OK so...

That's $1134.67. Where did I get this? Well, the threats can't buy booze if they don't have money and if I throw the wallets in the bin in the lobby I'm home free, which I did last night. Had to shred and flush my blood stained clothes along with the broken plastic bits of the mask. Took like sixteen flushes but couldn't risk clogging it.

Now that that's taken care of...

"Hey guys!" I exclaim, entering the lobby to greet Cathrine, Henry, Shelby, and Beth.

Wait. What? Huh didn't expect to see Beth.

"Hey Beth!" I high five her, or, attempt to, but she shakes her head with disapproval.

She knows. She doesn't approve. She almost looks disappointed in me. That...

That really hurts.

"So," I proceed, "I've recently come into some money."

"Wait weren't you broke like last week?" Henry asks.

"I said recently," I reply, "I've amassed a sum of over 1000 dollars."

"I have several questions," Cathrine explains, "first, how? Second, what you spending it on?"

"The how isn't important," I avoid the question, "what is is this. I've been kinda a dick, here and there, on and off with being nice or an asshole, and you've all stuck with me. There's this steakhouse I've heard about. I'm treating all of us to dinner. I have the money so, just set aside some of it for a rainy day and blow the rest of it on you guys. You all down?"

"You don't have to do that," Shelby replies.

"You turning down free food?" I joke.

"Over my dead body," Shelby chuckles.

"I can make it," Beth interjects.

"Six sound good for everyone?" I ask.

Everyone nods.

"Great," I reply, "anyways, I gotta go be 'Mr. Nothing' so I'll be back later. There were a few waiting when I got up. Cya later guys."

I head to my room and help a few students, remaining stone cold as I protect. Identifying threats. Identifying those who need protection. Each student knows not to pry into my past at this point as I am Mr. Nothing. My past is irrelevant. I am Mr. Nothing. Protector. Nothing more.

"Yeah I think I should be able to pass that test now," he replies getting up and taking a lollipop, "thanks."

"Remember to get that blister looked at," I remind, "it could get infected."

"Sure thing dude," he smiles, "thanks for your help."

"Anytime," I reply.

He exits, and Beth enters, glaring.

She doesn't speak, and neither do I. We just... wait. Wait for the other to speak in silence for about four minutes until she finally sighs and asks, "why?"

"It had to be done," I reply.

"Wilson no," she shakes her head, "this isn't the way to do what you want."

"What I want is to stop the endless pain I'm in since I've realized that you know who is someone I'll never get back," I reply, "but I can't so here we are."

"That was wrath!" Beth exclaims.

"I don't care!" I retort, "you don't seem to understand! I am Mr. Nothing! I protect my herd and that's all I do! You, Cathrine, Shelby, and Henry just think there's more than me when there isn't. I don't care as long as I don't lose anyone else! So what if I beat him half to death, foaming at the mouth and-"

I stop and sigh, "OK yeah I hear it now."

"Well the first step to correcting a mistake is accepting you made one," Beth reassures me, "it's gonna be OK. Just... don't get caught? I guess?"

"Trust me I've got all that covered," I smile, "so enough about all that."

"No that's not enough," she sighs, "you're not just 'Mr. Nothing'. You're Wilson. You have dreams, emotions, all of that stuff."

"My default emotion is paranoia and worry," I explain, "I default to protection with lack of emotional stimuli. Don't you understand that?"

"No," she sighs, "well, not to that, but I can relate, to an extent. People die because of homophobia. People who think homosexuals go to Hell cause of-"

"Oh I know don't worry," I reply, "but, how do you not just... exist in endless, like... I dunno. Sometimes this gets worse but it usually passes. Guess that comes with being bipolar. I'll live. I guess."

"Wilson," Beth asks, "are you really so obsessed with this that everything you do relates to it?"

"Excluding you and my other friends yes," I reply, "I used to be three dimensional and all now I'm just a broken husk of my former self and- why do I tell you everything?"

Beth shrugs, "I dunno."

"I guess I just trust you," I shrug, "I mean, I trust the others too but... I don't open up to them cause I feel they still see me as Mr. Nothing. If I open up completely, what if they judge me? I mean, you never knew me as Mr. Nothing. You always knew me as Wilson from day one. Maybe that's it?"

"Makes sense to me," Beth replies.

I sigh, "Beth, I was born wrong."

"What?" Beth asks.

I take out a blue tub from under my bed, and open it to reveal notebooks upon notebooks, which I dig through to find a black notebook and show it to Beth.

"This is a story that tells of my struggle with autism," I explain, "one I told Cathrine about. It's actually based on true events. I'm bipolar and autistic. Maybe that's why no one seems to be able to see things like I do. It can't be fixed. Ever. The brain is everything. It's what is you. If we exclude the soul."

"So what about this story?" She asks taking the notebook.

"I wanna hear your thoughts of it," Wilson replies, "but as a story. Not as the tale of why I hide my condition."

"OK," Beth smiles, "will do. Just one more question."

"Sure," I reply, smiling now.

"Did you steal their money?" Beth asks.

"Do you need some?" I inquire taking out a wad of cash.

"No no," Beth replies, "just curious."

"Hey," I shrug, "they can't buy booze without money right?"

She laughs, with a mix of amusement and bewilderment. "Well you're not wrong," she explains, "anyways you have others to help right? I should go, but remember, you're not alone in this."

With that she leaves. I'm not alone. Oh, I know that, and I do have something to say about that at dinner...