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'Don't be so dramatic, this isn't Shakespeare'
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Dreams are a series of thoughts, images and sensations happening in a persons mind. Sometimes people find it difficult to tell the difference between a dream and reality, and I never thought I would be one of those people.
I was sitting on a park bench near the old playground. Everything was rundown but I didn't seem to notice. It was silent, so silent that I felt like my ears were ringing. I didn't notice the way the clouds darkened the longer I sat there, I didn't notice the once green trees were now dead and mopey. I didn't notice anything.
It was like time was continuing as my body was stuck in place. No thoughts, no emotions, just a plain empty shell.
And then I woke up.
I groan softly as I rub my eyes before they start to adjust and I realise where I am.
I'm at school in my history class, but it was completely empty. No teacher, no students, no lights, it was just me.
I slowly stand up and walk out of the classroom, only to find the rest of the school was completely the same. The ringing in my ears only continued to get louder as I slowly walk, but my footsteps made no sound.
The further I walked, the more my surroundings changed until soon I was walking down an empty hallway that had a door at the end.
Wind started to pick up in the hallway as I look behind me to find the darkness getting closer and closer. I pant as I quickly make a run for the door, only to find that I'm only running in place as the darkness continues to get closer and closer before it finally takes over everything.
I stop moving as I stand still in the darkness, no light, no sound, only the faint ringing in my ears that continues to get louder and louder before it gets too much as I cover my ears with a yell, collapsing on the floor.
And then I woke up.
I pant loudly as I realise I'm in my room. I look out my window to find that I forgot to shut my curtains but I can see that it's still night time.
I take a deep breath before sighing in relief, but that relief turns into a loud scream as I look infront of me to find myself standing frozen at the end of my bed.
My skin had black veins all over me and my eyes were a pitch black. Black blood was dripping down from my eyes as I stared right at myself in terror.
I grunt as I throw my doona off me and make a run for my door. I grab onto the doorknob and attempt to open it but it's locked.
"No escape" I hear myself mutter in an empty voice. "No escape, no escape, no escape!"
The whispering turned into yelling until all I can hear is the ringing and my voice. I feel tears fall down my face as I block my ears with my hands, slowly sliding down the door until I'm huddled in a ball on the ground.
The voices got louder and louder before I let out a loud scream and everything stops. The silence is back. I slowly open my eyes and take my hands off my ears as I realise I'm back in the darkness.
"No! Let me out!" I yell loudly as I quickly stand up and turn in circles, looking for a way out but all I find is darkness. "Please! Let me out!"
"There is no way out" I hear a voice whisper as I turn around to see a figure standing a few metres away from me.
I slowly walk forward towards the figure but their back is turned.
"What do you mean?" I tentatively ask as I slowly get closer.
"No way out..." The voice whispers in a haunting voice that makes a shiver go down my spine. "No way out"
I slowly get closer as I raise a hand and place it on the figures shoulder only for them to turn around as I scream and step back.
I was staring at myself, only once again, it wasn't really me.
The black ooze continues to drip down my pitch black eyes as I hold out my darkened hands with a frightening look on my face.
"There's no way out!" I hear myself scream but I had already turned around to run.
I don't get far before I feel myself fall as I take a step. I plummet through the darkness, no sound, no light, no escape.
And then I woke up.
I look around to find myself in my bedroom, the sun peeking through the curtains of my window, my completed homework on my desk, my clothes for today sitting on the end of my bed.
I've finally woken up.
I suddenly feel a wetness under my nose as I wipe it with my hand. I hold my hand in front of me as I find black blood smeared across my finger.
It was a dream...wasn't it?
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I decided to call Claire and ask her if her parents can drive me to school this morning. The faint ringing in my ears hadn't stopped yet and my vision kept blurring in and out so it wouldn't be smart to ride to school.
"Thank you Mr and Mrs Nunez, I really appreciate the ride" I thank as Claire and I get out of the car.
"It's no problem, call whenever you need" Mrs Nunez says with a sweet smile before they drive off leaving Claire and I at the front of the school.
Claire and I start to walk into school but I can't help but glance warily at the girl. Claire was quiet the entire drive to school, usually we're both singing karaoke in the car.
"Are-are you alright Claire?" I ask hesitantly as I glance to the girl.
Claire looks up to me with a guilty expression on her face which immediately makes me worried.
"I have to tell you something...tell all of you something actually" Claire mumbles as she catches sight of Jim and Toby and walks over to them.
"Hey guys" I say with a small wave as we walk up to Jim and Toby.
"Hey" Jim says with a smile as he throws his arm around my shoulder before looking to Claire with a happy smile. "Claire! Your back, feeling better?"
"We gotta talk" Claire says nervously as we start to walk. "Do you remember how someone stole the election signs protecting the warehouse? Well, I think I know who took them"
"The night the Gumm-Gumms attacked?" Jim asks before our conversation was interrupted.
