A Total Nightmare

Chap. 2

The next day. My mom makes sure I get a special 'TᗯO ᕼOᑌᖇ ᗪᗴᒪᗩY' so I can recuperate some, before I go back to school. And yet again. I forget my meds. Oh. Well. Nothing can go wrong today. And I'll make sure of it..… I walk with Matt to school as usual. But this time we keep it minimal. Not that he doesn't want to upset me. He won't. Can't. He's my boyfriend. But... We don't really have much to talk about. It's Tuesday. So I'm glad. Because Tuesdays mean something random and fun will happen. Usually prank day. But who knows? We make it to school on record time. But to my surprise, Shiro is waiting at the entrance. We walk up the steps. He avoids my gaze for a moment. His hands in his pockets. "Listen... Jamie... I'm-" I hold up my hand and stop walking. Matthew knows it's his cue to give us some time alone, so he goes ahead and walks inside. "No- Shiro-" but he stops me too, and I can't help but give a slight chuckle. "Jamie…. listen. Please. I I'm sorry and I want to make it up to you. I know you take meds for you're... Anxiety and ADD. So... I got you this. I figured you'd probably lost your pills so... I got you some more. But these are special. They help you not black out. And keep you from having a panic attack." He smiles mischievously, but also kindly. I'm happy he is back to his old self. He takes out a curious looking pill bottle that has the Hirugoto symbol on it and hands it to me. I study it. He laughs. And for a moment I think I hear a hint of malice in it. But then I think again and I don't hear it. "It's nothing bad. You know you can trust me." I sigh and put it in my pocket. "So... I'm guessing that your father made this?" "You... Could say that." He says as rubs the back of his neck. "Ok. Uh... Thanks. And don't worry about yesterday. It's now in the past. Ok?" "Ok." He says with a curt nod. "So.... Uh... Thanks for the pills. And you were right about me losing my original ones. I have a tendency to lose things a lot. And. That includes those. So... Yea. Hehe. But thanks. Again." He smiles. But it's almost as if he may be.... No. Never mind. He couldn't of. At least I hope not. "Hey. Don't mention it. Your my best friend. So?  Best friends do things for each other." We start to walk inside. "So. We're friends again? Even after...." "Of course. I forgive you and you forgive me. All is in the past. It's what we should do, right?" He asks calmly. I nod. "Right." We then go quiet for a long while as we walk down the hall. I go to my locker and he goes to his. After we get our books, we meet up with Matt in first period. "It seems like you two made up, I'm guessing." Matt says as he senses the calmness between me and Shiro. "Yea. I guess you could say that. We're back to being best friends again. " "great! Because I'm serious. I was getting worried. I mean. Me and Shiro are still best friends but you and Shiro. Having a.... Mutual disagreement..." "Hey. It's ok. Man. We finally forgave each other." Shiro answers for me. After that we stay focused. The day passes rather fast. But maybe just because it's a good day. During lunch, I had took a pill of what Shiro gave me. It helped. A lot. And I'm glad.  After lunch is the fun part of the day. Random Tuesday. All the students head to the gym for the announcement of what crazy fun thing we'd be doing. And today? We get to play a classic game of Sardines. Me and Matt knows the best places to hide. So.... Me and him go to our usual hiding places. As for Shiro. He somehow stumbled up in my hiding place and his in a spot near mine. Weird thing? No One knows where my hiding spot is. So how did he find it?  "Psst! Shiro!" I whisper. "What?" He whispers back. "What are you doing?" "Hiding. What else?" "I know... But. How did you find this place? Only I know about it." There's no answer. Just silence for a long moment. And then. He finally says, "I... Uh... Just. Did. I accidentally found it..." I raise my brow. "You? Accidentally find. it?" He hesitates before he answers again. "Uh.... Yea. I don't Always do certain things on purpose you know. I mean. We all make mistakes. Right?" I think for a moment. "Yea... I guess so." After this. We go quiet and don't move. As hours and more hours pass... It seems like an eternity before finally the signal goes off to let the students know that the game is over. Me and Shiro come out of hiding and walk to meet Matthew. We give each other high Fives. but. Shiro doesn't join in. "Nice going!" Matt says excitedly. "You too!" I say sharing  the same excitement. But after awhile my smile fades as the memory of Shiro being able to find that spot. Or the fact he Chose to hide near me.... I get that he is still holding on maybe.... But. Why did he do that? Is it a coincidence or something else? We continue the rest of the day. Going to the last few classes we have. Shiro stays the usual quiet he's been. I guess I don't blame him... But. He Has changed. I can sense it. But what changed? After school, we put our books away. I keep my homework in my backpack as always. Once done, I walk with Matt and Shiro out of the school. We walk down the side walk. "Welp. That was fun." I look over at Matt and smile. "Yea. Definitely! You should've seen the look on Jason's face! He was so shocked that he couldn't find us three!" Shiro looks up. His hands in his pockets. "Yea.... That was. Fun. Forgot about Tuesdays." His eyes gleam with excitement. "I'm... Happy I'm back. That we got the gang back together." "Me too. But all we're missing is.... Uh... Who are we missing?" Matt thinks for a moment. That same thing he always does when he thinks.... So eye catching for some reason. I like it. I'm glad I have someone like Matt for a boyfriend. He shrugs. "Who else do we know that used to be in our little club?" We stop walking for a moment. "Um... What about.... Opal? She was in our group wasn't she?" "Um... For a while. But... She moved down town. But maybe.... Yuki?" "Oh yea! Yuki! But.... Nah. She said she thought this was Boring. So... I guess it's just us!" "Ok. Oh well. It'll still be fun! Right Shiro?" Matt looks over at Shiro. Who seems to be thinking. He snaps out of his daze and looks up. "Huh? What? Oh... Yea. Right." As we continue to walk. I keep an eye on Shiro. I'm worried about him still. He's my friend and if something is bothering him then.... Nah. It's not my business. I'll give him some space. We soon part our ways and Matt walks me home. "So... Uh... You know what your mom said right?" I sigh. "Yea I know what she said. But like I'll listen. I'd just gotten my other best friend back. Even if... He's different..." Matt raises his brow. "'Different' how?" I roll my eyes. "Haven't you noticed?" He's still confused. "Noticed what?" "Noticed the way he's been acting since he came back to Danver High." It clicks. "Oh! Oh.... Uh... I- yea.... I guess I have... But. Maybe he's just having a hard time still or something." He says as he runs his hand through his dark hair. "I I'm worried for him Matt." I say as worry and sadness for my friend gleams in my eyes as I look into Matt's. "Don't. You know him. He'll be fine. At least I hope so..." We start to walk again. "Yea... Me too..." I say under my breath as we walk. After awhile we reach my house. I thank Matthew for taking me home and then walk to my mom's apartment. I walk up the stairs. Ignore the neighbor's fighting in the next room. I walk in. Put my backback up. And do my chores. After I'm done. I look for mom. But. I'm guessing she's working late. So. I go to my room. Sit on my bed and just scroll on my phone. But soon I come acrossed a mysterious message. By that same person who'd sent me a message a week ago! How?! I thought they were done! I try and calm my racing heart as I read it. "Nice to see you had a fun day at school. But. Let's not forget. I'm still watching. Your every move. Every word. You can't escape me. The time for my plan is coming sooner than you think. So.... Enjoy life while you can. And. Goodnight, Jamie.... My love." My face pales. I feel dizzy. I can't breathe. I reach in my pocket for the meds Shiro gave me. I go to my bathroom. Get a small cup and fill it. Then I take a pill.... It surprisingly comes in effect quickly. But with it.... I forget that I even got the message. And when I go to be on my phone again... It's gone. Hours later, I'm asleep. Mom comes in and checks on me but sees me asleep and shuts the door quietly. She walks into her room. Glances at the picture of my dad and sighs. She then climbs into her own bed and turns off the lamp.