When you talk to Nate, it seemed as if he just woke up, he walked hunched with bags under his eyes and he yawned whenever. He didn't talk animatedly, joke or have eye contact but he seemed the opposite. His eyes seemed to dart, his teeth chattered, and he always snapped his head as if eager to find something. His nails were bitten till the skin bled and his curls were messy and stuck in many different directions.

Was he getting any sleep? He muttered words sluggishly like 'please don't kill me' or 'I'll do what you said'. He seemed to plead for mercy or double-check his surroundings. His body froze, his eyes widened, and his pupils dilated as if he was being overstimulated. Whenever he sees me, he'll place his hands on his ears tightly with closed eyes or closed his eyes. If I'm too close, he'll flinch as if he waited for impact, scowl at me with bloodshot eyes or run away.

His foot hovered then he froze, whirled then ran away and it seemed to happen repeatedly whenever I seemed to be nearby. Sometimes he gawked at me in class, hallway or at lunch with those dead, pale and dilated eyes, froze when he saw me, darted his eyes, or jumped when tensed like a scared bunny. He played with his fingers, ducked his head or shuffled his feet. He wasn't energetic, smiley or excited; he was dull, distant and exhausted.

His eyes landed on me then he vanished from me and sometimes he shoved me with a crazy glint in his eyes, but it got worse.

"Thalia, please stay away from me. He keeps on haunting me. In my dreams, when I close my eyes. Everywhere. I can't sleep!" He begged me as he walked backwards with widened eyes then his knees fell on the floor and his body jerked upright. A scream tore from his lips as his body bent unusually and his bones tensed and froze. Then he trashed left and right on the floor in agonising pain as his body bent in weird ways. I stood glued to the ground as I watched Nate panic and scream in agony and I was unable to do anything. Nothing.

Then on Wednesday, things got weird and violent. Nate sat on his desk, idle. His hair was tousled; his eyes were widened and bloodshot with bags under his eyes. He placed his hands on the desk. He didn't mutter, joke or fidget around. He didn't make paper planes or origami or spat tiny paper balls at his neighbours. He didn't do his morning rounds of harassing Hayley's boyfriend. He was just there as he stared into the unknown with pursed lips and a creepy lifeless stare. It was strange, and all he did was gawk at the whiteboard. Everyone noticed and it was unnerving. Some of the boys waved at him, shouted or danced in front of him but he didn't budge or he was still unresponsive. He bilked then snapped his eyes to me then looked around his desk. I shuddered and everyone whispered.

"What the hell?"

"It's that a demon or something?" A thin boy asked.

"Nate! You in there! Nate!" Hayley screamed, waved her hands frantically.

"Skinwalker!" One chubby girl cried and acted like a zombie.

Sasha gaped at him and then glared at me. A lump formed in my throat. He pressed his palm on his forehead, closed his eyes and inhaled sharply.

"Nate, are you ok?" Sasha asked, got up from her seat and ran to him as Nate jumped from his seat and nodded but I got the stares, the perked ears and the confused faces. Light filtered out of the windows as the blinds pulled up, and the posters all in different colours and shapes fluttered in the wind. Everyone was busy, the metal dragged on the floor, and some girls used their phones with multi-coloured nails and boomed One Direction and Justin Bieber music from their iPods. Nate nodded in reply but his head cocked, eyes drooped then he fell sideways.

"Y-yeah," he stammered, "I-I'm fine." Then his eyes closed as he swayed like a flag.

"Nathaniel!"Sasha gasped, she ran to him and so did I. Sasha placed his hands on her shoulders but glared at me when I approached further as Nate's shoulders tensed. His legs dragged uselessly behind him. His eyes widened as Sasha scowled then blurted," Thalia," She said calmly as poison leaked through her words. "I think you should go!" However, I was stubborn as a boulder in a storm.

I shook my head firmly as Nate's widened eyes seemed to burgle out of his sockets and trembling bottom lips. Everyone whispered and others ignored me but it was quiet. Sasha narrowed her eyes. "What on earth did you do to him?"She accused.

I stared at him and then at her with a gulp. "Can't you see Nate's in distress," I cried and pointed to a horrified Nate who shook and gaped at me with cracked, duck lips. "He is more important. "She seethed.

