Lachelle established my room and instructed me to be in there tonight, but since my room doesn't have a T.V. I'm in Lachelle's room playing Infinity Quest.

I've won two battles. I turned my navigation all the way up to be able to locate hidden chest and passage ways. It also tells me where I have already been.

I looked over at Lachelle as I waited for the next room to load in the game. Lachelle smelled like burnt vanilla. She must have just smoked. I saw that she was playing on her phone. 

"You know that's rude right?" I heard her say. I looked up and saw Lachelle smiling at me.

"I didn't know you played video games." At least I thought it was a video game.

"It's a picture taking app." Lachelle explained. "It gives you like funny backgrounds and stuff."

I looked over and watched as Lachelle flipped through the backgrounds. "Castle! Castle!" Lachelle honored my weird request and went back to the castle background. Once the camera focused on me it gave me a helmet of a knight. "So cool."

I suddenly saw a bright light come from her phone. I jumped back until I remember that cameras have flashes. I felt Lachelle wrap her arm around mine and begin to rub it. Before I could say anything my room loaded in Infinity Quest.

'You are about to enter the world of the unknown. Do you wish to continue? Yes or no?' Flashed on the T.V. screen

Hell yeah brother.

I played until my time limit was hit. Infinity Quest only lets you play for four straight hours at a time until the final day of the month. It's a weird schedule. I looked over at Lachelle, it seemed like she was paying attention to the story line of the game. "I need you in your room tonight Alex."

"Why?" Because you are weird that's why. I couldn't tell what Lachelle was thinking because she was avoiding my eyes. Am I being selfish? I stood up and quickly left the room. I have been weird lately. Like this chick burned me with a cigarette and I took that as an invitation to be her best friend. Like why am I asking for an ass kicking?

I laid in my bed. I then heard my phone receive a text message. When I checked it I saw the picture of me with the knight's helmet on. I look so stupid. The second picture was a picture of me playing video games while Lachelle was leaning on my arm looking into the camera. The caption read 'this loser keeps ignoring me.'

Oh no. Was she talking to me? Does she really think I'm a loser? I then received a calendar request from my phone. 'Do you wish to have breakfast with Lachelle tomorrow morning? Yes or no?'

Once I clicked yes the alarm was set. 

Is Lachelle my friend? There's no way right. For once I was too tired to think about it.

***

"Wake up Alex!" 

I flung myself to a sitting position. These stupid fucking voices. My phone went off in that moment.

Text message, from Lachelle. 'Don't move.'

Don't move? Why would I move? Where would I even go?

"Alex?" I turned to see that Lachelle walked in my room. She sat next to me on the bed and placed her hand on my head. Her hand was cold and it felt nice. She stared at me with a concern look on her face. She's very pretty to me. Should I tell her? Would that be weird?

"Alex what are you thinking about?" Lachelle asked.

"I think you're very pretty." Oh shit. Why? What did I just do?

Lachelle bit her lip and quickly covered her mouth with her hand. She wouldn't look at me but I could tell that she was deep in thought. I could tell that I just messed up and made things weird. "Lachelle I'm-"

"Goodnight Alex." Lachelle said as she tried to leave the room. My body moved before my mind did because I jumped out of bed and grabbed her arm. I must have scared her. I must have grabbed her too rough. Lachelle turned around and slapped me. "Alex stop!" She cried.

So I ran.

"Welcome to the world of the unknown." 

Who's that voice? 

"Rebooting."

***

I woke up outside. I'm outside. When did I go outside? I stood up and looked around. Camp can't be that far. Right.

My phone went off 'breakfast with Lachelle.' That's right I scared her last night.

I had over 100 missed calls. I can't remember the last time I wandered off this bad. It looks like all 100 calls were from Lachelle.

I walked in the direction of the destroyed brush. There were obvious signs that a person ran through. I just hope that person was me. As I walked I felt the wind brush against my face. The wind carried a scent of vanilla.

I was now running towards the wind. Lachelle smells like vanilla. Whenever I smelt vanilla I was near Lachelle.

"Alex!" Now I hear Lachelle.

I slid down a hill and saw her. If anyone knows the way back to camp it's her. "Lachelle."

I don't know what I was expecting. I wasn't expecting her to tackle me. I wasn't expecting her to kiss me.

As I laid on my back I felt all her weight press up against me, as her lips met mine. She held my face still with her warm hands. I realized that I felt like ice due to staying out all night. She changed that cold feeling within seconds. The sweet smell of vanilla quickly surrounded me. As she pulled away from me I swore I could taste cherries.

I never imagined a kiss to be so peaceful. This had to be heaven. I had to be dreaming.

