•Blaine•

"What? How is that..."

I blinked hard, before continuing to examine the back of my head. I was facing the wall with my back to the mirror, while holding my mother's hand held mirror up in front of me.

The reflection had me confounded.

I was in my bathroom where I had gone to assess the damages from last night. Before I literally collapsed from exhaustion, I had felt a gash with dried blood on my scalp. There had also been a few bruises forming on my arms and the left side of my body.

But this morning everything had vanished. I didn't have so much as a headache.

I frowned as I continued to stare at the back of my head through the mirror. I lifted my right hand and felt the part of my scalp where the gash had been, but the skin there was completely healed. I combed my fingers through my blonde hair feeling for any sort of scar or wound, but nothing was there to feel.

"How is that possible?" I muttered.

I had felt it. The dried blood was on my fingers and I had seen the bruises forming on my skin. They couldn't have just magically healed...could they?

Flashes of red and blue crystals invaded my mind. The way the sharp gems had solidified into lethal weapons. The red dagger that was pointed at my heart with the intention of cutting it open-

I abruptly set the hand held mirror on the counter and stormed back into my room.

What the hell was all that? Everything from last night came in sharp vivid memories and a blur of vague images at the same time. I didn't even really remember driving home and entering my house- all I remember thinking was that I needed to get in my car and drive away. The fact that I actually made it home was amazing to me considering how out of it I was.

I ran both my hands through my hair as I flopped onto my bed. My back hit the mattress and I was greeted with a view of my ceiling.

The girl had been trying to kill me. She almost had. The reminder drew chills up my arms. But why? There had to be some reason she wanted me dead- and what was the deal with the guy? What did he want? Ever since I woke up my mind was just a jumbled mess of questions.

After a moment I glanced at the clock by my bed. It was 9:30. School had way past started and I was still at home. I had attempted to get ready, but I got as far as brushing my teeth before my warring thoughts quickly threw me off course.

I was glad my mother was still flying back from London. I didn't know what I would say to her about everything. She would have flipped out over my injuries...that were now gone.

My mind was still stumped by their disappearance. I was so sure they were there last night.

Then again I also saw two mysterious people wielding crystal weapons. The girl's was red and the boy's was blue. They fought and were clearly trained.

Was I crazy?

It suddenly occurred to me how nuts my thoughts sounded. But I saw it. It was real...wasn't it?

The more I tried to recall the night the more out there it seemed. Those people- I didn't even know their names. Unless their names were sweetness and darling but I kinda doubted it.

Was it real? I had been exhausted. But was it possible that I hallucinated something so detailed and physical?

I had felt the pain, but there wasn't evidence of that pain anymore. My truck was parked outside, my car keys were in their place by the front door, my football bag-

I shot up from bed.

My football bag. I had left it in the parking lot in a practically delusional haze. All I remember thinking was that I needed my keys. Then suddenly my bag was right by me and my keys were dangling out of the side pocket.

It probably wasn't in the lot anymore but maybe it was in the lost and found. Or maybe one of my friends picked it up. If I could find it that would help me determine what was real.

Maybe that conclusion wasn't entirely logical and a tad desperate, but it was all I got.

I quickly headed to my closet and pulled on a t-shirt over the grey sweats I was already wearing.

Pretty soon I was bounding down the stairs and out the front door. I locked the house before jumping in my car and heading towards the school.

The thought was there that I could be attacked again, but with people out and about that seemed less likely. Truthfully, the more I thought about it the more I was starting to think it was all a figment of my imagination.

How could colored crystals appear out of thin air and be made into weapons? It was impossible and ridiculous. Still I needed evidence that told me it was all in my head...or that it wasn't. Either way I needed proof of something.

I pulled into the school parking lot after a few minutes and was pleased to see my usual spot at the front was still open.

I parked and began searching the parking lot for my football bag. I bent down to look under the cars and even looked through the windows of Philip and Max's cars. I checked some of the other football guy's cars as well but still found nothing.

Ok so it wasn't still out here. That didn't mean someone hadn't grabbed it and brought it into the school.

I headed inside and made my way to the front office. I didn't really want to deal with the front office staff. The lost and found was a closet sized room next to the office. Fortunately, I knew a student who worked as a teacher's aid during this period- Eva Diane.

She could be...a lot but I needed her help. I was willing to endure her company to get into the lost and found without having to explain to the principal why I was ditching this morning.

When I approached the front office, I could see her through the glass windows. Her long platinum blonde hair was pulled up in a slick ponytail and her make up looked like she was about to perform in a Broadway show. She was sitting at a table and sifting through stacks of paper.

I took a breath and mentally prepared myself for the coming interaction. I then tapped softly on the window.

Eva looked up and her green eyes trailed to land on me. When she saw me her whole body seemed to perk up and a smile erupted on her face.

I nodded my head for her to come outside.

She seemed to beam even more, standing up from her seat and scurrying out into the hallway.

