Tuesday.
Day 10.
Issa.
I was having another dream again.
It was always so obvious I was in one now. Mainly by the way the light shined around me as I looked around everywhere. It was like I had on a pair of splotchy glasses in the rain, but also very bright and sunny at the same time, blocking my vision ever so slightly. I could tell the light from the sun was trying to shine through them, but could only let in a tiny amount from the water droplets blocking the way. Making my vision more blurry than usual.
Only I didn't really have on any glasses, and it wasn't raining. And I definitely wasn't outside to see the sun, I was inside my room at the school again in this dream. I remember the first night I slept here in my dream world and had a dream. It made me laugh, thinking about how I was dreaming while already being inside another dream at the school.
It made me laugh then, and it made me laugh again this time as I got up from my bed to get dressed and go eat breakfast. I knew I was asleep and well in my room, so it didn't bother me that I was walking around half asleep for everyone to see. It was only when I got to the lunchroom again that I remembered what had happened yesterday.
My dream had come true, at least most of it that I could remember anyway. The part I could just barely remember was strange. I was definitely no longer inside the school, and I was with a man I didn't recognize. But as soon as I looked up to see the mans face, I woke up.
In the new dream I was having currently, I entered the lunchroom alone, no Lectra or Wes glued to my side. I eyed the entire room, searching for them, but couldn't see them anywhere. The only person I could see was Blake. I smile as I see him at my table, then go grab my food. I barely knew him but he was easily becoming one of my favorite people I knew. I wasn't going to tell Lectra that though, I knew she'd become jealous, although I still loved her just as much.
The food for breakfast today was odd. It was actually breakfast foods, not dinner like yesterday's had been. But the main dish was eggs and ham, only the eggs were dyed green, like the kids book 'Green Eggs and Ham'. There was no way this was actually going to happen tomorrow morning, I was sure of it. It was just too strange.
I laughed at the green eggs as I slid them onto my plate then hurried off to sit next to Blake. I was still entranced by my funny food that by the time I notice her sitting with him, I was already too close to awkwardly turn around and leave.
She'd already seen me and was snarling her wicked teeth at me in a smile next to Blake, in my spot. All this did was anger me instantaneously, making me lazer focus on Lizzy as I approached her.
I began striding up to my table again, not caring that my heart was pacing a million miles a second. I firmly and confidently set down my tray with a smile thrown at Blake, who I now noticed looked incredibly uncomfortable sitting next to her.
Next, I darted my eyes at Lizzy and smiled devilish like. She makes eye contact with me then smiled right back at me with a little bounce, which makes her small blonde curls shake, almost looking cute.
Almost. Too bad I could see right through her whole ugly facade. I straightened myself as I smoothly slid my arm through Blake's next to me, then my fingers intertwined with his own. Lizzy watched my every move as I touched her ex-boyfriend. I could just barely see her eyes flicker something that looked like jealousy deep inside, but it was quickly gone. All it did was leave me wanting more of a reaction out of her.
Pretending I just now noticed her, I calmly say;
"Oh, hey. Liza, right?" I knew this would at least make her show a little reaction, which it did, but once again, hardly. She let's out a small 'hmph' followed by a side smirk. It wasn't enough, I wanted to show her just how much she didn't bother me. And the only thing I could think of was sitting right in my arms.
As bold as I felt, I tilted my head up, ignoring Lizzy beside us now, then I simply looked Blake in the eyes. I change my tone from bitchy to cute girlfriend within seconds as I say;
"Good morning baby." Then without so much as a hesitation, I was leaning up into Blake and kissing him smack on the mouth. The instant we were kissing, I heard a sharp sounding squeak coming from Lizzy next to us. I held our kiss a few seconds longer, then pulled away and glance at Lizzy, who's face was now blood red.
Then, just as fast, I lock eyes with Lizzy and say something I would have never said if it wasn't my just my own dream. In fact, I would have never been able to do anything I'd been doing this whole time, but it was a dream, so what the heck.
