The Monster That Stole My Reflection

Chapter 10: The Reckless Club

Jim's POV

"Why don't you wait outside? Maybe he'll talk to me," Claire suggested. I could hear footsteps leave the restroom.

"Come on Jim. Why don't you tell him? This is pretty much a good enough situation to finally tell him what's really going on." Claire pleaded, she was right. But the pressure of it was just overwhelming.

"I can't," I replied, she let out a sigh.

"I can help you Jim, only if you'll accept that you're not a monster. You could never hurt us," Claire persisted.

"You really think so?" I questioned.

"I know so," she replied warmly.

"Ok, bring Tobes in." I hesitated. I need to do this, not just for Toby's sake but for mine as well. I could hear footsteps walking into the room.

"Tobes, we're best friends right?" I asked.

"Yes, of course Jimbo. I'll always be your best friend," Toby reassured me.

"I'm gonna come out but don't freak out, okay?" I took a deep breath and clicked the lock on the stall door to unlock. I slowly opened the door and closed my eyes, awaiting Toby's reaction.

"Woah! That is so awesomesauce!" Toby exclaimed, I opened my eyes at his reaction. He had a huge smile plastered on his face.

"You're not scared?" I questioned hesitantly.

"Scared?! Hardly!" Toby chuckled.

"See Jim, nothing to worry about." Claire warmly smiled as she held my hand and I smiled back.

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It's been a week since the incident in the restroom. I'm glad that Tobes is taking it well. I was stressed that he may freak out or overreact when I told him. I don't even know why I was so worried.

Over the past week I've been waking up all over the house. I didn't even remember getting up. I brushed this off as sleep walking and probably a side effect of the reverse potion. Plus my transformations have still been unpredictable. So I've had a few close calls but thanks to Toby and Claire I've been keeping it covert. But they also have been happening less frequently. Maybe whatever's happening is starting to calm down. I woke up on the couch this morning, the temporary bed being covered in papers that were just covered in scribbles. I didn't understand any of the possible words on them. I was probably exhausted from the long night I had. The gang and I went out on a mission to bring back some rogue gnomes. Said mission escalated quickly and we ended up being blamed for stealing Señor Uhl's beloved Jeep 'Susana'. I felt so drowsy but there was no time for me to sleep now because I had Saturday detention. I grouped together all the sheets of paper and tossed them in the recycling bin.

"It wasn't my fault or Toby's about the gnomes, but there was nothing we could do about it now," I thought to myself as I made a quick breakfast.

"I'm actually looking forward to going to detention just to have a normal day with Claire. Usually we're always in some kind of danger or on the brink of it," I thought as I finished up my breakfast and went upstairs to get dressed before it was time to leave.

"Jim, are you ready to leave?" Mum called out from downstairs. I quickly put on my jumper and grabbed my bag making my way downstairs. I had made sure I packed extra clothes and anything else that I might need to replace.

"Yep, I'm ready," I said with a smile.

"Why do you seem so keen to go to weekend detention?" she questioned.