Steven Harper - Nightmare

The party did produce one bit of good-it swallowed up Aunt Sil, Uncle Hazid, and his cousins. He hadn’t seen them all evening.

Ben’s blue-eyed gaze drifted over the crowd, most of whom were dressed in brown. Across the room, Kendi Weaver laughed at something. Ben stared at him uncertainly. He seemed so at ease in the crowd, completely sure of himself. And he was handsome, with his dark skin, tightly-curled black hair, and tall, lean build. Ben looked away quickly, but after a couple minutes found himself looking at Kendi again. He hadn’t actually met Kendi, had been actively avoiding him. Ben always avoided his mother’s one-on-one students. It was awkward all around. There was also a lingering feeling of jealousy that Ben couldn’t deny. Mom’s students were Silent. Her son was not. Which of the two, he found himself wondering, would end up having the closer relationship?

Kendi turned and caught Ben looking at him. Ben instantly glanced away, feeling unsettled and not knowing why. He sipped fruit punch from the glass on the floor beside him. What the heck was going on? Ben had never stared at someone like that before, certainly not another-

Someone plunked down on the floor next to him. Startled, Ben turned. It was Kendi. And Ben’s heart jumped into overdrive.

"Hi," Kendi said. "You’re Ben, right? Your mom is my teacher?"

"Uh, yeah. I guess," Ben stammered, and silently cursed himself. Why was he always so stupid when it came to talking with strangers? And why did this particular stranger make him blush like this?

"I’m Kendi Weaver." He held out a hand. Ben set down his glass and shook it. Kendi smiled. "Oh, that’s right. Mother Ara mentioned it, but I’d forgotten. You’re not Silent."

Mom talked about him to her students? Ben didn’t know how to feel about that. Annoyed, maybe?

"No," he said. "I’m not."

"What a relief," Kendi said, pumping Ben’s hand energetically. "All life, you have no idea what a relief it is."

Ben blinked. "Sorry?"

"Just about everyone at this party is Silent," Kendi explained, "and they’ve all been shaking my hand. I’ve been jolted so many times I feel like a lightning rod. It’s nice to shake hands with someone who isn’t going to zap me."

"Oh." Ben noticed his hand was still in Kendi’s, though they had stopped shaking. Their eyes met for an instant. Then Ben broke away and took his hand back. He swallowed hard, floundering for something to say. Kendi leaned back against the wall.

"So what’s it like growing up on Bellerophon?" he asked.

"I dunno," Ben said, and cursed himself again. But why did he care if Kendi got up and walked away?

Kendi laughed. "Yeah, stupid question. It’s not like you’d know what it’s like growing up anywhere else." He drained his glass. "You want some more to drink? I was going to get some."

"Uh, sure."

Kendi took their glasses and left. Ben watched him weave easily through the crowd, admiring the way he moved and realizing that he was looking forward to him coming back. What if he didn’t come back? Would that mean he didn’t like Ben? Would that mean he-

"Here you go." Kendi handed Ben a full glass and joined him back on the floor. "It’s a great party. Are you having fun?"

"No," Ben blurted. "I mean-it isn’t that-" He gave up. "No, not really."

"How come?"

"I don’t like parties very much." He gestured at the moving sea of humans and Ched-Balaar. "Too many people, you know?"

"You want to go for a walk, then? Maybe get away from the crowd? I wouldn’t mind either. It’s really annoying getting zapped all the time."

Ben’s instincts told him to say no. Kendi seemed loud, open, and forthright. Ben barely knew him. It would be easy enough just to refuse and things would stay the same. They would stay safe.

"Sure," he heard himself say. "Let’s go."

Kendi planted his elbows on the railing and stared off into the warm night. Ben stood beside him, leaning backward and holding the top of the rail with one hand to keep his balance. The party, loud with voices and music, lay several walkways behind them and they were at a wide space, a platform with benches and several potted plants. The scent of summer flowers lingered in the air. Insects chirped and night animals occasionally called. In the distance, Festival music played.

Ben decided it was a fine night after all. The conversation between him and Kendi had died down-or rather, Kendi had stopped talking-but Ben didn’t mind the silence. It was a comfortable silence. Usually Ben felt awkward unless the empty spaces were filled with equally empty words, but he could never think of anything to say. With Kendi, he didn’t feel like he needed to have anything to say. Ben had never felt that before with anyone, and he liked it.

Kendi pulled himself up on the rail and perched on it. Still leaning back, Ben switched hands with a small jerk. His hand ended up very close to Kendi’s, and he was filled with a sudden urge to touch Kendi’s arm, feel the smooth dark skin on his own. Confused, he switched hands one more time so he ended up a little farther away.

"Sitting on the rail will get you more work detail," he said.

Kendi shrugged. "If someone comes, I’ll jump down." He paused. "Have you ever thought of leaving Bellerophon?"

"Sometimes, yeah. You?"

"All the time. I need to find my family."

Ben snorted. "You can have mine."

"Don’t you like your mom? She’s pretty cool, even if she hands out work detail sometimes."

"I like my mom. It’s everyone else I can’t stand."

"What do you mean?"

And Ben found himself telling Kendi about the problems he had with his extended family. It was the most talking Ben had done all evening, perhaps in his entire life. Kendi listened without interrupting.

"Sounds like our families need to trade places," Kendi said when he had finished, and Ben smiled. Kendi stared at him, still perched on the rail.

"What?" Ben asked. A strange feeling fluttered around his stomach.

"I-no, it’s nothing." Kendi looked away.

"You what?" Ben persisted lightly, though he felt something heavier in the air. "What is it?"

"Uh oh." He jumped off the rail and the moment was broken. "Someone’s coming."

Ben turned. A figure was making its way toward them.

"Hey, Dorna," Kendi said when the figure got closer. "What’s up?"

"Just wondering where you two have gotten off too," Dorna said. Although the night was warm, she wore a short cloak with the hood pulled over her dark hair. "The party’s still going strong back there. A bunch of us are talking about going to see the fireworks."

"We’re just talking," Kendi said. "How’ve you been?"

"A little weird, actually." Dorna sat down on a bench near a potted blueflower bush. Ben abruptly wished she would go away and leave him alone with Kendi. "I’ve been having trouble sleeping lately."

"How come?" Kendi asked.

Go away , Ben thought.

"Nightmares." The word came out almost dreamily. "I have nightmares about people dying in the Dream."

"The Dream stalker?" Kendi said.

Dorna shrugged. "Maybe. Do you think it’s a premonition?"

"The Silent don’t get premonitions," Ben put in. "That’s not the way Silence works."

"I know that," Dorna said. "But don’t you believe that people can have dreams that come true whether they’re Silent or not?"

Ben shrugged.

"Who dies?" Kendi asked.

"I don’t know. I can never see her face. I just wake up scared it’s going to be me." She gave a little laugh. "Isn’t that stupid? The last murder was a year ago. The Dream stalker is probably long gone."

"It’s not stupid," Kendi said. "Maybe you should talk to a Parent about it."

"Maybe." Dorna gave herself a little shake. "Well, I’m going home. Maybe just telling you about the nightmares will make them go away."