A/N: Yeah, so I decided to do something that has nothing to do with my series. This isn't a part of Frozen in Time, Awareness is the Option, or Slanted and Enchanted. This universe is different and the differences are explained throughout the story. It's a bit different than I've done before so hopefully you, the reader, enjoys it. Perfection is all just one huge story with no chapters, but i'm uploading it in different sections in ways that it make sense to me to upload it. The reason that there are no chapters doesn't really make sense, but ti works better for me. It's not complete, and It will be kinda long.

Perfection

I woke up out in the rain again. I checked my phone; it's 5 am Monday Morning. I can't believe I have to go to school today. It's so cold. I'm not really wearing anything, just pajama pants. The water starts to mat my fur. I felt my chest. I'm soaking wet. The sun is starting to rise over the housetops. It was May, but the mornings were still bitter cold. It had been raining all week. Relentless, mother nature. She's dealing a cold hand. Why is it so cold? I got up and checked around myself. I was in the backyard. It's better than the front I guess. Getting to my feet I look inside the house. Simon was in the kitchen. He was looking for something, perhaps something to eat. If that's so, he's really looking for me.

The water dripped from my hair. I'm still groggy; my vision still wasn't perfect. Stumbling, I found my way to the back door. It was locked. It would be best not to knock. Alvin was going to still be asleep. I looked around the house again. The day was already starting to lighten up. It was a greenish shade of grey. I've never seen the sky look green before. I started to walk around to the front of the house. I got outside somehow. It might have been through the front door. My sight returned to me completely. The house was light by individual lights; the gradient of light and dark played with my eyes. Dancing shadows moved through the front and faded into the black. I got into the kitchen. I puddle of water started to form underneath me. Simon didn't notice me enter. He was facing away from me. I took another step and he turned around, startled.

"Theodore?" he said as he walked towards me, "Were you just outside?"

"Yeah," I didn't know what I should say. I hesitated and he looked inquisitively at me, "I just stepped out to get the paper."

He paused and looked at me carefully, "Where is it?"

"Where is what?"

He looked sternly, "The paper? You know, the thing you just went to get."

"Oh," I paused, "It's in the sink in the bathroom. It was too wet for me to bring in here."

"And yet your dripping wet self is fine. I wasn't aware that it was raining so hardly outside."

I started to walk away," Yeah it was weird. It picked up and then dropped again. I'm going to dry myself off," I left the kitchen and started to go upstairs. It was dark; none of the lights were on. I got to the top and Alvin was steeping out of the bathroom.

"Oh Theo, I didn't know that you had already taken a shower. I didn't hear you in there."

"Yeah, I took one a while back when you were sleeping," I said, trying to get behind him.

"Cool, yeah. I'll see you downstairs. Do you want to drive today?"

"I'm not feeling it." I walked past him.

"Alright," he paused and walked to the stairs, "I'll ask Simon."

I started to dry off and change. I didn't have time to take a legitimate shower. Alvin already thinks that I took a shower today anyway. It would be weird to take one again. I can't find anything to wear.

"Simon, did you hear Theo take a shower today?" Alvin and Simon had made themselves breakfast in the absence of Theodore. I usually make breakfast. They must have been a bit lost, but breakfast isn't that complicated to make so hopefully they figured it out.

"I didn't, why?"

Alvin spooned another bit of cereal into his mouth, "Oh, well, he was all wet and he told me that he had already taken a shower. I was just weird. I usually hear the two of you take showers, even when I sleep. It's what wakes me up in the morning," Simon laughed at this, "I only heard one shower today, which I assumed was yours because you're usually up first, or still awake from the night before. I just didn't hear him take one. I may have just not heard him take a shower this morning. I'm not sure. Was the shower already wet when you got in?"

"No," Simon said as he got up and put his dishes away, "It was bone dry. You see, Theodore told me the reason he was wet was because he went out to get the paper this morning. It was odd, he was much more wet than he should have been," I started to walk downstairs and they stopped talking. I paused on the stairs and listened. They had completely stopped so I continued down to meet them.

Alvin put up his dishes, "Oh hey Theo."

"Hey guys," I grabbed an apple and some tea I had made last night.

"Theo, I thought you told me you got wet from going outside."

I looked up at him as I was sitting down, "yeah, I did."

"Well, you told Alvin that you got wet from taking a shower."

"I never said that," what were they trying to pull here?

