Poet Anderson ...Of Nightmares by Tom DeLonge Page B

he couldn’t place. He waited for a break in traffic and then jogged across the street to meet his friends.
    â€œThis is so good,” Gunner said, picking up another stick of what didn’t look like chicken. “Poet, you’ve gotta—”
    A girl zigzagged between them on the sidewalk, holding up her shopping bags as she murmured an annoyed, “Excuse me.” She was walking quickly, and Sketch snorted and continued to block the walkway so that other people had to go around. But Poet straightened, watching after the girl, sure that he recognized her.
    â€œSketch, I’ll be—” But Poet was already moving, jogging to catch up with the girl. From behind him he heard Sketch laugh, and Poet turned to wave at him, but Sketch was gone. He and Gunner had already crossed the street and were talking to a group of girls with blue hair.
    Poet turned back, completely caught up in the idea of recognizing someone, especially in the Dream World. Especially her.
    The girl must have sensed him because she glanced over her shoulder at Poet, a flash of fire in her green eyes before she turned and continued down the street.
    It was Samantha Birnam-Wood.
    Poet smiled and darted after her.
    â€œHey,” he said, catching up to walk backwards at her side. She didn’t acknowledge him, and Poet stepped in front of her, holding up his hands apologetically. Samantha staggered to a stop, her shopping bags banging against her legs. “I know you,” Poet said.
    Samantha widened her eyes. “Good for you, dude,” she said, and stepped around him to continue down the busy sidewalk. Poet laughed, thrilled at recognizing somebody, especially since it was the hot girl from his English class.
    â€œWait up,” he said, falling into step next to her. He looked down at the bags. “So is that why you come here?” he asked. “To shop?”
    She glanced at him, and then down at her bags, almost surprised to see them in her hands. She furrowed her brow. “I’ve never been here before, but yeah,” she said. “I guess.”
    Poet was sure she didn’t recognize him, and honestly, he was glad. He could be whoever he wanted here. “Do you mind if I walk with you for a bit?” he asked her.
    Samantha shrugged like she didn’t care, and then she started walking again, slowing her pace so he could join her. Her bags swung at her side as she and Poet turned down one of the streets where small shops were crammed in-between sky-high buildings. The storefronts looked old, and some had small creatures hanging in the front windows—spiked, scaly monsters the likes Poet had never seen before. Another store had floating discs for sale, small children gathered around them as if they were toys. Samantha didn’t seem to care about shopping, though, her agenda forgotten now that Poet was with her.
    â€œYou know I wasn’t even sure this place existed until now,” Poet told her. Samantha looked over at him curiously, but Poet kept talking, afraid the silence would make her remember she was completely out of his league—even in the Dream World.
    â€œAnd I still can’t believe you’re here,” he added. “I just hope neither of us ends up somewhere else. Don’t you hate that?” he asked. “When you’re in the middle of a really cool dream and a new one just takes over?”
    â€œI guess,” Samantha said, smiling.
    â€œI’m Poet, by the way,” he told her. “Poet Anderson.”
    â€œSamantha,” she replied.
    More stars began to twinkle above them the further they got from the telescreens, and the moons shone brightly, casting them in soft light. The street crowd thinned, and soon, Poet and Samantha found themselves all alone on the street.
    â€œWow,” Samantha said, looking up at the sky. “It’s so pretty tonight, isn’t it?”
    Poet watched her, so taken that he didn’t