Where Do We Go When We Sleep?

Chapter 4: Allies in the Chaos

Jenna stood in front of the mirror, her reflection still betraying a hint of Fridah's confidence. "You're mine, Jenna," Fridah had said, and the truth of it echoed in her head. But now, something had shifted. Maybe it was the panic or the adrenaline, but suddenly, she felt a connection—a strange tingling in her mind that hinted at something new.

"Wait a minute," Jenna muttered to herself. "What if I can hear you now?"

Fridah's voice chimed back, a playful lilt weaving through Jenna's thoughts. "Oh, darling, you think you can eavesdrop on my fabulous plans? How adorable."

Jenna rolled her eyes. "I'm serious! What are you planning? If I can hear you, maybe I can outsmart you!"

"Outsmart me?" Fridah chuckled, the sound almost like chimes in the wind. "Please. You're about as stealthy as a hippo in a tutu."

That got Jenna's heart racing. She had something! A way to combat Fridah's mind games. "Okay, Fridah, let's see how clever you really are."

Just as she thought she had a handle on the situation, her phone buzzed again, cutting through her focus. It was a message from Chelsea.

Chelsea: "Jenna! Call me ASAP! I need to know what's going on with you and this 'Queen of the Night' nonsense!"

She had a point. The chaos needed to be addressed. Jenna took a deep breath and typed back, "Meet me at the park in 15. And bring Sam. I need backup."

"Let's roll," Jenna said, brushing off her casual wear in favor of something Fridah might approve of. After all, if she was going to face the madness head-on, she might as well look the part.

As she headed out the door, a familiar voice called out from behind her. "You know, you really could use my fashion expertise," Fridah teased.

"Oh, shut it!" Jenna shot back, shaking her head. "I'm not getting a makeover from an alter ego who thinks she's the queen of everything."

But as she walked to the park, a flicker of unease crawled up her spine. What if Fridah was planning something bigger? Jenna concentrated, tuning into Fridah's thoughts as they flickered in her mind like an old TV on the verge of breaking.

Fridah's Thoughts: Tonight, after the afterparty, they won't know what hit them. I'll have everyone wrapped around my finger. You won't stand a chance, Jenna.

Jenna clenched her fists. "You won't win, Fridah," she muttered.

By the time she reached the park, Chelsea and Sam were already waiting, both looking curious and slightly concerned. Chelsea's hair was a wild array of curls bouncing with energy, while Sam leaned against a tree, his arms crossed, wearing a smirk that could only mean one thing: he had a plan.

"Alright, Jenna, spill! What's up with this 'Queen of the Night' business?" Chelsea asked, glancing at Sam.

Jenna took a deep breath, her mind racing. "Okay, so... remember how I said I didn't know what was going on with me? Well, Fridah isn't just my alter ego. She's... well, she's kind of taking over my life."

"Yeah, no kidding," Sam said, raising an eyebrow. "We saw the videos. You were tearing up the dance floor like a pop star on a caffeine high."

"I know! But now, I can hear her thoughts, and I think she's planning something huge for tonight after the afterparty." Jenna took a step closer, lowering her voice. "If we don't stop her, she could—"

"—become the most popular girl in school?" Chelsea interrupted, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Oh no! Anything but that!"

Jenna shot her a glare. "This isn't a joke! She's literally messing with my life!"

"Alright, alright," Sam said, waving his hands for attention. "So, we need to come up with a plan to counteract Queen Fridah's reign. What do we know about her?"

Jenna thought for a moment. "Well, she thrives on attention, and she's already built this whole persona around being the life of the party. I mean, she has people calling me 'Queen of the Night' like it's my name!"

Chelsea grinned, her eyes twinkling. "How about we throw a 'Not the Queen' party? A counterparty to all her antics?"

Jenna blinked. "What?"

"Picture this: we invite everyone who's been sucked into her chaos and throw a bash that says, 'Not today, Fridah!'" Chelsea's excitement bubbled over as she spoke.

"I like it," Sam added, nodding. "And we can fill the party with your real friends—people who actually care about you, not just Fridah's fan club."

Jenna's heart raced with hope. "That could work! But how do we get everyone to come?"

"Leave that to me," Sam said, his grin widening. "I have a few tricks up my sleeve. And who wouldn't want to see the epic showdown between Jenna and Fridah?"

With that, Jenna felt the spark of a plan forming. "Okay, but we need to keep it under wraps until the last minute. Fridah's too savvy. She'll try to sabotage it if she catches wind."

As they started brainstorming, Jenna couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Her eyes flicked around the park, and just as she turned, she caught sight of a familiar figure lurking behind a tree—a guy with a devilish smile, and an aura of mischief.

"Great," Jenna muttered, "just what I need—mysterious handsome boys eavesdropping on my plans."

"Who's that?" Chelsea asked, glancing over.

"Just someone who probably knows way too much about me," Jenna replied, trying to brush it off.

"Doesn't matter. We'll deal with that later. Right now, we have a party to plan," Sam said, determination radiating from him.

As they began tossing around ideas, Jenna felt a surge of excitement. Maybe they could outsmart Fridah after all. She could hear Fridah's laughter in her head, but this time it felt more like a challenge than a threat.

"Let's do this," Jenna said, her voice steady. "Let's throw the party of the summer, and make sure Fridah knows she can't control me."

And just like that, Jenna knew it was time to take back her life.