I HAD THE SAME strange dream last night that I did most nights when I slept. It had always occurred to me, usually at least three times a month if I were to count it. Any other time I simply didn't dream at all. But this one dream my mind had made up-as far back as I could remember since my childhood-always played out exactly the same. Last night was the first time it changed.

It started out as it always did, with me walking through a forest. The ground was covered in fresh white snow meant to be up to my ankles at least, but somehow my bare feet never sank in it. It was almost as if the trees bowed to me as I went, their jagged branches frozen over with ice and the snow.

At the end of my path like normal was a sword that laid on a red, satin pillow adorned on a stone pedestal. Again I went to touch the sword--and again the cool iron it was made from burned my skin. I never understood why.

Next there was always a scream somewhere in the distance. I felt the urge to follow it as though I was meant to, like I understood why the screaming was happening and who it was coming from.

But that was just it. I never understood who or why, at least not when I woke up. In my dream I never reached the culprit of the horrifying wails of agony. Every time I was always about to open a door that I never realized how I'd gotten to it, and then it ended. Only this time something changed like it never had before, puzzling me to an agitating end.

I did touch the sword and I did hear the screams, but I didn't reach the door. Instead after I gazed over the burns on my hand, someone grabbed it and held it tightly. Their own hand was cold to the touch that soothed my injury.

I turned my gaze to meet the stranger, but instead of a clear picture of them their entire body appeared as nothing but a blur.

I could tell it was a man by the silhouette of his body and tall stance. I wanted to ask who he was and why he held my hand, but I couldn't get the words out fast enough.

"We have to go," he spoke with a voice of great urgency, confusing me.

I opened my mouth to ask him what he meant, but his blurred lips quickly kissed my knuckles and then I couldn't speak any words at all.

"I will protect you with every ounce of my life, My Queen. If I have to die I will pay that price for a thousand eternities, if it means keeping you safe. I want to keep you safe."

And just like that I woke up, the dream nothing but a memory fizzling away into the abyss of my right brain.

I didn't know how to explain it, but I always sensed that I knew what that place was. It seemed as if I was. . .destined to be there. Yet that sounded crazy in my mind, and I didn't understand how that would even be possible. And now there was the blurred man who also left me wondering. For some reason, it felt like I knew him too.

Just a strange dream.

"Eerika, are you up? It's time for breakfast!" I heard my mother call me from downstairs.

I peeked from under my mountain of covers to view the clock. Reading the time at 7:05 a.m. I groaned and hid myself away again.

Heading down to the kitchen after preparing myself for school, I sat down at the table and finished the braid in my long hair.

"Good morning sweetie! Did you sleep well?" my mother Linda chirped, laying a plate of syrupy pancakes in front of me.

"Fine," I replied with a small shrug, shying away from explaining the dream as I always did. I didn't think she'd understand if I ever told her. "Where's Dad?"

"He's getting the newspaper from the driveway like he does every morning," she laughed, placing the frying pan in the sink to soak.

"Here I ammm," my father sang as he entered, gently swatting me on top of the head with the rolled up paper. "Gooood morning, darling."

"Honey, please remember to fix the fence post today. You've been putting that off for weeks," Mother told him. Father let out a sigh while throwing me a wink.

"Yes dear," he agreed dully, opening his newspaper.

I couldn't help but chuckle under my breath. He always agreed to her demands just to please her, though never actually getting it done.

"And don't think I didn't just see you wink at our daughter before you agreed, Harold. I want it done this time. I don't like you constantly saying 'yes dear' to my demands just so I'll shut up about it."

"Alright, I'll get my tools after breakfast and check it out."

"Thank you."

I watched both my mother and father as he began enjoying his breakfast, and she watering the flowers on the windowsill. My eyes gazed intently at her chocolate curls and both their brown eyes and tan skin. Nothing that matched my own features.

