‘I love you Stryder, no matter what that dumb old drunk says’ My sisters words kept floating inside my head. She loves me? She says that so often now. I leaned over the sink and listened to the rushing faucet.

“I wonder, is she telling me that? Or herself?"

I closed my eyes and just focused on the water. Letting it drown out my thoughts.

"Stryder, Stryder..."

I opened my eyes and looked around. But, I didn’t see anything, or hear anything but the water. Did someone call my name? Great, now my anxiety is making me hear things.

"Stryder... Stryder.."

I jumped from the sink as something whispered into my ear. I scanned the bathroom, expecting to see Zack. But my heart skipped a beat when I saw no one was there.

"What...?" I mumbled.

"You have been chosen by fate… by fate," the whispers echoed and bounced off the walls. The voices surrounding me.

My heart bashed against my chest and I desperately looked around the room. This doesn't make any sense! Where is it coming from!? Suddenly the voices all stopped and a warm breath caressed my neck.

"You shall become our knight!" The voice roared into my ears.

I jumped and leaped out of the bathroom. My eyes scanned around for anything or anybody. But again, nothing was amiss. The apartment was quiet, and everything was still. Just the sound of my ragged breath, the trembling in my knees.

Did…did I imagine that? My skin prickled as the memory of the warm breath came back into mind. I reached back and placed my fingers against my neck. Either I'm skitzo, or that was a ghost…

I took a few deep breaths and started searching around the house. Looking for anything that could've caused the sound. Or even an open window, or flowing air vent for that ghostly breath. But there was nothing.

As I searched I remembered something. That voice I heard, it called me Knight. Just like the old man did yesterday. Is this connected? Or am I just out of it?

"Mmmrrm.."

My thoughts came to a stop as Zack's obnoxious yawn ripped through the room. I turned and watched him sit up and stretch his arms to the sky. We made brief eye contact and he cracked a smile.

"What?" I asked.

He didn't say a word, he just got up, and walked to the bathroom. And that means he's gonna take one of his beauty showers. Which means I definitely won't have time for one. I huffed and grabbed a fresh pair of clothes and deodorant. Maybe I can borrow some of dad's cologne. As the thought came in, my arm trembled. Maybe that was a bad idea…

I got dressed and slid on my jacket. I noticed there was something fat stuffed in my pocket. I went in and pulled the thing out, and found my mask. Which puzzled me, I could've sworn I took this out last night…

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

I sat back on the couch and started to examine it. Definitely looked a lot creepier then I remembered. Upon first glance, it looked like it was made from plastic. Yet the material was cold and heavy, like it was metal. I flipped it around and tried to find a watermark of any kind on it. But I had no luck.

That old guy didn’t make this, did he?

"And the devilishly handsome Zackeriah is complete!" I heard Zack cheer as he flung the door open, letting the steam fall behind him like it was a scifi movie.

I rolled my eyes and stood up, dropping the mask on the couch.

"Whatever, come on let's go. Lux left us breakfast." I replied.

"Ah my sweet love left me a gift." Zack hummed as he strolled over to the kitchen. "I forgot something at home. So I'll just meet you at school!" Zack cheered as he snatched his food and zipped out the door.

'I forgot something at home.' That was Zack's code for ‘my mom isn't home so I'm gonna skip.’ I debated if I was gonna be a parent and make Zack come to school. But the last time I did that, we got into a fight with a guy he was beefing with. Definitely don't want to get caught up in his mess…. So I guess that meant I was on my own today.

....

"Check it out, it's pee drinker."

"Like that special lemonade huh!"

"Slurp! Slurp!"

I sat back against the gymnasium floor and tried to ignore the other kids. That video went all around the school… I lifted my fingers up to my lips and started to chew on my nails. Not only was everyone looking at me for a reaction, but everyone pretty much knew who I was now. Great! So much for passing under the radar. I couldn't even walk down the halls without people pointing and laughing at me. Some people even took pictures!

"Alright! Coach Tevin is sick today. So he's given you all permission to do as you please." Our sub announced to us and I immediately shot up.

Sweet! I can run away! I turned toward the door and froze in my tracks. My hand dropped from my lips once I laid eyes on her. A goddess among common girls, a beauty undefined by earth who could only be appreciated right by the heavens—Alexis Summers.

Her amber eyes met mine and she gave me a sweet smile that made me want to melt. She happily skipped over to me, but once she got close, she started to laugh.

My stomach dropped. Oh no! No! No! No! I need to run, teleport away. But I couldn't just leave, that be rude. She probably thinks I drink pee water now! No wait! What if I look ugly! I never even looked in the mirror this morning. What if I look like a hobo! She'd never love me if i’m a hobo.

My thoughts came to a screeching halt once Alexis stood before me. She giggled and shook her head.

"Zack gotcha good!" She said between chuckles.

Alexis went into her pocket and pulled out her mini makeup mirror thing. For the first time today, I saw my reflection. Zack had drawn all over my face! He drew a kid twerking on my cheek and had, 'YOU GOT ZACKED' boldly printed on my forehead. Something was drawn on my other cheek and under my eyes. But my tears from this morning smeared it.

Lux saw me like this... Everyone saw me like this... Alexis saw me like this.

"I'm gonna castrate him," I grumbled.

Alexis laughed.

"Come here, let me clean you up." She said,

"T-thanks."

"Hey, did you have that dream again?

She leaned in close and the heat rose to my cheeks. I quickly averted from her gaze and stared at the floor. However, I inevitably stole a glance at her, and something just felt calming. There's no way I can lie to her.

"It was…the dream about mom again. Where she was shot in the back." I mumbled.

She chewed on her lip, and I could see the concern resting in her eyes.

"I'm sorry Stryder, you know, it's not your fault what happened-"

I watched her lips move, but I didn't hear any words coming from her lips. It was just buzzing in my ear. I've heard it so much now. I wonder why everyone tries to sugar coat it? Like I'm some kind of child? I know what I did, I don't deserve pity.

"Earth to Stryder!"

Alexis huffed and flicked my nose. I jumped and refocused myself.

"Oh, sorry! I was lost in thought. What's up?"

"So, Homecoming's happening soon, I was wondering..."

She suddenly stopped, and I could see her cheeks becoming as red as the streaks in her hair. She moved her hands behind her back, seemingly trying to hide her fidgeting.

My entire body warmed up and suddenly nothing else mattered. Not the eyes on me, not the jokes, not the writing that was on my face. Was she gonna ask me to Homecoming!? Me? Stupid old me!? Pee boy!?I took a breath and tried to compose myself. Doing my best to conceal my smile.

"Yes?"

"Could you.....drop a hint that I want Zack to ask me to the dance?" She blurted out.

My eyes were locked on her, I wanted to say something. But I couldn't get my lips to move. Zack, she liked Zack... Zack. I pushed on a smile and just buried my feelings.

"Definitely! I can totally do that."

"Ooh thanks, I'm so shy. I don't think he would go for a girl like me, but maybe if his other half tells him, maybe he will!" She cheered and playfully punched my shoulder.

"Hey, any guy would be lucky to have you.You're great."

Why couldn't I just disappear?

"Aww thanks. I'm glad we're friends. Now come on, let's play some basketball or something," she said and turned toward the basketball hoops.

Well, I guess I was right. There was definitely no way it was gonna be me.