I had felt a little better once I was with Diana, but when I got home that evening, I crashed and burned again. The pain returned, worse this time because of my added pity for Diana and Angelina.

I sat on my bed, thinking dismal, unwanted thoughts for hours. I wished the pain would go away, or at least leave just long enough that I could sleep, but it wouldn't.

In fact, the pain almost got worse in sleep. I'd started having dreams lately, and I wasn't enjoying them one bit. It was the same one every night.

Eventually, I fell asleep, even though I dreaded doing so.

I was running. I didn't know where to, but I would know when I got there. I sprinted for what seemed like hours, trying to find the place.

I arrived at Trey's house and knew I had found where I was supposed to be. My second home. I noticed that in the dream, saying (or thinking) Trey's name didn't cause that pang of longing and sadness in my heart.

I saw Trey peering at me through the window, smiling and waving. I walked up to his front door and knocked. No one answered. I waited, trying to be patient, but eventually, I turned the knob myself. The door didn't open. It was locked.

I looked through the window again, trying to tell Trey that I was locked out. He just stood there, waving, ushering me to come inside.

I went back to the door and tried opening it again. Again, and again, and again. It just wouldn't let me inside. I knocked more, I rang the doorbell, but still no one answered. Finally, I kicked the door down, determined to see Trey (don't ask me how I did it. It was a dream, wasn't it?). I missed him.

I stepped inside, and as soon as I did, my eyes flew open. I hated that! Cliffhanger dreams were the worst. I knew that if I had stayed asleep, something important and good would have happened.

This dream was not the kind you got used to. I couldn't just say "I know I'll end up waking up at that part. No big deal. Why should I worry?". This dream sucked me in. Every night, even though it was the same, I felt that the dream might be different. It felt possible that I might get to see Trey again, talk to him, laugh with (possibly at) him, and it would be like old times.

I groaned, rubbing my eyes. I checked the time on my phone. 5:43. Ugh. This was getting annoying. I hadn't slept past six for over a week. I didn't want this becoming a routine, even though I was worried it already had.

I snuck downstairs and turned on the Gamecube, putting in some Smash Bros. for old times' sake. I thought about it and realized that "old times" really hadn't been long ago at all, but it felt like ages.

I turned the volume down, so the only sound was the clicking of the control stick. The small noise was almost relaxing.

Emily tiptoed out of her room, still in her pajamas.

"Sorry, did I wake you up?" I kind of doubted it, because Emily was a heavy sleeper, and I wasn't making much noise.

"No," she whispered (Ryan was still asleep in a room close-by). "I couldn't sleep."

"You, too, eh?" I turned off the console so I could actually talk to her.

"Yeah. I don't think it's for the same reason as you, though."

"What would your reason be?" Emily seemed to have a knack for giving me just the right amount of information to make me very curious.

"Oh, I don't know..." She looked guilty, and I knew she wasn't telling me something.

I merely raised my eyebrows in response.

"I'm just excited... for something."

"You know what, Emily? I just won't even bother. I don't care if you tell me or not." That was a lie, but I figured this technique was healthier for me, and it usually got information faster.

"Okay then." She went back into her room slowly. I waited patiently. She would have to crack soon.

"Fine!" she whisper-yelled as she bounced out of her room. "I have a boyfriend."

Didn't see that coming. At all. Emily didn't normally tell me those kinds of things. Well, she did, but not with that much excitement.

"Alright!" I gave her a thumbs-up. "Do I know him?"

"Maybe. He's in your grade," she speculated.

"So, you like older men?" I joked.

She punched me in the arm lightly. "Shut up. His name is Marty."

"Marty Jackson?" I hoped not. He was an interesting person. And by interesting, I meant he was the kind of guy that would beat you up (or try to, at least) for walking too close to him. He wasn't that buff or scary or anything, but he'd tell you differently. I think that kid thought he was three feet taller, ten years older, and sixty pounds heavier than he really was.

"Oh, no way."

"Good. That guy's a jerk."

"You don't think I remember? He bullied me from kindergarten to fourth grade, but then you told him to stop." I remembered that all too well. Me, a confident fifth grader, standing up to an overconfident sixth grader, for my little sister? Kind of hard to forget, if you ask me. "Anyway, it's Marty Richmond."

"Seriously? I love that guy! Good job. You have my approval."

"Phew!" She wiped her forehead in mock relief. "I was worried."

"You should have been."

"Whatever you say."

"Anyway, congrats!" I stood up and ruffled her black hair. It was easy for me to reach the top of her head, since she was on the short side. "Say hi to Marty for me."

"Okay. I'm gonna try and get some more sleep."

"Yeah, have fun with that," I smirked.

((Sorry this is a short and kind of random chapter. I needed to add a new character in before this next chapter and I wasn't quite sure how to do it. Also, please give me feedback on the dream. I really don't know what to do about it, and I'm not happy with it right now.))