***

We plopped him on the cot as gently as possible and the nurse, Mrs Janelle, a tall and lanky woman in her mid-twenties with her long blonde hair in a ponytail under a cap. She smiled broadly and Sasha crossed her arms to her chest as Mrs Janelle placed a thermometer in his mouth and screamed in horror then she double-checked. Sasha leaned closer and my eyes seemed to grow into saucers then she stammered and fanned her face and it grew red, "Oh my God!" Sasha and I exchanged confused glances as her blonde brows furrowed with concern. She placed her palm on her chest and placed the thermometer on a kidney-shaped tray on her desk.

The nurse's room was a large room with beige walls and huge marble tiles. At the side of the room were drawers filled with documents and behind a messy wooden desk was a glass cabinet filled with pills and medications. In the middle where we stood were cots about four lined a row with a heavy white curtain for privacy. I felt as if I was in a ward in a hospital then an infirmary and on the walls were posters of the parts of the body and a Skeleton hanging on a metal beside Nate's cot.

The whole time we travelled here, Sasha gave me glares as we walked passed and Nate seemed uneasy which made sense. He was in this place because of me but the guilt made me want to help him instead I only made it worse.

When we climbed, the large stairs and people passing by whispered or laughed and gasped dramatically, when we crossed the hallway to the infirmary Sasha glared at me, or Nate's shoulders tensed.

Two eleventh graders saw us climb their lane and muttered about the rumours and how much drama we freshmen got and complained or accepted it was better to not have any drama. They found it strange.

"Thank God we don't do this..."

"When I was in ninth grade I ..."

"Ninth graders, oh please..."

They looked at me with confusion or confusion or flew past us in a frenzy.

She paced around in a circle then wiped out her phone and tapped quickly as the line crashed. She cursed then apologised then tapped faster. She talked quickly then wiped her brow. She turned to us and smiled but this time it was forced and showed wrinkles. She bolted to Nate, uncovered the blanket, placed her short pink nails on his forehead, and murmured a curse then she flipped us a thumbs up. Sasha and I exchanged another glance. She hurriedly walked to him and wrapped a plastic wrap around his hands. She elevated him, placed pillows and removed his shoes as he stared at the mirror with eyes averted to the window and lips agape. She brought more pillows as the machine beeped. She gaped at the beeping machine then grabbed another thermometer and placed one under his armpit. She stared at both of them with wide eyes then stared at his blood pressure. Whenever we tried to approach she shooed us anyway with a small smile and reassurance but her eyes twitched and her fingers clenched then unclenched or she hid or turned the machine away from us with a glance and curt nod.

She ran and dialed and screamed," His pressure is too high and his temperature is too high!" She screamed into the phone. "Calm down, bitch. You yelling at me to calm the fuck down. The kid is fucking dying. And you're telling me to calm the fuck down." She clenched the strings and yelled into the phone.

"Y-you ladies should return to your classes now." She commanded with a fake cheery voice and forced laughter. She rubbed her clammy hands together with a grin and wiped her glossy forehead.

"Damn." Sasha gasped. "That lady can switch."

Then she walked towards us with that eerie smile and cocked her head. She cleared her throat and raised a finger," I am so sorry. I-I am having a few minor issues. Be right back." She stepped back and pushed the thick curtain and blocked Nate and herself. Sasha attempted to peek but it was too heavy and thick so she reeled back. She blinked back tears and wiped her face with her elbow. I averted my head and walked to the wooden gate. Sasha's sniffles echoed through the room as I cradled my face in my hands.

Under her blonde curtain of hair, Sasha glared at me and asked," Are you happy? Thalia. Are you?" She scolded with her nose red as she wiped her red eyes.

I shook my head and whispered ever so softly," No."I answered, averting my head and stared at my shoes." I'm not."

The curtain fluttered to the side as Sasha and I caught a view of Nate with eyes that bulge, skin pasty white and eyes widened and frozen with lips cracked and agape. Honestly, he looked like a corpse or someone in the brick of death about to be hugged by the harsh frost. He dug his frozen, tensed fingers under the sheets as his body arched painfully and he struggled to breathe and murmured with glazed eyes, too pale then he collapsed on the cot with pained, hoarse pants as he seemed to dissolve the sheets.

The nurse clamped her hand firmly to her lip as she cursed aloud," Shit," Then she breathed heavily then walked up to us with a frown and hands on her hip. Her scrubs were as white as the lady's.