"You told him you had taken a shower when I didn't hear you or anything. The tub was bone dry when I got in there as well."

"Alvin had just asked me if I had taken a shower, which I did take one, at like 3 in the morning. I didn't go to sleep last night. I had a paper due, so I took my laptop downstairs, as to not disturb the two of you." This lie is starting to get far too intricate.

"You told me that you were wet because of a shower," Alvin said as he stared at me.

"No I didn't, you asked me if I took a shower, not why I was wet," I wish they would just stop wondering.

"Oh,"

"Where's your laptop now?" Simon asked. They couldn't have known. There's no way.

"My bag," I put my bag onto the kitchen table and threw the apple core into the trashcan.

"Can I see it?" he was starting to get irritated.

"I simply don't understand what your deal is today."

He stepped towards me, "I just want to see it."

"Why?"

"What are you covering up?"

I paused. He looked worried and Alvin just looked away, "nothing," I opened up my bad and took out my laptop, "look, here's the paper I was working on last night. Please you two, I'm tired and I'm ready to get the day over with now that it's just started. Can we just get to school?" The headache started again. It was dull, but persistent.

Alvin started to walk out of the kitchen. He grabbed the keys off of the ring as he walked out, "come on, let's just go," the rain hadn't stopped yet and he ran to the car. I put my laptop back in my bag and stood up, Simon stayed back with me. His eyes were worried.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I was just concerned."

My face was a blank slate, "Worried about what? I'm fine."

"Yeah, yeah. I know that now."

The rain had let up by the time we got to school. I put in my iPod. Tokyo Police Club. It would be the best thing right now. The myriad of faces flashed past me as I walked up to the school doors. Simon and Alvin talked to each other as we walked in. They were laughing. I wonder what it was about. It was still overcast as we got in. It would be for the remainder of the day.

When we got to our lockers, which were situated next to each other for obvious reasons, the two left for their first period classes. 20th century American History for Alvin, and AP Physics for Simon. I would be heading out to AP Literature and Composition for the first part of the day. I sat down and rubbed my temples. The headache would not leave me. I opened my locker again and grabbed a bottle. Aspirin, it would be my only saving grace in the really bad days. I sat down again and took out my phone. It was 10 minutes until class started. The sound of the halls was crashing in my head. The pain started to worsen. I took the pills and sunk my head into my knees. I felt someone sit next to me. I looked up.

"Are you alright?" It was Eleanor. She always seemed to be there when I needed her to be.

"Yeah," I said, exhaling a huge breath.

"You don't seem okay."

"Looks can be deceiving."

She laughed, "Seriously, what's wrong."

"I have a headache. That's all, nothing to be worried about."

"You should really let me worry about you sometimes," she got up and held out her hand, "Are you ready?"

Her hand, a simple gesture of kindness that exemplified her beauty. She was never down, and, no matter how sad I could get, she was always there with a hand and a smile. I grabbed her hand and she helped me up. Our hands lingered. She looked at me, deeply. I couldn't look away, and I smiled. She was the picture of perfection to me. I couldn't understand why, "Thanks," she laughed and put her hand down at her side hastily. When it was at her side, it seemed like she didn't know what she wanted to do with it. I put in my iPod again, only one ear this time.

"We should go," we had first period together. I grabbed the pill bottle from the floor where I had left it and put it in my backpack.

"Let's go," we started to walk in silence. She looked anxious. Her eyes would flit to me and quickly go back to the hallway. There were too many people in the hallway for her to keep her eyes on me all the time I guess.

"So, um, what are you listening to?" It was odd. She would seem nervous around me at times. We were usually so comfortable around each other, and she exuded confidence when around others, but with me she was reserved. I had always wondered what she felt around me. I think it is obvious. I didn't want to be made the fool.

"Grizzly Bear, Two Weeks," I looked down at her again. I always got drawn in by her eyes. There was something about her eyes. The Hazel color was always changing. The change maybe?

"I think you showed them to me, right?"

"Yeah, I did," I wish I knew what she was thinking about. She was searching for something to say. I killed to conversation on accident. Silences are so awkward. My headache started to go away. We got into the room and sat down next to each other.

"How do you think the paper went for you?"

"It should have been fine. I had Mrs. King for English freshman year. It's been a while, but she grades papers the same way."

