Rem Of Sleep

1. Wake Up

It was a hoax like any other ritual should be. Luckily, Jamie preserve my a** when she decided to let it go and we have a nice sleepover afterward. Now three days later and I'm still breathing fine, hanging out with my friends under the beautiful August sun. While seating peacefully in the school's yard where students usually take their lunch.

"What took her so long?" Jamie asked suddenly. Acknowledging the fact that we're missing someone.

"She told me that she's on her way" Daniel said while staring at his phone.

"We're lucky that we're all free today" I said before stuffing pizza on my mouth.

"Lucky for real" Jamie agreed but we all know that she snuck out of her P.E class because as she said 'the teacher was boring af'

"Hey you guys" Erika's drawl caught all of our attention. Today she's wearing a beautiful black and red striped dress with a ribbon tied at the back. She looks stunning as usual, a common adjective for one Erika Thompson.

"Took you long enough" Jamie rolled her eyes at her girlfriend. 

To be honest, the only reason why Erika hasn't left us yet for the cool kids is that her girlfriend is here. They've been together for so long that before I met Jamie in middle school they were already flirting. But that doesn't erase the fact that Erika is one of the coolest people I know. Like one time, she saved me from embarrassment when she asked me to change my tux for prom. I'm not a narcissist—but I admit that some of the compliments I get was satisfying.

She pecked her girlfriend on the lips before saying "Guess what"

"What?" I asked out of curiosity. I also forgot that because she's socially active than the rest of us, she also got the juiciest gossip Green Heights could offer.

"I just found out from Mark Boucher that Augustus Flint is coming back from Montreal" I could definitely hear her squeal in between words. 

Yes, Augustus Flint. The legend of all legends. He is the living proof that nerds can be a**holes. We had English literature together back in the day and our story unfolds just because he saw me listening to Lady Gaga on my purple iPod. Not to mention he also gave me the nickname Queerosaurus Steve in fifth grade. Unfortunately, the kid was also popular because of his father. Which makes it worse. I swear I can still hear, half of the town whispering Queerosaurous Steve under their breathes when they saw me. 

Hearing his name irked me.

"Why he's in Montreal in the first place?" I don't know why Daniel is always the clueless person in the group when he's also the smartest

"For the summer duh—his paternal grandparents live there" Erika stole some fries in Jamie's plate before stuffing it immediately in her mouth.

"Hey!" Jamie protest.

    Later that night I couldn't sleep. It was already past ten and I have a seven am class tomorrow but my eyelids won't shut. Maybe because I drank coffee before I get here or maybe a particular person keeps running in my head. I don't know and I'm too energized not to give a f*ck. Which I wish I wasn't. My tormentor just came back from vacation while I'm still here stuck in this same old stinking town with a target at my back. The only thing I could wish to the universe is that he mature over the short period of time he lived there or that he ultimately forgot me. 

I mean I did grow up a lot during summer. Gone are the days of frizzy hair and unmatched socks. Erika taught me a thing or two in fashion. And I also look different today. My brown skin becomes lighter and I finally get rid of the bags under my eyes. I can pretty much say that I look decent than last year.

    Finally, I succumb to the call of darkness. At exactly eleven-thirty, I escaped the world to my dream. When I open my eyes again I was someplace I couldn't recognize. It was bright like a Gideon Rubin painting—in a pub of some sort with the barista cleaning a mug. 

"What can I get you today" He looked up with no trace of emotion on his faceless face. 

"A mug of beer please" I said without opening my lips or maybe I did but I couldn't tell. 

"Would that be all sir?"  He asked before swaying like a watercolor in a canvas to reach the bottle on the cabinet behind him.

"Yes" This time it was a different voice. A familiar tone I couldn't pinpoint. 

I turned my head to look at the person behind me. And there he was, a moving painting of Augustus Flint smiling at me as if he could see me. Maybe I am or maybe I didn't and he was only smiling at the barista. I wasn't so sure. Frankly, Augustus only smile at me no scratch that—more of a mocking smirk when he called me names. But this time it was genuine. I was confused.

"Long time no see Steven" He greeted.

So he can see me!

I choked trying to form the words correctly before reply a simple "Y-Yeah"

"So what have you been doing while I was away?" 

I didn't have to answer because the scenery suddenly change around me and now I'm standing alone in a pool with celebrities n***d before my eyes. If only they were in a painting, I would've accept this. But they were'nt. They look so real that I could almost feel them touch my skin. I swam all the way to the corner of the pool when I suddenly spot Augustus Flint kissing not one but two celebrities side by side. With a man being one of them. 

"What the f—" I wish I could've finished that sentence when an A-class celebrity suddenly grab my shoulder and start massaging me.

"Come on boy, let's have some fun" He said, flashing his perfect teeth.

"No, thanks" I backed away.

"Why..." A familiar voice whispered behind my ears that made me stop "You look tired. Why don't you relax and join the rhythm" His whispers sent a chill to my spine. A longing that I soon discovered but only the graze of his fingers can satisfy.

"Steven..." He whispered gently. Almost biting the soft skin of my ear.

His hand caresses the bareness of my back. To which I soon realize that I'm n***d in front of him. My cheeks boiled at the malicious thoughts circling like a thirsty animal. I was so embarrassed that I can't hold myself accountable for what happened next.

"Keep your hands to yourself, you creep!" I took a quick turn and hit him where the sun can't reach.  

After that, I wake up.