Authors note: Nothing to note, besides that's Lexi above. Muah, hugs and kisses

Fall in New England is the best season, and I make the most of it by taking a walk around my neighborhood. The cool air nips at my skin, and I hug my jacket to myself a little tighter, shoving my hands deeper into my pockets. The fallen leaves crunch under my boots, and I'd be lying if I say I wasn't deliberately going out of my way to step on them.

I hear a crunch behind me, breaking my trance, and whip around. Low and behold, it's Milo. His usual jacket is pulled tight around him, a beanie flattening his normally fluffy hair. He stops when he sees me, his face flush from both embarrassment and the cold.

"Are you stalking me?" I tease, though Lexi's words play through my head. Is he obsessed with me? Am I going to be kidnapped?

He shifts uncomfortably at my question, before finally answering. "I live around the corner," he remarks, making vague directional arrows with his hand. "I saw you walking, and... I don't know. I don't know what I'm doing."

We gravitate toward each other without thinking, closing the distance until we're standing just a few feet apart. "I'm sorry," I start, the wind whistling through the trees dramatically. "I'm sorry I was a bitch. I don't mean to be."
The words tumble from my mouth freely, and I swallow harshly, all the saliva in my mouth drying up.

Milo sighs, ruffling the front of his hair and tucking the sides in his beanie. "It's fine," he promises softly with a shrug. "I'm used to it."

His words hit me harder than they should, and a quiet guilt settles into my chest. Lexi was right. I probably just added to whatever else he's going through.

I play with the hem of my coat nervously, my bottom lip tucked between my teeth. "I guess... I guess I'll see you at school?" I say softly, my eyes searching his.

He gives a noncommittal nod, and we both turn to walk away. Just as I walk past him, I feel a hand on my arm. Before I can even react to the sudden movement, Milo spins me around and kisses me. His lips are warm, soft, and he smells musky, masculine. My heart skips a beat as I kiss him back, my arms instinctively wrapping around his neck as I pull myself closer.

He pulls away for a second, smiling. "You're going to be late," he says quietly, gently running a thumb over my cheek.

"What?" I ask with a confused laugh, tangling my fingers in his soft hair.

"You're going to be late," he repeats, pulling away fully from me. I notice how bright the sun is, and shield my eyes, groaning. With a blink, everything changes around me, and I realize a light is flickering on and off. "Hellooo? Wake up, you're going to be late."

Sitting up, I take in my surroundings, drunk from sleep. Mom stands in the doorway to my bedroom, flicking the lights on and off to wake me up. She impatiently taps her foot, her hand planted on her hip, and huffs. I can't help but lay back down on the bed, groaning as I rub at my eyes.

It was just a dream. A weird dream that Lexi is going to flame me for, but just a dream. Phew... Right? So why do I feel a little empty inside? I chock it up to dream emotions, and bank on the feeling subsiding the moment I see his broody face.

"Get going. I have work, and I will make you walk for the rest of the school year if you make me late," Mom threatens, before finally leaving me alone. With my mom, there's no telling if she's actually serious or not, so I force my legs over the edge of the bed, s d stand.

I get ready in the bathroom, pulling my long blonde hair into a loose ponytail, leaving a few strands in the front to frame my face. I move to my vanity, and survey the collection of makeup scattered across the table. I reach for my foundation, smoothing it onto my skin with my fingers, blending it out carefully. My mind drifts for a moment, and the image of Milo flashes through my thoughts- specifically the way he touched me in that dream. The memory makes my heart skip a beat, even though I brush it off just as quickly as it comes.

With a shaky sigh, I spring to my feet, pacing around my room as I frantically beat the foundation into my face. I'm just a pisces, so I'm emotional, and the dream is making my feelings confusing because it felt so real. That's all.

I sit back down, finishing the rest of my makeup in silence, the only sound my incessant thoughts.

Mom drives me to school like normal, but glances at me with a raised eyebrow. "You're not talking my ear off this morning," she drawls, tapping her fingers on the steering wheel. "I'm not complaining. I wonder if my prayers were finally answered."

I let out a humorless laugh, clenching my jaw. "Thanks, Mom. Love you, too." Her disapproved gaze makes me feel like a little girl again, being scolded for talking too much. "I stayed at Lexi's late. Studying for history."

Mom scoffs, shaking her head. "I don't know what you see in Lexi," she grumbles with a kiss of her teeth. Her eyes flick to me, flashing with disgust, before focusing on the road again.

"I don't know, Mom, security? Safety? An escape from the chaos?" I retort with a glare. I know she's always disliked that Lexi and her family can give me what she could never: Kindness. And, you know, trips to the Swiss Alps.

Mom cackles, shaking her head. "You don't know the definition of chaos," she snaps, pulling over on the side of the road. "Since you don't think I provide you safety, why don't you just walk the rest of the way? I'm sure that's more safe than here with me, right?"