"Even after three years, she grades the same?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, okay." The silence came back. I hate it when the headaches come. I can't seem to hold conversation with anyone. The silence held for the rest of the period.

"Fuck," It was third period and I was rubbing my temple again. The pain had set in. I looked at my phone. It was half past noon. I could take some pills again. I said it softly enough that nobody heard it. I was in Calculus with Jeanette at the time. She was sitting next to me, and she didn't even so much as look over.

"Theo?"

"Yeah?"

"Have you gotten anywhere on problem seventeen?"

"I haven't," she looked over to me, and I was still rubbing my temples.

"Hey, are you alright?"

"It's just a headache,"

"You look like you're in a lot of pain," I was. And she could tell.

"I'm fine,"

"But,"

"I'm fine, please just drop it." I snapped at her. Jeanette withdrew. She was hurt, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you."

"You should go take something for it," she looked worried.

"Yeah," I raised my hand. The teacher, Mr. Williams, called on me.

"Yes Mr. Seville?" he was always so unpleasant to deal with.

"Can I use the restroom really quickly?"

"Yes you may," he was surprisingly easy to deal with today. I got up and Jeanette watched me was I walked out of the room. Her eyes were burning my back.

I got to the restroom and pulled out the pill bottle I had on my person. It was empty, "Oh goddammit, really?" I walked and put my back against the wall. I looked at the bottle again and threw it against the wall. I slid down the wall and put my head in between my knees. What was I trying to accomplish my sitting here? Maybe it would help my pain. The spikes in pain were killing me. I heard the door open.

"Theo, what are you doing?" It was one of my classmates, Jackson.

"Jackson, are you selling right now?"

"Me? No, not right now?"

"Who is?"

I walked outside and went to the parking lot. There were two guys talking next to a car. I recognized one of them; he was in my class, and one was a junior. The senior would be the dealer, Jackson informed me. His name was Kyle. They caught sight of me and the junior walked away and Kyle smiled.

"Theodore Seville, what brings you to my office today?"

"Oh ha ha. If it wasn't completely outlandish enough that you wait outside in the parking lot all day, you don't need to pretend like this is a movie or something."

He laughed, "You're in quite a mood today. You usually seem to be so happy-go-lucky, why is today so different? Do you have an itch only I can scratch?" This guy was a complete idiot.

"Again with the theatrics. What do you have?"

"What do you want?"

"A pain killer?"

"Ah, yes. I have some vicodin, perks, k-pins-"

"K-pins aren't for pain,"

"Well aren't we so knowledgeable. Considering this is your first time here I thought you wouldn't know anything," It's true, I hadn't bought anything before. Drugs hadn't been on my mind before today.

"Yeah alright, Vicodin will do fine."

"3 a pill then," I handed him a twenty and he handed me a baggie.

"No change?" I asked.

"Count it, there's seven in there. Consider it a gift for a first timer."

"Oh, well, thanks." I started to walk away.

"It was a pleasure," he got into the car next to him, which I could only assume was his, "I'll see you again soon!"

I certainly hope he's not right.

I went back inside and past the guards. They didn't question me. When I got into a bathroom I took the bad out and cut the pill in half and took it. Almost immediately, it started to work. For the first time in many weeks, the pain alleviated. I sat down on the floor again. It smelled like urine. I sat there for a while and looked back at my watch. It was five till one. I had been done for almost a half hour. I got up and started back for class.

"Mr. Seville, wonderful for you to join us again!" Mr. Williams threw his hands in the air. What a clown, making a spectacle out of me. It didn't bother me, "Where have you been?"

"I've been feeling sick. You know when you can't decide if you're going to throw up or not. I was in that limbo for a while," The class started to laugh and I smiled.

"Well, did you make a decision?"

"I chose not to vomit," The bell rang. I went over and grabbed my bag. Jeanette stood up and walked over to me.

"You feel better?"

"Like new, thanks," her eyes light up. She must have believed me. How high was I right then? I'm not sure. I was high enough to seem fine. The pain was gone, that's all that mattered to me. The side effects were making me feel fantastic otherwise. No complaints really.

The last period of the day went normally, and completely pain free. I left and met Alvin and Simon at our lockers. Alvin threw me the keys.

"It's you turn to drive!" he shouted as he started to walk away. I put my things away and caught up with them. I threw the keys to Simon.

"I didn't sleep last night," I didn't want to risk anything, "It would be a bad decision for me to drive right now," I knew Simon would take the bait. He was cautious and responsible.

