The Boy In My Head

16

"Guys like you don't ask for things like that from girls like me. What are you playing at?" "What do you mean, 'guys like me?'" "We don't mix, Will. I know you said that thing about our implants, but—"You think I'm Will? Will Dylan?" I freeze for a moment. The realization that I got it wrong sends the pounding in my head into overdrive. "You mean, you're not?" "Not Will Dylan? I told you my name is Parker." I think back to school and rack my brain trying to pinpoint exactly who Parker could be. I don't think I know any Parker, yet he acted like he saw what happened in the lunch room, and he knows who Will Dylan is, so he has to be someone from school, right? But I don't know everyone's names. Is there even a Parker at my school? Parker... Parker who? "You're not the guy who sits at the lunch table next to mine and picks his nose, are you?" I ask, almost horrified. "Nope, not him." I can't think of any Parker. Is it possible that he is a part of my subconscious?

"Then what are you?" I ask. "A part of my subconscious? A computer program?" My head pulses as the possibilities race through it. "I think it's best if I told you in person," Parker says. So that confirms it. He is a real person. But who ? And how? "Are you the kid in my math class who's a grade younger than me? I hear he's good at hacking into computers." "Rachel, if you haven't figured it out by now, you never will. Meet me at the Fountain at six and I'll explain everything." "Okay," I agree. My head pounds hard in anticipation, but I manage to get out of bed and make my way to my car in the garage a few hours later. I tell it to drive me to the Fountain. No matter how hard my head is pounding now, I have to figure out this mystery, and it only frustrates me that I can't figure it out on my own. I hate that the stress of the situation only intensifies the headache. I park my small car along the street and make my way over to the water fountain. I look around briefly and wonder which guy could be Parker, but no one catches my eye. Maybe he's not here yet. I take a seat on the edge of the structure and look around again. That's when I spot blonde hair and blue eyes coming my way. "Will?" I say in surprise as I stand up. It can't be him. I mean, everything about it made sense, but Parker told me he wasn't Will. Was he lying to me? "Rachel," Will greets, but I can't read his expression. Is he the one who told me to meet him here, or is he here by chance? Trying to understand the situation makes my head pulse. I push a hand to my temple in an attempt to reduce the pain. "I don't get it," I complain out loud. "Rachel, are you okay?" Will says as he rests a hand gently on my arm. The pounding in my head seems almost audible now and feels as if something is trying to escape. Pound, pound, pound on the side of my skull. The bustle of the city and the voices in the courtyard fade to near nonexistence as the pain takes over. It hurts so badly that a tear falls from my cheek. I hardly notice Will guiding me down onto the edge of the fountain. I feel like I'm panting for air, but I can't be sure. "Rachel, what's wrong?" Will asks, but his voice sounds hazy, like I'm in a bubble and he's outside of it.