Me and Myself

Chapter Four

I wore a red tank top I found near, grabbed my phone and when we were about to open the door. It slammed open. I couldn't believe my eyes. We froze.

Laura

She was all soaked up, her eyes were puffy, her left knee had a scratch, she wasn't wearing her heels instead she was holding them, her hair looked like she had an electric shock.

"Girl you look like s**t!" Stella speaks bringing back my consciousness. Loo broke down crying her lungs out. I run to help her get inside. Stella closes the door behind passing me a towel. I quickly grabbed it and start drying her hair and body. I don't know how she got all wet cause it didn't rain last night nor this morning as long as I remember. She's crying really hard that am scared she'll get sick. I tried to soothe her but it's not working actually it's getting worse. I asked Stella to pass me the first aid kit. I forgot about the scratch since her non stop cry was all I could think of. I cleaned the wound, thank God it wasn't deep, I put a bandage on it. I asked stella to bring us something to eat, let's admit we all hungry. She took a thermos with her to bring Loo something warm to drink. After Stella left the room I tried to talk to Loo and ask her what happened last night. Or did somebody die? My mind couldn't rest I thought of the worst things that could happen right now.

"Shhh, it's okay Loo I dunno what happened, but everything is going to be alright and you can tell me anything. I'll be there for you no matter what." I rubbed her back. She shrunk even harder hugging her knee and burying her head with it.

"Loo please stop crying. Oh my God Loo did somebody die?" She shook her head which was still buried in her knees.

"Did somebody hit you?" I asked another question hoping it will be close to the real s**t that happened. She shook her head again, but this time she started coughing and it couldn't stop. I reached for a bottle of water and handed her to drink. She took a sip and another one, then a large gulp. Hope it works. I didn't want to push her so I just hugged her and let her head rest on my shoulder. After few sniffles her breathing calmed. I slowly took a peek at her face and saw her eyes closed. I sighed in relief. Hope she gets better when she wakes up. After 15 minutes Stella was back with some sliced bread and cups of tea. Wait wait there's more. Cheetos, soda, cookies, muffins oh my lord who is she? Stella! She slowly placed it on a table beside Loo's bed.

"When did she sleep?" She mouthed me not to wake Loo.

"A few minutes ago." I mouthed back.

"She needs to eat." She mouthed me again. I know she is right, but she haven't slept all night either.

"She needs some sleep too." I mouthed.

"She'll eat then sleep." This time it was a sound which made my eyes widen. She quickly cover her mouth with her hands. I silently chuckled.

I felt my body shaking, I tried to concentrate and figure out what was happening, but the shake fastened which reminded me that Loo was still a sleep. LOO! I place my hand on her and she was freaking shaking. My heart jumped I waved Stella from her phone and we slowly tried to wake her up. She opened her eyes but I can read she was slowly drifting to unconsciousness. I started freaking out.

"Hey! Loo! Lo-o-k at me! Hey get up!" My voice getting higher and a little stuttering added by my freaking anxiety. Stella helped me to sit her up we quickly took off her clothes and changed her into comfy sweat pants and a buggie shirt we increased the temperature of the room to make her feel warm. Stell poured her tea and I made the cup close enough for her to take a sip. We gave her the soft bread with jam and some muffin, she ate. I finally got relieved when she mumbled something.

"What?" I asked

"I'm sorry." She repeated but I can see her already red eyes start to water.

"Hey no no no shhhh it's okay. Please don't cry. Okay just take some rest it's been a tough day." I soothed her and she nods.

It's been an hour since Laura has fallen a sleep. It's almost 4 PM now she's been crying all day and only God knows what happened last night well except her. Class was supposed to begin today. I think it's introduction, but I doubt some teachers might start. I really wanted to go to the bathroom, but Loo was scared to sleep alone and she is holding me pretty tight I couldn't move. Stella on the other hand was sleeping in my bed, she was worried something might happen so she never left our side. My eyes widened when my idea bulb lit. I grab the pillow behind me and slowly placed it in her embrace. I slowly got up and went out of the room tip toeing. I released a breath I was holding so far. I run to the bathroom cause if I wait any longer I will probably pee on my pants. I barged in and sit, let the natural flow go. Ugh it feels good to be free. As I was about to finish I heard girls enter the bathroom talking.

"Oh my God is this really true?" A girl asked. I couldn't see her face since you know I was busy downtown.

"Yes I heard it from Jack." Another girl answered. Who's Jack? Okay Olive stop with the eavesdropping already. I can't, they're talking out loud. It's not my fault and it's definitely not eavesdropping if they're talking out loud. Right?