I felt Lachelle bury her face into my neck. "Shit." She whispered. "Alex I'm so sorry I messed up. None of this should have happened."

I want it to happen again. Why can't I say it? Say anything. I couldn't speak again.

My alarm went off.

Lachelle pushed herself up and looked at me. I could tell that she has been crying. I made her cry. "It's my alarm to come find you." I told her.

Lachelle nodded as she pulled me to my feet. I followed her in silent. I couldn't tell is she was mad at me. I checked my phone and saw three messages. 'Alex I'm sorry.' 'Alex where are you?' 'Alex I'm scared.'

The sound of my phone didn't get me to focus. Maybe I do have a problem.

Lachelle made me breakfast but didn't say a word to me after that. I was grateful when Maindo walked us both down to the dock. We loaded into this row boat and Lachelle and I rowed to the center of the lake.

"How was your walk Kioku?" Maindo asked. "Nature is just as beautiful at night, is it not?"

"Yes Sensei." I answered as I rowed.

"Next time take Ikari with you." Maindo ordered. "When you are away from Ikari she lives up to her name."

I wonder if he knows that Lachelle is a bitch. There seems to be a connection there. Maybe Lachelle came here last year. I mean her room does have a T.V. and my room does not.

I caught the way Lachelle looked at Maindo. She obviously wanted to hit him.

"Ikari, Kioku. This is not a normal summer camp. You are both here because someone in your life feels like you are facing an internal battle. Honestly Ikari I'm surprised to see you again." Maindo said.

"I find that hard to believe." Lachelle said.

"Both of you stand on your chairs." Maindo ordered.

I felt the boat rock uncontrollably as Lachelle and I stood on our chairs. As I got my balance I looked up at Lachelle. She was looking down trying to catch her balance.

"Ikari, Kioku. You must learn to work together. You have to use each other's strengths to cure your weakness." Maindo explained.

I made eye contact with Lachelle. She did not look like she wanted to be in the same boat as me. Now she has to rely on me to heal. How can she heal me?

"Today you will hold the Vrikshasana pose. To achieve this pose you place your right foot high up on your left thigh. The sole of your foot should be flat and your left leg should be straight." Maindo explained. "If you can hold this pose for five minutes simultaneously you will be done training for the day. Remember to bring your arms over your head on the inhale and bring your hands down on the exhale."

"Mission Obtained." I heard my inner robotic voice say.

I watched as Lachelle got into the Vrikshasana pose. Her face turned red as her eyes met mine. She quickly looked away.

How can I heal her? She can't even look at me.

As I raised my right leg a gush of wind hit me throwing me off balance. It occurred to me that I fell out of the boat. When the water hit me I felt a shock all over my body. I heard Lachelle laugh as I struggled to get back in the boat.

"Try again Kioku." I heard Maindo say. "You first have to believe in yourself before you can believe in another."

That's easier said than done. I tried to time the pose with Lachelle. Since I was soaking wet I slipped off the boat again, and again, and again.

Why can't I do it?

"Because you're a failure. No one will ever believe in you. No one will take the time to ever get to know you."

"Focus Kioku." Maindo ordered.

I'm trying. I'm trying really hard yet I'm back underwater. This time I won't come up for air. It's not worth it. What's the point of getting my hopes up just to fail? What's the point if you can't even stand correctly? I don't know how many times I fell in the water, but after last night I have no intension of coming up for air.

"Do you wish to continue? Yes or no?" The robotic voice asked. 

No I don't. 

"Decision override."

***

I woke up to being completely changed in my room. It was already dark. If headaches could kill, I would be dead. I checked my phone. No upcoming alarms or events. No messages or missed calls.

It's been eight hours since I left for the drill. I went looking for Lachelle. Where is she? It's not that dark outside. It's orange out. Like a soft orange. The sun was setting.

As I wandered outside I found myself being drawn to the dock. It was the last place I seen her after all. As always Lachelle didn't disappoint. She was sitting on the dock mediating. I involuntary walked closer. Why can't I just leave this girl alone?

I saw that saw that she was wearing head phones. She was talking to someone. "I'm not mad mom." Lachelle spoke. "I wish you wouldn't just send me away though."

I sat down a few feet back. I don't think she noticed me.

"Mom listen please." Lachelle begged. "I only fought back because they were bullying me again. Mom I didn't ask to be this way. Mom please."

I felt the pain in her voice. I watched as she ripped her headphones out her ears.

"Go to her." 

No thanks strange voice. She's clearly not in the mood to talk. Right?

I quietly laid on the dock as I watched Lachelle go back to mediating. I don't want to go too far. I feel safer when she's around.