I sigh, shaking my head. "Mom-"

"Get out!" She all but screams, grabbing my backpack from the back and my cheer bag, and shoving it at me. "Why don't you spend the night at Lexi's? Have a night to escape the chaos?"

Without another word, I open the door, slinging my bags over each of my shoulders begrudgingly. I close the door, and the second I do, my mom peels away, tires squealing. I watch her for a second, before sighing and starting my descent to school. From here, it's only about a ten minute walk, maybe fifteen from the bags I'm having to carry too.

I take the time to gather my thoughts. I've talked to Lexi, said good morning, but haven't had time to call her to fill her in about my dream. She's going to say it's my God complex pissed that someone isn't falling all over me. She wouldn't be too far off, but I'd never admit that outloud.

When I finally get to school, I'm nearly late. I text Lexi I'll be there as soon as I can, rushing through the halls, weaving through the crowd. Lexi waits at our lockers, rushing a hand through her auburn hair, looking all Disney princess-esque.

"Hello, sexy," I say in a deep voice, creeping up behind Lexi and putting my hands on her full hips. "What're you doing tonight?"

Lexi nearly jumps out of her skin, whipping around with wide eyes. She relaxes when she sees me, heaving a sigh of relief. "Don't do that," she whines, pushing me playfully. "I thought you were one of those pervy jocks."

I laugh, opening my locker and tossing my cheer bag in there, changing my bags around for first period. "But if it was one of those almost-gay drama boys...?"

Lexi grins, winking. "Now we're talking," she says with a giggle. "Like Brad! We both got the lead in the play, I told you that right?"

"Only a million times," I say, making my eye twitch. She shoves me, rolling her eyes. "You can go, Romeo, oh Romeo, put it in my hole...io." I pretend to be all dramatic, dipping Lexi, who giggles and blushes. "I feel it's only fitting to fuck him after that. How romantic would that be? The curtains close, and your legs open."

She ponders it, slinging her bag over her shoulder as the bell rings. We walk towards the gym, and she nods affirmatively. "I think you're right. I think on closing night, I'll... You know..."

"Let him put it in your hole-io?" I joke, nudging her. She blushes and gives me a whack, but doesn't argue. "I'm so happy for you. I know how much this means to you. You're sure about it?"

Lexi nods, more sure this time. "I am," she says confidently. "We've been dating three years, I think that's been plenty long enough."

"God, the amount of guy's I've been with in three years." I pretend to count on my finger, before giving up with a sigh. "Not enough hands in this school to count on, I think."

We get to gym locker room, changing up into our gym clothes, before making our way upstairs. Lexi and I opt for tennis, being partners and absolutely mopping the floor with everyone.

"I have to tell you my dream," I start, almost nervously, as I serve the ball. "It was... Something."

The ball soars towards the other side, before returning with a thwack. Lexi gives it a smack, sending it back. The girls try to go for it but run into each other, the ball bouncing on the other side of the court. Lexi and I high five, cheering.

"What was it about?" She asks, pulling her ponytail tighter and fixing her gym shorts.

I lean down and tie my shoe, shrugging casually. "I had a dream that I was walking outside. The weather was beautiful, like right now. Ugh, the air, you could basically feel-"

The coach yells at us to stop dilly-dallying, and we scramble back into position. We smack the ball around a little, but all I can think about Milo, and how his hands felt in my hair; the way his lips felt against mine... Suddenly, the ball smacks me in my head, and I stumble back.

The girls on the other side laugh, to which Lexi shoots them a glare. "Are you still thinking about your weather dream?" She teases, coming over and rubbing the spot that the ball hit.

"Milo was in it, and we were talking, and then he kissed me," I say in one breath, heaving a sigh of relief when I'm done. "Phew, that was so good to get off my chest."

Lexi looks at me with a blank stare, blinking rapidly. "What?" She asks in shock, a chuckle escaping from her lips. "Wow, maybe you're the obsessed one."

"Shut up," I hiss, throwing the ball back over the net once I'm ready. "Just play the fucking game."

We play quietly until class is over, and I try to focus on just tennis. Lexi and I walk to the locker room together, getting changed and freshening up. I douse myself with perfume, and pull my hair out of my ponytail, opting for pigtails instead.

"Just like his drawing," Lexi drawls with a smirk, holding up her fingers to box in my face. "I mean, truly all you need is the devil horns."

I blush as I look in the mirror, realizing that's exactly what I had done. I hastily take them out, pulling it back into a ponytail. "I should have never told you about that dream," I hiss, flipping her off through the mirror.

She slings her arms around my chest, pulling me into a hug from behind. "Je t'aime," she sings in my ear, pulling me from the locker room just as the bell lets out its shrill warning.