I take a breath, tilt my head to the side then say, in a babyish voice;
"Oops. You're the ex-girlfriend who cheated, aren't you? Shoot, my bad." I see nothing but hatred in her eyes as she finally gets up from the table, then she turns to leave, but before she does, she turns back around and snarls;
"You know what? You deserved-" It was exactly like the other night, she was gone suddenly and I was awake again inside the school, my other dream. Just as she was about to finish her sentence, she faded out of the picture, like she was nothing but mist. What was she trying to tell me? I deserved what?
Just before she was gone, I could see her still attempting to talk to me, with her mouth moving but no actual sounds happening, trying to finish whatever it was she was saying. What the hell was she trying to say I deserved? The only way I could possibly know what she was saying was to finish the dream, but I had no idea how to do that.
Then it hit me; I could just repeat everything that happened in the dream again this morning. Everything I never would have done in real life.
I knew it was crazy to think, it was simply a dream, it couldn't actually become real, but the other night ended up really happening, so why would this one be any different? I had to try, no matter how hard it would be, or even how bad it would make me look.
Before I could stop myself or maybe even think it through like I probably should have, I was up and out the door.
•••
I look just as tired and toned down as I had in the dream while I trudged down the hall, already off to a familiar start.
I was almost to the cafeteria, and so far everything was exactly the same. I didn't have Lectra or even Wes with me, and to make things worse, I could smell eggs. Now, if they were green and had ham, I would really be losing my mind.
I approached the food, and holy cow, it was eggs and ham, but no green dye. Feeling semi-okay now, I turn and forget I was supposed to check for my friends. Good start Issabelle.
I search around and don't see them, only Blake, as expected. I gather all of my food, although something told me I wasn't going to be very hungry after what I was about to do in a minute.
This time I watch as Lizzy approached Blake, clinging onto his arm and saying something to him with a seductive smile. I knew it shouldn't, but seeing her again made me mad. She was the reason for the whole me, George and Cam mess. I hated her. Maybe anger was what I needed to get me through this.
The closer I got to Lizzy the clearer my answer was. Yeah, it definitely was.
•••
I focused my sights on the two of them, and I went in, copying everything I had done, up until the part that I knew would kill me the most. I tried not to show as best I could how hard it was to say it, when finally I gave in;
"Oops. You're the ex-girlfriend who cheated, aren't you? Shoot, my bad." All I could think was that I was glad Lectra and Wes weren't here to hear how damn bitchy I sounded. I watched as Lizzy got all red and sat up, turning to leave, then she turned back around, readying herself to speak.
I knew the look on my face was probably nothing she was expecting to see. I knew I was staring her down, probably like a dog would at a big ol' juicy steak, just waiting to hear what I worked so hard for. Then she said it;
"You know what? You deserved-" I was half expecting her to burst into mist again and be gone like in the dream, but she didn't, she stayed right where she was. She even actually finished what she had meant to say;
"-what he did to you that night!" I had to admit, it wasn't entirely what I was expecting, but I'm not even sure I knew what I was expecting either.
He? Who was he? I was definitely expecting to be enlightened by whatever it was she had to say, but it left me even more bewildered than before.
I don't even get a chance to question her, she was already proudly walking away, out of the room. And now was the part I didn't think about; me being alone with Blake. I cleared my throat and removed myself from his arms slowly. I finally forced myself to look up at him, and he was already staring like I had just slapped him across the face.
"I can explain?" Smoothly, it's all I can manage to come up with to say to him. His shocked expression seems to disappear ever so slightly, but is still there when he says;
"I mean, we did agree on this, so it's fine. And as for her, she definitely deserved that anyway, whatever reason you had to do it." Deserved. Just like she had said I deserved what happened to me too. It was killing my brain cells the longer I wondered about it, so I decided to focus on explaining everything to Blake for now.
