Blood – it was everywhere.

In the midst of it, sparkling green eyes found Sahara's. For the briefest of moments, she forgot about the crimson, smiling as she skipped to meet Terrell.

Not even three steps forward and Terrell jerked. The smile on his face froze. Sahara stopped in mid-stride. She watched her boyfriend's hand go to the spot that was turning red. Slowly, he looked up, eyes meeting Sahara's. Their light was fast fading. Though his bloodied mouth moved, no words came out.

No! Sahara tried to reach the figure as more bullets wracked havoc on his body.

Blood ran down the walls, bathing all in it and threatening to drown Sahara.

Gunfire rattled, each shot louder and more terrifying than the last.

No matter how hard Sahara ran, it felt like she was trying to push through a heavy blob, unable to make progress.

A scream echoed, perhaps her own.

And then, when it seemed that there was no more space for the bullets to target, the boy began to fade.

"Terrell!" Sahara shot up in bed, hand reaching into the dark.

The door burst open and light flooded in.

Breathing hard, she turned her wide eyes to look.

Relief flooded through her as she saw the familiar figure.

"I'm here," Terrell spoke. He hurried forward. "I'm right here."

As he sat on the side of her bed, Sahara clasped her arms around him. She buried her head in his shoulders as her heart raced. She couldn't help the tears that fell.

Terrell rubbed her back. "Shh," he comforted.

Her heart slowed and the tears slowly dried, leaving only hiccups behind.

"Same dream?" Terrell asked softly, still rubbing.

Sahara could only nod.

"Don't worry," Terrell murmured. "I'm not going anywhere."

Sahara tightened her arms around him, as though afraid of the opposite.

When she relaxed her grip, Terrell gently took her shoulders. He pushed her back, the light from the hallway partially lighting up one side of his face.

"Even your crying look is pretty," he declared.

Sahara attempted a laugh. It came out as a mix between a squeak and a snort.

"But," Terrell continued, resting a hand on her cheek. He wiped at the tear trails with a thumb. "I'll be honest and say I prefer the smiling one."

Sahara gave a weak smile in response.

"There it is!" Terrell beamed. He leaned in. "You know what always helps me when I have nightmares?"

"Strawberry milk?" Sahara tried his cliché line.

"That too," Terrell agreed. He lowered his hand and took Sahara's in his own. "But, when it gets really bad." He gently rubbed the back of her hand. "I make this box inside my head. And I just shove all the bad stuff inside."

Sahara eyed him. "That works?" she asked doubtfully.

Terrell shrugged.

"How do you even make a box?"

Another shrug.

"Maybe I should take the strawberry milk suggestion," Sahara murmured.

Terrell's eyes lit up. "I'll get some." He was half off the bed, but Sahara grabbed his arm.

"Don't leave," she pleaded.

Terrell turned back.

"Not yet," Sahara whispered.

Terrell's eyes softened. He nodded. "Alright." He motioned for Sahara to move over.

When she did so, he lay down beside her. Sahara leaned back, turning so that she was face to face with the handsome boy she got to call her own.

"I'll make you a deal," Terrell told her. He pushed a strand of her hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. "You get some sleep and I'll keep guard, so those pesky nightmares stay away, deal?"

Sahara nodded.

"But in exchange." Terrell's eyes twinkled. "You're only allowed sweet dreams. And I have to be in all of them."

Sahara liked the terms. With a smile, she snuggled closer to Terrell. As he wrapped his arms around her, she felt peace settle on her restless heart. The thoughts running at a thousand miles an hour in her mind finally slowed.

She found herself in the safest, most comfortable place she knew – Terrell's arms.

Sahara fell asleep first. Terrell held her firmly, watching her peaceful face for the longest time. Finally, he pulled her so close that his chin could rest on her head. That's how he fell asleep and how the two were found in the morning.

Though it was Saturday, Sahara was usually up for breakfast with the Kane's. Having learned Terrell was impossible to wake, Mrs. Kane skipped his room and went straight for Sahara's.

She burst in, ready to yell a cheerful greeting and fling the curtains open.

However, when her eyes landed on the two, she stopped in the doorway.

For the briefest moment, she almost was ready to fly at the young man and reprimand him for invading woman's room. However, seeing how peaceful they both looked, she decided against it.

Instead, she quietly made her way to the window. Pulling the curtains aside in a way that they barely made a sound, she turned and went to finish breakfast.

Sahara awoke first. Terrell's sleeping face greeted her blurry vision. As it cleared, a sluggish smile crossed her face. She reached out, tracing a hand softly down the boy's nose. His thick eyelashes flickered, but he remained asleep.

