Chapter #19Out of the Fire, Into the Madhouse by: Nostrum   Shit, you realize. Is Jimmy coming in to cause trouble?
“Oh, hello!” Samantha stands before you two, wide-eyed and grinning. “Uh... David, right?”
“Uh...” You look at Jessica, who’s pouting angrily with her arms crossed. “Yeah. Samantha, right?”
“Yeah. Listen – some girl told me I talked to you yesterday. Did I?”
“Uh...” You glance at Jessica again. “Yeah. You were really nice, actually. You even asked her if the cheerleaders could help you promote your next recital.”
“That can’t be right. I mean...” She mutters. “...she told me something about it. Anyways, is she your girlfriend?”
Something’s off. Despite the feeling of deja vu, it feels like you’re talking to the real deal. “Yeah. I was telling her about our meeting. Samantha, this is Jessica. Jess--”
“I know about her,” your girlfriend growls.
“Anyways - I don’t remember a lot about Saturday because of something that happened, but I wanted to clear a few things. I dunno what I talked with your boyfriend, but I hope this doesn’t cause you any trouble.”
“If you don’t remember a lot, how do you know it’s him?”
“I recognized him because he interviewed me for the newspaper. Say, you were on the bus to Starky’s, right? With your friend?”
“Exactly!” You can’t believe you’ll need his help to save your ass. “Jimmy Wilson. You know him?”
“No, but my friend Lauren did. She had the same issue – you know what happened after we talked?”
“I...” You gulp. “You asked for help because your friend wasn’t feeling well. Something about some mini-quiches you ate.”
“Is that so? That can’t be – I mean, I had someone tell me I was a little indisposed--”
That must’ve been Aurora...
“--but I know that can’t be the case. All I wanna say is... Jessica, right?”
“That’s my name, yes.”
“I didn’t mean to put your boyfriend on notice. I barely know him, alright. I told your friend that, but I figured you also needed to hear it.”
“Well...” It seems that Jimmy wasn’t improvising when he neutralized Kelly – but is he doing it again, or is this the real Samantha apologizing? “Thanks. David here was a little scared to tell.”
“Figures. I mean – I get why you make such a cute couple. Anyways, I said what I needed to say. Please support the Edgefield Musical Experience, alright?”
“Sure!” your girlfriend exclaims. “I mean – I try to support everything in school, but the tickets can be a little expensive.”
“I know, but we need all the money we can for our big end-of-year venue. I’ll tell everyone about that. Again, sorry about whatever happened Saturday; I hope it doesn’t happen again.”
“Alright,” Jessica says, wrapping her arm around yours. “Won’t take more of your time.”
“Sure, sure! And, uh... have a nice day. Bye.”
As she leaves, you feel dragged by your girlfriend’s jealousy, though it seems Samantha’s disarming words had an effect. “Alright, so that settles that. Next time, try not to be so shifty, alright?”
“Uh, yeah...” In a way, you’re thankful she covered up for you. If Jessica knew what you really did – to Lauren, to Aurora – she’d probably flay you. (Which, when you think about it, is a fitting punishment.) Perhaps you’re still not trustworthy but at least you’re not the villain in her eyes.
--
Yet, as you’re back home, you’re still curious. Was that the real Samantha, or was that Jimmy under her face?
After a little rest, you immediately dial Jimmy’s phone. Your fears grow as he doesn’t answer the first few times, and after a cryptic “ttyl”, you figure it must be because he’s inside someone. You suspect it must be Samantha, but he did ask you – informally – to identify him.
You know what the pens can do. With the black one, you slip into their skin and become indistinguishable from the original. (Perhaps, because you’re wearing them.) And with the brown one, you may not have all their memories, but enough of them to fool even their closest relatives. Will you be able to recognize someone wearing another as a skin, despite knowing that?
You set the phone aside and close your eyes before you hear a knock at the door. You open, and it’s Claire. “Hey Davey.”
“What’s going on?”
“What were you doing on Saturday?” That gives you the chills.
“I told Mom already – I was with Jimmy, we walked around the town, then we took a bus--”
“Yeah, yeah, you told me that already. But I know that wasn’t the case.”
You lift your brow. “Whaddya mean you ‘know’?”
“C’mon...” She sits at the corner of your bed, smirking. “You’re telling Mom that to save your ass. You were doing something with Jimmy, didn’t you?”
“I don’t have to tell you anything! I don’t ask what you do with Katie, do I?”
