Mitch's POV

I think that night was the first time I really thought about the dreams I started having.

I know we were up late and had been waiting for my parents to go to bed so that we could keep texting Eli; he and Rain must have been having the most fun, ‘cause she kept giggling and kicking her feet a lot.

The last thing before I knocked out was Eli and I having a philosophical debate about deep fried memes and their impact on society; though I do vaguely remember Alex calling me stupid and putting a blanket over me as I fell asleep…

I woke up in this fancy garden. There was a girl and a boy, both with blonde hair and fancy clothes. They reminded me of the twins.

The girl was crouched down, examining some blue flowers; the guy was looking around, like he was on alert.

“Morning glories are fine,” The girl mumbled.

Whoever I was pat her on the back.

“That’s all of them, right?” ‘I’ asked her.

“Uh-huh.” She didn’t move her gaze.

“The maids could’ve done this.” The boy growled. 

“At least it gives us an excuse to spend time together!” ‘I’ grinned at them; the boy rolled his eyes and the girl gave a small smile.

I threw my arms around them and pulled them along the garden path.

“Don’t worry so much! They can’t pull anything with the crown prince around!”

“More like the clown prince.” The boy deadpanned.

“Be nice!” The girl giggled.

I felt like I was floating, almost. But still, like, grounded enough to be present.

I looked around too, spotting a figure in the distance; I somehow knew it was the siblings’ father.  I gave him a dirty look, which made him turn around and go back inside.

“I love you guys!” I proclaimed as thoughts of *I need to protect them somehow* floated through my mind.

“Ew,” The boy groaned, but I could see a sparkle in his eyes.

“We love you too!” The girl giggled.

The dream faded away after that; although I vaguely remember a voice in the darkness right before I woke up.

“I know you do.”