Above the Clouds

Same, Yet Different Assignment (pt.1)

Clouds~

"Theo, head to the front office the principal awaits you. Theo, front office" boop. The intercom spoke in an annoying 30-year-old lady tone. "Ugh." Theo placed his phone on the nightstand beside his bed and stretched. Everyone was being called one by one to pick up their books and receive their basic information about the person that will share the same book. It didn't come as a surprise to him, but his door flew open.

"Simpson, come on! Get up, isn't this exciting?! They're actually giving us girls now! My chic's hot." Alex, his obnoxious best friend blurted as he walked into the room without permission after also shooting the door open. "I could have been naked!"

"Yeah, yeah that's what you say all the time and you never are." Theo sat up glaring at him in slight annoyance. "Fine, what?"

"She's literally hot man, look!" He shoved his envelope in the tired boy's face for him to take in his hands and open it, he did. She had long black hair and marble black eyes that were slender type, it was only a head shot so her figure wasn't visible. "She's pretty." Theo said, uninterested and gave his friend the envelope back. "Now leave, so I can put on a shirt." Alex left and Theo proceeded to picked a random shirt from his drawer.

While walking in the hall he bumped into an old lady, which was an instant regret because she smelled of a hospital and cough medicine. "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry darling," she touched his young pale shoulder with a soft pat. "I-it's ok..." The boy said awkwardly, lowering his shoulders from her touch. There are people of many different ages there for others out in the world that are obviously other ages, who all have different hallways.

Finally, he walked into the principal's office and knocked on the door. "Come in" The man said from the other side of the door. "Hello... I apologize for being a little late." He nodded as reassurance while Theo sat in front of him in hint of his gesture. "Sir?" Theo started the conversation. Normally everyone would just grab and go, but a worry grew to his attention as he thought about why he had to sit. "This year, you will be given two books."

"Why?"

"Because... you must create a guidebook of love." The principal's state was intense and serious.

"What?" he looked at him, as confused as he sounded. He's heard of the word, but what does love even mean? And why do I need to keep up with two books? He thought to himself.
"Your father invented this system. He said when you were of age, you would be given the most difficult task of your life where everyone depends on you." The principal spoke of a serious tone.

"Wait what?!" Theo's eyes slowly started to widen.

"I'm kidding, kid. Only I'm serious." The principal was enjoying getting the students hopes up.

"HUH??"

He chuckled lowly as if anything he was saying was a joke. Not knowing why everyone would be depending on him, he tried to make sense of the little information he had. But if this chuckling old man wouldn't tell him why, He knew he'd be forced to find out himself. "As you know, we are spirits that live to operate in an organization of feelings. Many get their hearts broken after they think they were in love, so, you will create a guide book also defining the true meaning of love. You are a Simpson after all... it's your turn. And no, people do not just pick it up and read it and follow all the rules or whatever, the book is special, so it changes the whole meaning of love and the way it is told."

"Uhhh?!" This just confused the boy more.

He sighed. "There are 4 guide books. Love, Hate, Passion, and Comfort. Each 100 years, four are born to experience these segments with the person sharing their book, and they are supposed to write down the ideal definition or experience, signs of the sort and etc. of their segment."

"Uh- I have a question?" Theo said nervously, worried that the answer would just make him more confused.

"Yes?"

"What happens if we don't have the right information, or if it doesn't help and it's wrong?" He hoped the answer would be a bit less pressuring, since, he is only 16.

"If you've failed, that's another 100 years of suffering."

"O-oh."

"Here you go. Natalie, please call James Michel to my office." He handed Theo the books and envelope while shooing him out of his office. So many questions swarmed the boys mind like a hive of bees. He also found it quite strange that his last name was mentioned. As if it had something to do with this assignment... maybe it does? But why me? Suffering from what? Why exactly would my experience of 'love' be the ideal love? What even is love? What would happen if we were successful with all of the- his thoughts escaped him when they were interrupted by a bubbly teenage girl.

"Hey loser" Lilac teased, as she walked up to Theo and snatched the envelope that used to be in his hand. "Lilac. I'm not sure you're supposed to be looking at that," he said, holding out his hand for the envelope she stole from his grasp, which clearly wasn't tight enough because she was able to steal it. "What? Are you special or something?"

"N-no what makes you think that??"

"Hey, now that I think about it, you have two books..." she tilted her head, inching closer to the now nervous boy, scanning through reasonable lies. "It's just my history book!" He snatched the envelope from her and ran to his room. Sure, she was onto him and she would definitely find out soon what he was hiding, but Mr. Marrs never specified if it was supposed to be a secret or not. Better safe than sorry, he thought. The door made a loud noise after being slammed against the door frame. Theo walked over to his unmade-up bed and plopped down face first.

Theo thought about how he didn't open the envelope yet. It was just as a regular envelope he would get every year for a new book and person to assist. It's like it's the same, yet a different assignment.

Later in the day, he walked in the cafeteria, met by an unpleasant number of eyes. Everyone was looking at him so weirdly, making him almost consider taking his lunch tray to his messy room and eat it there. Finally, He sat at his usual lunch table. "Hey guys! Do you know why everyone is looking at me so weirdly?" He asked, sitting next to Conner, who had given him a surprised expression. "What?" The boy grew worried. "Dude! You're like, red." He poked Theo's arm.

"Um... my face?" Theo asked.

"No, like... your everything." Lilac chimed in, also looking at Theo glowing red boy with a wide-eyed expression. "Here," she handed him her phone that was set to the camera app. He looked at his reflection. He was sure his face had just had a huge pimple, or he'd gotten hit and had a slap mark on his face... or at least he hoped. His reflection showed red outlines along his body and a light tint of red was flourished among his skin which was once pale. His hair was a darker red. I look like a neon light, he thought. Yes, they all look like neon lights, but he was once a white neon light as everyone else, not a red one.

Was this because of the book? If we're supposed to keep this a secret, the side effects are pretty bad at hiding it. His head started to spin. With that, he handed Lilac her phone and decided he would visit Mr. Marrs again after lunch. "Woah." A sigh escaped his lips.