Mindful(l)

Chapter 10: Nice Nancy's Not Necessarily NICE Nancy

Aside from it being a Monday, today was the slowest day in the history of slow days. It's like time itself decided to toy with my curiosity. When I got home that night, I'd found Nancy's phone number written on a slip of paper in my pocket. Kanna was nowhere to be seen, which didn't really occur to me until I had Chemistry last period. However, I'd found my phone in my locker, with a different wallpaper on it. The image was a black background with a green-colored quote on it: "It's such a mystery why you're here, [but you've become] as clear as cellophane." In the bottom left hand corner, some kind of initials were in smaller print: "P!ATD". It quickly occurred to me that it was probably some artist's name, most likely a band's. Still, I didn't have time to decode her incredibly tiring riddles, so I threw the phone back in my locker to keep away from the temptation of "Google-ing" it.  

Nancy had slipped another note in my backpack that told me to meet her at the janitor's closet in front of the stairs that led to the attic that was next to the gymnasium (complicated, I know). Anyways, the janitor's closet was a lot bigger than I expected; Nancy fit two chairs in there and she still had about three feet of space around both of them. Basically, we weren't stuck in the claustrophobic mess that you'd think we'd be in. I opened the door and automatically took the only available seat. 

Me: "So, what's this about?" 

Nancy: "I told you, it's about Daisy." 

She handed me a soda can.

Me (opens can): "What do you mean? Who's Daisy?" 

Nancy: "Don't play dumb. Daisy was the girl that used to be one of your neighbors before I moved in. She got in that train accident the night that your mom found you at the transit. That was a crazy night for you, wasn't it? Sad to think that your mom died the next day, too. You have my condolences." 

Me (takes a long sip): "So, I guess you have connections. If you already know all of this, why me?" 

Nancy: "Do you want to know why I've been pretending to be in love with a guy like you?"

Me: "Enlighten me." 

Nancy: "It's because it was the only way to make you never forget who Nancy Beauregard was, the girl who woouldn't leave you alone. Those who cannot achieve acknowledgement meant through honesty must then resort to annoyance and deceit." 

Let me translate the "acknowledgement thing": "If you can't remember me because you like me, then remember me because I annoy the living crap out of you every day." 

Me: "I still don't get what you want from me." 

Nancy: "Who said that I want something from you? What I came to do was to tell you what happened to Daisy that night, even if you haven't ever wanted to know." 

She struck my point of interest and I quickly looked at her with a raised eyebrow. I was beginning to fear the person who had told her this. Even worse, a sickening realization came into my mind: Nancy's thoughts seemed warped to me. Basically, they were like Spanish for my brain. I could only understand a few things like "...'ve done it," and "--not noticed." I got this dizzy feeling for a moment and looked at my can cautiously. 

Nancy: "I'll be quick here: Daisy never died. She's alive, Marlo. But I guess you wouldn't believe me unless I had some credibility."

Her thoughts were mush now, I understood nothing, like whispers of unintelligible rumors. I'd finally realized it: She spiked my drink. But, not enough to render me unconscious... yet. So, could this mean that she knows about my curse? 

Me (lets soda slip from hand): "( while rubbing his forehead with one hand) What'd you put in this can?" [Soda can clatters and spills on floor.]

Nancy: "Just listen. I think it's time that I tell you why Nancy Beauregard is going through such lenghts to stick her nose into someone else's business."