Sneak Nap!

I put a hand over my sweaty forehead as I tried to control my breathing.

It was getting worse, night by night. Ever since I got out of the hospital a week ago, I've been having nightmares about my dad's accident, except this time I'm in the car with him. I didn't tell anyone about the dreams, especially Levi. I never could.

I turned to my side and muffled my cries with my pillow, my body shaking uncontrollably. I still felt like I was in that car when the ground in front of me split open. I still felt like I was falling into the endless hole with my mother standing tall with a sick grin on her face. I still felt helpless despite knowing it isn't real.

Finally, I managed to calm myself down. I was still slightly shaking when I grabbed my phone. The time read 3:05 am. It happens at the same time every day, too, making it even more real. I can't let myself think about it.

'I guess there is no more sleep for me then. Might as well catch up with some school work." I muttered under my breath as I swung my legs over the bed.

Walking over to my study table, I opened my laptop as I tried to catch up with my History and Anatomy assignments. I let out a deep breath before engrossing myself in my work.

**_**_**

"Hey, Angel," Levi said, kissing my hair before proceeding to take out the orange juice from the fridge.

"Hey,"

"You're up early. Again."

I smiled at him, munching on my pancakes. "I guess the long nights in the hospital paid off." He looked at me as if to tell me he doesn't buy my story. I don't get it myself.

"Uh-uhh. You're not keeping anything from me, are you?" He asked, folding his arms to his chest. "You have large bags under your eyes, and you do a terrible job hiding it, by the way."

"I'm okay, I promise. I just-- it feels weird that mom isn't here with us anymore." He looked at me intensively, with his eyebrows drawn tightly together as if he was deep in thought.

I added, "I've never been this far from her before. It was either her or my dad."

The frown on his face only got deeper as he reached out to wrap his hands around me. I squeezed him, silently telling him I was okay. "Tell me what I can do to help you with it, alright?"

I smiled and nodded at him. "Of course, Levi."

He smiled back at me before placing another kiss on my hair. I am so grateful for him. He has been there for me than my mom ever was. Always attentive and patient. But I can't tell him about the nightmares I've been getting recently. He has already done so much for me. Adding this is too much.

"I thought you missed the game." He said after he noticed that I am wearing my cheer uniform. I looked down at my uniform.

"Ohh, that was the practice game." He looked at me in confusion. I smiled before clarifying, "The official game is sometime in May. But in Riverview, we have this tradition where we have two practice games and one test-run game with the rival school before the states championship."

"So you missed the first practice game?"

"I knew you were smart." He threw his head back as he let out the joyful sounds of laughter. Yeah, I won't be the one to wipe that smile off his face. I'm 17. I'm old enough to deal with some scary nightmares.

"What can I say? I don't only have the looks. I gat brains too." We both started laughing at our inside jokes. My phone dinged with a notification from Ash. He's waiting outside.

"Ashton?" Levi asked, sipping his orange juice. I nodded as I slung my bag over my shoulders.

"Yeah. And apparently, I have to go out now, or I'll be toast." I said, waving my phone. I hugged him before hurrying out of the house.

"Be back early, okay?" He yelled.

"Okay," I yelled back as I got into the passenger side of Ash's car.

"Good morning, Sunshine," He exclaimed cheerfully as he drove into the street. "Except it's not a good morning for someone. Did you even get enough sleep?"

Groaning in my head, I pulled out the mirror that Ash usually keeps in the console of his car in case of an emergency. "Is it that bad?"

He nodded, "Is something going on with you, Thea? You've been pretty distant since you left the hospital."

"Nothing is up. I had to catch up with last week's work. I missed a lot when I was in the hospital." I notice that he is driving straight to school instead of Ari's house. "Where are you going? What about Ari?"

"She told me not to bother picking her up. I guess she has another ride." He shrugged.

I looked out the window, the images from my dreams replaying themselves in my head. I only wish I could be as free as the trees and the birds in the sky. But it's like I move from one thing to another. I can't ever escape reality. No matter how far my mother is from me, she left her mark. A mark that will continue to torment me no matter how fast I run.

"Thea! Thea!" I blinked severally, trying to bring my vision to focus. Turning to Ash, he is looking at me with concern laced on his features.

"Yeah?"

"We are here. You zoned out."

"Ohh, sorry." I unlocked the seatbelt before getting out of the vehicle. Ash came up beside me, sliding his arm across my shoulders. I looked up at him, but he had his eyes looking ahead. He's probably getting frustrated with me. He stopped beside my locker, a look of seriousness on his face.

"Girl, what happened to keeping no more secrets?"

"I'm not keeping secrets," I grumbled, turning my attention back to putting my books in my locker.

"Then what do you call not telling your best friends what's going on with you?" He questioned. I let out a sigh before turning to him slowly. Knowing him, he won't drop it until I tell him what's wrong with me.

"I-- It's weird being alone with Levi without my mom. I love Levi, and I'm more than grateful for everything he's done for me. But all my life, It's been my mom, my dad, and I." I wasn't exactly lying. I only wasn't revealing the whole truth. He has his issues too. I'll rather not add to them.

"C'mere." He pulled me in a comforting hug as I let myself calm down. "You'll be fine. I promise."

"Hey, guys." Ari joined in our hug. I'm pretty sure we look crazy hugging ourselves like this in the hallway.

"You're ruining my hair, Ria. Get off." I laughed as Ash grumbled out. Ari looked at him with a hurt expression on her face.

"I only wanted to hug you because you've been the best guy friend anyone can ever ask for, but you're acting mean." Ash rolled his eyes.

"I'm not doing this with you right now." He starts to walk away but not before screaming over his shoulder. "See you later, Thea."

"What about me?" Ari yelled. I laughed at the two of them, shaking my head slowly.

"Where were you this morning?" I asked her as we walked hand in hand to our history class.

"Uh. I had to run a few errands." I turned to look at her with raised eyebrows, letting her know I don't buy her excuse. "Okay, fine. I had to go to Starbucks."

"Starbucks? You don't even like coffee." I said, coming to a stop in front of the class.

"But Nolan does."

"Ari!" I facepalmed, shaking my head a little.

"Wait! Wait! Before you think I'm weird, hear me out. I have to be sure he isn't interested in anyone before letting myself fall further for him. I don't want the same thing with Chris to happen again."

I sighed. Chris was her boyfriend from another school. She met him at the grocery store not too far from her place, and the two hit it off immediately. We got to find out about a month later that he had another girlfriend.

Ari sat in the front row while I proceeded to sit at the back.

"Hey," I looked up to see Aiden taking a seat beside me. I smiled at him before placing my head on the table.

"Hey!"

Aiden leans down to my ear, "You okay?" His breath leaves goosebumps on my neck. The close proximity of his face to mine sends a shiver down my spine.

I begin to lift my head, only for my nose to meet his. I jumped back in my seat, falling to the ground in the process. "Ow!"

"Sorry!" He said, laughing a little. He offered me his hand to pull me up, but I ignored it. "I said I was sorry."

"Yeah, and you're still an asshole." He chuckles softly.

"Fine by me as long as I get to be hot too." I rolled my eyes just as the teacher started the day's lesson. "Are you okay? You look tired and worn out."

"Yeah. Just didn't get much sleep last night." Mrs. Meyers plays a video for the class period, so I sit with my head down, trying to block out the noise.

"Sleep then! I'll cover for you." I turned to him, surprised.

"You would do that?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "Yeah. It's no big deal."

I nodded as I zone out the video as fatigue settles in. A nap should make me feel better.