Thirty minutes into the lesson, Mr. Rieder dismissed us from class to go to lunch. School would be dismissed by 1:00 p.m. as it was the first day of the school year.

“Hey, aren't you eating today?”

“Huh?” I was so disoriented I hadn’t heard Caroline’s question until the third time she asked it.

“It’s time for lunch. Didn’t you hear Mr. Rieder?”

“Oh yeah,” I replied. “I don't feel up to it; my stomach's not really cooperating right now.”

Sensing there was an underlying problem to my sudden lack of appetite, she stared at me. “You’re pale. What's up?” she asked as we filed out of the classroom behind everyone else, putting as much distance between us and our classmates as possible. As much as I wanted to, I knew I couldn’t ignore Conrad’s presence in my dreams. Caroline deserved to know what my odd behavior in class was all about, and I had to be certain we wouldn’t be overheard.

 I grabbed her hand, pulling her into a small brick alcove off the main hallway. “I had that dream again last night.”

“The same one you’ve been having since last year?” she asked, frowning.

“I can’t get it out of my head.”

“Well, you are watching someone die in it! I’d say that would be pretty hard to forget.”

“I know.”

“But it’s just a dream, Evey.”

“Is it?” I asked, wringing my hands nervously as I scanned the area around us to make sure we were still alone.

“Yes! It’s just teenage hormones and stress. We have ACT and SAT exams to take this year, colleges to visit. You’re just stressed, that’s all.”

“Seeing a man murdered every night is stress?”

“That and a combination of Harry Potter and Charlaine Harris. I know you stay up late reading Sookie books.”

“I wish it were that simple,” I replied. “You know the new kid, Conrad? He looks exactly like the guy getting executed in my dream.”

 “What! How?”

 “I don't know. I understand if you don’t believe me, but that man and Conrad are identical.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive.”

“Okay, I believe you,” she replied with a hug.

“You do?”

“Actually, yes. The way you were looking at him in class can’t be faked. You stared at him like he was someone you hadn’t seen in a hundred years. It gave me goose bumps.”

  We left the alcove behind and I followed her to the cafeteria. She stood in line, a plastic tray held firmly in her hands. “Whatever is happening to me, I think it’s getting worse,” I whispered. I glanced all around us, hoping no one could hear our conversation.

“We'll figure it out, Evey. Try to block it from your mind. I know it's almost impossible, but try to focus on something else.” Just as she was talking, I turned to see Claire catch up with Conrad at the front of the lunch line. She wrapped her arm around his and leaned in close to whisper in his ear. “Or maybe you could focus on someone else,” Caroline added, following my gaze.

“I don’t think focusing on him is a good idea.”

“I didn’t mean him specifically. Maybe you could just think about what his abs look like.”

“Caroline!”

“Hey, a distraction is a distraction.”

“Either way, I believe he might be taken.”

“Oh please, you could have him eating out of the palm of your hand if you wanted. The Chemistry Club practically worships the ground you walk on, and even if Claire is the most popular girl in school, you can’t deny the fact that you possess a certain sway with guys.”

“Well, what am I supposed to do? Flirt with him in the middle of class?”

“It seemed to work pretty well for you before Mr. Rieder dismissed us for lunch. You only live once. What’s it going to hurt to put yourself out there?” she asked. “At the very least, cozy up to him and see what you can figure out about him. Maybe you met him as a kid and you just can’t remember it.”

“That could be a valid reason as to why I dream about him, and it’s definitely a better alternative than believing I belong in an insane asylum.”

 “Go for it!”

Caroline was right, I did need to think of something else. And hadn’t I promised myself all morning that this year would be different? “Okay! I will.”