36.
chapter thirty-six:
I'm... scared.

Why is it that when you're finally clear-headed, someone pops up and ruins the answer, and you just forget what the real answer had been?

I mean, does it ever happen to anyone but me?

"Man, if you ain't telling, I am!" I looked around for anything I could use as a weapon, anything. There was a crushed paper by my foot, so I kicked it up, caught it, and threw it at Gary, hitting him square in the face. "Oi! What was that for?!"

"For that dirty mind of yours."

"No, but–" He reached over, cupped my jaw, and forcefully turned my head toward another direction—where Serena stood, her blazer tied around her midriff, the cuffs of her shirt folded to her forearms. She was sweating profusely, having just finished the first round of her campaign. I closed my eyes immediately. "Look at her! More than half the school is gawking!"

"I'm not," I said quietly, snapping my head back into place.

"Damn it, dude! It ain't bad to admire someone, especially when it's your best friend!"

I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment. "Gary, quit being such a player," Misty said, walking over to us. "That poor boy's already had enough doses of teenage nightmares."

Gary clicked his tongue dismissively. "She looks absolutely gorgeous, what do ya mean he can't look at her?"

Instead of replying to Gary, Misty glared at me. I got a hint of what she meant and threw my hands up in surrender. "That would only ruin the innocence of a relationship, Gar-Bear."

Gary rolled his eyes, waving his hands around apprehensively. He slammed his fist on my table and said in a hushed voice, "Say whatever you want. I'm giving you until tomorrow. The first thing I do is snag her right under your nose." I snorted as he left the desk and walked out of the classroom, for what reason, I had no clue.

"Ash," Misty said firmly, with a tone of warning. I threw my hands around my head defensively.

"I don't like her for her looks, do I?"

"You should know it."

It was hard not to. Her eyes enraptured my soul. "No, I don't."

"I don't hear the conviction behind the declaration." There was a pause, then she continued, "Don't rush. Gary's just fooling around. You can tell her tomorrow, too. She's busy either way."

I nodded faintly and felt her shift. When I looked up, she was gone. No wonder, she's hurt too, and it was all Gary's fault.

I didn’t know when I fell asleep in the same position. All I heard were faint noises in the background, the waft of something sweet and familiar near me—strawberries—for a second before it was gone, and I found myself melting away into a strange world where a huge, furry werewolf was chasing me across a cemetery. Then I came across a headstone bearing the name of someone close but distant: Ketchum.

I woke with a start, gasping for breath, and all the noise that had been part of the background rushed into loud clarity. My head throbbed, and I held it between my hands, trying to block out at least part of the sound. Everyone was happily chatting, but it sounded like they were booing at me.

A sudden touch made me grimace too hard, and I toppled to the floor along with my chair with a loud rattle. My neck hurt from the exertion. "Stop!" I shouted, curling my knees to my chest in a jittery movement. "No!"

There was a chorus of my name and my last name, and the sound died out, giving me a moment's peace.

"Ash!"

"Ketchum!" I shivered as the nightmare, the headstone, and the epitaph flashed in my mind’s eye.

"Stop! Stop, please!" I yelped, feeling a strange fear envelop me, as if I were about to hear something I definitely didn’t want to. Suddenly, it dissipated, leaving my nostrils flaring at the soft scent of something sweet. I struggled to inhale as the air felt thick.

"Ash."

I fluttered open one eye, but all I could see through the gap between my arms was a dark plaid skirt, kneeling in front of me. A pale hand reached forward, and I craned my neck for a better view. My eyes widened as the rest of the horrifying feeling left, replaced by fuzziness.

"It's okay."

Is it okay?

There was shuffling, and I was helped into a sitting position. I still stared at my boots, embarrassed, afraid, and anxious—feelings anyone would have when they knew something bad had happened. A water bottle came into view, but I shook my head. I could faintly hear voices in the background, but couldn’t tell who was talking. It was a mixture of people shouting, and all I wanted was for everyone to quiet down.

"Alright, everyone, clear out. Let's give him some space!"

"What might have happened? You were right here, Gary!"

"I was!" I shivered at the outburst. "But he was asleep the entire time! I tried waking him up when he started thrashing, and he, well, flinched and fell over!"

"Shh! Keep your voice down, will you? You're scaring him."

"Sorry."

"Should we take him to Nurse Joy, Calem?"

"No, that won't be necessary, Misty. I'm sure he's fine. I'll take him somewhere else."

"Do you want us to accompany you, Serena?"

"That's fine. I'll handle it. The fewer people, the better to calm him down."

I was being dragged to my feet by a warm hand and led away from surprised, and probably disgusted, eyes. The deafening noise only increased, and I tried to escape her grip, but it was too tight, and I was afraid to hurt her by pulling away too hard.

"Just a little more. Hang in there, please," she said softly, and I let her do whatever she wanted, instead of pushing away the only person who dared calm my storm.