Kam’s body continues aching despite all the painkillers Asa made him take that morning. The bandages on his shoulder need to be changed. 

Asa’s explanation sticks to Kam’s mind and aches like the pain in his shoulder. “We met a Dream Eater. He did that to you,”

But I thought I couldn’t be hurt in my dreams. Kam flinches as a pencil jabs right into his shoulder. He’s in his afternoon psychology general-ed class. It’s the only class he shares with Asa, and it’s Asa who keeps waking him from his daydreams. 

Kam swats at him, “Let me rest. Apparently, I had a rough night.”

Asa pokes him in the ribs and speaks in his cute pleading tone. “But your notes are so much better than mine. You can’t sleep now.”

“Maybe if someone stopped keeping me up all night.” 

“Kinky.” In front of them, two girls start giggling. “But seriously, I have, like, a C. I can’t drop any lower than that.”

Kam groans. His daydreams are the best part of his day. Even though he remembers Asa in his evening dreams, and his sleep is better than it's ever been, he knows now that it’s not the dream eating that keeps him tired. He’s just a drowsy person. 

“Fine. I’ll try.” Kam does his best to concentrate on the lesson, but the mid-morning sunlight shimmers and shines like a mirage in the desert. Nothing Asa can do can keep him from a mid-class nap. Kam falls into his daytime slumber, dreaming of skydiving into a jungle below. His concentration ebbs and flows between his dream-state and the reality where they explore the foundations of psychology. He can barely keep his concentration until the professor jolts him awake by calling his name.

“Kam Rajab?” she announces a second time. “You here?” Kam raises his hand, suddenly aware of how many people in the lecture hall were now staring at him. “Good. The dean of the Letters and Science department found it worth interrupting my class to speak with you. Any idea what he wants?” Asa tenses.

Kam shrugs while packing his notes and standing. “No idea. I’ll-” Asa grasps Kam’s wrist tight. The look in his eyes is that of a pleading child begging their father not to go. 

“You can take your own notes. It’s fine.” His grip tightens. “Asa,” Kam whispers. “Everyone’s looking.”

Light returns to Asa’s eyes as he regains awareness. “I- sorry. I’ll see you later? Maybe we can study together?”

“Of course.”

-

The dean’s office is in the English department, which shares a floor with three other departments. The Letters and Science department desperately needs funding, but no one cares for language arts enough. That, or none of the rich donors are Letters and Science graduates. 

The dean is a rare sight for Kam. He remembers only seeing him once before at orientation, but only because he stood out. His long, straight, gray hair betrays his age, but otherwise, he is the most attractive of the administration staff. Kam is used to hearing other students talk about their romantic passes at him. As the rumors go, he is unmarried and single, and quick to reject any personal relationships. All other notices of him regard his intellect and dignity. His fellow professors respect him, and his direct students admire him. 

Kam stands in front of his office door. On it is a sign reading ‘Welcome, The professor is In/Out’ with the slider letting him know he is ‘In.’ The standard name plate reads ‘Roderick Griffin’ and has a cute tiger sticker next to it. It’s the image of a powerful man trying to make his office comfortable for students terrified of approaching someone with so much control over their grades. It should relax Kam. It should make Kam feel like there is nothing to worry about. 

So why am I scared? He wishes Asa was with him. 

Kam knocks twice. A regal voice pierces through the door. “Please enter.” The office is the very image of neatness. His bookshelf is spaced neatly. The furniture is farmhouse comforting and could have been fluffed that morning for all Kam could tell. Nothing is out of place, including the dean himself. Roderick Griffin is dressed in a two piece striped suite. The stripes match his hair which he lets flow evenly down his back and shoulders. Kam rubs his head wondering how any man controls that much hair. However, that image of perfection stops there. His posture is unnaturally stiff. Under his collar, Kam sees bandages. He’s injured. The knot of fear in Kam’s throat loosens. He has nothing to be scared of. 

“Professor Rory? Or is it Professor Griffin? Roderick? I think you were only introduced as Professor Rory.”

“And let us keep it that way. Come in, come in. I set aside extra time for this since I could not expect this predicament” he tries to gesture at Kam, but whines. “I should not be mobile, but when I checked my email this morning it was you of all people recommended for mentorship. Really, the fates do play their games.”

“Professor Rory?” Kam’s shoulder stings and he reaches up to it. “What are you talking about?”

“Ahh, but you are not aware of that yet and I’m sure you have many, many questions.” Rory coughs. “Your friend really knows how to do a number on the body. I must ask: How is your shoulder? I do apologize for that mishap, but I-”

“How do you know about that?” Kam’s body shudders. There are only two people who know about his hurt shoulder: Asa and Josh; and Josh only because he is buying a new first aid kit after Kam used all the bandages that morning.

“We met a Dream Eater.” Kam remembers Asa’s words. “He did that to you.”

“Oh dear,” Professor Rory sighs. “I should have known this was the case.”

Kam backs into the closed office door without thinking. “Who are you?”

Rory winces trying to stand from his chair and decides against it. “I am Professor Rory, or Roderick Griffin, but that is in the waking world. You know me as Ruaidhri, my Dream Eater name. And you, my foolish, foolish student, don’t remember any of that, do you?”