After Blake had asked me what my strange 'visions' were about the day before, I had ended up telling him about them, mostly. Only I left out the fact that this was my messed up dream world. I didn't feel like being judged more than he would already judge me for the visions, so I stuck with explaining one.
He hadn't been as weirded out as expected, only like it was almost normal to hear, which was definitely strange. I was sure though if I had mentioned that this place was all just apart of my imagination, then I would get the reaction I was expecting.
"I had another weird dream, like yesterday's. Only Lizzy was in it this time, and the only way to get her to say that, was to act like this. That's why I was being a complete, utterly bitchy, drama queen, bitch." Blake doesn't get the chance to say a word. I heard footsteps approaching me then Lectra was saying;
"Say bitch again." She sits down beside me, then Wes follows her shortly after. Happy to see her, I reach and hug her, hating the way I had acted, even to Lizzy.
"I'm guessing you heard that then?" She and Wes were now tearing into their food, like this was their first times eating ever, then she says;
"Only the part about your freaky dreams. Not what you actually said to Lizzy, although I will need to know that immediately." I grinned then rolled my eyes at her, but I explain it to her and Wes anyway.
•••
"So-what the hell does that mean? You deserved what?"
"That's my question." I rub the temple of my forehead, feeling a massive headache starting up now. Then Blake speaks up, surprising me;
"Maybe she's talking about the boyfriend who cheated on her with you?"
"That doesn't make sense." Wes and Lectra both said it at the same time, making them exchange smiley faces, then they were saying;
"Jinx!" Like they were both children, they high-five eachother. I ignore them and think back on what Blake had said. It wasn't totally unbelievable. The more I thought about it. I didn't remember sleeping with her boyfriend. And according to Lizzy, something else seems to have happened to me that I don't remember either. Maybe the two were related, as farfetched as it was.
"It kind of does make sense though. I don't remember doing either of these things. Maybe they're connected?" As soon as I finsh my conspiracy, everyone at the table gave me 'shes losing it' looks, besides Blake, who had originally came up with the idea.
"Don't you think that's maybe stretching it a tad bit, Iss?" It was obvious Lectra was trying her best not to show she was judging me pretty hard, but failing.
"I'm just saying, Lizzy was the person who told me about both situations, both I have no memory of ever happening." Once again, my gaze was returned with 'wtf' glances shared between one another. I look at Blake, who simply gives me a whispered 'Im sorry', unable to help me any further. I sigh and decide to just let it go, for now at least.
"Yeah, maybe you guys are right." Lectra tapped my shoulder then she was adding to my statement;
"Or ya know, you could be onto something and we're just being dumb?" It was obviously said to make me feel better, but only made me feel a butt load worse. I ignored her and piled the rest of my eggs into my mouth, then wash it down with my orange juice, just wanting to leave.
"I'm done if you're ready Issa?" Blake was standing up with his tray above me, watching as I stuff my face. Still with a mouthful of juice, I attempt a nod in his direction.
He smiles at me and I suddenly feel very appreciative of his presence. I had just acted horribly to his ex right in front of him and he still wanted to be around me somehow. Then to add to that, he was defending me with what I believed in, even if he didn't truly understand it yet the way Lectra and Wes did. I swallowed finally then stood up with him and said;
"Ready. See you guys later." Lectra and Wes were already having their own conversations, then with a small wave from them, we were walking from the room. I couldn't help but notice on my way out, I didn't see George or Cam once at breakfast.
•••
*Cam*
George and I had decided to eat breakfast together outside again this morning, away from everyone else. I knew George saw it as a cute gesture, and it was. Mostly at least.
I couldn't help but think I was really doing it to keep him from seeing her. I knew there was a connection between them, even though they hardly knew each other. Who was I to judge?
The minute George and I started hanging out when we first met, I was drawn to him, just like he was with Issa. There was no reason I should be keeping them from each other, but I cared for him just as much as she did. I was just being a jealous idiot, that much was obvious.