She smiled, pulled and forced, "Everything is fine. Everything we'll be alright. I'll handle this now girlies." Sasha flinched, wiped her wet face with her hands, and cleaned her face but the nurse was bright, happy and warm with an iron exterior. I felt as if she tried to convince herself more than us." I've called the school authorities and alerted his mother. Everything is fine." She smiled, her left eye fluttered then she went into the room with wobbly legs.

"A kid can't die. I can't get sued." She yelled hysterically.

The last thing I saw was Nate who choked on his saliva and his eyes rolled over his head under the closed lids.

The door shut as we diverted ways.

What's going on with him? But I felt as if I knew the answer.

Help! Help!

On Thursday, Nate returned but he didn't speak to anyone. It wasn't a surprise to anyone either. His head was on the table and he always stood up expectantly with those wide eyes that oddly landed on me. My spine straightened as goosebumps rose on my flesh, he turned into a cat who crouched on his chair with eyes that darted everywhere, or he shivered, rubbed his palms together, warmed himself, or convulsed even though the temperature was low.

"G-guys, I don't think that's Nate."

"Skinwalker!" A girl joked and growled.

"That's not funny." The boy chided with a frown.

"Um, he's been acting weird." Ali acknowledges.

It was getting worse and by then, everyone noticed and the rumours spread like a leaf in a storm. His skin lacked colour, his eyes pale and almost lifeless as I stared at a doll and his cheeks were hollow and under his eyes were black shadows. He prowled the halls, the stairs and the cafeteria like a zombie.

"He hadn't pranked anyone. It's been three days," a boy in the last row, moaned.

"Good. He hadn't pissed anyone."

Every time he tried to approach me, he stopped at least a distance from me. He lifted one leg and tried to move but he didn't. Then a scream of agony tore from his lips as his head lifted and some unforeseen force jerked him as he held his face. Then he was flung a mile away as students and staff swarmed to him in confusion but their eyes, suspicion and confusion landed on me. I froze as Nate stared at me and then sagged to the ground, cold and dirty. As soon as the seniors saw me, one of them, a lanky, narrowed, squinty-eyed boy tried to question me but I shook my head and said nothing. Who would believe me? They inspected his body for cuts and bruises then they stared at me. A skinny tall girl. The only logic was that someone, a sumo player, ran and threw him over a distance from the middle of the wide hallway to the end which was a great distance but they were just as confused as me. The others glared with cold eyes, crossed arms and confused gazes at me but I whirled on my heels and then darted down the hallway as insults and accusations were thrown at me.

His next attempt was futile, he whirled away, held his head and groaned in pain as he crouched to the ground when he tried to approach me the second time.

Sasha lost it, sauntered over to me and yelled," Thalia, What on earth did you do to him? "She stomped her foot as her voice boomed. I recoiled and stared at the ground instead but she was livid as she yanked my arm. I was forced to gaze at her red face. She clenched and unclenched her fist to her sides and under her breath she muttered, head bowed," And stop making excuses. Y-you did something. I can sense your guilt. It's eating you alive. Good. I hate you!" She shrieked as I walked backwards at the looming figure of Sasha.

I shrank," I-I didn't do anything." I squeaked.

"Stop lying!" she spat, then walked closer to me but I stepped back." I know you did something to him."

"I didn't." I raised myself and spoke firmly," I didn't."

"You didn't?" she scoffed then chuckled darkly with a cocked head. Then she smiled. An oddly strange, calm smile. "Oh, please. I have been watching you Thalia and I can sense it. It's thick like a cloud of smoke. Then why? Why act as you did? I knew he had been visiting you and Nate never hides secrets from me but when you came. He started. I told him mine yet he didn't say what bothered him but I knew it all led to you. " She ended up coughing and choked on her voice." He always tells me." Her voice wavered and then dissolved into choked sobs. Then replied with that same calm smile."Thalia, I know you have been carrying baggage. It's the guilt."

You knew.

She knew. The entire time. "I-I". I averted my gaze and shook my head frantically as sobs choked in my throat.

"Say it. The truth will help you. "Sasha accused.

"It's not my fault." I fought.

"It is. Yes, It's all my fault," I blurted," It's my fault that Nate is like this. I caused this. I should not have invited him into my house in the first place. I knew it would happen but I wanted help. It's my fault." I sobbed.

