Suspended Reality

Author's Note: All stories in this 'series' will be based off of dreams I have legitimately had. They all involve people I know in real life, but I will use aliases in place of their names. I will attempt to be consistent between dreams for people who show up often.

I studied the class schedule in my hands, matching my next class with its room number. Glancing up at a nearby door number, I saw two other seniors moving by in the corner of my eye. I turned my head to see my cousin Drew, and his girlfriend Willow.

I called their names and ran over to them to compare schedules. While deep in conversation, Daniel walked up with his schedule in hand to join us. Him and my cousin were good friends, and the four of us used to hang out together often.

"Hey." He greeted us with a smile.

"Hey! Have you heard about how the students are filming High School Musical at our school using our own classmates?" Willow said brightly. Drew just smiled at her before turning his attention back to Daniel. My cousin had always been much quieter than Willow.

"Yeah, actually. I'm going to be Troy for the scene they're filming soon."

I ignored the new group member and continued the conversation I was having with Drew before Daniel's rude interruption.

"Syd, are you listening to me?" I didn't look at his face but I knew what it would look like. I turned my head away.

"It's not like you haven't done this whole act before." I said just loud enough for him to hear before heading to my classroom. I spared a glance behind me back at Daniel, to see him hugging my cousin and his girlfriend.

Aaron, a mutual friend of mine and Daniel's walks past me and opens the door to our classroom. "Come on in."

"Syd, come back." Daniel calls after me but I didn't turn back.

Every part of me wanted to. I wanted to try to fix things and go back to the way things were when we were just really good friends who could trust each other and confide in each other. But I couldn't go back. I had to move forward.

I had to move on.

I couldn't focus in class as the history teacher talked up front, lecturing about something projected onto a screen. I could suddenly hear the faint music of Gabriella's solo for "When There Was Me and You".

It's funny when you find yourself, looking from the outside.

I looked out the window to where Daniel was standing, in position for his minor role in the song.

I'm standing here but all I want is to be over there.

He would briefly be in the scene to reach for her hand, only to disappear when they got close, which would be done later in editing.

Why did I let myself believe miracles could happen?

I felt my face get hot as I held back a couple tears. This scene was hitting too close to home.

'Cause now I have to pretend that I don't really care.

He reached his hand for Gabriella, then retracted it as the song moved on.

He looked through the glass and made eye contact with me.

I averted my gaze.