"So what is the Boss planning?" I'm snagged out of my thoughts by George's voice. I blink up at him, not really hearing what he had said. He seems to understand I was in my thoughts, so he smiles and repeats;
"Yesterday. You said the Boss was planning something again this month. So what is it?"
"Oh. Well, I'm not really sure. He didn't say. Just that it was a new thing." It was obvious George was studying my every move, so I tried my best to straighten myself and sound less robotic while I said;
"I'm sure he probably sent me the plans this morning. I can go check if you want?" George plops another grape into his mouth then he was shrugging.
"Yeah sure. I'll be here, waiting." George smiles up at me now standing above him, then without thinking, I was leaning down and planting a quick peck on his mouth. The most we've done the past few days has been holding hands or hugging, so I wasn't sure if we were on kissing terms yet after our fight.
I straighten back up and study George below me, expecting the worst. I'm instantly relieved to see his smile widen even more, as well as his cheeks flush a peachy color. Then he was clearing his throat and stating;
"Hurry back." I see a flicker of lust radiate through his eyes as he spoke this time. I turn to leave then shoot back, still turned away;
"No promises." Before he can reiterate, I was walking away back inside the school. I don't know what it was that made me just simply want to get away by myself for a little bit, but I found myself walking the complete opposite direction of my office like I had told George I was doing.
As if they were working on their own without my permission, my legs were walking down into the basement. Most of the lights were turned off as usual and it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, so I told myself I was all alone down here. I knew most would be enjoying breakfast at this time anyway.
I find myself walking over to the pool down the end of the hallway. It was a shame it was basically never used, since most people didn't have the time to goof off and swim for fun. Even I hardly used it. It was embarrassing to admit but in the 4 years I've been here at the school, I'd only used it a handful of times.
I was always so surprised by how large it actually was, and especially how beautiful the lighting was with most of the lights turned out, just relying on the pool lights. The lights under the water would shine up against the ceiling, moving with the rhythm of the waters movements, and the beauty would always amaze me, no matter how many times I've seen it.
This room was my place I'd go if I just needed to get away from everyone, even George. I wouldn't even swim, I would simply sit and relax in a chair. For whatever reason, nobody really ever hung out here, even when there was free time to be spent, so it gave the perfect excuse to use it for myself.
I entered the room and immediately took a sigh of relief, feeling better just being alone already. It was clear to myself that I was stressing out about the whole Issa situation. Truthfully, I didn't care as much as I know I should what would happen to her if the Boss didn't like her idea. But George seemed to trust his intuition, so I needed to at least try to trust in it too.
I made my way into the room further, finding my spot on one of the pool chairs in a corner, tucked away, just how I liked it. I sat myself down on it, then simply layed back and closed my eyes, listening to the occasional rippling sound of the water.
"-it's right down here. Like I said, no one ever comes down here." My eyes rip open at the voice coming closer and closer to the room I was in. It was a males voice. And not a familiar one at that.
"Good. I just needed to get away from-well-everyone." I almost gasped aloud at the sound of what was clearly Issa's voice answering the guy she was with. Why the hell was she down here, and with whom was she with?
"This is my place I use exactly for that reason. To get away. You're welcome whenever you want Issa." His place to get away? The words left his mouth and I could feel myself getting heated immediately. I still haven't moved from my spot when finally the guy and Issa walk into the pool room, totally unaware of my presence.
I knew he should look familiar, but he didn't spark any memory. I had absolutely zero clue as to who this guy was. I didn't really care though, because my eyes went to Issa. She was now looking around at the pool, still not noticing me staring right at her. If neither of them were going to notice me, I was going to take full advantage of the situation and listen in on them.
"It's so pretty down here." The guy looks over at her, being dreadfully obvious he was talking about her when he replied;
"Yeah. So pretty." I wanted to gag at the amount of corny he was being, but suppressed it. Issa hadn't noticed he was talking about her as she added;
"I'm glad I met you Blake. I know you're probably so lost on everything happening, but you're supportive anyway, and I appreciate that." So his name was Blake? They seemed to be super close. I had no idea she was already with someone else. I then wondered if George knew too.
