“Let me walk you to class.” He sidles up next to me, greeting several people who pass by, while I keep my head down, making my way to the biology classroom.

We’ve only made it a short distance down the hallway when I spot the boy from my English class. I didn’t know he was here today; he must’ve ditched this morning. He glances up, looking over at me, and my heart constricts.

His eyes. They’re the same ones as the little boy’s in my dream—somber and heterochromatic. The images filter through my mind again, of him on the swing set, giving a silent warning about the danger behind me.

But he doesn’t linger, ducking his head and stalking in the opposite direction, and I watch him disappear over my shoulder.

“Damien,” I blurt, gesturing to the boy before he completely vanishes. “Who is that?”

“Mason Byrne.” He frowns. “Why?”

“No reason,” I lie.

He sticks his hands into the pockets of his letterman jacket. “Weird guy. He doesn’t really talk to anyone.”

I wonder if I’m reading into things too deeply or if there really is a connection between the boy in my dreams and Mason. There has to be—the eyes are a dead giveaway. But Damien doesn’t notice my stewing and continues to trudge down the hall.

“Anyway, I was thinking . . .” he begins, trailing off. “We should go out tonight.”

“I thought we agreed to take things slow.”

“Oh I know,” he says eagerly. “Consider this a get to know each other date.”

“But you already know me.”

“Okay, then consider it a get to know Damien Sanchez date.”

“How exciting,” I tease, as we stop outside of the classroom. “All right, Sanchez. Show me what you’ve got.”

“I’ll pick you up at six,” he tells me with a grin before sauntering to his own class.

True to his word, Damien arrives at my house right at six, telling me our destination is a surprise. I’m growing pretty damn tired of surprises, but I figure it’s best to just humor him. He takes the time to greet Sofia and present me with a bouquet of flowers before offering his arm to walk me to the car. We drive past lush green trees, and they look vibrant against the overcast sky. My mind wanders to the forest, imagining what it’s like to stand in the middle of it, surrounded by nothing but nature.

When we pass a playground, I think of the dream again, barely noticing Damien tapping his fingers on the wheel in time to the song on the radio. There’s a part of me that’s fearful every time I climb into a car, knowing it was the thing that ruined my life, but I try not to dwell on it too much.

“So, what do you wanna know?” he asks, breaking the silence. “Ask me anything.”