9 Lives

Chapter 7, Roy Dougleman

I feel strange as if I have lost something, something important. A feeling of emptiness inside. It feels like someone or something is gone, or I'm forgetting something. My memory is foggy and I'm confused. I wonder why I feel this way. Fluffy is curled up on my chest, awake and observing me quietly. I poked her stomach a she meowed. I played with her for a while before I got out of bed.

My mother was downstairs. She handed me a plate of cookies. I love cookies! I kissed her on the cheek, which caused her to look at me in surprise. "What's wrong?" I asked. "Well, it's just that you would never give me a kiss, even though you're my daughter." She smiled. "This one's my first."

I stared at her. I've never kissed my mother? I knew something was off. I ate my cookies and went back to my room. I found my shirt on the floor, and when I opened the closet door to put it away, I was shocked!

My wardrobe was so dull, filled with clothes that not even my mother would wear! Adult-like clothes. There were no bright colors, only dull ones that grandmas would wear. "What the heck? Why would I wear these?" I whispered. I will ask my mom to get me new clothes then!

Nadia stopped me in the hallway to get a morning selfie. I made a super silly face with my tongue sticking out. She gasped. "What?" I asked. She cocked her head to the side. "Well, you're always so stiff and boring in pictures. You acted like an old person. I'm happy you changed for once." She blew me a kiss and headed downstairs.

I'm so confused! Jeez. Everything's off.

"Mommy, can I have some new clothes? My wardrobe is so ugly and gloomy!" She looked at me in surprise again. "Finally!" Nadia squealed. "I was waiting for the day you would ask that!" "Sure, but honey, you never call me mommy," my mom replied. "Are you feeling okay?" "Yes?" I said. "Now let's goooooo!" "CAN I HELP YOU PICK OUT SOME CLOTHES??? PLEASE?" Nadia yelled. "YES SIR!" I shouted back.

When we FINALLY got to the mall, I grabbed everything in sight, even a pink skirt with a matching pink top. My mom was just gaping at me the whole time and Nadia was laughing her butt off, no joke. She laughs at the dumbest things. I picked out more and more clothes, hoodies, T-shirts, skirts, dresses, pants, shorts, socks, even jewelry, socks, a soft pink fluffy phone case, a backpack charm thingy, and a dozen hair accessories. I picked out so many things that mom made me pick out only half of them to buy. I pouted. "Fine," I moaned, "BUT I GET TO BUY A PLUSHIE THEN!" My mom shook her head yes, her mouth still open, and I think Nadia trickled a drop or two(of pee).

I was kidding about the plushie, but my mom was still dumbfounded. Maybe I never used to joke around? I wonder why I was so stiff and boring when I'm not like that at all. What's wrong with me? Or what was wrong with me? Or am I just all wrong? I was lost in thought while my mom was paying for all the things I had chosen, which in total cost 112$! Wow, my mom is too kind.

"I need to go to work now it's urgent," mom sighed. "You girls can stay here for a while then your dad will pick you up, ok?" "Ok!" I said. Nadia just rolled her eyes. "You always have to go to work," she whined. "Can you please stay?" My mom shook her head no and blew us kisses. She rushed to the nearest exit, and we were left alone.

"I needa pee," Nadia whispered. "You made me laugh too hard!" "I did nothing," I pouted. "Fine, go pee, and take your time. I hope it comes out smoothly-" "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! ST-STOP MAKING ME LAUGH!" Then she ran to the nearest restroom. Is she okay? I doubt it. Everyone was staring at her running to the restroom like her life depended on it. It was too funny to watch. I stood waiting for her to come back to the same spot I was standing.

I looked around and saw a boy about my age, tall, with brown curly hair, mysterious hazel eyes, and a lethal look on his face staring at me. The boy behind him looked just the same, I think they're twins. The only difference was that one of them had a hateful expression on his face while he looked at me, as if he wanted to crush me. The other one was looking at me lovingly. I felt like I had met them before, but I couldn't put my finger on it. For some reason, I hated them at the first glance. I felt as if they had wronged me in some way. My heart was filled with hate and rage. What had they ever done to me? Do I even know them? I'm pretty sure I'd never seen them until now, but I still felt like I knew them. The next thing I knew, they were right in front of me.

The one who was looking at me lovingly spoke. "My name is Roy, Roy Dougleman." Roy Dougleman. Where have I heard that name before, and why did it make me hate him more? I simply faked a smile, hoping that they wouldn't see through it. "That's Rorand." I felt the same way about that name. "I- I shouldn't talk to strangers," "Pardon me, but I'm no stranger," said Roy. What the hell? I knew I knew him but didn't know him. "I need to leave, bye," I muttered. I walked in the other direction.

When I looked over my shoulder, they were wearing the same expressions on their faces as they were before.

I bumped into Nadia "Ah, there you are! Dad's almost here, let's make the most of it before he arrives!" "Okay," I replied. Wherever we went, I paid no attention. All I could think of was Roy and Rorand Dougleman.

My dad arrived to pick us up. "Hurry it up girls, I need to go back to work after this," he said. "Okay" I said, and Nadia rolled her eyes. "Can we go to Mcdonalds for lunch real quick? Just through the drive through, "I asked. Nadia and dad looked at me with surprised expressions on their faces. " I thought you hated Mcdonalds," said dad. Who hates Mcdonalds? I'm so confused! "Haha, just kidding" I stated quickly. "Well, I'm glad you joke around now," he said. "Yeah" Nadia agreed.

What's wrong? What happened? Why is everything so off? Why do I feel like I lost a part of myself? Why do I feel so empty? Why is everyone questioning me? Since when did I act like they thought I did? Why am I so filled with questions? My head hurts from overthinking!

When we got home, I went through pictures of myself while eating a chicken sandwich in my room. I looked so, so, so serious! I looked like an adult stuck in a child's body. I wonder why? I finished my sandwich and gave Fluffy a squeeze. At least she didn't question me. Well, maybe that's because she's a cat.

I tossed and turned in the night, trying to sleep, but I can't sleep with so many things on my mind. I am so confused.