Different.

So, maybe you remember the dream I used to have when I was stressed out. I'm sorta having it again because well, I'm stressed out. Anyway, it's different now, because the person that used to be in it doesn't calm me anymore. Actually, his very presence puts me on edge and makes me what to murder someone.
Anyway. This is how it went.

I was lying in the grass again. It was shorter this time, but still soft, cold. I was running my hand over the grass per usual, but the hand that should have been at my other side was resting on my stomach rather than under the other person's hand. My hand rose with the inhale of my breath and I was focused more on that than the person lying next to me, as though I wished it weren't him.
I only knew someone was next to me because I could feel their body heat radiating, touching bare skin on my arms. I was smiling faintly, as though the person had been telling me a joke. Maybe they had been.
A blade of grass slipped into the palm of my hand and I jerked my hand toward my body, sticking the pad of my thumb between my lips, metallic blood filling my mouth.
"What's wrong?" the voice was male, mumbled, and careless.
"Nothing, I'm fine," I said once I'd removed my hand.
"Whatever."
"Just talk, Alec."
"Okay. About what?"
"Sam. Josh. Your girlfriend. I don't care. Just talk."
I watched a grey cloud cover the crescent moon. I placed my bleeding hand over the my other one and closed my eyes, listening to the sounds of a river I'd heard a million times in my dreams. Crickets chirped and some where far off and owl hooted. Alec began talking, his stuttering, mumbling voice filling the night air, comforting for once. Comfort I hadn't found in any one's voice for a long time. I ignored the confusion swimming through my mind and focused on his voice, smiling when he slipped up and repeated a syllable or word. Mostly he talked about Josh and Sam.
"Alec?"
"Wh-What?"
"What's it like to be high?"
He tried to explain it but his tongue seemed to get in the way and he couldn't really talk. I couldn't figure out what he was saying. I doubt it would have been beautiful anyway.
My hand began throbbing while he talked and I couldn't take the pain. When he'd finished I stood and ran to the river. I noticed for the first time that I was barefoot, my toes aware of every piece of grass and every rock in the field. Sticking my hand in the water, I realized how cold I was and convulsions overtook my body. Alec was standing behind me, his face shining in the running water, pale as the moon, his hair falling over the image like the cloud I'd seen. I closed my eyes again. The ground around me shook, and beeping sounded. A storm was here and my alarm clock was waking me up.