"Why are you talking to me?"

The words sat unsettlingly in my stomach, processing what had just happened. I just wanted to know more about Dark, why she was so quiet and contained, and why she kept that mask on. I had no clue what to say. I was talking to her for multiple reasons, yet none of them felt like the right ones.

"Are you going to answer me? Look, I don't have all day." Dark spoke, bringing me back to reality. "I-" Finding the right words to say wasn't even the hardest part. I looked straight into her mask, noting the line that zig-zagged across. "I want to talk to you. I want to be there for you, because you're always alone. I want to be your friend." I admitted, my voice shaking. Dark suddenly looked down and fidgeted her fingers. "I don't need a friend." My heart sank. I tried not to let out any emotion, but she could definitely tell I was about to crumble. "I do."

—

"Julie, come here." I heard a voice whisper. I quickly looked around for any sort of person to be standing there. It was Dark. Her pink hair gently tossed to the sides as her blue hoodie held them tight. I noticed her mask was cracked where the dots and lines were as she walked towards me. "I know you want to see what's under my mask.." She started. My heartbeat got faster and my whole body shook. This is real. This is happening. Don't let her get away. "You don't have to show me," I immediately regretted speaking. I just ruined my one chance to see who she truly is. "But don't you want to see? We've grown so close, and i've never opened up to anyone before. This could be a good thing for us both." She started to lift her mask up with her thumb. I quickly pressed my thumb against hers, stopping any movement of the mask. "Don't do this.." I mumbled as she removed her thumbs from her mask. Dark brought it up to my face, gently brushing my cheek. "Oh Julie, you don't get it. This is what you want. And I have no control." I heard a laugh come from under her mask as she slowly started to lift it up. "Wait!" I screamed as I suddenly felt my voice stop. I was back in my bed.

It was a dream. The same dream I had been having for two weeks. Ever since our conversation, Dark hasn't spoken a word to me. I shouldn't have walked over to her that day. It's been tearing me apart ever since. Now that I'm having nightmares, it couldn't be a better time to talk to her. Maybe if we talked I wouldn't have them anymore. I decided that it probably would be best if we texted instead. I have her number from when she first arrived, but I never once used it.

Hey

Dark 🤔
Who are you?

It's Julie, we haven't talked in a while.

Dark 🤔
Why would I talk to you?
I said I don't need friends.

Listen, can we just talk? I want to be your friend and you keep pushing me away. You don't have to hide from me.

Dark 🤔
I'm not hiding from you, i'm hiding from everyone. I'm not normal Julie. Just stay away from me.

Dark, nobody is normal.
I want to be here for you.

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