"So you're saying a girl was r***d last night?" Another voice asked. What? Wait, seriously what? r***d? Does those things still happen these days?

"Was it after the party? Was she drunk? Or was he? Tell me everything I wanna know." The first voice whines. Wait last nights party? Oh my God! No! No! Tell me I'm going insane.

"I'll tell you, I'll tell you come down, nobody saw her face, but she's new here and..." the voice started to get further and further as they left the bathroom. I froze for a moment then I snap back to reality. I quickly pulled up my jeans and fumble with the button to close it. I barged out of the toilet and the bathroom running back to my dorm specifically to Laura. When I reached I opened the door to find both sleeping. I went to Laura's side to wake her up and ask her what happened. But she looked so tired even in her sleep. She had a long night plus day I don't want her getting stressed anymore. I want her to be well so I let it slide.

It's been a long tiring day and the only thing that keeps my mind busy was if I write a letter to Joseph since I haven't written for sometime now. Yes I am tired, but my mind keeps on questioning about everything thing that's going on and I felt like exploding. So yes I am writing. At least it will help on keep my mind busy. Stella woke up few minutes ago. She went to lounge to bring us something to eat. I was supposed to go, but as a lousy person I am sometimes, I preferred eating the leftovers from lunch. Which ofcourse she refused.

"Hey" someone called and I jumped out of my seat. Loo. I sat back feeling relieved. I thought it was a ghost. Yes, I believe in ghosts.

"Hey, you feeling any better?" I asked placing the paper on my nightstand and walking towards her. She nods to my question when I sat on her bed.

"Stella is out to get some food. You wanna go out and maybe take some fresh air?" I offered maybe that will lighten up her mood. No. She shook her head. Then I nod in agreement.

"Do you wanna see a doctor?" I asked and her eyes widened.

"No!" She denied shaking her head.

"Okay okay I was just saying maybe if..." she shook her head with frown face. I agreed.

"Okay let's eat something and maybe watch a movie? We have cheetos." I asked and she smiled.

"Okay" she agrees. The door opened showing us Stella with handful of foods and drinks. What the hell? We laughed at her entrance. It's nice to finally see the laughing Loo again.

We literally ate everything. We watched movies until Loo and Ella fall a sleep. I closed my laptop, locked the room and got in my bed. I reached to the switch just above my bed and switched it off. When I closed my eyes I remembered the conversation I heard earlier in the bathroom. What if the girl was Loo? What if she was r***d? Tear fall on my cheek. I quickly wiped it off. And tried to take my mind somewhere else. It ended up on the blue eyes. I felt sorrow raising inside me, but at the same time I felt safe. I slowly drifted away.

"Olive where the heck are you?" He yells through the phone. It is so unlike him.

"Are you even listening!" He cursed.

"Yes- yes- I- I- can't make it." I stutter.

"You what? Olive I'm not playing where the fu*k are you!" He yell. He never raised his voice on me. He loved me, kissed me, hugged me, protected me, fought for me, he did what ever I wished to be done. Why the hell is he...

"No!" A girl screamed. "Please stop!" She's crying and begging at the same time. "Help! Anybody please!" She screams. Okay I don't know where this voice is coming from. "Please somebody!" She screams. I know that voice. It's familiar, a girl voice, wait Laura? Oh my God yes it's her. Why is everything black? Everything's dark. My eyes? Wait they're closed. I widened them but still dark. Hold on, the lights. Yup I got it. I saw loo all sweaty, I think she's having a nightmare. I quickly woke Stella who was groaning, but woke up. "Stop!" She screams. We tried to wake her up, it's getting worse. "Aaaa...." she screamed and sat up straight. She was panting with all the nightmare she just had. What would it be? When she realized she was safe her tears started falling, we hugged her. She cried for sometime and finally came to her senses.

"Wanna talk about it?" I whispered well enough for her to hear. She shook her head.

"I'm okay." She replied.

"Let's get back to sleep, don't worry I'll hug you until that nightmare of yours dies with shortage of air." Stella winks at loo. I chuckled. Loo smile and nodded. They hugged each other making me laugh on the way. I tugged them in the comfort and went to my bed. Loo told me not to switch the light so I let it stay that way. When my head rests on the pillow the blue eyes came back drifting me back to sleep.

