Dreams Don't Count Read Free Page A

bored. It was a pretty sad
state of affairs when even my dreams bored me. That was usually
what school was for.
     
    Tyler was lying on the bed, off in his own little
world I assumed. It was going to be up to me to reinitiate contact,
if only I knew how. I supposed I could just say I forgave him or
something, but it seemed such an unnatural thing to say to my
brother. I needed a less direct approach.
     
    "You know, in some ways, it really wasn't all bad," I
said. Tyler looked at me warily. "I mean, that back rub was pretty
nice."
     
    "You always did like those," he said.
     
    "Mm-hm. And really, like, everything else wasn't a
big deal, right?"
     
    "Could have been a lot worse," he agreed. "Does this
mean you're not mad at me?"
     
    "Something like that. Less mad anyway." I approached
him and sat down cross-legged on a corner of the bed that wasn't
too close to where he lay. "Mostly I'm bored."
     
    "Ah, of course."
     
    "Seriously, you wanna just forget about it? Pretend
it never happened?"
     
    "Yeah maybe that's best." He sat up and stretched.
"It'll be tricky though, your boobs felt amazing."
     
    I glared at him out of principle, but I knew he was
only teasing. Just trying to get a rise out of me.
     
    "Damn straight they're amazing," I said, instead of
getting angry again. I thrust my chest out a little more. "You're
lucky I let you touch them at all."
     
    He shook his head and looked away. "Careful, you'll
tempt me into doing something stupid again."
     
    "What makes you think I'd let you?"
     
    For a moment I almost thought Tyler was going to try
something, just to prove he could. I was oddly disappointed when he
didn't.
     
    "I told you already, I am legitimately stronger than
you," he said. "You know that as well as I do."
     
    "Maybe you are, but I'm totally smarter and more
agile, so suck it."
     
    Now I was baiting him, pure and simple. Not for the
first time I wondered what the hell was wrong with me.
     
    "I'm not playing this game with you," he said. "It's
not going to end well."
     
    "Chicken."
     
    "Cut it out." He held up a menacing finger, which
only encouraged me.
     
    "Bawk bawk. What ya gonna do, chiiiicken."
     
    Tyler lunged at me, which I had fully been
anticipating and was therefore one step ahead of him. I was already
off the bed and dancing away before he came anywhere near me.
     
    "Cut it out!" he repeated.
     
    "Or what? You gonna whine some more?"
     
    I dodged his next attempt to grab me and stuck my
tongue out while continuing to dance away. He'd probably succeed in
taking me down at some point, but until then I had every intention
of taunting him mercilessly. I knew it was stupid, and I knew my
reasons for getting him to chase me were stupider still, but I
couldn't help myself.
     
    Tyler soon calmed down enough to realize he needed to
play smarter, years of living with me had taught him a few things,
even if he still hadn't learned all my tricks. Instead of wild
lunges, he switched to stalking me around the room and waiting for
an opening. It caused me to gradually let my guard down since he
wasn't coming after me with as much intensity.
     
    I saw it coming too late when he reached out and
grabbed my wrist. I managed to twist away from him and start to get
away, but his other arm went around my waist and tugged me entirely
the wrong way, causing me to fall. The floor came up at my face far
too quickly for my liking.
     
    Then I woke up. I was breathing heavily, almost like
I had actually just been running around instead of sleeping safely
in my bed. I swore under my breath and rolled over onto my other
side, trying to go right back to sleep but knowing it wouldn't
happen.
     
    Much as I didn't want to admit it, I'd been hoping
Tyler would tackle me to the floor and pin me down again. He might
have done it too, if I hadn't been jolted awake. Fucking dreams
were messing with me more and more all the time.
     
    ****
     
    It seemed every time Tyler and I saw each other the
next day we