Anyone who didn't know me and my family would think I was adopted. I had always been told otherwise though, even if the pale skin, white-blonde hair, and blue eyes didn't exactly correspond. Everyone around me including my parents always said I either had my father's nose or my mother's chin, and the reason of my appearance was from a few past family members that shared it.

"Well I better get going. Don't want to be late for another lovely day in hell," I spoke sarcastically as I stood up from the table, slinging my backpack over my shoulder.

"Eerika!" Mother scolded. Father snickered into his coffee mug.

"Oops--I meant school," I corrected with a smug grin.

"You should be liking this year, it's your last one. Seniors usually have the best fun."

"Well there's been no fun going around for me. Nobody cares to try anymore, and the amount of homework we get because of it is ridiculous. It sucks."

"I don't approve your word choices today, young lady," Mother pointed.

I rolled my eyes at her and turned to leave. "Bye, Mom."

I also bid Dad a goodbye and stepped out into the heat of Phoenix, Arizona, making my way to my car. I immediately turned on the air conditioner to an icy temperature, and with a sigh pulled out of the driveway to begin the dreaded day.

"Another beautiful morning today here in Phoenix. Looks like it's going to be another hot one! The forcast calls for an 88° degree temperature, possibly reaching all the way into 90° on this February day! Keep those air conditioners running folks, and those sunglasses handy," the radio man informed as I pulled into the school parking lot.

I could see my best friend Jessi notice my arrival in the distance of the outside area. She ran over to my car before I could even get out.

"Eerika, Eerika! Where have you been? You're late!" she questioned, her face in a typical pout.

"What, is there an earthquake I'm missing or something? Is the President arriving?" I joked, opening the car door and letting the frigid air slip out.

Jessi shivered, backing herself up a few steps. "God, how do you stand that? You should be a popsicle!"

Turning off the conditioner and shutting down the engine, I got out of the vehicle and closed the door. "The cold doesn't bother me, you know that. It's a family thing."

Jessi curled up her nose, "A weird family thing. But no, you're late to watch the soccer guys walk in from morning practice! They just started the season today!"

"Jess, don't you think we're starting to get a bit old for stalking sweaty guys in soccer Jerseys and knee pads?" I pointed out, but she scoffed and kept a watchful gaze at the field entrance.

"Don't be ridiculous. And, you're being really ridiculous. We've done this since freshman year! Now that we're seniors this is our last chance to take in all the gorgeous we can."

Her bright hazel eyes then turned back to me with a smile to match. "I think I'm going to ask one of them to Prom!"

I tried not to snort out a laugh. "Seriously? Which one would you pick, if they even had the brains to notice one of us?"

"Well. . .I don't know, one of them! They're all acceptionally fine candidates to me. Have you found your dress yet?"

"It's February, why would I have a dress yet?" I catechized, crossing my arms over my chest. "Especially when I don't really want to go in the first place."

Jessi sighed, "Eerika. You know this is why you don't have boyfriends. You're so negative about everything."

Promptly the bell then rang in the distance that signaled it was time for first classes, and Jessi groaned.

"Oh come on, you have to ring now?" she referred to the bell, "They haven't even come back yet!"

Rolling my eyes I looped my arm around hers and gently tugged her forward. "Come on, Hopeless Romantic. Let's go."

We stopped at the lockers before heading to our first period, Chem 12. As we got our books I noticed the soccer team coming through the entrance out of the corner of my eye. I nudged Jessi in the arm and nodded towards them.

"Looks like you're getting what you want after all."

Jessi squealed and quickly checked herself in her compact mirror, undoing her curly black ponytail to fall down her cinnamon shoulders. I rolled my eyes at her once more, but took a small peek at the group--who had now stopped at the locker room door to exchange indistinct conversation.

There within them stood Blane Malcaroy, laughing as he carried on with his posey. He caught my stare and glanced over, cracking a smile. I quickly turned away and continued rummaging through my locker like it hadn't just happened.

"Whoa, wait. Did you see that? He smiled at you," Jessi smirked.

