Daniel

Black Out

We walked side by side into the school, following the flow of bustling high schoolers and yawning teachers with cups of coffee. The bulk of us entered the cafetorium, where breakfast was being served. State law required every student to have the option of a good and healthy breakfast. Today it was brownies. My school understood the breakfast part, not so much the health requirements.

I sat down in a small red chair, stretching my long legs out in front of me and onto another chair. Nicholas sat at my side, immediately pulling his notebook out of his bag and opening it to the middle. I leaned over, eyes widening "Wow man, That's really good."

He snorted, "Why do you sound so surprised Daniel?" I shrugged and leaned back, closing my eyes and turning up the Bobaflex, the music playing from my phone. It wasn't long before the bell rang and people streamed out of the two sets of double doors. I pulled out my headphones, stuffing them into my pocket, sunlight was now streaming in through the windows high above, giving me a headache.

I rubbed my temples and shook my head, trying to clear it. "You okay?" Nicholas swung his bookbag over his shoulder and looked at me with concern. "You're not going to have an episode are you?"

I shook my head, "it's just a headache, I'll be fine."

"Good," he replied, starting forward "Cause you have Algebra two first period and there's a test today."

I groaned and swung my own bookbag over my shoulder, following him to where we parted ways at my locker. I put my head against the cold metal of the locker for a moment, letting the frigidity block everything else out. Then the second bell rang, telling me I had three minutes before the tardy bell. I cursed and quckly opened my locker, grabbing my books and rushing to mrs. wastos and making it just in time. Then I suffered through one of her infamous Friday tests.

Next was AP history with Mrs. Fay. Nicholas was in this class with me and we both sat in the back. I pretended to listen while watching the clock. the week was almost over and then I could sleep, sleep, sleep. Again the bell rang and I couldn't remember what we had went over at all. It didn't matter.

Third period was Spanish three and I noticed Monica was missing. Monica never missed. I mean never. We'd been in elementary and middle school together and she never missed a day. But now she was gone. I had a very bad feeling.

By lunch my hairline was coated in sweat and my head pounded with voices. I couldn't hear myself think. I sat beside Nicholas who was obliviously drawing. My limbs quivered and my hands shook. The signs were obvious and finally Nicholas looked up, his eyes widening. "Shit man, we have to get you home. C'mon," he shut the book with a snap that made me flinch and put a hand under my arm. He pulled me up easily and began dragging me across the hard floor. I shuffled my feet, trying to stop stares.

My legs buckled and Nicholas grunted, pulling me to the office where he pursuaded the attendant to let us leave. She knew we were both good kids and could see I was sick. She patted Nicholas' arm and told him to take care of me. He nooded and headed outside, toward my car. My teeth chattered as he threw me in and he got into the drivers side. "You don't have a liscence," I said between my teeth. He shrugged and and removed my keys from my pocket.

He started the car and my body thrashed, blood flooded my mouth as I bit my tongue "Hold on Dan," he muttered. My eyes rolled back in my head and a groan escaped my lips as I passed into the realm of spirits as I call it.