I rub and squint my eyes. It is too bright.

I drape a hand over my eyes to keep away the glare of the sunlight. How annoying. I close one eye.

I moan a little as I kick my covers away, it is too hot even, uncomfortable.

There is a cold cloth over my forehead. I freeze. I tentatively touch it. Why am I in bed? Didn't I wake up? Why did I have a cold cloth over my head?

I frown glancing at my night clock, it is seven thirty on the morning. I am so late for school. Why did Mom not wake me up? No no no.

I curse jumping out of bed the cloth dropping to my feet and the room spins out of my vision for a second there. I think I have a fever. I feel queasy.

But wasting no time more than I already have. I quickly run to the bathroom picking up my toothbrush dolloping toothpaste on it making my way back to my room again while brushing vigorously.

I pick the uniform out of the closet and lay it on my bed, and I stop short mid brush as my head pounds, I don't remember what I did yesterday................

And then I see him sitting in the wicker chair in the far corner of my room smiling wearily but amused entirely his hands supporting his chin. My toothbrush falls out of my mouth.

Karim? Why is he here? When did he even get here?

Then it all comes rushing back like a fast re run of an 80's movie and I am overwhelmed with a wave to dizziness. I sway a bit fumbling around for an anchor before I can fall.

Karim is there in a heartbeat putting a hand on my back steadying me. He doesn't say a thing. It frightens me.

He swoops me up bridal style, strides to my bed and lays me back gently as he sits by my waist. The silence is killing me. I may have done it this time and scared him off.

His cool finger tips gently brush away silver strands from my face and linger there feeling while gazing into grey eyes deeply.

"Now that was fun watching you rush for school. You carry enough enthusiasm for all of us but am sorry to disappoint, we broke off for holidays a week ago remember?" He says warily.

I take in a deep breath. I don't remember.

"I think I had retrograde amnesia there for like five minutes. I didn't even remember a thing from the past few hours." He withdraws his hand from my forehead.

"You saw me last night didn't you? It's getting worse. Please tell me it was a dream." I silently plead to him.

"You called me." He pauses testily looking me. I say nothing.

"You were glowing alright. But when you passed out I couldn't get close enough to you without shades." He points to a pair of my shades placed back on my desk.
"Am sure you lit up the whole village." He teases me humorlessly his eyes serious.

"What?" I am puzzled. There's more.

"You were floating two feet off the ground and glowing brighter every minute am sure you could have been seen miles away, you were brighter than a nuclear radiation Thea. I was afraid you wee going to explode." He takes hold of my hand. A small gesture of support. Am grateful.

"That's not all, your bracelet flew right out of your closet and reattached itself to you." I just notice the necklace I wear as a bracelet on my hand. Of course that is why the closet glowed.

"And there were these voices all over in the room, whispers but I couldn't make where they were coming from." He eyes me uncertain. "It is almost like you weren't here"

"I had to first dunk you in the bath tub fully submerged for thirty minutes for you to glow out and you were running a high fever. You weren't breathing underwater but you didn't drown either." He finishes.

Tears threaten to break out. Am I  going to lose my normal life and friends? Will I lose all of myself? I whimper. But what am I? Am I even human? Well clearly not. Now am a confirmed freak of sorts.

"Why didn't you leave me? Aren't you scared of me? That I might have hurt you?" I choke at the feeling of hurting him turning my head away fixing my gaze above his head swallowing a lump.

He cups my face in his hands forcing our gazes to meet. I see compassion in his eyes but also set determination. The dam cracks.

"First because you are my best friend and whatever your business is, it's my business too, second I wouldn't live with myself if something happened to you Thea. All in after all." He smiles at our motto. All IN ALL THE WAY.

"You were out cold for almost four hours and you expected me to leave you like that? I love you Thea and no matter how you glow, nothing will ever change that, am your best friend forever and always I know you would never hurt me." He says softly. "Well am still freaked out though honestly."

That is my undoing, I sit up and fling myself at him sobbing loudly.

He just sits there his arms around me telling me everything is going to be alright and we'll figure it out together. He is too accepting for my sake.
"What am I?" The together part calms me though.

"I have no idea Thea." He murmurs in my hair. I laugh. Obviously he wouldn't know.

I am a mess. My hair is looks like birds had a dance party in it. I look down at my drenched sweatpants and crumpled tank top, I need to change. My face is caked with tears and toothpaste foam.

I leave Karim in my bedroom while I march to the bathroom picking my toothbrush off the floor armed with a hairbrush, some hair ties, a pair of grey jeans and a blue blouse.

I  wash up in record time, change into the clothes quickly and with determination I start brushing my waist long red streaked silver hair till it is straight like a knot free silver waterfall. I try putting it in hair ties till I give up. I go back to the bedroom feeling refreshed and better.

I find Karim tidying up my bed. I giggle, he likes orderly stuff.

"I was defeated in a hair battle." I point at my silvery waterfall.

"Sit and let me tame it for you." I sit on the edge of the just made bed and he scoots sitting behind me. I am shocked. Boys don't do such things.

