. But as time passed, I would have that same dream over and over again. The details became clearer as I got older but I suspected they changed as I grew.

For example, I knew there were tapestries but I never remembered them having their own symbols and colours. Nor did I notice the black and white tiles were made out of obsidian and white marble.

What never became clear was the figures. Whether it was the one from the shadows or the ones that surrounded me.

Though out of all of them, there was only one of the figures that I could make out clearly. And I knew who it was.

The violet eyed boy in my dreams was-

"Well, well didn't get enough sleep Kaitlyn?"

My internal monologue was interrupted and my mood immediately soured. I knew that voice and I hated that voice. From how it sounded to the words she used.

I tried not to give the obvious sigh but couldn't help exhaling loudly through my nose. I closed my eyes to give myself a brief composure before looking at the source of the voice.

"What is it that you want, Amanda?" I said, trying not to bite my words.

In front of me, stood Amanda.

She was taller than me by two inches but with her shoes, she was another inch taller. Her natural dark auburn hair was slightly lightened but did nothing to lighten her almond shaped, dark blue eyes.

Amanda picked off a tiny speckle of dust from her well fashioned clothes, not allowing it her overall look be ruined by the littlest detail.

I waited for Amanda to respond as she flipped her well permed hair over her shoulder before crossing her arms under her breasts.

"What, like I can't ask a fellow classmate how she's doing? Why Kaitlyn I thought you know that I care?" spoke Amanda, trying to be chivalrous with her words.

I tried to ignore the urge to twitch my eyebrows at her tone. I took another deep breath and folded my hands together, keeping them clamped together behind my back.

"You care when it's convenient Amanda" I spoke as calmly as possible. But in order to achieve this, I had to slow myself tremendously due to the irritation in my voice.

My brown eyes flicked to the slightly twitch of Amanda's finger and I noticed Amanda's Adam's apple move. There was a very brief pause before Amanda spoke again.

"Perhaps" Amanda acknowledged before she nodded to her friend, Camille.

Camille proceeded to take out a brightly coloured paper and held it out to me. I didn't move my hands away from my back but I tilted my head to the side. I took the paper with one hand, without moving the other.

I looked down and briefly read all of the words before looking at Amanda.

"A party invitation? You haven't handed me one properly in years Amanda" I said.

I looked at her and my eyes narrowed slightly. I know where she was going with this but I had to let the conversation lead up to it.

"Of course, it's been a while and maybe it'll be like old times. There's one thing however that you need to do..." drifted off Amanda, getting ready to deliver her 'request'.

"And I suppose it's not a present" I thought out loud.

Amanda's face flashed for a moment before her face returned. She smiled at me and gave a huffy laugh.

"No, no- I'm not going to force all of my guests to bring me a present like an entry fee" she explained before staring at me straight in the eye. "If you want to come to the party, I would like it if you invited some more people. Like Jayden...Alex, your little friend group, or even better Hunter-"

'Ah' I thought. There it was.

I knew it.

I looked at the paper once more, as if I was giving it some thought before folding the paper into fours.

"I'll bring it up" I replied, stuffing the paper into my pocket.

I noticed Amanda's eyes narrow a bit and her lips thinned a bit. They twitched and something shifted. Apparently, she didn't like my reply.

"If you do bring Hunter to the party, I'll introduce you to my other friends and you don't have to hang out with your little group that you have right now" quipped Amanda. "Wouldn't that be fun girls?" she said, turning to look at her two friends.

It felt like Amanda had stabbed me with nothing and my body went cold. I gripped the invitation in my pocket tightly in anger. I could feel the blood in my veins begin to roar.

I growled, "What was that about my friends, Amanda?"

Amanda looked at me and I swore she raised her chin a bit higher.

"Did you just insult my friends?" I fumed.

My eyebrows started to scrunch up in anger. My lips started to curl up and the hand that was behind my back was now by my sides, fingers curled around into a fist.

The roaring in my ears started to become louder when Amanda smirked.

"And what if I did?"

I could feel someone calling out to me in a desperate whisper. Someone was grabbing my arm, pulling me back. To hold me back from acting out. I stepped back by a half but I pulled at the grip.

The roaring in my ears started to get louder and almost deafening. My vision started to center and focus on Amanda. My body twitched and something in me threatened to rise, to snap, to release my anger-

Amanda was about to speak and I was about to react in response-

"That's enough" said someone.

The new voice surprised me and made me pause for a brief moment.

A part of someone's shoulder and extended arm crossed my vision, blocking my sight from Amanda. Then I gotten a whiff of the person's smell. It was strong enough to cut through the smell of ozone in the air-

Wait, ozone?

Confusion filled me and I blinked, feeling tired. My vision shifted back to normal and I became aware once again. I remember I was still in school.

The adrenaline in my body started to die down and then I realized who was holding my arm.

It was my best friend and childhood friend Alex.

He tugged at the sleeve of my arm and I stepped back to his side.

I then immediately looked and saw who the person in front of me was. The one who was standing between me and Amanda.

It was another girl who stood at the same height as Amanda with grace and ease. With clear and fair skin, she had medium lengthened, light blond hair that almost appeared white. Light blue eyes looked between me and Amanda.

"Sophia" I said in surprise and Amanda said with disdain.

The aforementioned girl glanced at me and she gave me a quick smile, easing my body's tension. She then stood completely in front of me before staring down at Amanda.