When I finally told Sasha the truth, the tension in my shoulder loosened and I was finally at peace but not for long Just because I told the truth but half of it.

A small, sad sigh escaped from her lips and said, "I'm glad you finally told me how you felt. I want to know why Nate recently went into your house. It might be the cause." She cocked her head. I nodded.

"Yes," I replied," he did. But I think my dad did something to him."

"Then we gotta do something about that then. "She said it with her voice determined. I nodded and smiled.

Good luck with that. A low voice echoed through the depths of my mind as a wave of cold washed over me. It pricked my skin as my eyes widened. Goosebumps rose on my skin as I paused. Then the voice stretched into long, crazy laughter, which vibrated me to the core. I froze.

On Friday, something strange happened. It happened right after the snack break. Nate didn't approach anyone or me again at my lime-green locker. Some of the other ninth graders stared and pointed at a strange figure. Nate walked to me with –a smile. His lips curled and his eyes brightened as he stood a few feet away from me. I gaped at him and my arms turned to lead. I closed my mouth and slammed my locker hard.

"Nate?" I echoed confused, my mouth went slack. Nate waved at me awkwardly and his lips curved sheepishly."Hey, Thalia."He greeted and smiled harder.

I gaped harder and muttered again, "Nate?"

"You're okay?" I spluttered confused.

Way before snack break, he tried to approach me before but he paused, gritted his teeth then ran away as my chest dropped. It stung because it happened to me. Now, he stood in front of me, smiling and sauntered towards me with his unrelenting curls. He did not look like he woke at the side of the dumpster. He shuffled his feet, stared at me and I gaped at him" H-Hi, Thalia."He greeted me again with a sheepish smile but his voice was oddly low and not preppy.

Nate. Why? Why now, I asked myself as I stared at me with sadness as my lips pulled into a confused smile, His pupils returned to their emerald sheen and his cheeks got fuller and his colour returned to his cheeks.

"A-Are you alright?" He simply nodded and bit his lip.

"I-I broke. I finally broke it. What he did to me." He squealed with laughter. I gaped at him with concern. Broken? Broken what? I knew that my father traumatised him and put something in his drink but I didn't get what he broke. I knew I couldn't repair the damage I did to him. So I bowed my head and avoided his sad, emerald eyes.

With wide eyes and solemn expressions. He spoke animatedly for the first time in days. His hands went up and down as he blurted," Thalia, I'm so sorry. So, so sorry for my behaviour. I'm sorry for ignoring you," He shook his head and then stared passed the lockers with glazed eyes. Then it landed on me as he swallowed his upper lip. Why should he apologise? It was all my fault. I should be the one to hold his hand and say everything. I deserved to be ignored, and shouted at and didn't deserve any friends because friends didn't hurt friends or dragged them into traumatising situations. But he wasn't done as my eyes glazed, breathing and sobs were choked in my throat." I really mean it. I bet on Charles's finger."

I didn't really notice that some onlookers passed by either confused, lost or downright glared at us from their lockers and some strolled or bolted to their classrooms.

He took a deep breath and then continued", every time I came towards you. I heard a voice in my head that warned me to lie or avoid you because if I don't or tried. He yanked me back; insulted me and showed me his form. I could hear his voice everywhere. In my dreams, in my room and school. It felt like vibrating needles embedded into my skull. I could feel and see his presence or he chased me," He pointed at the bags under his eyes." I couldn't sleep. I saw him in my nightmares, my dreams and even when I'm awake. I thought I was going to lose my mind. Then I broke. The curse. Whatever shit he did to me. I'm free. I yelled at him to leave me alone with all my strength. I thought about everyone in my life with all my happy and peaceful thoughts. Whenever I saw him. I was like 'I'm not scared of you' or 'you aren't real' and yada yada. I took sleeping pills, and I did meditation. Ever since I broke it. I can now walk towards you."He beamed ,all his teeth.

Happiness rolled off him in waves as my cheeks heated, then I smiled at him and then laughed for the first time in days. He hummed to himself and then played with his fingers as we walked to class, side by side. We averted our gazes from one another. Heads turned and people whispered as we skirted into the class.

If I was them, I'd react the same way.

Nate did something strange, he slipped his fingers into mine. I stiffened with surprise but I relaxed. I expected his fingers to be clammy but they were oddly dry.

"Thalia, "Nate called softly.

