Timeless Read Online Free

somehow too personal even for
him. It was the most frightening dream I’d ever had, waking or
sleeping, and I couldn’t discuss it with him. Understandably, he’d
be upset that I’d dreamed about another guy, even if it was a
knight from long ago.
    For the second time that day, I felt
overwhelming guilt. Ben and I had no secrets.
    I tried laughing it off to ease the
tension.
    “I’ve just been watching too many horror
flicks,” I said, forcing a note of lightness in my voice.
    Ben looked at me strangely. He knew I hated
horror movies.
    “Okay…Are you ready?” he asked, sensing my
unwillingness to say more and not wanting to push me.
    I was grateful he’d let it go.
    We met Zack and Annie a short time later at
the movie theater near the mall. Three movies were playing, and two
of them were horror films.
    “It looks like it will have to be Bride’s
Night Out,” Ben said, a teasing tone in his voice.
    “Why’s that?” Zack asked, disappointed.
    “Emily can’t watch anything scary—she’s begun
having dreams of zombies and werewolves,” he said, trying out his
best vampire impression by going for my neck.
    “Cut it out, Ben,” I said, pushing him away.
I didn’t want to be reminded of the dream I’d had this afternoon,
and I couldn’t even joke about it.
    “But that’s a chick flick,” Zack complained,
“and besides, I wanted to see The Undead Night, Part Three. In the
first two movies…” Zack began.
    Annie interrupted, rolling her eyes.
    “Save it, Zack,” she said, “Nobody wants to
hear about the sequel to Night of the Whatever.”
    I shot her a grateful look. I knew she wanted
to see the movie about weddings anyway. Ben didn’t care either way.
Lately, he liked for us to sit in the back and make out. Tonight,
though, it felt wrong somehow, and when he tried kissing me five
minutes into the first preview, I shook my head, nodding in the
direction of Zack and Annie.
    Ben looked strangely at me, as if to ask what
was wrong. But I avoided his gaze.
    I couldn’t pay all that much attention to the
rest of the movie, the dream still uppermost in my mind.
    Afterwards, we decided to get some ice-cream
and ordered a large banana split with four spoons. But I was still
distracted, picking apart the napkin in my lap.
    “Hell-o,” Annie said, waving her hands in
front of me.
    “Don’t mind her, Annie,” Ben answered. “She’s
been out of it since I picked her up.”
    Ben shook his head in mock reproof but
squeezed my leg nonetheless.
    “Sorry,” I mumbled, still staring at my lap.
I tried to focus on the conversation…something about Will Adams
getting caught cheating in history class. But I couldn’t
concentrate. I was too absorbed in another world, another time.
    “What do you think, Em?” Annie asked.
    “What?” I said, startled. I realized I needed
to pay more attention to the conversation, but I couldn’t seem to
focus.
    I tried to listen without really knowing what
we were talking about anymore.
    Someone was asking me a question again.
    “Nope, sorry, didn’t hear that one,” I
answered lamely.
    Zack and Annie looked from me to Ben.
    “Aren’t you going to eat any of this?” Zack
asked me through a mouthful of bananas.
    “No, I’m not really hungry,” I replied,
finally putting down my spoon.
    “Okay, what’s going on?” Annie asked,
breaking through my malaise.
    I knew I’d have to tell them something. But
what?
    I paused for a moment before answering. They
were my friends, right? They’d understand, wouldn’t they? Maybe we
could all laugh about it.
    “I had this dream…” I began, staring at the
ruined bits of napkin in my lap.
    “Yeah, what about?” Zack asked, attacking the
ice cream with a vengeance.
    I looked at Ben and then looked down
again.
    “Nothing, really,” I said, not wanting to
continue. It was just a stupid dream, right?
    I needed to change the subject.
    “Who’s going on the spring break trip?” I
asked suddenly.
    “The one Mr. Dean