"Yeah, and?" I inquired back, closing the door and making sure my car keys were secure in my bag.

"And you're just going to pretend it didn't happen?"

"He does it all the time. It's nothing new or something to freak out over."

"What? Why didn't you tell me that? This is serious business! He's been your crush since elementary school. What if he likes you!"

I held in an annoyed sigh, "Jess he has not been my crus-"

I was then interrupted as she suddenly grabbed my arm excitedly and gestured across the hall. "Look! He's coming over here!"

I followed her gaze and found that indeed the sweaty, blonde haired boy was making his way towards us. I groaned internally and only wished I could hide away in my covers like I did this morning.

"Hey, Eerika. How's it going?" Blane greeted, giving a small wave.

"Fine," I replied simply, crossing my arms over my chest once more. "You?"

"Uh. . .good. I'm good."

And then an awkward silence fell over.

"Uh, Blane, how did practice go? First one of the big season! I bet that's exciting," Jessi interjected to break the ice between Blane and I. I held back my deep urge to smack her.

"Oh, it went great Jessi. Thanks for asking," Blane told her. "I'm really excited playing my last year. I can't believe it's just about over already. Time flies, doesn't it?"

Can time fly by now so this conversation will be over? I thought in my head.

"Did you guys finish your homework assignment for Chemistry?" he inquired. "I didn't understand a word of it."

"Yeah, no way. Chemistry and I do not mix," Jessi replied with a small laugh, but I blurted out something differently before I could stop myself.

"I did. I was able to finish it within fifteen minutes."

Blane was slightly dumbfounded at the confession. "Wow. Maybe you should tutor me. It would probably help a lot."

Suddenly another bell sounded above our heads, and I groaned at the knowledge of what it was for.

"Great, that's the late bell," I said. "We need to go or Mr. Cane will have our asses."

"I'll catch up. I really need to change first," Blane informed with an embarrassed chuckle.

I gave a nod and Jessi quickly excused she and I from the conversation before any more awkward silence reared its head.

"We'll see you in class, Blane," she smiled.

Blane gave a small wave goodbye, and turned to head towards the locker room with his other teammates. Jessi looped her arm around mine and pulled me to the classroom we were supposed to be in, all while throwing a smirk.

"I think you just found yourself a prom date."

I couldn't stop myself from scoffing at her delusional idea. "Yeah, when it snows in Arizona."

"Would someone like to explain to the class why there are no two snowflakes that look identical to each other?" Mr. Cane pronounced to the room but received no answer in return.

I whispered to Jessi next to me, "I had the dream again last night."

"You have that weird dream every night, what's the difference?" she countered.

"Miss Arnesen, do you know the answer?" Mr. Cane interjected.

I focused my attention on him while all eyes were on me. "Uh, the. . .reason no two snowflakes are alike is because of their very precise amount of water molecules, spin of electrons, and the abundance of isotopes along with oxygen and hydrogen. But that's not to say that two snowflakes couldn't look exactly alike at one distinct point in history."

There were murmurs from the rest of my classmates and some giving me strange glares. I felt like hiding under the lab station.

"Right again, Eerika. Thank you," Mr. Cane praised and continued the lesson.

"Now I know many of you have never even experienced a snowfall in your lifetime, but the reason why we are learning about snowflakes, snow, and ice is because of the chemistry behind them. It's all about the molecules, hydrogen, and oxygen like Eerika mentioned.

A snowflake may come across many different enviormental conditions during its stages of coming into the atmosphere. Take temperature as one of them. Colder conditions can cause the snowflake formation to branch into sharper tipped arms. While warmer climates result in shapes that are smoother and not as intricate."

I turned back to Jessi. "What's different is there was something else that changed in the dream this time. I didn't go to the door. There was a man who's body I couldn't see. He was just a complete blur. Maybe he was a boy my age, I don't know. But he stopped me from going. He was so urgent, said we needed to go but never told me where or why. And he called me his queen. I don't think he really meant like his but just the formality in general."