"Claire! Your back!" Darci exclaims as she walks over and goes to bring Claire into a hug before pausing. "Your not sick anymore, right?"
"Nope" Claire says with a playful roll of her eyes as Darci cheers and brings Claire into a tight hug.
"Awesome! That was one killer cold" Darci laughs before she gasps excitedly. "We gotta celebrate now that your back!"
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Toby asks Darci with a smirk.
"Triple date!" They cheer as I scrunch my eyebrows together in confusion.
"I have never heard that term before" I mumble as Jim chuckles.
"I think your forgetting that I'm the single one in the group" Claire laughs as Darci and I smirk at each other.
"Maybe so, but Darci and I happen to know a boy who's been wanting to go out with you since, like, forever!" I say as Claire's eyes widen as she looks at us curiously.
"Really? Who?" Claire asks as Darci shrugs like it's no big deal.
"Oh, no one special, only Todd Baker! Debate team captain, popular, great hair!" Darci lists with her fingers as Claire looks at us surprised.
"What? Stop joking with me" Claire says with narrowed eyes as I laugh.
"You think we're joking? He's only asked about you like, a million times!" I say with a crazed look on my face.
"Soooo, you in?" Darci says excitedly as Claire looks down in thought before a smile appears on her face.
"Yeah. It'll be good to get out" Claire nods in agreement with an excited smile on her face.
"Perfect! I'll text him the details!" Darci says excitedly before she looks to Jim and I. "You both in?"
"If Y/n's up for it, I am" Jim shrugs as he goes to lean against the locker with his elbow, but it slips as he stumbles awkwardly.
"Count me in" I say excitedly.
"Perfect! See you guys tonight!" Darci says as her and Toby walk off.
"See ya later Claire" I wave the girl goodbye as Jim and I walk to our next class hand in hand.
A triple date, this'll be fun.
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"Oh god! This was a horrible idea!" Claire groans as she does another sit up.
We were currently in PE doing sit-ups when Claire had this sudden revelation.
"What?" I say dumbfounded, confused on what the topic even was.
"The triple date! I cant go out with Todd Baker, I don't know anything about him!" Claire stressed as she starts to speed up her sit ups as I try to catch up.
"That's what a date is for! To learn stuff about the other person, it's not like your getting married" I say jokingly as Claire narrows her eyes at me.
"Not yet, maybe this is my only chance of true love" Claire sighs as I raise an eyebrow at her.
"Don't be so dramatic, this isn't Shakespeare" I joke as the girl huffs. "Look, Jim and I have been on loads of dates, so I'm sure he won't mind if I pay less attention on him and more on you and Todd, just to help out"
"Y/n, you and Jim haven't been on a date before" Claire points out as I pause mid sit-up.
"Yeah we have, we've been on loads of dates" I say with pointed look at Claire.
"Oh yeah? Name one" Claire says with a smug look on her face.
"That time we went to the movies" I say with a smirk.
"You didn't even make it into the movie theatre before Jim got a Trollhunter emergency" Claire points out as my smirk drops a little before it returns.
"What about my mums business lunch" I say as Claire gives me a blank look.
"Jim had, like, twenty clones there and one was trying to dump you the whole time" Claire says as I try and wrack my brain for more.
"That time we went to a cafe"
"The cafe that had changelings running it that tried to poison you with their food?"
"That one time we went to a rollerskating rink"
"Toby and I were there and it got interrupted by a troll emergency"
"What about that time we almost kissed during spring fling"
"Yeah, you almost kissed before Jim then ran off to fight Angor Rot"
I let my shoulders deflate in defeat as I suddenly realise that Jim and I have never been on a proper date. Sure, we've done lots of hangouts but they were all with other people.
I hear the small ding of the bell as Claire and I sit up and move to the next workout station which is ropes.
"I can't believe we've never been on a date! Claire! What if this date goes horrible!" I panic to Claire as the girl smirks with how the tables have turned.
"Relax, we can help each other, and if we need to regroup, we can go to the toilets together and trash talk the boys" Claire smirks as I laugh to myself before I start climbing the ropes.
"Yeah, your right. How did this conversation go from me trying to help you to you helping me?" I ask as I make it to the top before slowly descending.
"You just happen to be a lot more of an emotional wreck then I am" Claire says with her arms crossed and a smirk on her face.
"Funny" I say with a sarcastic smile as I land on the floor and flick the girls forehead as she glares at me.
The sudden noise of Coach blowing his whistle gains our attention as we look to the other side of the gym to find Toby making out with a basketball (again) as Coach glares at him.
"I told you, Domzalski! Quit making out with the equipment!" Coach yells angrily as Claire and I share a look before rolling our eyes.
Toby, you idiot.
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Authors note:
I've been really excited to write this episode but I was stumped on a good approach for it, but I finally think I have an idea that I like
Now we have Todd Baker! Lol
Hope you enjoyed this chapter!