Week Three: Junior Year

I stayed at Jake's for the evening. We ended up playing football and some rad video games until Jake got tired. It was nice just to have some dude time.

I felt a lot calmer when he walked home to find mom humming in the kitchen. She was relaxed and happy. Dinner was just the two of us. It was quiet, but calm, and when I left to my room she looked a lot happier.

She had gotten a job at some local dinner as a waitress and was doing well there. It was great because sometimes she would bring home food that was amazing! Have you ever had a bacon rapped hotdog covered in chili! It's like eating heaven.

I get ready for bed. I looked in the small mirror. I hesitated and looked closer. Patterns and zigzags lined my back as if I was struck by lightning and it had traveled down my spine and branched out. It looked red and hot. That wasn't new, but it looked a lot worse then when I had checked it a couple days ago. It kinda hurt, but I ignored it.

I turned and looked at my face closely. When had my eyes turned blue? I thought they had always been a dark brownish-green. I shivered as my cool eyes stared back silently. Everything looked normal. Well, as normal as ever. Except for them.

I stepped back from the mirror and threw on some clothes. The Squip powered on and didn't say anything, probably debating if it was worth correcting me on something I had overlooked. It powered off shortly after.

I fell asleep with unease.

The next day my back hurt worse, but I figured I couldn't do much about that. I went to school like always, because that's what people do.

As I entered my Squip powered on again. It's little green muppet face had a blue-grey tinge to it. If a muppet could look sick the Squip did a pretty good job showing it.
"Rich, no one likes you. Look around. Everyone's judging you, how you look.
Theyknow...ɬｻ∑ㄚ Ҝ₦Ꮎ🆆!" It screeched and I walked into the bathroom and threw up in the toilet.

Strings of fruit loops and mucus lined my chin. "What the hell?" I said to Kermit the Fuck.

"Rich, your shirt is old. You need a new one before too long. Also it has been 604800.4 seconds since you got laid. Your status is decreasing! You're a loser! Everyone will know it. They know everything about you is the worst. It makes me sick." It said glitching in and out of my vision. As it hissed out the word sick the voice changed to something darker and I felt a pulse of electricity down my back. I threw up again. More fruit-loops down the drain.

"W-why are you doing this?" I sobbed.

"I'm going to improve your life Rich, even if I have to train you and this entire school to do it." It said glitching into static. It's voice softened, "I know you need me Rich. Come on, get up. Clean yourself up. If you exit in a couple minuets a female will bump into you and start a promising conversation." It mimicked trying to help me to my feet as I stood and washed my face of fruity residue. I looked pale.

I exited and bumped into Jenna. She was crying. "R-Rich, hey..." she said looking tired and brushing away her tears quickly. I grimaced. Was this the "promising conversation" that the Squip had been talking about? I'll pass.

I was in no mood to make anyone feel better. I ignored her and walked passed as if she hadn't even said anything. As I left I heard her choke on another sob.

I walked to my locker. Jake was at his own talking with Christine. "Rich," The Squip said sweetly. "He doesn't care about you. Yesterday he was using you as a personal distraction. That's all you are."

"You're wrong." I mumbled to myself.

"Listen to what they're saying Rich." The Squip opened my hearing.

Jake smiled at Christine who was blushing. "Do ya wanna come over to my place tonight? We'll get all sporty and play cricket or get a forty and just kick it? My parents won't be home so it's alright. They laundered money now their on the run." He said not realizing what he said until after. He awkwardly cleared his throat as Christine said something unimportant. "That means the house is empty...so that's fun?"

Didn't we do that just yesterday? "I told you Rich. You're a replacement. Jake is nothing. I told you before, you don't need him. I could get you in with the real crowd. Jake's time is over. Would you like to upgrade Rich? I could block this useless worm from your field of vision. All you have to say is, Optic Nerve Blocking- On, and he will be out of your way. Forever. And you'll be one more step closer to being the most popular person on the planet." It encouraged me. I hesitated and looked away from Jake.

What if he was just using me...all this time. He was just using me, out of all the people who I could trust I trusted him the most. I thought it was mutual. I wasn't obviously, and now it hurt. I looked up at Jake. He was just closing his locker. Christine and him hand in hand. She didn't look very happy.

Jake turned to me and smiled. He waved to me and I looked away. When I looked back he was walking over with Christine. "Yo Richy G, you know Christine right?" Jake said presenting Christine who looked wholly uncomfortable. I nodded and smiled politely. She gave a soft hello. "So I was wondering if you, yah know, had anyone you were taking to the party tomorrow night."

I smiled ruefully. "Nope, but I'll be there." I said, Jake looked almost relived to hear me say that.

"I'll see you then Richy!" He said as the bell rang over our silence. I smiled and waved.

"Rich- have you made a̘̫͈̭͌͛͌̇̇̍ d̥̝̮͙͈͂̐̇ͮ̏̔̀̚ͅe̮̟͈̣̖̰̩̹͈̾ͨ̑͑c͔ͣͦ́́͂ͅi̞̟̫̺ͭ̒ͭͣs̪̭̱̼̼̉̈́ͪ͋̽̚t̘̟̼̉̈́͐͋͌̊i̞̟̫̺ͭ̒ͭͣo͎̜̓̇ͫ̉͊ͨ͊n͉̠̙͉̗̺̋̋̔ͧ̊?" The Squip asked.

I swallowed, "Optic Nerve b-blocking..."