This story is...pretty big for me. It's not no ordinary story. This story is based on me. The things in this story actually happened to me. I obviously replace the real-life characters with Smash/Earthbound characters.
Now, if you're not into blood and all that, please, do not read this story. Thank you, and I hope you enjoy this :D
7th Grade
Oh great. 2nd semester. The first was boring and….well….that's it. No friends. No trust. Just the same old same old. What's gonna be different about this semester? Absolutely nothing. That's what I say. Everything just fucking sucks.
"Now Class," the teacher, Zelda, starts. She's a social studies teacher. I never understood, and still don't understand, why it's called "social studies" when it's clearly history. Why call it such a weird thing when it's all just one thing? I dunno. "We'll be having a new student today. He's from a school up north so please welcome him with open arms. Come on in and introduce yourselves." A young-looking blonde comes into the room. He's decked out in a green tunic and pointy hat. He stands in front of the class.
"H-hi. My name is Young Link."
"Well, Young Link, why don't you sit…." Zelda scans the room for an available seat. Her eyes stop at my table. Our tables allow for four people. All the tables in the class do. Our table is usually filled, but not this time. The person who sits diagonally from me isn't here today. I don't know their name because I don't bother to learn people in general. I just don't care. Zelda prompts Young Link to sit in the vacant chair. Young Link walks over and sits in the chair and class proceeds like normal.
The next day rolls around and Zelda starts our 100-something day of learning about the Civil War. Today's a little different though. We're starting a stupid project. Not only is it a project, but it's also a CO-OP project. I need a damn partner for this thing. WONDERFUL! I really hate people. All they've ever done was use me. Use, abuse, and refuse, that's what people's mentality is, especially around me. No one cares about me, so why in GOD'S name should I care for them.
Ugh, either way, I've gotta be nice if I want to pass this class. By the time I actually try to look for a partner, most students already have a partner. All but Young Link. He's not even moving. He's just sitting down, awkwardly. Even I stood up and yet he's still on his ass. It's…..actually quite sad. He's just sitting down, alone. Why do I feel bad for him? Why do I feel this way? Against my nature, I decide to sit down next to him. "Would you like to be my partner?" I ask him. He slowly looks back at me and his eyes seem to hold this small bit of glimmer.
"S-sure." I smirk. Which is odd. I haven't smiled or smirked in who knows how long. I have to admit….it feels nice to smile genuinely. We work on our project for the rest of the class. The bell rings and class ends. But I don't even get to stand before Young Link taps my shoulder. I look at him. "What's your name?"
"Oh. I'm Lucas." Young Link smiles before standing up and leaving the room. I prepare my stuff but once again, I am interrupted before being able to step out of the classroom. This time, it's Zelda. I turn toward her and see that she's very bright. She's usually bright, but something about the way she looks now has a sense of…..proudness? Yeah, that sounds right.
"Lucas. What you did earlier….that was great. I'm proud of you for what you did. You saw that he was alone and you decided to go to him," she says as she puts a hand on my shoulder. I sort of flinch from this, but not as much as usual. I tilt my head as I look at her and absorb what she said. She's proud of me? She thought what I did was great? I didn't do much, though. But this praise is…..quite nice to be honest.
"Th-thanks." I leave the classroom. That was pretty weird. That praise….didn't expect that. It felt nice. Saying I did good…..hopefully, I can get more of that.
A week later
I will say….mine and Young Link's relationship is pretty good. We continued our project for the past week. We did pretty well, not outstanding, but passable. What surprised me most was that he wanted to hang out with me even after we had finished the project. I always accepted it of course, since I did feel comfortable around him.
Today seems nothing too special. Our social studies class starts like normal. Or so I think until Zelda comes up to me. "Hey, Lucas, the table next to you only has one person. Could you join her?" she asks. I obviously give her an awkward look. She, of all my teachers, knows that I would never be able to do something like that. "Young Link can go over too." Oh. He's coming along as well? I look over at him, and he gives me a small smile.
