There are no words to describe how I feel when I wake up the next morning. It's as though slumber brushed away every last segment of my misery and replaced it with joy. For the first time in months, I feel like I'm ready to conquer the world. I feel like an eagle—and it's not just because it's Friday.

It's only 6:30 am, and I don't have to be at school until 8:00. Deciding to take advantage of the hour I have, I sit down to my homework and begin filling out the worksheets I have sitting before me. I find myself to be surprised at how much of it I'm comprehending.

Once in a while, bits and pieces of my dream come back to me. Omar was in it—I just know it. And he kissed me—oh, how sweet that kiss was! I want nothing more than to dream about him tonight, and tomorrow night, and every night for the rest of my life. If only dreamland were here on earth, I think to myself.

A little over an hour later, I'm driving through the smooth and trafficless roads. For once I feel unrushed and relaxed.

Sure enough, my mood works miracles all throughout the day. I excel in each class I attend. My brain doesn't wander to every corner of the galaxy as it usually does, and I find myself focusing on the whiteboard instead of Bev's empty desk. Even the teachers seem to notice the sudden change in my performance.

It's almost going too well.

* * *

My new "tutor" shows up at my house not one second after the appointed time. I'm sitting in the living room when the doorbell rings. "Can you get that, Mom?" I shout to the kitchen.

Moments later, I hear my mom's voice exclaim, "How nice to finally meet you, Oriel!"

"You too, ma'am," a male voice replies. I recognize Oriel's voice from somewhere.

I look up to the doorway as Mom enters, a boy dressed in neatly just behind her. Mom introduces him as he emerges into the living room. "Lucinda, this is Oriel. Oriel, this is—"

"Omar!" I shriek, seeing his face. The next moment I'm covering my mouth with embarrassment, ashamed of the hideous first impression he just got from me. I glance at him. He doesn't seem shaken, but something about his searching eyes makes me feel like I know him already.

Mom looks concerned. "Something wrong, Luce? Do you know this young man?"

I shake my head fervently. "No. No—it's all good." I force a smile. "Nice to meet you, Oriel."

Mom beams, pleased that we seem to be getting along so far. "I'll be in the kitchen making dinner," she says. "Call me if you need anything." With that, she dashes down the hall and out of sight.

I turn back to Oriel, the fake smile still plastered all over my face. "So what do we start with?"

He still looks slightly disoriented from my sudden outburst but proceeds to set down his backpack. "Whatever you want," he says. "I hear math isn't your strong point?"

I chuckle. "None of my subjects are, really."

Eventually, we decide to get math out of the way first. I find myself to be quite distracted, though—my eyes looking up to take in Oriel's face every now and then. It is Omar—I know it. His neat dark hair and purply-brown eyes are identical. As he rambles on about fractional exponents, all I can think about is how my dream has come to life. My dream has, well, come true—literally. I inch closer to him, feeling comfortable with him already. But I do my best to keep from brushing my hand against his—after all, Oriel doesn't know that I've dreamed about him for the last three nights in a row.

I wonder if I'll dream about Omar again. I make a mental note here and now to keep Omar's face on my subconscious for the rest of the day. Maybe, just maybe, that's the key.