Shapeless

Ch 19 insane

Peter sneezed, running through the fields of wheat. In his freaked out state, he didn't bother to stick to the road.
Returning to the asphalt, he slowed his pace. Skyler's vision had scared him but that wasn't what was bothering him.
He didn't stop walking until he reached his house hours later. He knew that he should've stayed at Jason's and had mrs. Morganson give him a ride but he was just too nervous to stay.

He flinched when the buzz of an insect passed by his ear but he shook his head. "No stop freaking out. Everything is fine!" He tried to convince himself.
Because he lived farther away it took twice as long to get home.

Making his way to the door, he didn't bother to knock, barging in. It was his home after all.
His foster parents were talking over a round of checkers.
For a moment Peter felt amused. Who still plays checkers? He wondered incredulously.
Karen turned her head. "Peter! Where have you been?"
Peter tried to still his pounding heart.
"I was at a friend's." He shrugged.
"But you don't have any friends." Bill frowned, sounding suspicious.
Karen shot her husband a look. "Bill!" She scolded him. Bill shrugged.
"Okay..."
Karen turned back to Peter.
"How was school?" She asked cheerfully.
Peter forced a smile. "It was good."
He backed away, making his way up the stairs.
"You have fun now! Let me know if you need anything!" Karen shouted with a wave. Peter waved back, closing his bedroom door.

He sighed, laying on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. There was no reason why him and his foster parents shouldn't be close, but for some reason they just weren't. Talking about feelings felt a little too weird so they had a pretty casual relationship.
He frowned to himself, remembering again what Jaimey had told him. "You are not just some normal boy, you are special." he repeated it to himself. If that was true, why did he feel more like a freak than a person?

i'm going crazy! He growled, Swatting at a fly. It buzzed in a circle to spin around his head again. The hum of wings was too loud to hear himself think. With a glare, Peter leapt out of bed, swinging his fists in the air. His ears pricked. It seemed to be laughing at him, rubbing its front legs together.

Peter didn't give up. He had to take his mood out on something and here was his chance. At last, the fly had nowhere to turn to, backed up against the wall.
Raising his hand, Peter prepared himself to land the final blow when a wail sounded. His eyes widened. It was coming from the fly! "Please don't hurt me sir!" the insect's high pitched voice sounded panicked.
Peter flinched in terror. What was going on? He stared, astonished as the fly flew out the window, leaving him in a daze. This couldn't be real! flies can't talk! He protested silently.

Poking his head out the window, Peter breathed deeply to calm himself. It was stress! It must be! The knowledge of Skyler's vision must have stunned him so badly that he was hallucinating. Yes that must be it. He thought, closing his eyes to feel the cool breeze around him.
Suddenly, the clang of metal sounded in the distance and he opened his eyes. His neighbor across the street was approaching a fence where the brown horse was kept. The farmer had a cube of hay in his arms. The horse galloped impatiently to meet his owner. It stomped its hoofs, snorting in frustration. The farmer was taking his time to untie the twine from the feed.
The horse seemed to glare at the old man. "Come on already! How long does it take to give me my damn hay!" it whinied. Peter's eyes widened in shock. Had he just heard a horse swear? He slammed the window shut, hyperventilating.
No no! This is all in your head! Horses can't swear!

He grabbed his head, panicking.
Something was terribly wrong! How was he hearing this? He felt a frightened tear fall down his face. What would Skyler and Jason think when they found out? His face grew pale at the thought. If they knew, everyone would avoid him and say he was crazy, just like Jaimey! He had to do something.
Maybe if he pretended to be sick, he wouldn't have to meet Jaimey tomorrow. His head spun as he pulled the bed covers over him. Now he would never fit in! Insane people just don't belong in the human world. He realized with dread. What could he do? I can't stay locked up in my room forever! He argued silently. But the sound of the screaming fly outside the window made him consider otherwise. But I can for a few days! He decided, squeezing his eyes shut in hopes that tomorrow would come. That this was all just one big nightmare.