"Blaine! Hey!" She greeted closing the office door behind her.

"Hey," I replied stepping back so we weren't in front of the window anymore. "I need a favor."

Eva's smile turned flirtatious as she stepped closer to me.

"What kind of favor?" She bit her lip, moving to place her hands on my chest.

I quickly caught her hands and gently directed them away from me.

"Not that kind of favor," I clarified.

I wasn't proud to admit my past involvement with Eva considering her weird rivalry with Natalie. But I couldn't do much to change that now, except choose not to entertain her. Besides I currently had a very specific goal.

"I need the keys to the lost and found."

Eva titled her head, brows furrowing, "Why?"

"I think my football bag might be in there."

"Oh," Eva pursed her lips, "Why didn't you just go in and ask the office ladies?"

"Well I'm kinda ditching all my classes right now," I gave her a soft smile, "But I was hoping you would get the key for me?"

Eva's green irises seemed to brighten at my request.

"For sure!" She nodded, "Let me go grab them."

She practically ran into the office and after a moment came back out with the key in hand.

"Thank you Eva," I said as she handed me the silver key.

"No problem," she said cheerily, "Just bring it to me before this period is over so I can put it back."

I nodded already walking past her and toward the closet.

"Sure."

"And let me know if you need help or anything!"

"I will, thanks again," I mumbled.

My focus was on the door as I placed the key in the lock and turned it. The door opened and I quickly entered the small room, flicking on the light switch.

It didn't take me long to go through the lost and found. There were lots of sweatshirts, some notebooks, and other miscellaneous items. No football bag though.

I sighed feeling slightly dejected.

It easily could have been stolen or something. Although I didn't know who would want my sweaty football gear. It's not like it was worth much or anything at all really.

I could check the locker room...

I stiffened at the thought. If it was in the locker room- no I remember taking it out. I had showered after my workout and grabbed my bag. I remember walking with it down the hall.

Just like I remember seeing crystal weapons and some type of warriors fighting with them?

My feet seemed to begin moving on their own accord.

I exited the closet and returned the key to Eva, barely muttering how my bag wasn't there but thanking her anyway.

My brain shoved down the realization that I was acting increasingly insane.

I headed to the locker room, pushing the growing dread and swarming thoughts away. I glanced at the clock in the hall as I passed. There were fifteen minutes left before break. That was just enough time for me to check my locker and get out of the school.

When I reached the locker room I was pleased to see it completely empty. Coach wasn't even in his office.

I walked over to my locker and stood before it, feeling nerves swarm in my chest. I didn't know if I wanted my bag to be in there. No one else knew my combination so it wasn't like one of my friends could have put it there.

I entered my combination and pulled open the locker door about an inch. Ok here we go.

Steeling myself, I pulled it open the rest of the way...

...and saw my football bag, perfectly in tact like it had never left.

I took a step back my eyes locked onto the bag. Had I really imagined it all? Getting attacked, the girl and boy, the red and blue crystals- it was all just something my mind manifested?

If I didn't actually take my bag out of the locker room, then nothing I remembered from last night seemed credible.

I didn't have any injuries, my bag was still in my locker, and it's not like those two mysterious people and their crystals were running around.

My whole body seemed to deplete as I sat back on the locker bench behind me.

Could lack of sleep really cause such vivid hallucinations? And such long ones? I realized the answer was yes, but had I really reached that point?

I supposed I should hope it was the exhaustion causing it. Still it felt so real even with how fatigued I was. Some part of me believed what I saw was reality.

But...but this was good. This was the most logical outcome.

I knew I was dead tired. I apparently was having hallucinations because of it. The solution was to get more sleep and then I'd be fine. Yes.

Now that I had found the problem I could take care of the whole issue. This was a step in the right direction. This was good. I was going to be fine.

Everything was going to be fine.

•••

The next day I went to school and focused on getting back to normal. I'd slept the whole night which was a great start, but even though I wasn't as exhausted I still found myself getting lost in thought.

The images in my brain of the attack wouldn't relent. I kept seeing blue and red. I kept hearing the sharp cling the gems made. I could picture the power that those two people held.

"Dude that's so unfair."

I looked questioningly at Max- reminded that we were still in English class. The bell had just rung and all the students were making their way to the front to collect our graded essays.

Max and I had reached the front desk. He'd already grabbed his and was now glaring down at my paper that still sat on the desk. I grabbed my essay and shuffled forward, nudging Max so that he'd walk out of the classroom door.

As we walked into the hallway I looked down at my A written in red ink across the top of my paper. Truthfully, I was surprised I managed to score so high given my physical condition the past two weeks.

When I looked back to Max he lifted his own paper to me as if to demonstrate a point. His paper had a D+ written on top.

"You were literally half dead last week and you still did better than me!"

I rose a knowing brow, "Max didn't you write that the morning of?"

He dismissed my comment with a wave before shoving his paper in his backpack without any sort of delicacy or care.

