• “Ash?” He asked as the air shifting as once again he came close. “What’s wrong?”
    In her mind she pictured him as a young boy, his dark hair tied at the base of his neck and his black wings tucked so tightly at his back that the bone was pressing through at his shoulders. “I’m fine,” she said, just as he had. Lifting her hands, Ashlee pushed herself off the bed and headed towards the door, shaking the memory from her thoughts. “I’m hungry.” Still facing them, Ashlee fiddled with the door handle mapping out the school in her head.
    “I’ll come with you,” Amber piped, her blond hair bouncing as she rocked on her toes.

    “No, no,” Ashlee said as she opened the dorm door just a crack. “I’ll be back in like three seconds.” No sooner had the words left her then Ashlee hopped out of the room and jogged into the second floor living room, light attacking her senses along with the aroma of foods coming from the small kitchen.

    “Ashlee!”

    “You’re okay, girl!”

    “Wow!”

    The few other girls in on the second floor shouted as she rushed to the fridge, snatching up an apple and water bottle.

    “Hey Tiffany. Hi Barbra,” she mumbled, ignoring the fact that she seemed to know them, as once again she walked to room 333, now with only half an apple in hand. Her door was cracked open, just a low steam of light hovering over the dull carpet in the hall could be seen. Something in her told her to hesitate, so, she slowed her breathing until it was just a wisp, and every muscle in her fit body tightened until she was utterly still, a human statue in the empty hall.

    “Amber,” her male friend whispered, “she is not prepared to go back to class; she is going to get her a** kicked, and...and she’s…she’s not prepared, Amber.”

    “You’re just mad that she doesn’t remember who you are, so now you can have some full blow romance like you’ve been dreaming of,” the bubbly blonde retorted and Ashlee could picture her rolling her round eyes to the ceiling before looking back at the boy. “Besides,” the door swung open and Ashlee blinked, “she almost has her presence completely masked. What does that say?” Amber pulled her in side, squeezing her in a tight but quick hug.

    “It says,” he cleared his throat and brushed a lose strand of dark hair from his pale face, “she’ll still be top of her class, the perfect protector.” The door swung closed and the air swirled, lifting her dark hair from her shoulders as he disappeared. Amber sat down on the desk, and Ashlee glanced at the gray door, her fingers curling slowly. Dust and green tea replaced the scent of lilies that he had brought with him, and a small part of the girl was missing. His words had stung, and stirred up some deep emotions that had been dormant since she had woken up earlier that day.