The book of scraps

Chapter 3: The Title

Andy ran back into the house with the book hidden between his board and body. He quickly tossed off his shoes and ran for the stairs. Claire, Andy's mom, peaked around the corner and called out to Andy making him stop just before he went up.

"Oh? That was fast... was something wrong with the skateboard?"

"Huh? Oh.... N-no.... Just thought I should finish my homework first... you know..?" Replied Andy hesitantly.

"Your homework?" Claire's face frowned suspiciously.

"Yup... my homework..." Andy laughs nervously while backing up the stairs.

"Andy what are you really-?"

"No time, gotta go now!" Yelled Andy as he ran up the stairs.

"Andy!" Yelled Claire. A smile snuck around her face as she continued to clean.

Andy and I quickly went up the stairs. He quickly ran past another pair of steps, but I stared up at the door at the top of them. As if, something was calling me up there. There was the sound of Andy slamming the door and I was teleported into his room.

"I'm never going to get used to that...." I said as I regained my balance.

Andy placed his skateboard against his desk and as he placed the book down in front of him, the necklace that his grandpa gave him fell out. He carefully picked it up and stared at it for a minute then placed it down next to the book. I hovered around him as he carefully opened the book with his right sleeve. Very slowly at that.

"Oh common, just open the book already!" I shouted as if he could hear me. He jumped up, letting go of the book.

"Scraps?!" He questioned while looking around him frantically.

"He heard me?" I thought in surprise.

Andy swerved back at the book and flung it open with his eyes closed, expecting for something to happen. When nothing happened afterwards, he peeked at the book.

"Huh? It's empty?" I spoke with surprise. Andy jumped out the chair suddenly, knocking things down as he backed away with eyes wide open.

"...Scraps?" He whispered suspiciously.

"Wait, you can hear me, can't you?!" I spoke happily, " hey can you see me too?!" I asked as I walked towards him.

" ah... No... I mean I can hear you but I can't actually see you..." he spoke as he scan around the room. " Are you in the book or....?"

" I'm actually standing in front of you.." I said as I crossed my arms.

"Andy, is everything okay up there? I heard a noise?!" Shouted Claire.

"Oh shoot, mom!" Andy whispered. He quickly closed the book then leaped onto his bed to stuff the book under his pillow.

"Andy! The stuff on the floor!" I tried to warn him, but suddenly he was unresponsive to me. "Tsk! Andy!"

"Andy?" Claire opens the door, " what are you doing up here?" She asked.

"N-nothing." Replied Andy as he laid on his bed with his head resting on his left hand.

Clair looked down and pointed out the mess on the floor. "Nothing, huh?"

"Oh that... m-my skateboard knocked some stuff over..."

Me and Claire just stared at him. I then facepalm my face from his comment. Mainly because his skateboard was on the other side of the room. Claire looks at the skateboard and the mess with concern.

"Sure it did..." she replied suspiciously. "Anyway, it's getting late so get ready for bed."

"Alright." Answered Andy as he sat up in bed."Let me just take a bath first."

"Okay, night sweetie." Said Claire.

"Night, mom" replied Andy and for some reason my chest hurt.

As soon as the door shuts, Andy grabs the book from under his pillow and jumps off the bed. Then he carefully opened the book.

"Scraps, are you still there?" He asked in a whisper.

"Yeah, I'm still here. Is there anything in the book that could help me out?" I questioned him as I
peeked at the book again.

"Hmmm..." Andy flipped through the pages of the book but it was only filled with scraps of paper. ".... There's only one page that says 'title' on it."

"Oh that red spot must be from when you cut yourself with your grandpa's gift." I pointed out.

"How do you know about that?"

"Well, I'm not the book if that's what you're thinking.... It's more like a ghost attached to something." I explained. "Plus didn't the gift fall out of it?"

" yeah it did, I thought grandpa was going to take it back to fix it..."

".... Let's try giving the book a title?" I suggested.

"I don't know..."

"Oh common, it's not like you're the one trapped in a book! Plus didn't your grandpa say to give it a title anyway?"

"Right." Replied Andy nervously. "Wait, how do you know about that?"

"Uh like I said I'm attached to the book, I go wherever it goes."

"I see..." He stared at me before picking up a pen on his desk. There was nothing but silence as he thought for a second about a title then he scribbled a few words in the book.

"Huh... how ironic.... I like it." I smiled. In the book there were only simple words but I personally like the title.

"Really? I didn't put much thought into it though.... And it seems the book doesn't like it."

"True. Let's try again tomorrow."

"Yeah calling it 'the book of scraps' was probably lame anyway...." Andy got up and headed out the room. "Anyway I gotta get ready for bed, I'll be back."

"Sure, I'm not going anywhere anyway, so don't worry." I replied sarcastically.

That night, I sat at the foot of Andy's bed. He slept soundly without a care in the world but it was harder for me to sleep.

"Besides the fact that I'm stuck in a book..." I muttered as I flopped down on the bed. At some point my eyes closed, sending me into a slumber. . " I have no clue who I am."

That morning, I was shaken awake.

"Wha-? What's happening?" I said in confusion.

"Scraps! It worked! You're human again!"

"I'm normal-"

"Andy, wake up!" Shouted Claire.

"It's mom! Quick, hide!" He spoke

Claire opened the bedroom door and saw that Andy was in the midst of getting dressed.

" oh, you're already up."

"Yeah... I wanted to test out my skateboard early today..." Andy lied. Claire then glanced over at the blanket that was balled up.

"Andy, what did I tell you about making your bed when you wake up?" She scolded as she walked towards the bed. But Andy blocked her quickly.

"Mom, I'm old enough to make my own bed!" He exclaimed while pushing her back out. "I'll be down in a bit, I promise!" Then he closes the door behind Claire.

"Well alright, I gotta go to the store today so behave yourself!" Claire spoke through the door, "and that bed better be made before I get back!" and with that she left.

Andy took a big sigh of relief and I came out from under the covers.

"Did she notice anything?" I asked.

"I don't think so..." he replied as both our eyes gravitate towards the book that was still on his desk. Andy walked over to the book, then with widened eyes, picked it up.

"No way...." He muttered. "It really took the title the first try!" He quickly turned the book towards me, showing the words in gold. "The Book of Scraps."

"Does that mean I'm free from the book now?" I asked.

"I don't know..." replied Andy. Suddenly the book opened and a bright light shone from the book.