"I-I guess so…" Zelda looks over at him.
"Sure."
"Thank you boys so much. Move on over to the next table then." Young Link and I pack our stuff and sit at the next table, this time actually next to each other. The girl looks up at us and smiles happily.
"Hi," she cheerfully says.
"Hi, my name is Young Link." He's grown quite well into his skin. I can't help but think I deserve some credit for that growth. Although, at the same time, I'm not his only friend. His other friends are kinda dicks. One of them even used to bully me. He stopped a while ago, but still. There's still that ounce of bad blood between us.
"My name is Paula." Paula and Young Link look at me, wanting me to introduce myself. This…..this I hate. I was able to go up to Young Link purely on a whim, but when I'm told to do the introducing….I always choke.
"N-names Lucas." Huh….quite surprised I did that. I didn't expect that one bit. You know….I've noticed something. Something about me is changing. It's nothing big, but it's big for me. I'm coming out of my shell. It's slow, but it's still something to take note of. I would've never said my name as smoothly as I did just then.
The class continues like normal and the three of us talk as if we have been friends for years. I was still a stuttering mess through it all, but I actually partook in a conversation that I didn't feel forced to partake in. Can I call Young Link my friend now? I….I haven't made a friend in God knows how long. I still don't trust him as far as I can throw him but….why do I have the urge to call him "My friend".
One month later
Young Link, Paula, and I have gotten really close. I can actually call them both my friends. And I've heard them both call me their friend. It….it feels so nice. I actually didn't notice Paula and I shared a gym class until after she and I became acquainted. She and I got to be better friends during those classes. She even mentioned a few times that she would introduce me to some of her friends.
This gym class starts out like normal. Our gym teacher, K Rool, tells us what we'll be doing today. It's just a workout day. I have always been a fan of gym class. I love playing sports, despite my lack of athleticism. Believe it or not, I actually wanted to be a baseball player, specifically for the Chicago Cubs…...look how that turned out. I'm a depressed, unfit loner in a school that has heard a conjoined amount of ten words come out of my mouth. Or at least before I met Young Link. We're specifically supposed to run a mile. It's not fun of course….but it's bearable with Paula here.
Midway through the run, I see Paula talking with another girl. I catch up to her, completely on accident, and smile. "Oh, Lucas, I haven't introduced you to her yet, have I?" she says. I look at the girl she's next to and shake my head. She's not very recognizable to me. "Ok then. Lucas, this is Ana. She's been my friend for a while." Ana looks at me and smiles. She waves at me. I wave back. She seems nice.
"H-hi."
Welp….we spent the rest of the mile talking to each other. The three of us. The conversation just came so naturally to me. It never feels like that unless I'm with Young Link, Paula, and now Ana. The mile is done and I'm changing back into my normal clothes. As soon as I step out of the locker room, Paula envelopes me into a hug. She's always a hugger. She lets go and smiles. "I want to introduce you to someone."
"O-ok." Wow, I answered that question fast. It usually takes me some time before I can answer such a question. Before I can realize what's happening, she's already saying the name of her friend. Toon Link. He's familiar-looking. He and I have talked a few times in the past, but definitely not enough to be considered friends. Toon Link smiles. He's very kind. Like…..really kind. Sometimes, since I've had a few classes with him, his kindness and his affinity for following rules backfire. But he's so welcoming.
"H-hi, I'm Lucas." Toon Link chuckles.
"Nice to meet ya, Lucas." Yup….very kind indeed.
One week later
Welp, lunchtime. Nowadays, lunch is more bearable but it still sucks. I don't eat lunch, and I usually sit by myself. Since Paula has her friends she sits with, and Young Link has his. Toon Link, on the other hand, I've never seen in the lunchroom. So, today is just gonna be another one of those lonely lunch-less lunches. That is….until someone sits in front of me. I look up and see Toon Link and his kind smile with his perfect white teeth. "Hey there, I hope you don't mind me sitting here."
"N-no….I don't."
