My eyelids rip open. The dream collapses, leaving heat in my chest and a stiffness that has me yanking the blanket higher. Jamie’s face comes into focus, leaning over me, his hoodie hood half-drawn. His voice is soft, but urgent.
“It’s five-thirty. Looks like it’s about to rain,” he says.
I grunt, rubbing my eyes, groggy, wishing I could dive back into the dream, even though it’s the last thing I should be having. “Already?”
“Yeah. Here.” He holds out a can. The neon green logo burns against the dull gray of morning. Energy drink. My favorite one.
I sit up, bones creaking like I’m twice my age, and take it from him. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.”
The first swallow of the drink burns sweet and chemical down my throat, but I can already feel the kick start. “How’d the assignment go?”
Jamie shrugs, scratches the back of his neck. “I only did a bit. Honestly, it’s brutal. You’re gonna have to do it. I don’t get half of it.”
I lean my head back against the seat. “I’ll check it out tonight.”
He yawns. “You coming by The Crest later?”
“I’ll try,” I say, voice half a groan.
We say our goodbyes before he drives off.
I watch him leave, grateful for him, always. Then I drag myself together, shove my bag over my shoulder, and head to the car.
The leather seat greets me with warmth when I switch on the seat warmer. Best money I ever spent. I let the engine idle while I sip at the drink, watching the parking lot shimmer under the first drops of rain. It thickens fast, tapping harder, turning into a pour that blurs the world into streaks of gray.
I wait ten minutes, let the caffeine run through me, then finally shift into gear. The tires crunch wet gravel as I roll off school property, wipers squeaking across the windshield.
The road curves. My headlights sweep across the drenched pavement, and that’s when I see a Honda Civic, parked awkwardly on the shoulder. At first, I think nothing—people break down all the time. I’m already steering past when something catches. Sneakers.
Then bare legs, pale under a denim miniskirt.
My foot presses the brake harder than I intend. The car jerks slightly. My hands tighten on the wheel.
No way.
Is that… Chloe?
I sit there for a second, engine humming, rain pounding the roof. I should just keep going. This is exactly what I was warning Jamie about—getting tangled in stuff that’ll only drag you under.
But my eyes won’t look away.
The hoodie she had on earlier is gone. She’s standing in the storm, tank top plastered to her skin, clinging to the curve of her body. Red bra underneath, clear as daylight. Her hair’s a dark rope down her back, water dripping from the ends.
I curse under my breath. My jeans tighten instantly.
Fuck.
Before I know it, I’ve turned the wheel, looping back. The car stops a few feet from her. I shove the gear into park, yank the handle, and step out. The rain soaks me instantly, a chill biting into my skin, but my blood is hot enough that it doesn’t matter.
“Hey,” I call.
She looks up, lashes heavy with water. “Hey.”
Her gaze flicks back to the hood of the Civic, rain running down the metal.
“Car trouble?” I ask.
