Awake Part 5

~ Brady ~

I wake up in the early hours of the morning; it’s dark and cold outside and the house is still and silent. That’s how I like it best. As usual, I get dressed and seize my bag without stopping to turn on any lights. I ghost past Ethan’s room and then go down the stairs quickly, winding through the hallways and past the ballroom and finally into the grand entryway with the double doors. My mother has left a note in bright pink stationary on the door, telling me to stick around for breakfast so she can talk to me. Like hell I will! I rip it up and leave the pieces on the floor and bang the front door behind me when I leave.

I start out walking my normal path towards the slums of town, half wanting to run into one of the pseudo gangs that know they don’t like me. A good fight might relieve some of my pent up emotions.

But something crosses my mind as I walk by the park. Just on the other side of that park is Bryn’s house. I had always avoided it before, knowing she wasn’t there but in the hospital. But now….

My feet seem to take the turn of their own accord. Bryn would always be up at five-thirty so she could help either with the daycare or the restaurant before school. At least, that’s how it had been in my dreams.

I glance at my watch as her house comes into sight. It’s exactly five-thirty now, which means she’ll be coming to the window in a second. I know I shouldn’t go, but I long to see her for just a second and be sure she’s all right. I walk towards her house, pacing my steps. When I’m standing on the pavement level with her window, I look up.

Bryn’s sitting there, leaning against the window and staring off into the distance. She doesn’t notice me. Her hair is still a bit messy from sleeping and she’s wearing an old fashioned spring-green nightgown with white lace along the neckline and empire waist. Suddenly, she looks behind her, then back again—and her eyes meet mine.

I feel my heart skip a beat and my stomach jumps into my throat. For a moment, I’m frozen in her gaze. Then I nod at her, like I usually do, and I walk away. After all, she’s not mine to have, no matter how much I want her to be. She’s given her heart to Ethan.

Just like everyone else.

~ Bryn ~

When I get to my classroom, it’s empty except for Brady. I pause for a moment before smiling. “Good morning,” I say shyly.

To my amazement, Brady smiles back. He looks about as shy as I feel. “Good morning, Bryn.”

There’s an awkward atmosphere. I almost wish we had customs to be polite--like bowing or certain things to say--because I don't know what to do. Finally, I just take my seat and begin pulling out my school books, listening to the chirruping of birds outside the window.

"Thanks for your help yesterday," Brady tells me. I'm relieved; his efforts to speak to me seem to be breaking down my walls a little. "It really helped."

My smile comes more easily this time, and I even manage to look him in the eye. "Really? I'm so glad. I'm always happy to lend a hand."

The way he looks at me is very knowing, as if he'd already seen everything there is about me. "And thanks for the fudge and cookie yesterday. They were delicious."

The heat rushes to my face; I had worried that he knew it was me, of course, but I hadn't thought he'd confront me about it. "H-how did you know I left those...?"

He shrugs. "It wasn't that hard to put together. No one else in the class cooks like that."

Now I'm just confused. "You knew I could cook?"

The look he gives me now is just plain sardonic. "I eat at your restaurant nearly every morning, Bryn."

Oh. Duh. I've been reading too much into this, after all. He probably talks with Shara or Dad sometimes. Of course he would hear about me waking up and all the strangeness that went with it. Dad's restaurant is the kind where everyone knows each other's business, because it's small and close-knit. I drop the subject.

"Brady, is your mom still trying to force you to find a job?"

It's his turn to look surprised. "Did Ethan tell you about that? Yeah, she is. She thinks it'll keep me out of trouble or something."

"My dad's looking to hire another crew member. You should talk to him about it."

Brady snorted. "Maybe you haven't noticed, but your dad doesn't trust me much either."

"I can put in a good word for you." That's how he'd gotten the job in my dream, after all. I'd convinced Dad he was a good person to hire. Brady is watching me again, his face more unreadable than ever. I try not to look at him.

"Sure," he finally says. "I'd like that. Are you going to work there?"

I nod. "I'm going to start next week. Dad wanted to give me some adjusting time before I began."

There's another long silence, and then Brady finally asks what I've been dreading. "If you were in a coma for ten years, how do you...I mean, you seem like you already know everything you need to, you don't seem like a five-year-old at all, so how did that happen?"

He seems perfectly unabashed when he asks it. I wish I had that kind of courage. I chew on my lip, not sure how I should answer, considering Brady. Suddenly, Brady's cheeks redden. He stands abruptly and storms out of the classroom, saying, "Never mind! Forget I asked! Sorry!"

I really have no idea what's going on at all. I think my dream just left me more confused than not.