The World Through Various Eyes

[19] He Confides (Christopher's POV)

The sky's gems shone bright that night, as I looked up into the vast void of navy blue darkness. I did this often, lying in my backyard and contemplating the meaning of life late at night. I wondered what was beyond our large, yet so small planet by the name of Earth.

I yearned to leave those who had wronged me and claim my spot in another universe far away from the people who said I couldn't do it. That I couldn't be successful. That I was just one person out of many and nothing of importance. My biggest problem was that I worried their words would ring true.

Either way, I was stuck here; a lonely and unfriendly place among a horrid race. Humans never ceased to disappoint me. Maybe I was a hateful person, but we all are. The only difference is that some choose to accept it and some are in denial.

My thoughts were abruptly interrupted as the light of my cell phone illuminated the darkness I so craved. I grunted in annoyance, but checked nonetheless.

It was Jade.

At first I didn't recognize the number, seeing as I hadn't added it to my contacts yet, but its message identified the sender as her. Its message also baffled me. I stared at my screen for a while, biting my lip and furrowing my brow. Shaking my head, I stashed the phone and lay back down in the grass. Before I could continue seeking peace and quiet among nature at night, a figure appeared in front of my only light source.

It was short and lean boy, with brown hair and glasses. I quickly recognized it as Alexander, a boy from a fair amount of my classes. We had never talked much, but then again, he never seemed that interested in conversation with me. I silently wondered why he had approached me at that moment, or how he had found my house for that matter.

A sense of urgency was conveyed through his mannerisms, particularly how he walked up to me. This urgency was verified as he began to speak hastily, words slurring together into an incoherent jumble.

A thoroughly lost "what?" was all I could respond with. He repeated his statement.

"I need your help."

Even after him repeating it, I couldn't bring myself to believe it. Alexander Swaltz, the boy I had overheard calling me a pretentious asshole, was seeking my assistance. I was certainly not one to hold grudges but something like that is sort of unforgivable. Besides, if I was that intolerable, why would he be in the front of my back lawn requesting my help? Maybe humanity was more complex than I thought.

"What could you possibly need from me?" I retorted, turning away. If he thought he could just say those things and not expect a reaction, he was wrong.

But he didn't seem antagonistic in the least. I genuinely believed that his action of coming here was out of sheer peace, and that he did indeed require my help.

Alexander's expression was visible under the moon's light, and he appeared to have no understanding of the cause for my response and its tone. The brunette adjusted his glasses, and sat down across from me.

"I know I don't know you too well, and you probably won't believe me anyway, but my friend and I have been struggling to deal with something over the course of the last couple days. We don't talk much but I feel like you might be able to help in some way."

I tilted my head a bit, waiting for him to follow up with what it was that he wanted to tell me.

"What wouldn't I believe? And why wouldn't I believe it...?" I prodded, impatient and awaiting a response.

My backyard was hardly noisy. Every now and then a car drove by, its sound loud at first, then giving way to silence. A flash of headlights that came into view and grew brighter until they disappeared altogether, like the calm before a storm and then the aftermath.

Alexander cleared his throat and took several breaths. I could tell whatever he was about to tell me required him to muster the courage to get it out. What could possibly be so important and nerve-wracking?

His eyes behind glasses stared into mine, and I could tell he was having second thoughts about confiding in me. It was too late now, though. He swallowed, took one last deep breath, and decided to speak.

"So my friend Jade and I had something happen about a week ago. For whatever reason, this something has caused us to have to live each other's lives. Like, I'm her and she's me. Does that make any sense? We still have our own independent thoughts, but at the same time, can hear the thoughts of each other and live in each other's bodies. The thing is, though, we haven't figured out exactly why.... or how to stop it for that matter. I know I sound insane- I've been questioning whether I was losing touch of my sanity ever since this change took place. But it's completely impossible for this all to be a figment of my imagination, because now my best friend, Jade is involved as well!"

He frantically pulled off his glasses and cleaned them on his shirt, then shoved them back onto his face. As he resumed, his voice got lower and quieter.

"I would completely understand if you dismissed me as crazy, but you have to believe me. This is the truth. I desperately wish it weren't, but that doesn't change the fact that it is."

I looked him in the eye and caught his attention.

"You're not crazy, I know that for sure. I believe you."

Hey reader! Thanks for reading my latest chapter in "The World Through Various Eyes"! If you enjoyed it, make sure to comment your thoughts about the book's plot so far, and your opinions on it in general. Also, if you think it deserves it, make sure to vote for it! Thanks again!

~DistantDreams (Claire)