"Amanda, that's enough" said Sophia, her tone light but tight.

"You don't get to tell me what to do" bit back Amanda, with tension and anger in her voice.

I couldn't see if Sophia raised her eyebrow but I imagined it with her tone.

"No, but you're creating a scene which wouldn't prove nicely to you Amanda."

"Why you-" Amanda glowered but she stopped mid-sentence when I peeked over Sophia.

Amanda looked at me, her mouth curled in a snarl, before glancing between Sophia and I. Then we realized the small amount of people around us, watching us what we do next. Amanda gave a tiny screech and pointed a finger at me.

"This is far from over" she declared before marching away. Camille and her other friend, Regina, glanced at us before falling after Amanda hurriedly.

I swore I saw an apologetic look on one of their faces.

Seeing the potential fight was over, people continued on.

Then I realized, I was in the school library.

I was surprised the librarian wasn't here but on the other hand, we would've gotten in trouble by then.

My body started to relax and I realized I didn't even know I was standing. Nor that I was sitting before. I groaned and rubbed my face, realizing I had done it again.

I felt someone place a hand on my shoulder and I looked at the person.

It was Alex.

I gave an attempt at a smile but it must've came out wrong because Alex's face scrunched up. His violet eyes darkened in worry and his lips were thinned out a lot.

"No?" I asked, giving a shaky chuckle.

"No" Alex affirmed.

Everything in me deflated and I felt guilty and disappointed.

"Sorry Alex" I apologized before turning to Sophia.

"Sorry Sophia."

I shuffled my feet and rubbed my arm nervously. The words came out slow but I managed to speak out properly.

"Sorry Sophia, for getting you involved with this" I said, bowing my head slightly as I scratched the side of my head in response.

Embarrassment and guilt started to build within me.

"Its fine" said Sophia with a soft voice.

This caused me to be surprised as I looked at her in such.

"Uh...what?"

Sophia gave me a small smile before she folded her hands together. "I'm glad that you're aware of your actions but however, Amanda....has made many attempts to antagonize you. Although this situation could've been handled better-"

I lowered my eyes and tried not to make eye contact.

"You're not the one at fault" said Sophia sharply.

I looked at her and she gave me a raised eyebrow. I knew that look.

It was her silent way of telling me to do better and be better than Amanda.

Which I found slightly odd and funny since Amanda and Sophia were cousins.

I stood back up straighter and let out a frustrated sigh. I ran a hand through my hair, before I spoke.

"I still shouldn't have, you know, played Amanda's game."

Sophia stared at me and gave me a smile, before she hugged me. I instantly felt a little bit better and returned the hug.

And then I felt a small sharp pain on my cheek.

I gave a sound but I didn't resist when Sophia pinched my cheek.

I should've expected that.

"Well if you will excuse me, I'll need to finish my work before lunch" said Sophia.

"Bye Sophia" I said, waving her goodbye.

Sophia turned to me and offered one last smile and a nod to Alex, who nodded back.

When she was several feet away, I turned to Alex and sat back down in my seat. Exhausted.

Alex sat down and we were silent, catching up on the brief moment of peace after what had just happened.

Alex had long raven hair, with violet eyes. His skin was pale with a thin body. He gripped his purple hoodie and dropped the hood, something he only did when he was with the people he was close to. Or at least when appropriate. Underneath, he usually wore dark clothing and his purple converse matched his hoodie.

"What happened, Kai?" asked Alex as he crossed his arms on the desk and looked at me questionably.

"What do you mean?" I asked back, confused.

"You're usually aware if Amanda is around and avoid her when possible," said Alex. His violet eyes reading out concerned. "But when I was in the book isles, I could see you were dazed in another world."

I remember to the dream that I thought of again. For some reason, over the course of years that I had that dream, I never really told Alex about it.

I pulled the lobe of my ear, sighing.

"I was lost in thought, that's all. You know I have those moments" I explained.

Alex's face changed and I could sense he was anxious.

"Do you mean you remember something...?" he quietly asked.

I saw Alex's eyes drop down in thought and his lips thinning. Nor did I miss him squeezing his arms a bit more.

There were a few things that Alex could be asking me. Was he asking if I remembered something back then? My missing memories that I lost during the lightning strike? Or more?

"No, nothing important" I replied, leaning into my chair while stuffing my hands into my pocket. The invitation crinkled loudly.

"Oh" said Alex, looking at me. He looked a bit more relieved.

"That's good" he whispered.

'I rather not let her remember'

I blinked and stared at Alex, completely unsurprised at the voice in my head. The voice that strangely sounded like Alex's own voice.

It was weird.

There were times that I swear I could hear Alex's voice in my head and there were awkward times that I thought he said it out loud.

Though overtime, I said less and less about it. Logically, it could be me overanalyzing things and using Alex's voice in my head whenever I thought he was thinking of something.

A pregnant silence and awkwardness took over between us.

When I was about to speak to break it, the bell rang.

We all jolted and immediately got up to pack our bags. Masses of students began to fill the hall and chattering filled the area.

It was time for lunch.

As we broke for lunch, I waved goodbye to Alex as he went to do something. Meeting up with Jayden and Hunter, while I went to hang out with my group of friends.

As I deposited my textbooks in my locker and went to grab my lunch I realized something.

The violet eyed boy in my dream was Alex.