"Don't waver. I have sisters and they love my hairdos so am sure I can do something about yours."
He sweeps my hair gently in his hands. He massages my scalp and I lean in appreciating the care my head is receiving while my eyes close on their own accord.

He does it for ten minutes or so till I fully relax unto him and then starts braiding gently till the silver rope is done neatly and efficiently catching it in a hair tie with no trouble. I jump off the bed to examine myself in a mirror. I have admit, it looks pretty and he apparently is good at this.

"I got skills Thea." He comes behind me while adding a hair pin to complete the work. My neck tickles, am painfully aware of his presence.

"You have been hired as my personal hair dresser henceforth sir."
I mock a rich middle aged women from thriller movies heartily. We both laugh.

A knock catches us mid laugh.

"Thea breakfast." Mom chirps from the other side. Karim holds his breath.

"Coming" I shout back stifling a laugh.

"Oh and Karim too, I made have some pancakes." She adds as her footsteps recede downstairs.
I turn to Karim and we both burst out laughing all trauma forgotten.

"How does she always know? " I ask Karim.

"Why are you asking me? She's your mom not mine."
He  shrugs while opening the door. I grab a pair of sneakers and my purse and we both head downstairs caught once again.

Dad is already seated drinking his daily doze of coffee  his eyes  glued to the screen in front of him with his black hair sticking in all directions. Mom is setting out pancakes for me and Karim by the table her small frame buzzing around with her black hair caught in a messy bun.

It's like she is always high on energy bars or something, for someone as Pixy like as her, she sure has a lot of energy. I wonder how they are both my parents, I bear no resemblance whatsoever to both of them.

"Morning my light beam." Dad beams as we make our way to him. I kiss him on the forehead and he kisses my cheek.

"Morning" Karim keeps a respectful distance as if fearful of a thrashing.

"Morning Karim"
                                                                                                                                                                                       "Morning sir" Karim replies respectfully no matter how much dad tells him to call him James or mom Serena. So formal always.

"Come on you two your pancakes are getting cold." Mom calls as she pours apple juice for both of us. We sit and dig into our breakfast silently. I didn't even realize I was this hungry. Karim finishes his in record time and even takes a second helping. I wonder if his parents truly never mind his whereabouts like mine.

We clean the dishes and prepared to head out for a walk. Karim stops and thanks mom once more for breakfast as usual but his next question surprises me.

"Can I take Thea out for a movie tonight?" He asks so politely. My mom raises a brow at my dad and he sighs in his coffee mug. I don't think Karim notices the quiet exchange.
Then Mom smiles. Approval got. Apparently one night out won't kill me.

"That's okay you two go have fun but remember curfew." I sigh.

"Yes of course I will have her back by ten o'clock sharp."
He says while fiddling with his hands. My parents unnerve him for some reason. He is nervous, he always does that when he's nervous.

"Bye Mom, be back later."
I walk him out. He takes a huge breath when we get outside.

"What was that all about?" He didn't ask me so I  question him.

"Am worried about you and I don't want to leave you alone now. We can't risk what happened again when you alone or with them."
He says looking directly at me with a serious expression like it's obvious. So he's going to keep me under his watch? I should feel happy but am not.

We are outside now and it is shinning valiantly as it always does here but my pale skin can't tan despite that. I notice the ladder is gone as I step outside the gate.

So that's how they knew Karim was up I mused. The ladder gives him away almost every time.
......................................................................................................................................................

Karim made me promise to rest before I see him today at seven thirty. I left my parents to their antics and went to my room. I watched YouTube videos till I fell asleep.

I dream or more like see flashes of a battle but  otherwise I slept well, I'll turn down videos I watch before I sleep. So that means I kept my promise.

I jolt awake. I realized why. Because it is too quiet. I wipe the perspiration off my forehead, am burning up and thirsty.

I go downstairs to get a glass of apple juice from the refrigerator. I get some from the refrigerator and chug it down. I press the cold glass to my forehead closing my eyes. Instant relief.

A note falls down. I pick it up and find it's from my parents. No wonder it's quiet.

Gone to a party. Didn't want to wake you up dear. Be back by 11 pm remember the curfew.
Love Mom and Dad.

I sigh as I crumple the note. You'd think when we moved they would stop going to endless parties.

I go back up stairs to prepare for my evening out with Karim. Movies sound more Interesting by the minute. I change into blue jeans, a black cashmere sweater and pale pink sneakers.

Looks good. My hair is still holding up. Maybe I should first was my face up a bit and apply some make up. Sounds better.

I grab my purse first from the bedside table to check if I have everything. Phone, check. Money, more than enough check. Handkerchief and some tissue check. Small pepper spray check. I have no idea why dad insists.
Chocolate bar, check.

I dump the purse on my bed. Small make up and a leak should do it before I leave.

The necklace flashes a bit and startles me. The glow dies down and I take a deep breath. Nothing will ruin my night out with him. I need it. I open my bathroom door to take a leak. I straighten my clothes and put on a light lip gloss. Perfect.  I turn to leave and my mouth drops open, my heart stops right there.

She is here.

What are your personal experiences on a no school day you thought was a school day?  I would love to read some memorable scenarios 🤗🤗🤗🤭🤭🤭❤️❤️