I also wondered what the hell it was they were referencing to. What was she going through that she needed to get away from everyone down here?
"Yeah, everything is definitely very messy, but I can take it." Blake then takes her hand in his and I notice she stiffens at the touch. Were they really together? It was then that she slid her hand back out of his and walked over to lean against the wall.
"You know I only did that stuff earlier because of Lizzy, right?" Looking mildly hurt by her question, Blake walked over and leaned next to her and stated;
"Of course I know that." I couldn't even enjoy the tension of their relationship drama as much as I would have liked to, because my attention was now drawn to who they were talking about. Lizzy.
Why were they talking about her? I remember the first night she butted her head into me, George and Issa's relationship by informing me that Issa and George were dating. It was only later that I found out about her truly. Lizzy, and the connections she had with the Boss.
"I just needed to find out what Lizzy was hiding from me." Blake only nods at her sadly but in full understanding, so she adds quickly;
"And now I need to know what the hell happened to me that night I got here, with him. And whoever him even is." My eyes widen from her words. So Issa already knew about the night she was taken, only she doesn't know what happened, or who did it, like me and George do.
Why the hell would Lizzy say anything to Issa in the first place? The Boss wouldn't hesitate to punish Lizzy for giving away who he really was, even with their connections. If Issa put together the pieces somehow about who he was, they would both be in trouble. Lizzy wouldn't be that stupid, I hoped.
"You'll figure it out. I know you will." Issa nudges him then flashes a kind smile his way before finally saying;
"You know what else I just figured out?" Blake shakes his head back and forth then asks;
"No what?"
"We can't study here, we forgot to bring our laptops." Issa stops talking and Blake immediately face palms himself.
"Wow. We are smart." Issa just laughs and shrugs it off, then she was walking over to the pool and sitting beside it. She takes off her shoes then precedes to dips her feet in the water as she says, sounding more upset this time;
"It doesn't matter anyway. I can barely complete a single thing you're teaching me." Blake begins walking over to her then joins her by the pool.
"What? I thought you were doing great." She shakes her head at him, looking now like she was about to cry, then she bluntly states;
"No, I know what I'm doing, it's not that I'm clueless. I'm just not-into it anymore. Being here changed me." Surprising me and Blake, Issa leans and puts her head on his shoulder, resting it on him.
Blake slowly brings up his hand to smooth it over her hair. He doesn't say anything for awhile, like he was trying hard to choose his words correctly. Finally he looks down into the pool and exhales, then asks calmly;
"So, what is it you would want to do here then?" Issa lifts her head up to look him in the eyes, then she laughs.
"It's stupid. You'd laugh at me." Blake quickly takes her hand in his again and confidently begs;
"No, I won't laugh. Just tell me please. Maybe I can help." All she does is stare him in the eyes for what felt like too long, until finally she gives in and says;
"Okay. But all I'm saying is, you will definitely laugh." He rolls his eyes with a smile then she slowly continued;
"I want to stream. And start a channel. To, ya know, make videos. Okay, you can laugh now." Blake kept his promise and didn't laugh, but it was me who ended up laughing in response. George hadn't been lying about her wanting to stream after all.
The instant the noise travels over to them on the other side of the room, they both whip their heads over to finally see me sitting alone in the corner, hearing every word they said. Issa squinted over at the sound until she finally saw me.
"Cam?" Seeing no reason to sit still anymore, I stand up and begin walking over to the two, who were now also standing, far apart from eachother, as if repelled now that they were seen together.
"So, you want to stream?" She watches me closely as I approach her, visibly startled now. I knew Blake was probably scared of me, just like everyone else, even though he was twice as buff as I was. But Issa wasn't scared, which always baffled me, but also excited me in a way.
