How to escape your imagination

Chapter 2

The remaining light that shows through my eyelids fades and ground comes at me at unimaginable speed.  I stand up rubbing my nose.  I look around me and all I see is white.  I can't tell which direction is which and so I stand still.  

"What the..."  

Suddenly all I hear is a voice in my head.  

"You shouldn't have done what you did."  

The sound is everywhere, it's all around me but doesn't have a source. 

 "What are you talking about?!"  I scream covering my ears.  

"Who punches girls, after all, you're supposed to love your enemies..."  The voice returns once more.  "Do you like movies?" 

 I shake my head.  "Not anymore!!!" 

 The voice laughes, echoing through my mind and soul.  "That's a relief, I'm glad you don't."  

I put my head in my hands trying to block out the noise.  

"Just leave me alone!  I'm sorry okay?"  The voice stops laughing and becomes more serious.  

"I am not joking Jonathan Brier, I will leave you alone though." 

 The voice disappears momentarily giving me a chance to catch my breath.  

"On one condition." 

 I shake my head looking behind me, even though I wasn't expecting anything to be there.  "And what is that?"  I reply, my fists tight with anger. 

 "You must pass all 6 levels of my game:)"  

I nod slowly.  "Alright, where is this video game?" 

 The voice laughs once more.  "Oh Jonathan, that's not how it works.  It's not a video game, it's just a game." 

  "Then where is this...game...?"  

"I'll show you."  The voice fades and the area in front of face becomes less blurry.

                  I  see a high school with many kids coming out of it.  A car pulls up right in front of me and a few kids hop out.  "Hey!  Your Nick Robinson!!"  I scream at one of the kids getting out of the car.  He stares at me blankly and grins.  "I think you got the wrong guy man, I'm Simon."  The voice returns once more.  "Here's how it works smart guy.  These are the characters, they think they are the characters and they will always be the characters, due to bad fate."  I tilt my head.  "What do you mean due to bad fate?"  The voice doesn't reply.  "Your goal...is different in each movie.  There will be 10 movies and don't be fooled.  Not all of them will be as easy as this one.  Your goal in this movie is to get Simon to love you, good luck and welcome to Love, Simon!"  I shake my head.  "Wow thanks, you MORON!"  But the voice is gone. Simon is still staring at me with confusion, his friends have gone inside. "Um, are you okay?" I nod quickly and look him up and down. I hope he finds me cute because I gotta get out of here. "I'm fine really," I say once more when I see Simon staring at me with curiosity. All of a sudden another guy gets out of the car. "Who's that?" I ask. "Oh, that's my boyfriend Bram." My face goes blank and so does my mind. "Seriously?" I whisper under my breath. Simon shrugs. "You are entitled to your opinion, man." I shake my head quickly. "Oh no I'm not homophobic or anything, I am too." Bram walks up beside Simon. "Um, ok." Everyone stares at each other for a minute, then finally I speak. "Gay, I mean...I'm gay too." Simon grins. "Well, that explains the nervousness." He looks over at Bram who plants a kiss on his lips. "Don't worry, I'll stay out of your way," I reply slowly walking away. Simon and Bram chase after me. "No, wait!" They finally catch up and walk beside me. "You'll need some friends. People at this school can be pretty mean." Bram explains. I nod slowly and continue walking towards the door of a school I had never been in before.  Bram and Simon go ahead and open the doors for me.  "Have we, met before???"  Simon asks.  I think quickly, trying to come up with a solution to his question.  "No...I'm a transfer student from Alberta."  Bram smiles.  "I love Alberta, where in Alberta are you from?"  Oh crap.  "Um, Toronto."  Simon snickers under his breath and looks over at Bram who is also hiding a smile.  "Uh, what's your name again?"  

"Jonathan,"  I reply quickly.  Simon grins and sticks out his hand.  "I'm Simon, I think you know that already though...?"  I nod.  "I don't know how I just recognize it, I guess."  Simon smiles.  "You're funny you know that?"  Shaking my head once more I reply.  "Thanks."  

Bram, Simon and I walk down the noisy hallways and through to some teachers room.  Somehow, no one seems to care much about the new kid so I guess I'll be ok.

"Here Jonathan, sit beside me,"  Bram tells me, pulling out a chair at a desk next to his.  

"This is Ms. Robinson's class.  She is an easy teacher but if she asks a question, don't make direct eye contact otherwise she will call on you."  I nod carefully contemplating what to do if I make eye contact.  "So then what do I do if she notices that she doesn't know me?"  Simon sighs.  "Let's hope it doesn't happen...ok?"  

"Okay."

The class is going well.  She has asked questions and I am simply mouthing words to make it look like I'm thinking.  Then my luck was over.  "Excuse me sir, are in the right classroom?"  I look up slowly to see her standing over top of my desk.  I nod quickly and glance over to see Bram thinking of a solution.  Simon walks over subtly and grins at Ms. Robinson.  "Hey mam, it's a dare, he's dressed up as someone else."  Ms. Robinson raises an eyebrow but walks away.  Luckily, the rest of school went fine. 

"Hey Simon, do you think I could stay over tonight?"  I ask quietly so Bram doesn't hear.  Simon reluctantly nods but then looks excited.  "I totally forgot!  Matthew is throwing a party tonight!!"  I froze.  My Matthew?  Was it actually him?  No, it couldn't be.  It had to just be a coincidence.  "Could I join?"  Simon nods enthusiasticly.  I was glad to be going with him.  I had no where else to go.