Someone Like You

Chapter 5

After I got back up to my room, I changed my clothes and fixed my hair. I would have showered, but I didn't want to waste anymore time.

About half an hour after I had finished unpacking, I heard a knock on my door. I had been sitting at my desk, sketching.

Jay was there, telling me that it was time for supper. That's where I am now: I'm at the table eating ordered pizza with Jay.

My aunt was working a late shift at the hospital (as a nurse) , and Emma was staying over at a friend's house. I was 4 bites into my delicious cheese pizza when I realized that the other boys were gone.

"Wherrer Thu goys?" I ask Jay with my mouth full of pizza. He shakes his head at my awful manners. He finishes chewing his pizza before he speaks.

"They had to go home. Normally they are allowed out on school nights, but because tomorrow is the first day-" Jay says, but he's cut off when I spit the diet Pepsi I was drinking across the table at him.

"God, woman! Get some manners! Don't you know anything about proper acting like a lady?" He yells at me, but I'm not paying attention to that.

"We have school tomorrow?" I ask, suddenly not in the mood for pizza anymore.

Jay looks surprised for a second, but then drops his gaze to his food. "Oh right, I was supposed to tell you that last week, but I forgot" He mutters.

I groan and push my plate away. I feel like I am going to vomit at this news. The fear of all the new people is making me feel dizzy. I drop my head to the table.

"Stop being such a drama queen about this" Jay says. "It's just school!"

"You don't understand though. You have friends! I am going to be going in alone!" I whine. I am absolutely terrified!

I look up at Jay, who is rolling his eyes. "Just chill with us until you make new friends. We'll keep you company" Jay suggests. As much as that sounds appealing, I turn down his offer.

"Nah, I'll survive. Hopefully." I reply sadly. I get up from the table, and start walking away.

"Where are you going?" Jay asks.

"Bed" is all I say before I walk away. The news if having school tomorrow ruined my energy and mood.

Without listening to Jay's response, I run upstairs to 'my' room. Even though it only takes me 10 minutes to get ready for bed, it feels like an eternity. Eventually, though, I was crawling into bed, dressed in my comfy sweats and a tank top (I hate actual pajamas!)

Ever since I found out that I start school tomorrow, there has been an uneasy feeling sitting in my stomach. Things have actually been going okay since I've gotten here, and I thought maybe things wouldn't be so bad...

But now every negative feeling, negative fear and negative memory flood my body. As I lie in bed, I feel my throat close up, strangling me. I begin to lose control of my emotions as years leak from my eyes. I start to choke.

I feel like I am being suffocated, like someone is strangling me. I used to be able to handle this, but right now, I can't. I feel my head start to spin as I struggle for air.

All of a sudden Jay bursts into the room. He is holding a glass of water out towards me, with looks of worry and terror glued to his face. Suddenly, I can breathe again.

I sit up and take the water from his hand, and I take a long drink. Jay sits down on the bed beside me. He starts playing with his watch, unsure what to say.

"..Um, my mom, uh, said that maybe..." he pauses for a second, then finishes "You weren't going to be okay for a while." He stares down at his hands, like he did something wrong.