°•○°•○

I was in my literature class listening when someone from behind poked me. I rolled my eyes. It happened again. I groaned slowly turning my head to see who it was. Mr. Arrogant. Let me fill you up on what you've missed. I've discovered that sage and I ended up sharing classes. Literature, Global affairs and economics. I don't know why he's taking global affairs, that's so not him. Well, today is Monday and we're now on our 5th period of the day, next will be lunch. I crocked a brow giving him the 'what the hell do you want?' Look.

"You look nice today." He smirked. Seriously dude? In the middle of a lesson? Wrong timing. I frown and turn  ignoring him. You think he stopped? Wrong. He continued and it was so annoying. How do you feel when someone in the middle of a lesson keeps on poking you, one you're listening, two you hate him, three the poke will end up giving you a sore spot. Annoyed, right? I snapped my head with frustration. You know what he did? He smiled. Ugh. This boy sucks.

"No thank you?" He ask raising a brow. I wanted this to end so badly so I put my very thank you smile on.

"Thank you" I whispered and turn around hoping he would stop since I gave him what he wanted. Unlucky me he didn't.

"I was thinking We could've lunch together?" He asked. No! I wanted to blunt but I didn't.

"Thanks but I have friends waiting for me." I was about to turn finishing my sentence.

"Dinner then?" He pushes.

"No!" I blurt and snap back to my sit. Thank God he didn't continue. If he did, we would have ended up in detention.

Lunch time.

Thank God everything went smoothly after that conversation. I went back to my dorm hoping Loo would say yes to eat outside. It's been a week and she's still stuck in the room. No class, no food (outside dorm), avoiding everyone including her families. She had those nightmares but she haven't had these past two days. She didn't say anything about the night. I didn't want to push her either so I gave her time. After the day in the bathroom I haven't heard any rumours so I think it was just any false rumour, right? When I entered the dorm Loo was pacing around the room.

"Hey Loo, what's up?" I asked confused by her strange movement in the room. She stopped infront of me.

"He called." She speaks.

"Who called?" I frown.

"The school's director," she nods "he called." Repeating her previous sentence.

"What did he say?" I placed my bag on the bed walking past her.

"He asked why I wasn't attending any classes."

"What did you tell him?" Curiosity eating me.

"That I was sick."

"But he will ask you for sick leave or medical report." She nods.

"He did."

"What did you tell him then?" God help us. If he reached her parents she'll be in trouble.

"That I'll bring him one." WHAT! My eyes widened in surprise.

"What? How are you going to even get that?" I mused.

"I don't know." She runs her hand in her straightened hair.

"What are we going to do now?" I took a sit on the chair I found near. She looked at me intently like she was telling me something without no words involved. I shook my head. Immediately getting her point.

"No we can't do that." I shook my head in disagreement.

"We don't have a choice." She groans.

"No, we are not going to get involved in that stuff. Let's say we got the fake one, what if we get caught? Do you know what that means? We will be expelled!" I yell at the last word.

"Fine I'll do it myself!" She spat.

"No you are not doing anything by yourself!" I spat back.

"You're not my mother!" She yells making me gasp in shock.

"She don't need to be your mother in order to stop you from your stupid plans which you will end up regretting!" Stella slams the door open and closed it with force. I cross my arms facing Loo. "Sit down." Stella sighs ordering Loo. Loo raised a brow at her.

"Sit!" She command with force and Loo did as told. "You too." Looking at me. I raised my hand in defeat and took a sit on the chair while Loo and Ella sat on the bed infront of me.

"Look, lies bear problems and problems bear another problems and another problems bear another problems and things will get out of control. Everything starts simple but as time flies by things change. If you don't want more trouble just go into his office tell him you was sick but you didn't go to the clinic because you thought it was useless and tell him you're sorry and it won't happen again. He'll probably give you his best yellow card he got and you're out of there in peace. And you won't miss any class from now on." She speaks almost running out of breath.

"It's still a lie." I frown.

"Have you heard of the word 'white lie'?" Air quoting at white lie " it's natural." She finished her sentence and I shrugged in defeat. I mean any better idea?

"Fine, I'll do that." Loo gave in. Stella gave her a quick hug and pulled her to her feet.

"Know let's go and tell him. The sooner the better." Ella says lightly.

We grabbed our stuffs and started walking to the office. We reached safely but Loo keeps on rambling some stupid questions that she thought he would ask.

"What if he calls one of my parents? They can't know about this." I can see her hands shaking. I hold her to make her calm but eww she was all sweaty. She apologised drying it on her skirt.

"Girl stop being nervous. Everything is gonna be alright." Stella assures her.