"Good." Soon enough, two other people sit down, both of which on Toon Link's side. Both of them are rather tall. I look at them, confused. "Oh, I should introduce these two. They are Red," pointing at the taller one, "and that is Mega Man" pointing at the other one.
"H-hi." We proceed to eat lunch….or for me, watch them eat lunch. We did, however, talk quite a bit. About what? I….I don't know actually. I wish I knew what we talked about but I just don't. Maybe that's a good sign? I hope so.
A few days later
There have been some rumors around the school. And the fact that I know them must mean they're big rumors. Rumors of a new kid coming to the school. I don't see the big deal with this rumor since we get new kids every semester, but I dunno. Apparently, this kid's name is Ness. I don't know what to make of him. With all this talk, he seems like he'll be one of those popular kids that are popular from the minute they join the school. AKA….the exact people I hate. All in all….I'm not the most excited for this Ness kid to come into the school.
There are also rumors that Ness is actually friends with Young Link. Which makes me more anxious because if this Ness kid comes into the picture, he'll take Young Link away from me. He…..wait….what am I talking about? Why am I so defensive over him? I don't even trust him yet but…..ugh actually having friends is complicated.
The next day
The rumors were true. They all were. This Ness kid is in the school. And he's indeed friends with Young Link. Wonderful. And just as I thought….Ness is already popular. He's sitting with the popular kids. Stupid. Like literally fucking stupid. Him and his damn stupid face, his sparkling eyes, his….stupid everything. Ok...maybe he is a bit attractive, but he still sucks. And even thinking he's attractive only makes me more confused. I've been questioning my sexuality for a while now, so having this attractive boy come into the school is really tough on my mind. I just need to find a way to distract myself.
During lunch, I sit at the normal table. Toon Link walks up to me and smiles. "Hey, wanna go somewhere for lunch?" he asks. I tilt my head. I never knew we could leave the lunchroom.
"S-sure."
"Follow me." He walks off, and I instantly follow him, since I have no food to pack up. We walk into the main office, through the principal's office, and into a conference room. This conference room has all the friends I've made or most of them at least. It has Paula, Ana, Mega Man, Red, Toon Link, and myself. Not only that, but a Nintendo Wii is set up to the projector and the game "Wii Sports" is on. "This is where we usually go for lunch. We asked if you could join us and they said you could."
"R-really?"
"Yup, in here we eat as we play the Wii," Mega Man points out as he grabs a Wii remote. Toon Link grabs a remote and hands it to me.
"Newbie gets to be in the first game."
"W-wow….thanks." I won't lie….I need to fight back tears. The last thing I want is to cry in front of them. And for the rest of that lunch….we played "Wii Sports". It…..it was the best lunch I've ever been in.
One week later
As lord would have it….Ness is in the same gym class as me. You know what that means….I have to watch him change. So basically, I need to watch him strip to his underwear then put clothes back on. DO YOU KNOW HOW TOUGH THAT IS?! I hate him, I truly truly do, but god….his fucking appearance is just so damn good. I can barely rip my eyes from him. Even when we're simply waiting in our squads for orders from K Rool, I can't take my eyes from him. Also, I should probably add, WE'RE IN THE SAME SQUAD! Like, whatever damn thing is looking down at us, do they have something on me? They just keep torturing me. I mean, Toon Link transferred over to my gym class, but still. His appearance, while not ugly, has nothing on Ness's. I hate this.
K Rool tasks us to find a partner for Basketball training. I stand up and look at Paula, who unsurprisingly partners with Ana. I look over at Toon Link. He's not partnering up with anyone, so I walk up to him, expecting he wants to be partners. "No." What? He said no? B-but I thought we were friends? WHY WOULDN'T HE WANT TO PARTNER WITH ME?! I-I knew it. I knew he didn't really like me. "I want you to get yourself out there. Sticking with the same person won't allow you to make your own friends." I….I will have to admit. Every time we're tasked with finding partners, I end up with him. So maybe….maybe he's right. Everyone in our little group has their own friends outside of the group. All but me of course. Er, well, I have Young Link...but they don't really know that. Only Paula does. Before I can truly calm myself down, Toon Link walks off and partners up with someone else.
