Project Nebula

The Red Candle

Xander and I were now open books to each other. I could look anywhere-be anywhere-And he'd find his way into my line of sight. Even earlier that school day, I saw him getting a Java Star exclusive snicker doodle coffee with a gift card. I got the same right before him. I caught him walking at my pace down to our separate classes and mirroring my movements, like reaching to scratch his nose. The last time it happened was the bell for third block, where his Yearbook class, right across from my room. I turned to him first. He turned to me second but didn't say a word. Helix stood behind me, waiting for me to open the door.

"Starboy, were you ever in a club?" he asked, holding his arm up above me for the door.

"In 5th grade, we made that little paper football thing," I was ashamed to bring up again, "We put the desks together... We sat on the rug together..."

"Wasn't there some other rando with us? With a beanie?"

He lost me. The only one I knew with a beanie was my dad. Guess I should've taken a closer look and overanalyze everything then, too. I couldn't answer his question and continued inside the classroom. The dark, dark room. Only one orange light lit the back of the room, which had the opposite effect of animating everyone except for the people in the light. I sat in the deep corner far from the door. Instead of Helix walking after me, another classmate slumped in. I've seen him before, obviously. But this time, he had a book bag. He was a Shaggy-type of person, but with a form-fitting red trench coat with a long black ponytail-a living checkerboard. Grover followed him with only an almost empty binder.

"Kid, I can do my own homework," he said.

"You said you were in Mr. Romano's class with for fifth grade," Grover snapped.

"And his fourth grade. I had his class for two years."

"And you still can't do long division?"

"I'm not a math kind a guy!"

Grover plopped into a seat in the back under the light. Helix kicked his bookbag through the door, sweeping the floor until the stoner guy stepped on it. I heard the two argue a bit over nothing as our teacher slapped a paper on my desk. She rambled, "Sweety, do you think you could make up this test and give it to me, next class?"

"Got it." I took out a led pencil and started to write my name until my pencil slipped out of my hand.

I held it again. No results. I couldn't hold it and I soon figured out why: my pointer finger was unbendable. And it just had to be my right hand, I thought. Helix got in his seat as the room filled. Stoner guy now took residence of the chair next to Helix.

"That guy's name, right?" Helix leaned into my face and whispered. "It's Biter."

"His legal name?" I asked.

"I dunno. He's not my friend."

He set his blueberry slushie at the corner of my desk. "What's wrong, by the way?"

"No, it's that... I thought you said I couldn't talk to you."

"Yeah, I did. Do you hear yourself?"

"I'm not deaf."

"I'm not the boss of you. I forgot that. We're seniors now."

I tried picking my pencil back up and failed for the sixth time.

"We are. So think before you do, okay?" I said.

His lips quivered as if he were going to say something. Those oblivious crystals couldn't distract me. Biter decided on a whim to stand guard in front of my desk. Helix started poking the straw into little circles on his leg while he was distracted by Grover teaching him... Math.