"Baby don't worry about a thing

Cause everything is gonna be alright.." my singing was cut off.

"Not the time." Ella shook her hair.

"Oh c'mon just go inside already. I can tell everything will go smooth once you got in there." I smile patting her shoulder.

"Now put on..." Ella stopped talking when we heard a voice from behind.

"Is everything okay?" The girl asked looking at Loo's I'm so worried face.

"Everything is fine thank you." Stella tells the girl struggling with the fake smile she's giving her.

"It doesn't seem like that." She speaks. This time Ella sent her a death glare.

"It's none of your..." she was cut again.

"I can help." She offered. Who is she? She got some nerves. I admire her confidence. She's wearing a white crop top, high waisted jeans with sky high heels. What is that? The Eiffel Tower? Is that even allowed around here? Can she walk? Well I think she does unless she wouldn't be here.

"We don't need your help Ms. Sticking her nose in other peoples business." Ella spat.

"My name is Patricia. You can call me Pat." She smiles ignoring Ella.

"Okay pat!" Ella scoffs. "We don't need your help, I don't even know what your still doing..." Loo cuts in.

"Fine. What can you do if your absent from school for a week and you have no valuable reason to convince the director who is right behind this door?" Loo points to the office with frustration. The girl smiles. Weird.

"Is that it?" We all raise a brow at her. "Follow me then." She starts walking across the hallway after adjusting her backpack. Loo followed.

"Seriously? Now we're following a stranger?" Stella scoffs not believing her eyes. I shrugg and start following Loo and the I can help girl. Sorry I mean Patricia or Pat what ever. Stella followed behind.

After a quick walk she opened a empty class and entered. Loo hesitated at first but she followed. We entered one by one. I closed the door since I was the last to enter. Patricia unzipped her backpack and took out her laptop. She started hitting the keys real fast. You know those secretaries? The busy ones? But the hot one. She looks one of them.

"What are you doing?" Loo finally asks.

"Hold on a sec." She didn't even took a glance at her. Ella scoffs. Loo shot her a glare while I chuckle.

"What's your name?" She asked.

"Laura" loo answers.

"Full name?" Still typing on her computer.

"Laura stefan moss." She answered. Stefan is her middle name? Didn't know.

"Laura stefan moss you are now left with 2 days of absentees. You can go and tell him you had some allergie or cold maybe food poison. I don't know just fabricate a good lie." She closes her laptop smiling towards us. What did she just say? What about the rest days? Where did they go?

"I'm sorry what?" Good question. Loo asked not believing what she just heard. Patricia sighs and start explaining.

"I'm a tech girl. I love computers and I love codes too. You know it helps to communicate with other computers. Like order them and stuff." We are not absolutely getting this.

"Missy can you speak in English?" Stella cuts. She groan like your so dumb will you even get it? Ouch.

"I used some codes to let me in to the school's director PC. I then entered your name and erased the absentees you lined up." She shrugs. Wait did she just hack the school's computer? I don't like where this is going. The forgery was better. Plus it's less complicated.

"You just hacked a f*****g computer!" I yell and Stella punches me on the gut making me cough my lungs out. What was that?

"Girl lower your voice! The last thing I want is getting behind the red door." Referring the principal's office. Me neither. Hold on, isn't that creepy for a principal's office door painted red?

"She just hacked a f*****g system." I curse lowering my voice this time. I don't want to spit my lung. I love my lung. I love breathing. It's the simplest thing that life has offered us. And I'm to young to die. I don't wanna die. I mean, who wants?

"No I didn't hack a system nor a computer. I spoke with it and he was willing to help. I took his offering. I think he might have a crush on lily." Pat smirks. Who?

"Who's she?" Stella asks frowning.

"Lily is the computer that helped you get out of the mess you were in." She smiles looking at her closed apple laptop. Weird. I wanna get out of here like now. ASAP!

"Thank you both umm pat and uh umm lily for helping me." Loo stutters with confusion.

"Anytime." She placed her laptop in her backpack getting out of the chair. When she was about to walk out of the room. I speak.

"Hey, uh you can hangout with us sometimes. If you want." I offered. Loo's and stella's head spun to my direction with a glare. What? What did I do this time?

"Yeah sure." She smiled

"Um so your number?" I frown when she was about to leave. She laughed at me like I told some joke.

"I like you. But you know I can reach you, right?" She raised a brow. I looked at the girls and back to her.

"Ha ha yeah I forgot." I waved my stupid thoughts on the air. She left closing the door. I thought she could just hack computers? Oh wait rewind a bit, "I'm a tech girl." Ohhh I get it now.