"Yeah," I replied.

"Can I be really honest with you? "He muttered with a sigh.

My steps slowed down as I looked at him with wide eyes. Then I nodded to encourage him regardless of my confusion. I thought he annoyed the living daylights out of me but honestly, I missed him and I grew rather fond of him.

"When I saw you on Monday. I was feeling mad and bitter. I felt as if I was used by you and your dad. Even though I was paralyzed heard that I am the fifth victim and I got angry at you, then at your dad but then I realised. He could have forced you. I felt as if I was going insane so I ignored you even without those dreams. I would have. I'm pretty sure people notice that I'm not myself, completely. I have nightmares constantly. Then I broke it. I'm free." He beamed, his fingers felt warm. Two girls, Chloe on her friend's desk with ear plugs that snaked into a small pink IPod and Joyce sat on her chair. Baby by Justin Bieber boomed the small hot pink mini speakers as they both giggled and gushed. Joyce swung her legs and said compliments about how cute and talented he is. I was so lost because I never bothered to listen to popular music. I preferred loud or classical music or anything that drowned out sound.

Before I sat down, Nate petted my head and his lips curled then went back to his seat. Again, that earned looks and other things.

"What the hell?"

"Most dysfunctional couple goes to..."A black boy with wild locks drummed on his desk dramatically.

"Can you girls cut the music off? It's so crappy and annoying that I'm getting migraines. "Nate snapped, placed his fingers on his forehead and pretended to faint dramatically

"Look who crawled out from the dead." Joyce spat as she snapped her long silky hair.

"What crawled into your ass and died," Chloe, a girl with short wavy blonde hair, deadpanned with a scowl and stared at her fist." First of all, he is way cuter than you'll ever be and sings better and has talent. Unlike you. The only thing you do better is piss everyone off. I preferred you better when you looked like death." They cackled like witches, those fourteen-year-olds.

"Talent, yeah right. He sounds like a five-year girl and looks like a boy now going into puberty." He retorted with a laugh. They exchanged an annoyed glance and crossed their arms over their chests. They had the oddest friendship, a Goth chick and a preppy pink mean girl. The girls showed how weird they were and hissed.

He chuckled and waved energetically then snapped his head." Hey, Thalia. Any new drawings?" He asked with a crooked smile.

We got more strange stares or blatantly ignored mostly from Ali who looked invested with raised brows and an agape mouth. He opened his mouth and then closed it.

"No, I haven't drawn recently. You know those drawings." I joked.

He chuckled and we got weird looks and more whispers. I gaped like a fish.

Sasha bolted up from her seat and ran to Nate. "You're alright!"Sasha gasped, wrapping her tightly around Nate with a smile, "Oh, my God. You're fine, Alive. "She squished him as Nate, red-faced and choking, flapped his arms and writhed in her iron grip like a bird losing oxygen.

"You're alive!" Hayley gasped.

"Tight. Zero. Oxygen. I'm dying." She squashed him harder with a tight smile. Then she nuzzled into his chest. Then she screamed at him with a jab to his chest, don't you ever scare me like that. Ever again. Or else, you'll be dead. "Then her voice cracked with a sob as she fanned her face," I-I thought I lost you that y-you were dying or something. I-I thought Thalia hurt you or did something." Nate's eyes glazed and blinked.

"I'm fine. I really am. I went to the hospital. It was minor. See, I'm fine."

"Minor," She echoed angrily, " no that was not minor. That was deadly. Nate, you could have died. Your temperature and your behaviour. You had bags under your eyes, you were distracted. You were scared and whatnot. And honestly, you look like shit. A whole lot of it."

Then she looked around and Ali muttered as he shook his head with a sigh. "Damn, this is more dramatic than telenovelas and I've watched a lot of 'em."

Hayley agreed with a nod as Sasha placed her hands on her hips and said, "You confuse me, Nate. Seriously, what on earth is wrong with you? You went from being downright mean to her, then you nicely weirdly looked at her as if she killed your mother and ignored her as if she had the plague. You changed from you to depressed and traumatised and now you guys are laughing and smiling like old friends. "She yelled, pointing to each finger as she stated her reasons.

Hayley nodded and Ali smiled.

"I'm fine now. It was something minor, see." He spread his arms and grinned, red-faced.

"You confuse me, Nathanial," Sasha muttered with crossed arms.