"That's true, I'll drive, but tomorrow, it's your turn."

"Fair enough."

It was about six o'clock when Eleanor and I were supposed to meet to finish a project we had been working on about The House of Spirits by Allende. It wasn't too complicated. She arrived a bit late, and, as usual, was very apologetic. We went to the basement, where I was starting to spend most of my time. There were old couches, from when Dave was a bachelor and my desk was down there. I turn on some music and we got started again. It was a short screenplay about the characters.

About 30 minutes in, we finished the project. It was saved. It was printed, and we were done. Eleanor, who had been doing the typing while I had been doing the talking, looked up at me, "Are you alright?"

"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" I turned away from her, "Am I doing things that make it seem like I'm alright?"

"The headaches, I've noticed them. You took a 30 minute bathroom break today," I looked at her, "Jeanette told me about it."

"I'm fine. I can't afford to be not fine."

"Why's that?"

"As I stand, me, and all of us, stand on the edge of a knife. We're starting our Exuent tour in the summer, signally the end of our careers. Until then, we're all still under the microscope of the people's unforgiving eye."

"So what does that matter?"

"So what does that matter? They would tear me apart! I would be thrown out of the music business' conscientious."

"Theodore," she stood up and touched my elbow, "All because of a few headaches?"

"It's not just that. Please, if I tell you this, you can't tell anyone, alright?"

"You can always trust me, you know that."

"Ellie, I've been waking up outside sometimes."

"So you sleep walk I do it to," she smiled and brought herself closer.

"My vision blurs. I'm anxious and I feel like I'm on the verge of falling apart at any moment."

She looked worried, "Have you told a doctor any of this yet? You could be really sick!"

"The shadows play with my eyes. I can't discern what's real and what's a dream sometimes. I wake up thinking I've gone thinking I've gone through an entire day sometimes. I lose contact with my sense of reality and I wake up on the other side. My soul drifts, I can feel it drifting."

"Teddy-" Teddy, she's never called me that before, "You need to go to a doctor."

"I can't, not until we finish the tour. I owe it to everyone to let us go out without any sort of tainting."

"We won't be tainted! You won't be tainted!"

"We'll only be remembered by how I went crazy and couldn't do the final concert. I'll be fine. If I don't do this, we can't fade out of the public's mind easily. That's what you want right? We agreed upon that last year. To fade. We can't do it if I start taking medication and start seeing a psychiatrist."

"You can't do this to yourself."

"Yes I can," she looked up at me. She grabbed my hand and led me to the couch. I sat down, and she sat down in my lap, facing me. She leaned in, our lips met. I don't know what to say at this point. My eyes were wide open. I slowly closed them. She came off of me. I'm still in complete shock. It had been ten years since we meet. She was my best friend.

"Well, if you're going to try this whole crazy bullshit, I'm going to be there with you. I don't condone it by any means. At all. I'm just aware that I can't change your mind. Instead of fighting it, I'm going to make sure you don't die in the process," she was so light hearted about it. She should be, she doesn't know the extent to which I suffer. Her optimism was rubbing off on me.

"Wha-?" I'm not nearly as articulate in my mind as I am in real life. She pounced on me, throwing me down to the couch. She was still on top of me, and again she pulled away.

"You're going to need someone in this journey. I'll be there for you."

"What if I end up being crazy, what will we do then?"

"I can't imagine you being crazy."

"Why's that?"

"You're sane enough to have a plan. You're sane enough to know you might be going slowly mad. You're sane enough to accept my help," She was bathed in the golden light of the old lamps. Was she here to save me?

"Why haven't we done this earlier?"

"I don't know, I was never sure about how you felt. I just didn't care tonight. You are in pain that much I can clearly see. I thought, it would be helpful for you to know that there's one person that loves you."

"I love you too Eleanor, I always have," She leaned in and we lost ourselves in time. When we came back to, it was nearing midnight. Dave was away on business thankfully. He would have yelled at me all night. She left and I stayed in the basement and slept there that night. When I went to sleep, I realized that it wasn't all just a dream, and that I had been awake. My headache faded away. I didn't need to take anything that night. Eleanor was already helping me. Before I went to sleep, I wondered what would happen to me that night and I started to wish.

I wished things were simple. I wished I could just be with her. I wished that I could just sleep. I wished that I didn't wake up from this dream.