problem?” I snapped.
“Because ever since we’ve been back, things are different. You’re different. I’m different!”
“What are you talking about?” I stepped back from her. Her eyes welled with tears and a pair of wings perched just past the tops of her shoulders. They flapped slightly in place, tickling the ends of her curly hair that dangled down.
“I have the same dream every night. It’s horrible. I can’t take it anymore!”
“Calm down, Felicity.”
“Don’t tell me to calm down! It’s all your fault!” she screamed. Some of the crowd watched us as others avoided our drama completely.
“Give it a rest. I’m having nightmares almost every night, too. Sometimes I’m even having them during the day!” I scolded, as the image of the monster from the locker room stained my thoughts.
“You don’t understand, Lucas…”
From the stage Olivia watched us closely. Frustrated, I huffed, “I don’t have time for this.”
“You don’t understand, I’m not dreaming about the monsters we’ve seen, at least, not anymore.” Felicity took a shaky breath in. “I’m dreaming of something much worse.”
“And what is that?” I asked, not really caring.
“You.”
Confused, I gulped. “What?”
Felicity stepped up closer to me with her head pointed to the ground as if she were embarrassed. “Us. I dream of us…together.”
I was speechless.
She wasn’t. “I have feelings for you.”
“Huh?” I choked.
“I know it’s crazy but it’s true. Lucas Ryan, you are my exact opposite, my sworn rival, and I can’t get you out of my head,” she said, with the pulsating music splashing around us. I couldn’t believe my ears. This had to be some ploy, some sick joke. How could my archenemy have a crush on me? My head started to spin with the overwhelming realization.
“Felicity…” I began to mumble, but she cut me off.
“Lucas…I think…I think I…”
I stepped back from her and threatened, “Don’t you dare finish that sentence!”
“…love you,” she whispered, terrified. With a quick kiss upon my lips she turned from me and ran off in tears. I was frozen in a blanket of teenage angst. After a few moments I turned to find Roland’s shocked face filled with laughter. His eyes bulged from their sockets and his face mirrored mine, in shock. He stopped his fit of laughter long enough to point toward the stage.
“Oh, no,” I mouthed, silently. Slowly, I turned to Olivia who was staring laser beams of jealousy into me. I waved toward her, sheepishly. She stomped her foot and tore a loud distorted chord from her guitar strings. The sound crashed into me. Roland walked up to me and placed an arm around my shoulder.
“No worries, she’ll understand,” he chuckled. From the stage Olivia stuck her fist out in front of her and aggressively flipped me her middle finger, then continued playing her guitar in a fit. Roland looked at me with a crooked smile. “Maybe not.”
Taylor and Morgan snuck up on us and joined the conversation.
“Hey, you two, it’s about time we initiate our plan,” Taylor said, confidently. I agreed with a slight nod of my head, my eyes still watching Olivia. Felicity’s emotional bomb had left a bad taste in my mouth, and it showed on my face.
“We can scoot out the side exit. It’s not being watched at the moment,” Roland stated. He pulled me in the direction of the exit when Morgan stopped us.
“Wait a second,” she said, unsure.
“Not now, Mo, this is the plan. Remember?” Roland pouted. Neither one of the Saint twins knew that Taylor and I had already decided it was best that he came along on the mission instead of Roland, but I held my tongue.
“I know, but I think Taylor should go with you two.”
Taylor looked at her surprised. He smiled wildly. “What? Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“But what about our date? Morgan, this is your night. I want it to be special,” Taylor said, like a knight in shining armor. She melted in his shadow and placed her hands on his big chest.
“It is special, Tay. I’m so happy right now but this night is about something much more important. We need answers. Besides, Lucas needs his bodyguard,” she teased. Taylor leaned down and kissed her.
“Okay,” he whispered, proudly. Roland tapped his watch impatiently and announced.
“We need to go, boys.”
“Mo, keep your eyes peeled. Don’t let Sophia out of your sight and text us if you see anything strange,” I ordered, finding my mental balance again.
“I can do that,” she smiled.
“Give us about thirty minutes. If you haven’t heard anything from us by then, get Olivia and Sophia out