...

I black out.

...

I wake up.

...

Bright.

Everything is too bright.

Why is it so bright?

I clench my eyes shut.

I open them.

The bright light is gone.

I shut them again.

I snap my body up-

*AAAAHHHHUUUUHHHH*.

-and violently inhale.

My eyes rapidly search my surroundings, adjusting to the dimly lit room.

Emily, and my mom and dad, are sitting in front of me.

All of them concerned, and, maybe even, alarmed?

My mom is gripping my right wrist.

For some reason, I want to rip my arm from her grasp.

But I don't.

And I don't know why, I I don't.

"Honey"?

"Honey, is everythig okay"?

"Fee."

"Talk to me, Fee".

Too many voices.

"Felicity, what's going on with you"?

"Fee, you- you said eveything was okay, but... That wasn't- Fee, what is going on"?!

Too many voices.

"Honey, you have to talk to us".

"Please, just tell us what is going on".

Make them stop.

"Honey"?

Make it stop.

"Felicity"?

Stop.

"Fee"?

I said stop.

"What is going on"?

"STOP ITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT"!

They all stare at me, shocked.

My mom holds her wrist in her hand and I see a small trickle of blood run down the side of her cheek.

I realize, I did rip my arm from her grasp.

But I also scratched her.

"Mom- I, I..."

"Don't speak, just calm down".

"No I- I didn't mean to, I just-".

"I know you didn't mean to- just let us-"

"You all, were just demanding that I tell you what the heck is going on with me"!

"Felicity, now we just want to-"

"No." I turn to Emily, who is shaking; "Emily? What did you- are you crying"?

She puts her head in her hands.

"I'm not- I'm not, not crying!" she sobs.

"Emily? Can you please tell us what happened"?

"She just- she, she was acting nervous, and- and- and- and-"

"Take a breath sweetie, I'm going to go clean this cut," and my mom walks out of the room.

"She just told me she was fine, and I didn't believe her, and she- she-she wasn't fine like she said she was".

"You said she was acting nervous"?

"Stop interrogating her, dad".

"You. Are the one, that caused this mess," he says, sticking his right index finger at my face.

I shrink away, and he turns back around to Emily, who is still shaking and crying.

"What happened after Felicity said she was, fine"?

"She screamed".

"Yeah, that was what woke us up, but did Felicity do anything else"?

"No. She just screamed. I've never heard anything like it".

"What do you mean by that? You've never heard anything like it"?

"Dad. Stop, the questioning".

"Felicity. Stop it. Right now".

"I've never heard anyone scream like she did," she says, looking at me with terrified eyes, "it was like, she was, possessed, or something".

My eyes have been clenched shut, trying to not believe any of this.

But now; they snap open.

"Possessed?" I ask her.

"Y- Yes"...?

"Was that a question, or an answer"?

"I- I don't- stop it, your scaring me, Fee"!

"Felicity, I really don't think that that now's the time to-"

"Emily, what, did you see"?

"I-"

"WHAT did you see"!?

"I- I- I didn't see anything, I just saw you, laying on the bed, and then you just, like froze, and you screamed, and that's all I can remember, up until right now".

She full-on crying now, her eyes are glassy with tears, and there is snot running down her face.

My dad stands up, walks to the door, and says; "I'm to check on your mom, while you two sort whatever," he waves his arms at us; "this, is, out". He walks out, slamming the door behind him.

"Fee"?...

"What?" I sigh.

"What is going on"?

I stay silent.

"Fee"?

"I don't want to talk about it".

"Does, whatever is happening to you, have anything to do, with the demonic possession thing"?

I freeze.

"I think you should drop that subject, right now".

She winces.

"Sorry, I am fine. I promise".

"No".

"What"?

"You don't promise".

"What are you talking about"?

"You said you're fine".

"So? I am fine".

"No. You're not fine".

"Whatever you say".

"Fee, I still want to be your friend, but I want to make one thing clear".

I look at her; "And what's that"?

She burns her eyes into mine; "Friends don't lie".

And she's right.

But I've already broken that rule.

I look at my Tate McRae poster that hangs above my bookshelf.

Her eyes say it too.

"Shut up," I say to her in my head.

She stares back at me.

I turn back to Emily because she's been calling my name as I stare at Tate's glorious face. 

"Okay," I tell her.

But as I say it; I know I'm lying.