Code: 16B

Chapter Six

Six

    In the days that follow my strange encounter with Victor, things slowly got back to normal…sort of. I was just glad that no one at Wunsche didn't bother to mention that sleek, black car again. Classes were more or less the same, as usual. And when I told Missy about my strange encounter, she almost laughed it off.

    “Are you serious?” she asked, and after I nodded, her face turned into one of confusion. “Weird.” She murmured to herself.

    “Agreed.” I said, ending that conversation. I was even more surprised that she didn’t go off on a rant, complaining about the fact that I got to ride in the passenger seat of her dream car.

    I didn’t tell my parents, because I forgot about the whole thing until when I came home, and I could still see the small dried up pool of blood on the street. I didn’t tell them because I was afraid they would they would yell at me for accepting rides from strangers, even if he claims to live in the neighborhood, or even to have seen me too. I almost got the confidence to tell Amber, and see what she thinks of it, but she had to leave for her class at the community college. And when I try to tell her again, she was already too tired to do anything.

    As for the Cyrus dreams, they’ve continued to occur almost frequently. The dream was more or less the same as it was the first time, and each time my alarm clock would buzz whenever he’s holding my hand, and I would wake up angry that the dream didn’t continue, and I didn’t get to see what happens next. I still see him during my theater class, and he would always sit with us at lunch, and sometimes we would talk. Each conversation was above all…mesmerizing. Like each word we said was precious not only to me, but to him as well.

    And, since the strange encounter with Victor, I have never seen any sight of him, or that sleek, black Camaro again. I don’t know if I should feel relieved that he’s gone, or begin to question his statement he made as I left his car that day, about how I should be careful with who I should trust. Either way, I was elated when I didn’t see him again throughout the rest of the week, and throughout the weekend.

    It’s now Monday, and we’re only less than three days away from opening with the student matinees. I am, over all excited, but mostly nervous, not just worrying about what my sophomore class would think of the show, nor whether the new people would remember their lines and cues—not that I doubt them, I just don’t like it when someone messes up—I was mostly worried whether Cyrus would like my performance, or the show overall.

    I entered the black box, eager to get through theater class on a good note, but when I quickly glance around the room, I’m disappointed to see that he’s not there. Maybe he’s stuck in his last class, I tell myself. It’s not like him to miss class…right?

    Then, just when I’m about to throw it all away, Missy walks in, wearing her usual sneakers, jeans, t-shirt, and light jacket combo, but her hair looks too frizzy. Judging by the way she walked fast towards her seat, she must’ve been in a hurry to get here, and from what she tells me, she really had to run from her last class from the other side of the school.

    “Ugh.” She sighed as she plopped onto her chair. “I am so exhausted!”

    “The day’s not even over yet.” I said jokingly, but when she looks at me incredulously I regret saying the words with the intent of lightening the mood. “Sorry.” I added, already feeling guilty.

    “No, I should be the one apologizing for taking my frustration on you.” She said as she waves her hand, easily dismissing my apology. “Planning a cast and crew party is a lot harder than I thought, adding to it with the stress and worry of school, and also having to worry whether the show would turn into a disaster…it’s…”