"Someone's been reading too many books if you ask me," Jessi retorted, uninterested.

I huffed out a breath and placed an elbow on the lab desk--propping my chin on my palm. She never believed a word I said about these dreams anyway. Since the first grade at six years old when they started occurring, she always thought they were silly. But she was the only person I had ever told.

"I don't know. They're just weird. I always feel like. . .like I've been there, to the place in the dream. And then last night there's this man who's never appeared in the dream before, and I felt like I knew him."

Blane then leaned over his station from behind us and spoke, and I only hoped he hadn't just heard any of the conversation.

"Do you guys understand any of what Cane's talking about?"

Jessi scoffed, "Are you kidding? Right now I'm just trying to picture what he'd look like without a shirt on."

I threw her a disgusted look that Blane mimicked with me.

"What?" she queried, obviously not seeing anything wrong with the confession. "He's twenty five, I'm eighteen. It's perfectly acceptable."

I gave a quick abhorred shudder before answering Blane's question with an explanation.

"It's pretty simple. What happens is when crystallization starts, the water molecules align together to maximize the attracting forces and minimize the repulsing ones. It's like positive and negative, basically."

"Really? See I-I never would've gotten that," he admitted. "You're smart, Arnesen, I'll give you that. You know I really think you should consider tutoring. You'd help just about everyone in the class I think. Especially me."

I nervously chuckled, "No, I. . .don't think so. I'm not really the teaching type."

"Please?" Blane implored. I hesitantly gave a glance to Jessi for input.

She shrugged in return, "You've always helped me."

Not the answer I was looking for, I turned back to Blane and began to open my mouth. Mr. Cane's own words stopped me before I could say anything.

"Alright everyone, it's assignment time! For tonight's homework I want you to pair up with someone. I have the full instructions printed out on a sheet that will be on my desk to pick up when you leave. Class dismissed."

The bell then rang and everyone began rising from their seats, getting their assignment and partner. I turned to offer a pairing with Jessi, but she had already reeled herself in with an attractive guy across the room.

I didn't think I necessarily needed a partner after all because I practically was the only person in the class that knew what this whole curriculum was about. With a huff I made my way up to Mr. Cane's desk and grabbed the assignment paper.

"Um, Mr. Cane, may I ask if it's alright to work by myself on this assignment?" I pondered to my teacher who gave me a tentative look in return.

"I'm not sure, Eerika. I really feel this homework assignment requires two people. Are you sure you couldn't find someone to assist you, just this once?"

"I could help her," the voice of Blane spoke up from close behind me, causing my body to jump in surprise. I bit my lip and squeezed my eyelids together momentarily.

Please, no, I begged in my mind. My goodness, please, no.

"Actually, she could probably help me," Blane continued. "I don't get any of this, and she knows it flake to frost. It might give me at least a better understanding, anyway."

Mr. Cane was pleased with Blane's words, all while I wanted to punch Blane for saying them. "Well I think that sounds perfect! Praise to you for stepping up with your offer, Mr. Malcaroy," he said. "Eerika, what do you say? Will you accept Blane's offer?"

Why me? Out of all the classmates in this room why did I get stuck in this situation?

I had trouble pushing a reply out of my mouth that was now completely dry. "Uh, s-sure, whatever. I guess. You can. . .come over to my place after school and we can get started."

"Wonderful! It's all worked out!" Mr. Cane seemed satisfied and turned back to his work. But I was nowhere near the level of satisfaction, and all I wanted to do was turn to Blane and immediately cut him off and cancel the deal.

"I guess I'll see you after school," Blane smirked slightly, breezing past me and leaving only those words for my brain to process.

Fire rose to my cheeks that I thought had come from the anger I was now boiling with, but I quickly realized differently after a sense hit me. I was blushing.

A scoff rising from my throat I rubbed at my right cheek with my palm, and hung my head low as I stormed out of the classroom.