"I would have at least expected the grade gap to be smaller."

"You didn't even type out the paper. Mr Rodig probably couldn't read half of it."

"That's actually a benefit to my writing," Max informed, "It keeps you from reading the parts that are trash or repeated or made up."

"Smart strategy," I quipped.

"Hey guys!"

Hazel's voice drew both our attention. She came bounding up to Max and I as we walked down the hallway. She had her own essay in hand, which she very neatly placed in the floral folder she was carrying. She was already in her cheerleading uniform, her smooth brown skin complimenting the rich blue color of the fabric.

"How'd you guys do on the essay?"

Max instantly huffed, "Terrible."

Hazel gave him a knowing look, "What? Rodig didn't like having to use his nine year old to decode your writing?"

"Oh ha ha," Max crossed his arms, "How'd you do?"

"Fine," she shrugged, "I got an A-."

Max snorted, "Blaine got an A."

Hazel turned to me looking offended. I knew for a fact she wrote that essay a week before it was due and did all the proper research. She was probably hoping for a higher score, but it wasn't as if her score was bad. She still did great.

"What?" I questioned.

She shook her head, "You are that jackass."

"What jackass?"

"The jackass that doesn't have to try but still gets good grades."

"Yea it's really annoying," Max agreed pointedly.

I shrugged as we walked down the school hall and approached my locker.

"I'm so sorry?"

"You should be," Max and Hazel muttered at the same time.

I opened my locker, throwing my essay into the folder I kept in there before closing it.

"So are you and Natalie grabbing food with us?" Max turned to Hazel.

Today we had film before football practice- which basically entailed an hour or two of watching video footage of last week's game. We liked to grab food on film days to get through the long sessions of sitting and analyzing.

Hazel frowned, "Um I don't think so. Natalie said today was going to be an extra intense and long practice. I don't think we'll have time and her mindset is...fixed."

"Why?" I asked turning to face them and leaning back against my locker.

Hazel narrowed her eyes at me.

"You tell me," she scolded, "Natalie is super pissed because Eva has been gloating about your little visit to her yesterday."

I instantly rolled my eyes, "Hey I am not responsible for the bad blood between them."

"That is their personal drama," Max nodded in agreement.

"You've gone out with both of them," Hazel deadpanned bringing her hand to her hip.

"She brings up a good point," Max conceded.

I shot Max a 'shut up' look before turning back to Hazel.

"I'm not and have never been in a relationship with either of them. All I did was ask Eva for the lost and found key."

"Eva does tend to make a big deal out of nothing," Max chimed in.

This time it was Hazel's turn to glower at Max.

"And all I'm saying is that you claim to be Natalie's friend," Hazel reasoned focusing back on me. "You know she has feelings for you, that doesn't mean you owe her anything, but just be a little more sensitive to the power you have."

I grimaced crossing my arms over my chest. "So I'm not supposed to talk to Eva at all because that upsets Natalie?"

"No," Hazel stated, "But your word goes a long way with both of them. Telling either one of them to tone it down could infinitely help the situation. Not to mention save me from the grueling conditioning Natalie has planned."

Max's face broke out in a grin, "Remember when Jacob dumped her and she had all of you run like ten miles on the beach and then-"

"Girls began puking left and right, running in their own vomit. Yea I remember."

Hazel shuttered as if to wipe the memory away. She then fixed her hazel eyes on me.

"Just think about it?" She asked.

I sighed pushing off the lockers and nodding.

"Yea..."

I trailed off, all my thoughts and focus suctioned onto the blue crystal wading behind Hazel's head.

It was a rich sapphire color glinting as the sharp curve of it twisted. The light from outside was reflecting off of it softly-

"Blaine?"

I blinked and looked back to Hazel. My gaze quickly darted behind her again, but the blue crystal was gone.

"Um sorry," I stammered, "Yea I'll uh be more considerate."

Hazel nodded, "Thanks," she then stepped back from us and turned towards the direction of the gym. "See ya later boys and wish me luck."

"Good luck," Max and I both shouted after her.

After she left I couldn't help it as my eyes went back to scanning around the hall for any sign of the blue crystal. Where did it go?

I traced the walls and even looked up around the ceiling.

Was it even really there?

Relapses were probably common in this type of situation. I most likely just imagined it. I'd come to the conclusion that it was all a hallucination. Which meant none of it was real and therefore that crystal wasn't either. Yea. I was just experiencing a setback- no big deal.

"Hey," Max nudged me, breaking me out of my thoughts. "Phil just texted he's waiting in the car and that we should get ours asses there if we want food before film."

"Alright...uh let's go," I said doing my best to sound normal despite still feeling off.

As Max and I walked out of the school, I kept an eye out for anymore crystals. Part of me hated that I kept searching, but I couldn't stop myself.

I'd logically concluded that the supernatural stuff was all in my head, but for some reason I couldn't forget about it. I still couldn't help the small inkling in the back of my mind that told me it was real.