The Answer Lies in the Truth

Chapter 3

The next day I signed up for the play, getting the same treatment as last year. "GAY!" Rich screamed and Jake rolled his eyes and scuffed at his friend. (boyfriend?) I made my way down the hall and heard crying in one of the hall closets.

I looked around, and no one seemed to hear it so I investigated. I opened the door and saw Jenna on the floor crying. "H-hey, are you okay?" That was a stupid question, she obviously wasn't.

"No." She answered looking up at me. "Go away."

"I'm sorry..." I said stepping back into the hall and gently shutting the door. That was...weird. As I was backing up I bumped into Chloe.

"Watch it Jerry, I just had my nails done!" She yelled at me as I blushed and stuttered a confused apology.

Man, some days I just wish the apocalypse would come already. Then I'd have an excuse to shoot things in frustration.

I round the corner of the hall and I all I can see is high school drama. I guess it'd be a good time as ever to explain. There are so many different clicks, but I'll narrow it down for you. We have your regular nerds, they hang out in a group. Statistically they are suppose to have all the girls in the school. Or so they say.

Then there are the Emos, goths, kids with social anxiety, and bathbomb crunchers. They hang out in a group. I don't know why. I guess they are all too uncaring to talk to each other, so they are cool with being in a group that goes smoking behind the school. Beats me...

Lastly the poplars. Of course we have those. Jake and Rich and a couple others who think they are the cream of the crop. They are basically like royalty. Their word is law.

Oh! And how could I forget the people like me! I'm in the more geeky side of things. The normal kids, I call us. We don't really have one big group, usually we have one or two good people we talk to. The others just ignore us. It's a nice system.

I'd say that was about it. I see Michael out of the corner of my eye talking with some girl. I'm a bit shocked actually. Michael usually doesn't talk to others. It makes me...sort of happy so see him talk to another. A really hot another too! She looks like part of the goth group.

I walked over just as she is leaving. Michael smiles at me. "Hey!"

"Hey, what was that all about. You didn't tell me you had your eye on someone." Michael made an unreadable face for half a second then smiled again.

"Dude, she's my chemistry partner. We were talking about a project that's due in a couple weeks for bio." He said rubbing the back of his neck.

"So...are you like, into her or something?" I ask curiously.

"Dude, no!" He laughed, "I like someone else." His smile dropped and he looked at me with a guilt ridden face. I'm guessing he didn't mean to say that.

I smirked. "Who?" I asked and his face turned red. Guess I asked the forbidden question.

"I'm not telling you." He said looking at his shoes.

"Okay, fine, but at least tell me that she's cute?" I said smiling.

Michael looked up at me and softly smiled. He nodded just slightly and I fist pumped the air. He laughed and we walked down the hall. Our first periods were right next to each other, so we weren't really rushed to get to class.

"Jeremy, you look more tired than usual. How are you holding up?" Michael looked concerned. Was I that bad?

"Uh...it's nothing, just some bad dreams." I dismiss, I hope he ignores it. He frowns.

"I think you should go to bed earlier man, it's looking pretty ruff." Michael said, and the bell rang. I sigh and go into my class leaving Michael standing in the hallway.

I meet Christine and Brooke in the hallway after school. They're gossiping about someone, but I don't pay attention. "Hey!" I greet them. Christine smiles at me brightly. Brooke gives a small smile.

"Hey Jeremy," they say in sync. We all walk to the theater together.

"Where's Chloe?" I ask putting down my back pack against the stage wall.

"She felt sick, so she went home. It's just us three!" Christine turned on the lights and soon all three of us had a spotlight. Christine giggled. I could tell she was already enjoying this.

The teacher didn't show up, so we decided to do a role play. It ended up being very Shakespearean. A while later Jake joined and he four of us (with our small audience of Rich) in dramatically replaying the raiders of the lost arc in which all of us, except for Christine died.

Rich said it was going to be a smash hit once it hit Broadway, and we all laughed.

Soon people went home. I was the last person to leave. Rich and Jake left together, and Brooke got picked up by her parents.  I stayed talking to Christine before she had to rush out to leave. As I was turning off the lights I thought I heard something. I looked around the theater. There was still no one so I left to walk home.

When I got home I felt lost. Dad had to go to work, so I was home alone for another three hours.

"Jeremy, I suggest you don't masterbate until after I'm gone." The Squip echoed. Why was there such an echo in my head? "Because there is nothing up here." The Squip helpfully replayed.

"Just give the the damn message and go away." I rubbed my face and started to clime the stairs.

"I suggest you sit first." The Squip said. I belly flopped onto my bed.

"Just tell me." I say.

"Jeremy,
Get some sleep, please! I'm worried about you. You've been looking so down lately. It's hard seeing you so upset. I want to help you, but I feel so helpless. I always feel so helpless when I'm near you. You're so strong. I want to be more like you. I want to be with you. I doubt it will ever happen, so I think it's enough to know that you know that I still love you. I will always love you. You look amazing under the stage lights.
Sincerely, your deepest admirer,
Red"

I groaned and but the pillow under my head as I heard the Squip power off. I couldn't think straight so I took a shower.

So Red saw me preforming so it must be either Brooke or Christine! I tried to think of any clues they could have given me to find out which one, but couldn't do it.

It was only eight, but I felt tired so I went to sleep.

Rich was starring at me with blue eyes. He smiled when he noticed I was awake. "How does it feel? To be so powerful?" He asked. I looked around. Everywhere was red or green.

Jake was behind Rich, he had blue eyes too. "To be able to kill with no remorse? Everyone is always happy, so why live?" Their smiles turned sick and twisted.

Blood dropped down from nowhere and they stood watching me as I drowned in it. I couldn't escape the blood as it choked me.

I woke up and didn't fall back asleep for the rest of the night.