Dream Simulator {Discontinued}

CHAPTER 5 - Again

She felt his shoulder brush against hers, and bumped her knee against his. This was as close as they could get without looking like complete creeps in the middle of their cafeteria. Today, they needed each other most. If they weren't in public right now, she would bury herself in her brother's arms and scream, cry, and beat her fists against his chest until she was dead from exhaustion. Their mother hadn't come home last night, and judging by the Emergency that occurred yesterday, they were both preparing for the absolute worst.

They had waited up longer for her than they should have. It was about four in the morning when they finally succumbed to the restless sleep about to grip them. The Government had gave them permission to eat alone once more without elaborating why. That was normal, though. The Government never elaborated, and especially not about Emergencies. Last night, an urgent hyper comm sent out to every household informing them of the incident. The calm representative had told them not to be concerned, and had administered the consequences in her almost human like voice if somebody tried to meddle in Government business.

Arabelle could tell from the second that the old lady with her grey hair tied back in a bun and gentle eyes appeared on their tech screens, that she was an android. The Government would never reveal one of their members in public. They knew that citizens liked to see human beings reassuring them during their time of horror and confusion. Now all they needed was a real human being.

She winced as Ray slammed the table with her fist, making it shake. Micah's shoulder twitched against hers in surprise. Today, they weren't themselves. Normally, Micah would brush off Ray as the "first surviving brain donor", but not today. All they wanted was for school to end, to go home, and see their mother there waiting for them on the front step. They wanted her to embrace them with welcome arms and tell them that she wasn't leaving again. That she wouldn't ever leave again.

All of the chatter, laughter, and Ray's screams were drowned out as they read Arabelle's novel on her tech screen. Reading always made it okay; it took them away from the torturous reality they had to live everyday. She swiped her fingers along the screen, and often imagined hearing the pages actually turning from a real book. She sat up in horror at the thought of imagining things again.

No, she thought to herself. No more imagining. No more. No more.

"Arabelle?," Micah asked, putting a comforting hand on her back. "Are you alright?".

She nodded briskly. "Yeah. I'm fine". But I'm really not.

Woosh.

There was a splattering noise before Micah quickly removed his hand off her back, leaving a warm, ghostly hand print.

"What the - ?," but he was cut off as Jessica shouted out an apology. Rice with gravy dripped off his pale hand.

Food. Those clowns are throwing food again. This is the fifth freaking time this week.

Anger immediately flooded through her veins as she shoved the port screen into Micah's lap, stood up, and marched towards a snickering Ray, a nonchalant Oliver, a slightly worried Jessica, and a red with embarrassment Archer. She was fed up with this, and they picked the wrong day to screw her and Micah over.

"Oh jeez," Jessica started, putting her food coated spoon down with a clink. "I'm really - ".

Arabelle cut her off. "Oh, just shut up with your apologies. I've had enough".

"Hey!," Ray cut in. "You can't talk to her like that".

"Especially you," Arabelle snarled, pointing a finger at her. "You need to learn how to stop yelling so everyone around you doesn't become deaf. I'm surprised that your boyfriends still want to hang around with you, judging by how annoying you are".

That shut her up. In fact, that shut them all up. She could feel Archer's gaze inspect her through and through, and she stood up taller, perfecting her image of anger and annoyance.

"Also, would you stop throwing your food? This is just getting pathetic now. I know you think that this is "your" table, but trust me, this is public property. You don't own anything. Nothing you do will get me to move, do you understand? I have as much of a right to sit here as you do. Like come on, what are you guys, seven?".

None of them were smiling now. They all stared at her with surprised eyes.

"Grow up," she growled as she walked away, not giving them a chance to speak.

That felt good.

Part of her expected Micah to grin and clap her on the back as soon as she took her spot next to him, but her heart dropped straight to her stomach as he scowled.

"What was that?," he hissed.

She shrugged. "They were getting annoying".

He groaned, and some surrounding students turned their heads to look at them. "Aces, Arabelle. You're acting just like them right now!".

"How am I even acting like them?," she asked, suddenly getting defensive.

"You're acting like a jerk when you don't get your way".

"When I don't get my way?!". It came out louder than she intended it too. "This is basic respect, Micah. Something they clearly don't understand".

"You'll get cited".

"For what? For telling the truth? For standing up for us?".

He was obviously done arguing as he turned away from her and stared blankly at the pearly white table. She snatched the tech screen from his lap, and put it in hers, reading by herself.

How can he not appreciate anything I do for him?

Letting out a small sigh, he placed a hand on her stiff arm.

"Don't do anything stupid. I can't lose you too".