How is he so perfect both inside and out? Sahara wondered for the hundredth time. She still couldn't understand how out of everyone he could be with, he'd fallen for her.

Sleep lifted from her like a blanket. Her stomach growled, alerting her that it was time to eat. The smell of bacon wafting into the room helped her resolve.

Turning, Sahara began to sit up. She'd barely made it when arms clamped around her, pulling her firmly back down. She waited a moment before gently removing the hands and trying again. The same thing occurred.

Sahara turned, scowling in disapproval. Terrell's eyes remained tightly closed, his breathing even.

Him and his sleeping habits. Sahara considered her options. Find a way to escape or be stuck lying awake for the next two hours.

Her stomach growled again.

Scuffling was followed by the appearance of Sahara's rescue. Blue bounded in, eyes darting around the room and tail wagging so fast it looked about ready to fall off.

"Here boy," Sahara encouraged as a plan came to mind.

Blue dashed to her side of the bed.

Sahara patted the spot beside her and the dog leaped up. He covered Sahara's face with sloppy kisses.

"Hey!" Giggling, Sahara tried to fight him off. "Blue!" she protested.

The dog paused only to stare at her with adoring brown eyes. In a second, his attack of love resumed.

"You should greet Terrell too," Sahara patted the side Terrell was on.

Blue responded almost immediately, squeezing into the small gap between boy and girl to greet the one that played catch with him the most. At the same time, Sahara rolled much like a soldier performed an evasive maneuver.

Terrell's hands automatically reached out, searching for someone to grab. He got a handful of fur and latched on.

Blue happily snuggled up to the boy, tail thumping on the bed. His tongue lapped at Terrell's face, yet the boy barely even flinched, taking the full brunt of the attack.

Not staying to admire how much the boy loved to sleep, Sahara headed for the bathroom.

She cleaned up, changed, and was down for breakfast just as the last pancake came out of the pan.

"You're up," Mrs. Kane commented.

Mr. Kane looked up from his newspaper to shoot Sahara a smile.

"Where's Blue?" Mrs. Kane brought a plate piled high with scrambled eggs to the table.

"Keeping Terrell company," Sahara responded as she snagged a piece of bacon.

Mrs. Kane raised an eyebrow but didn't question further.

The three ate a hearty breakfast together as always. Though Terrell slept through it, Mrs. Kane was sure to put aside a plate piled high with everything. Though it looked like a mountain of food to Sahara, she had no doubt that Terrell would finish it and still be hungry for the next meal.

After eating, Mr. Kane retreated to the barn. Mrs. Kane set to baking, and Sahara sat on the porch to do homework. At some point, Blue popped up beside her, demanding attention. How he'd escaped Terrell's clutches, Sahara could only wonder.

As she scratched Blue's head and tried to think of a good essay prompt, her eyes were drawn to the long sleek board propped up against the wall. Terrell's board hadn't moved from the spot in a while.

I wonder, is he really happy? Sahara couldn't help but wonder.

The board didn't work. Terrell hadn't flown it since he'd come. The boy had worked on it together with Mr. Kane to see if they'd be able to do something about it, but in the end, nothing restored the hoverboard's functions. It was now nothing but decoration, a remnant of another world.

A world with no bubble, Terrell's longing words filled Sahara's memory. Her heart squeezed. She knew Terrell had dreamed of a sky without limits. Now that he'd finally obtained it, his wings had been clipped.

The teen became away that she was tapping her pen on the table. She stopped to lay it down, mind working. Not once had Terrell voiced any regrets at coming to her world. No once had he complained about his board not working. He always had a smile on his face, adoring eyes following her while sipping on his endless supply of strawberry milk.

Do you miss it? Sahara remembered the words she'd asked him over and over again.

Each time he hadn't hesitated with his answer, "I can live without boarding. I can't live without you."

A heavy sigh escaped Sahara.

"What's with the frown?" Terrell's raspy morning voice asked.

He stood in the doorway, black hair tousled and green eyes showing traces of sleep. Though he'd gotten dressed, he'd somehow managed to put his shirt on inside out. The short sleeves revealed toned muscle around which a tattoo, he kept covered at school, curled.

Blue's tail thumped on the wooden veranda, tongue hanging out as he greeted the newcomer with a smile.

"I was just thinking," Sahara spoke.

"About what?" Terrell padded over.

Sahara paused, wondering if she should really say the words. And yet the more she considered it, the more she realized she wanted to.

"Terrell."

The boy sank into the chair across from her. "Hmm?" He patted the dog that stood to beg for his attention.

Sahara took a breath. "Let's go back."