The Dream Machine

Eight

I walked into my school once again, up the stairs, and towards my locker. Last night had consisted of mostly Frederick pouring information into my head that I had mostly forgotten. Because, who remembers their own dreams?

I spotted her across the hall. She was talking with another girl, laughing and smiling. And by she, I mean Jennifer. Why did I wanna do this again? So I could make Lizzie jealous? To make me seem more romantic? I have no idea. Quickly shutting my locker, I stepped forward, only to find Lloyd in my path. 

"Good morning, bud," he declared, "Asked out Jennifer yet?"

Oh, gosh. Lizzie had already told him, "Uh, not yet. I was about to, but then..."

"Never mind that," he interrupted, "I have a problem." he leaned into my ear, "A private problem." Lloyd started fast-walking down the hallway. Expecting that he was leading me to somewhere, I followed, but all he let me to was the janitor's closet next to the bathroom. He hurriedly opened the door and stepped inside, ushering me in. 

I stepped inside and said, "What is this all about?" 

"You," he answered, "you're hiding something from me. As your best friend, I find this very offensive."

"Well, I'm sorry, but you shouldn't have to know everything that goes on in my life."

"I know everything about Lizzie, though," he uttered as my heart stopped. Why would she tell him all about what's going on in her life. Doesn't she know that there's other people? Other people as in me! 

"I don't care, " I yelped, reaching for the door handle.

"No way," he commanded as he yanked my hand away, "You're not leaving until you confess something, and I know exactly what. You love Lizzie. It's plain as day to see. You love her, and you're trying to break us up. I can't have that. Now, are you gonna admit it?"

I took a deep breath, "Why would I tell you?"

"Because I'm your best friend."

"When did you come up with your little theory?"

"A month ago."

That means he knew that I had a crush on her before he ever started dating her. Wait a minute, was he going out with Lizzie just to make sure that I didn't get her? Did he even have a crush on her? 

My thoughts were cut short as Lloyd leaped out the door and slammed it shut. I tried the handle, locked. Lloyd must have put something against it. A wet door sign, perhaps. Well, I couldn't stay here forever, so I did whatever human being would do in this situation. I banged on the door and yelled "HELP!" at the top of my lungs.

After doing that for about five minutes, I heard a skidding from outside the closet. Someone was removing the sign. I was about to regain my freedom! The door unlocked and I was soon looking into the face of an angel. An angel named Jennifer. 

She looked at me with astonishment, "Sandler, Jacobson, who would lock you in a closet?"

The only words I could breathe to her were, "Do you wanna go out sometime?"

"Gosh, I'm an idiot!" I muttered as I wrapped the metal band around my head.

Frederick added, "I have to agree. It's wasn't the smartest move." he was also applying a metal band to his head. I had texted George last night to make another one, because I had told him that I was bringing a plus one. 

"So, you guys both have these...dreamscapes?" George asked, hovering over his labtop, opening programs and whatnot. 

"We do, indeed," Frederick chuckled, as if he had just heard a joke. 

George walked up to me and whispered in my ear, "Are you sure we can trust this guy? He looks a little shady."

I whispered back, "He's fine, but just don't spike his adrenaline."

"Sounds totally normal." George walked back to his computer.

Frederick and I laid side-by-side on his bed. 

"Okay, guys, now how are you guys gonna go to sleep?" George questioned.

"Don't worry," said Frederick, "I brought the stuff." he sat up and picked it up from the floor. It was a silver canister, with a lid on top. 

"What are supposed to do? Drink it?" I pondered.

"No, you open it and waft it," he answered, "Don't worry, George. It doesn't leak."

"Okay, good," George exhaled. 

Fredrick reached down and gave an identical bottle to me. "Open it," he implied. 

I unlocked the hatch and started moving my hands into a wafting motion. This is probably the weirdest thing I have ever done. Smelling secret liquid, only to fall asleep and experience life through dreams. It's the chance of a lifetime, and I can't stop thinking of the dangers. What is I never wake up? What if Frederick is a creepy serial killer who likes abducting kids into their slumber only to make sure they stay there for eternity? I've added a lot of detail to that last one. What can I say? I'm paranoid. 

The liquid smelled like gasoline, with a hint of orange. Soon, however the gasoline smell disappear, and it felt as if I had just dipped my head into a bowl of fruit salad. I then passed out. 

The world around me wasn't the same room I had awoken to last time. In fact, Frederick was no where in sight. The walls around me weren't walls at all. They were just gray clouds circling through my thoughts. I had entered my subconscious.