“True. But I don’t get into trouble while with her, no?” The way she’s addressing you is far too cocky for her usual annoying pest behavior. She’s trying to wrangle you for the answer, but it feels like she knows more than she’s letting on. “So be honest, Davey. Were you doing some naughty stuff?”
“No, I wasn’t.”
“Really? The way you acted yesterday in front of Jess, makes me feel like you do.” She leans close, smirking. “Feeling guilty about something?”
Though you try to hold it, you can’t help your eyes snapping wide open. “It’s none of your business, Claire-bear! Now get out before I call Mom and tell her you’re pestering me!”
“Not if you’re trying to hide any misdeeds...” She steps out but turns to give you one last tease. “Maybe I should go with Katie and do something naughty – Mom's not gonna mind, right?”
Though you want to question her, your body betrays you. Could Jimmy be inside Claire, taunting you? Or is it a trick of your mind?
--
You try checking on Jimmy a few more times, but he’s not answering. He can’t be angry at you (as otherwise you’d get an angry response) and his phone isn’t off because it doesn’t automatically send you to voicemail. You strongly suspect he must be inside someone and he’s busy, which makes things worse.
If Jimmy’s inside someone, it must be from school. You still suspect Samantha, because of her sudden appearance (especially with Jessica around), or Claire because of her attitude and odd taunt, but it could easily be anyone else. You suspect it’s not a guy, as you feel he’s more interested in ogling chicks from within, but it could be anyone.
If he’s inside Claire, though, you feel your best bet is to call Jessica. She could spy on your behalf, but you owe her some attention. You call, and she immediately responds. “Dave?”
“Jess? Is Claire with Katie?”
“I haven’t heard her come in.” You hold your breath. Why would Claire claim she’s going with Katie and then not be there? “Then again, Katie’s not here either. Hasn’t been since school ended – Mom said she called and said she had something to do outside.”
“And your mom lets her?”
“David, she’s a big girl now. As long as Mom knows where she is...” You feel, from the subtle way she exhales, that her expression has changed. “You know something I don’t?”
“It’s just that...” You sigh. “Claire just came in, saying she suspects I did something naughty on Saturday.”
“Were you as shifty back then as you were today?”
“Not necessarily. I mean, I was a bit scared Mom would chew me out because I arrived late, but since I arrived with Jimmy’s mom and she knew we’d be around town and my brother was at the place Mrs. Wilson got me--”
“Yeah, you probably gave her that idea.”
It’s funny that she says that – funny enough to prompt you to face her. “So you’re saying she overreacted?”
“Maybe? I can’t say – what was her reaction back then.”
“She asked why I could be that late outside with Jimmy while she couldn’t be just as late with your sister. And it was like 20 minutes late or something – not like it was an hour. It’s like I make a single mistake and suddenly I get judged like a criminal.”
The silence on the other side tells you everything. “You’re still sore about what happened earlier, right?”
“Not gonna say yes, but not gonna say no either.”
“David! You know I have no issues with your friends!” (Except she always tells you Jimmy’s a bad influence and gives you a wide berth when Trish’s around.) “And Kel can exaggerate sometimes – she was more worried about what you were doing with Jimmy than that girl!”
“That’s not what your looks were telling me.”
“Well, you can’t expect me to not be a little jealous. Other than Trish and... well, Sam Brown, I know you don’t know many other girls.”
“How about Ashley and Joanna, from the school newspaper?”
“Do you hang out with them?” As you mumble “no”, she presses on. “Exactly. So having someone getting close, while you’re around, is gonna make me a little jealous.”
“Even when she barely recognized me?”
“Yeah, pretty much. And before you ask any more silly questions, I’m also kinda jealous of her.”
“Why?” you ask, half humoring her and half reaffirming what you believe. “You’re hot, Babe.”
“Yeah, but... You’ve seen Kelly, right?”
“Uh-huh. I’m just wondering why you’re not jealous of her. And before you make any more silly excuses,” you counter her, “if I was interested in someone else, you’d probably know. You got the whole package, Babe.”
“Aww...!” You hear her chuckle, and you know you won her over. “Anyways, Claire hasn’t been here, so you’ll have to go look for her. If I know something, I’m gonna tell you, alright?”
“Yeah, figured as much. I’ll do the same if she reappears. Thanks, Babe.”
“It’s alright. And don’t hide things from me, alright? We shouldn’t.”
Those last words strike you hard. Would she have accepted learning about the pens if you went to her house first? Will she accept if you confess?
Is it wise to confess, now that you don’t have the pens?  indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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