Week Four: Senior Year

"I don't know what to do Michael..." it was Jeremy. He sounded upset. I could hear someone shuffle then grunt.

"I...I didn't mean to I swear. I-I just I can't control it sometimes and, and, and, a-and-" Jeremy stuttered and gasped for breath. I stood to leave. This conversation didn't involve me.

I shifted and my head suddenly felt like it was being pounded in with a rock. A fuzzy noise erupted in my ears and I could hear Jeremy scream. I heard a voice close to mine, but then I realized I was screaming too. I held my head.

Someone put their hands on me and put something in my mouth. I was liquid so I tried to spit it out. I had no doubt my face was red and I could faintly feel tears trickling down my face.

The Squip was trying to talk to me, but all that came out was terrifying mechanical garble. It made the stinging feeling in my mouth taste like iron.

Then it quieted. Not all at once, but echoing. I'd never heard it do that before. I looked to see Michael smirking down at Jeremy. He looked at me and let out a sigh.

"W-what happened?" I asked, holding my head.

Michael gave me a half-smile. Jeremy laughed, "Michael made an entrance." Michael chuckled.

"Walang anuman, ikaw asno" Michael pushed Jeremy lightly in sport.

Jeremy looked at Michael blankly. I guess he understood as much of that as I did.

There was still liquid in my mouth; I spit it out. Turns out I had freaked out so hard I had bit through my cheek. Blood was mixing with saliva in my mouth and stinging. "What wath that?" I said, but it sounded more garbled with all the blood. Michael held up a bottle and gave me an empathetic look.

"Mountain Dew Red, dude. It's the only safe way I know to get rid of his Squip." Michael said, Jeremy nodded enthusiastically.

"You didn't know? What do you use?" Jeremy asked standing shakily. Michael put an arm around Jeremy's waist to help support him and Jeremy gave him a thankful glance.

"Uh..." I didn't want to tell them. They would think I was a weirdo. "N-nothing." They gave me a strange look, but Jeremy shrugged it off.

We went back inside the school building. I turned my phone on to call my mom. Immediately my ringer went off like a fire alarm. Jake had blown up my phone asking where I was. I could tell he was having a melt down. Usually when he was worried he would text a short 'u ok?' And I would text a thumbs up emoji.

I texted a quick affirmative that I was, indeed, alive and well. I called my mom, she had just figured I'd stayed after school to hang out with some friends.

When I got home a practically face planted into my bed. Jake was in my room, but he was on the computer looking scores of a game he said was really important. I didn't pay attention.

When I woke up I was covered in what I could only describe as a Jake rag. He was rapped around me smelling like he had just played a soccer tournament. He was shaking. His breath came out in huffs. This wasn't new, Jake had night terrors. He screamed and I patted his head. He shook and finally became still.

I checked the clock, two more hours of sleep. I laid down and stared at my ceiling. For some reason I couldn't sleep. I patted Jakes head mindlessly as I though about the day. What I had to do.

Brooke's big party was soon. I almost didn't want to go, they'd told me it would be a hell of a time, but with the current record of parties that I'd been too I really hope it wasn't. I shivered as my feet grew cold under the blankets. Jake stirred and slowly peeled his eyes open to look at me. He said nothing, but I could tell he felt like something was off.

He de-attached himself from me and looked at the ceiling as well. We didn't touch, and we didn't speak. We let the night sounds overtake our senses.

I woke up before Jake. I must have fallen asleep and didn't realize. I woke from a strange dream, but when I tried to think back on it I got static.

Jake groaned and got up a little after and went to brush his teeth. We continued with our mundane day. Sometimes it's good to have some normality in life.

Today was the science final. I wasn't worried, after this it would be History, the subject I'd struggled with throughout high school. Then it was over. No more finals. No more high school.

It had been a long four years. A lot happened. People had changed so much and I'd changed so much. I learned things and I felt, for the first time, content in my life.

I'd talked to my counselor about what was for my future. I still wasn't clear, but she'd said I could get into Stevens Institute with my current grades. It seemed like a good school. I'd need to apply this summer.

Jake was riding on a full scholarship to Rutgers University. His grades were high enough, and he was excited to get into athletics. He wanted to be a coach or an athletic scientist or something like that. We were pending on an acceptance letter in the mail any time.

The rest of the day was pretty mild. Nothing really happened. After school me and Jake went to go eat and catch up. We both noticed the impending deadline of the year, I guess we just wanted to get closer to each other before the trials of College and making a name four ourselves really became what our lives were.

We were hopeful, but both of us realized this about each other. We were  very, very scared.