Overlap

Chapter 92: Tolerance Protocol

<11/20/2012 - 13:00 | Cage High School (Web Design), Austell, GA, USA>

I had a strange enough day after slipping into another one of my montrums. The skies today were darkened by storm clouds of rain which refused to release their fluffy tanks, leaving us dry with a beautiful bloom. Most who see this rainy weather refer to it as a sad day or bad weather, but I'm instead captivated by its beauty.

It's hard to explain why. Whenever the sky gets like this, creating a perfect blue hue of bloom over everything below, it reminds me of another world I'm sure I've been to before. Of course, I know it makes no sense. I've only ever known this world on Earth, and also Karnak, indirectly. Maybe it was from one of my dreams or fantasies, but I'm certain there is a strong connection between a moment like this and some other part of the world we normally can't see. The weather creates an amazing lighting effect which is a natural constant to that other world, though only part of the puzzle. This is why I easily slip into the montrum every time we have rainy weather, without the rain. It all feels familiar somehow, like I'm looking into a crack beyond our known existence.

That's pretty much been my mindset all day long, as I've spent most of the day bored and without Lumina. The temperature outside was hanging around right at 65oF, (59oN). So, I've been on my own this time, letting my overactive thoughts take over as a means of passive entertainment. Even so, I thought today was strange already. What I would learn later in Web Design would only add to the oddity of my moments.

The class itself was boring, basic and static to my taste, since all we did was learn Html code on the most basic principle. There was one upside though, my seating arrangement right next to Zero. Even in this class, she and I didn't talk too often, but we still made casual effort during moments of free time, easily obtained with the low difficulty of the course. She and I would recently get into random memes or something funny that happened on some show.

That was all normal for me, until today, when she took her time glancing to and away from me before asking me something that was obviously serious for her. "Hey Reed? Is it okay if I get your advice on something?"

"Sure. I'm all ears." Anyone coming to me for advice was something I was already used to. Most of the school doesn't know me, so it doesn't happen too often. I am however aware of my own growing wisdom, at least in certain aspects of life. I see and understand things about people that everybody else is so quick to overlook. I don't catch everything every time, but I've more often been able to draw out courses of better action this way, whether the advice be about romance or something technical.

Zero hesitated for a second, bumping both of her index fingers together while facing me in the wheeled-chair each student had. "Remember that time when you dated Malica Moringstar?"

That's a blast from the past, but sure. I can't understand why she would want to bring that up though. It turned out Malica was in this high school too, though I was never put in any classes near or around her. "I remember." Come to think of it, everything that I can remember, at least after the moment the purge started - resonated with me so strongly. Any memory before the purge was faded and vague. I can't help but wonder if that was Lumina's doing.

"You see, the thing is..." Zero struggled just to spit it out, making me wonder what could be so embarrassing to say to anybody in the first place. "I don't know what to do with her anymore. We've been going out for four months now, but I don't know if things are going to work out."

Zero didn't really give me time to be shocked and confused at her statement. I mean, her and Malica, both girls dating each other like that? Suddenly, there was too much to think about at once. I hid my reaction from her as best as I could, but I never knew she swung that way... Come to think of it, this means Malica swings both ways too!