"Are you done with whatever your thinking?" Stella snaps her finger on my face making me gasp on her way.

"Ye- yes I have." I smiled. Loo crosses her hand while Ella placed her hand on her waist. Did I miss something?

"What?" I asked.

"You just told her to hangout with us." Stella groans. Oops.

"She helped." I protest.

"So what? Are you gonna invite everyone that helped?" Loo adds. Welcome back loo. We should throw a party.

"It's just this one time okay. No big deal. Plus she seems nice." I smiled.

"Everybody seems nice." The both yell in unison.

"And you still haven't talked to the director. Let's waste no more time I'm hungry. And again she never said she wanted to be friends." They gave me the are you serious right now look.

"Let's go." I yell pushing them to the door. They both sigh in defeat.

Loo went to the office and made her way out safe. He warned her, true. But it wasn't that serious. You see we ditched the 6th period since we couldn't make it. We ate our lunch, laughing about how the director was shocked to find her absentees from 5 days to 2 days. I'm sure his face was priceless. I wished I was there to enjoy the view. But still she told us everything so I felt I was there too. The funniest part was he wished her to get well soon. She pretended a cough and a snort blaming the new air condition and played the I can't adopt it vibe. She should receive an award. Oscar? When the siren blew we went to our last period. Math. Ugh, right?

Wrong

I love math it makes my mind work. And I like when my mind works. I feel like I can run the world but it's only until I'm out of that class. And I'll feel all normal again. After getting into the class and having that I'm smart moment of mine. Everything was going great until the P.A system sounded and a voice called all 12 graders for a meeting at the end of this class. We all groaned cause they'll probably tell us to study since we're seniors and we'll have a grand test for a grand pass. Just thinking about it made me tired. We have no choice so we left. When we reached the meeting hall we took a sit around the middle to get a better view. Five minutes later some girl and the director came and took a sit on the chair facing all of us.

"Hello everyone, I'm Britney Forenwood. Now you all might be wondering why we called you today." She smiles. Loo groans.

"Isn't that one of the girls from last week? Those bitches? The puppets?" Stella whispers. Trying to make us remember the day we were choosing clubs we wanted to participate.

"Oh." We nod our head in unison.

"I want to cut her pretty ponytail and make her eat it." Stella curses, her hands balled into fists.

"Good but that's actually weird." I whispered nodding.

"I don't care." She whispers and Loo chuckles.

"....As I was saying there will be a few other students picked from different sections. You will elect whom you want or think is suitable for senior year president. The students will take this stage if they wanna say anything to make you choose them. Well I'm one of them so I'll go first." She laughed while nobody did. She cleared her throat continuing, " so umm I wanna be your voice and...." she babble. Wait did she just say I wanna be your voice? Who the hell does she think she is? God? Oh speaking of God he gave us not just a voice but voices. We want somebody that can make our voice heard not be our voice! Oh my God it's coming. Oh no I'm about to throw up. Should I leave? Oh no what....

"We don't need a voice!" Dammit! I yell making everybody gasp. I can feel all eyes on me. s**t what have I done. I wasn't expecting it to happen this way. I thought I was going to throw up not blurt out.

"Girl you okay?" Stella asks. Oh mother earth open up and swallow me. Okay comedown and simply apologize everything will be back to normal.

"I'm sorry did..." the girl tries to speak but I cut her off.

"I said we don't want a voice! I don't need a voice!" Oh my God what's happening to me. Is there any chance that a human can be hacked? If there is well I might be a victim. This wasn't our deal my dear tongue you was suppose to apologise remember?

"Girl are you feeling...." I cut Stella and continue.

"We want someone who can transmit and amplify our voice loud and clear!" I gave up I won't try to stop it anymore. I was unable to control my own body. How come someone end up not controlling his body. It's just....

"Miss would you come to the front and speak please?" The director spoke dragging me into my senses. I stood up and walk towards the front where they were sitting. What the hell! I reached the front and stood infront of the girl. I stared intently and she looked at the crowd waiting for us to say something. She quietly stood up from her sit and took few steps backwards giving me some space. My hand grabbed the chair and my body took a sit. My hand pulled the mic closer to my mouth to speak. My mouth opened but no words came out. I tried again still nada! Where did it go? You know the one controlling my body? Eyes waiting, ears waiting, minds taking it all in. The room was silent but I can hear my heart racing. I tried again. I opened my mouth.

"Hi" that was all I could say. Where did you go?