The closer I got to her, the easier it was to see she was also looking at me with sad, longing eyes, and all I could do was wonder why, until finally she stated;
"So what if I do?" The look that was so briefly present went away and the emotion I was so used to seeing from her filled her face again. Her sad eyes were gone and were now accompanied by hatred.
I heard her attitude towards me, but couldn't bring myself to mirror it right back at her. I knew how badly George wanted her to be on our side, so I was going to have to play it nice. Even if what I really wanted to do was sprint forward and clock her for being so arrogant.
"What if I told you I could change what you're doing now, to start streaming?"
"Yeah, right." Blake beside her was now eyeing her, clearly trying to get her to stop giving me attitude. At least this guy was smarter than she was, but sadly it wasn't needed.
"I'm being serious. It was George's idea." The previous shocked expression returns to her face as she watched me.
"We knew you were struggling, so we wanted to help. Well, he wanted to help." I watch her, studying closely to see if she was even a little bit believing me, and was surprised to see consideration take place.
"This was George's idea?" I simply nod at her. Her next words come so fast I almost can't understand them;
"Then no." Then she was turning and taking Blake's hand in hers to leave. I can feel my temper getting the best of me before I can control what I was saying.
"What? Don't you understand? This is to help you, so you don't get punished! So I would stop this stubborn act you're trying so hard to keep going!" The echoing of my voice loudening in the room makes Issa freeze in her steps and turn back around to face me. Of course I knew she probably wouldn't get punished, since the Boss had a weird obsession with her and was actually helping her, but I needed to convince her somehow.
"Fine. But we are not friends." I simply roll my eyes, suppressing the urge to tell her that we could definitely agree on that.
"There is one problem." All Issa does is cross her arms, waiting for me to get on with it.
"You have to ask for permission first." She instantly scoffs at me, then edges forward at me, looking like she was ready to hit me, then she says, yelling now;
"You're pathetic! Why would I need to ask for you're permission? You really need to have that much power over me?" Of course, she still didn't know about my Boss being the one to have to ask, or even about him at all. Knowing I could get into trouble just for telling Issa about him, I hesitate. I remembered then that Blake was still here, so I say;
"Blake has to leave for me to explain it." He didn't need much more after that. Blake took one look at Issa, waiting for her okay, and when he got it, he was basically sprinting back up from the basement. Then he was gone, leaving me and Issa alone now. I glance back at her then begin my explanation, hoping I wouldn't regret telling her;
"It's not me you need to ask for permission. It's my Boss." Issa looks at me like she was holding in a laugh, then when she realizes I'm being serious, she becomes stiff.
"It's not just you taking people here?" Issa was talking like what she was saying to me was hurting her to say aloud, unable to believe it.
"No, it's not." I then debate telling her that I hadn't been willingly bringing people here, and that it also wasn't me who took her, that it was my Boss, but ultimately decide not to. I knew she would still hate me either way. It was then that I noticed her face was getting paler and paler as she took in what I was telling her.
"Who is your Boss then?"
"I can't tell you that. Only that you've seen him before. At the bonfire." A look of realization spreads across her face, obviously remembering him there.
"He doesn't reveal his real identity to anyone, not even me."
"So you don't even know what he looks like?" I only nod a no at her. When I first met up with my Boss he had worn his creepy mask then too, saying he preferred to keep his identity a secret. I quickly figured out why that was when I was taken here.
Issa doesn't say anything this time, she just waits for more of an explanation on what to do with the Boss so finally I get to the point;
"At the next gathering he holds, you'll have to ask him yourself."
"Why would he just let me stream?" Not wanting to tell her it's because he is obsessed with her, or what really happened to her with him just yet, I simply state;
"Just trust me-trust George. Everything will be fine." The last time I had brought George up, Issa hadn't been all too pleased with it, so I was entirely expecting her to become provoked again, but I was wrong. Somehow she didn't reiterate with any of her usual sass, she just nodded an okay at me, borderline daunting me.
"I'll do it."