I look around and find no one. Damn….back at it with the lack of a partner. K Rool walks up to me. "No partner?" he asks. I shake my head. K Rool sighs. I'd be annoyed with me too. "Anyone willing to be partners with Lucas here?" Most people would probably be embarrassed with being in the situation I'm in right now. But to be quite frank, I have so little care in myself nothing truly can embarrass me. My family has tried, but nothing.
Guess who steps forward to be my partner? FUCKING NESS! Whatever this overseer is doing, they're getting some sick pleasure from my displeasure. Ness walks up to me and smiles. "Hey there." Damn stupid perfect white teeth. Fucking perfect smooth skin. Fucking dumbass beautiful eyes. I hate you. "Name's Ness."
"N-name's L-Lucas." We receive more direct orders from K Rool, grab a ball, and find a spot in the gym. We pass the ball around.
"So, Lucas, I heard you're friends with Young Link," He throws the ball at me.
"H-he talks about me?" I throw the ball back.
"Not really. I just see you two every now and then." He throws it back at me, but I miss the catch.
"Oh...w-well, I guess you can say we're friends." I run over to retrieve the ball. I run back.
"Why don't you hang out with Pit and the others?"
"Oh….well, I'm just not good enough." I throw the ball and he catches it.
"Oh, dang, sorry dude."
"Eh, I've got a pretty good group anyway." Ness chuckles.
"That's good to hear." He throws it back at me, and it hits my face. I groan in pain and close my eyes only for a few seconds. When I open them, Ness is right next to me, making sure I'm ok. "I-I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to do that." He cares? He really cares? He has my hand….his face is close to me….his voice is softer than normal…..his everything is….caring. And it's all for me? Why? Why is my heart beating so fast? Why are my cheeks hot? Why…..why do I want to hug him and cry? UGH THE HELL IS HAPPENING TO ME?!
A few days later
Ok, maybe Ness isn't so bad after all. When we talk in the gym, he never comes off as the popular type of kid. He seems so low-key. He is rough; he likes to shove people, but it's all fun and games in the end. Either way...he's fun. He's so chill. Every time I think about him, my heart starts to race and I start smiling. I don't understand what that feeling is. I truly don't. I think about him too often. So much so I often disregard my friends.
"Lucas?" Like now. It's my turn in Wii Bowling and I was just blanking out and focusing on Ness. I shake my head and do my turn. They don't bother to question my blanking out, since I often do it. Toward the end of lunch, Toon Link pauses the game.
"Hey, dude?" Mega Man questions. He's not the type to like this type of stalling or whatnot. Some may even say he's got a bit of an anger issue. Toon Link gathers all of our attention.
"Alright…..there's something we should probably get down."
"What's that?" Red asks.
"A name for our group. What should that be?" A name? Why do we need a name? We probably won't even meet up past this year.
"I like a name," Paula excitedly says. Everyone then looks at me as if they're trying to get some confirmation on whether or not we should have a name. I don't know why it needs to come up to me, but sure, whatever I guess. Ok….a name. Should we have a name? I….I guess there's been worse things.
"S-sure."
"What should our name be?" Ana asks.
"OOO How about The Goonies?" Paula says.
"The movie?" Red asks.
"Yeah. Based on the movie. We kinda fit the Goonies...right?"
"I like it," Toon Link says. Once more, they all look at me. I jump a bit from their sudden glances. I gulp.
"Uhh, s-sure….we c-can be named T-The Goonies." Everyone else soon agrees and it's now official…..we are The Goonies. I've never watched the movie, but I like the name.
The Goonies.
A month later
Ok….Ness and I have been getting rather close in the past month. So much so that we're official friends. HE is friends with ME! Like, how the hell does that happen? How the hell does he like being around me enough to do it without being prompted to. It hasn't been helping my…..attraction to him. It just confuses me. I always thought I was straight, never once have I truly felt feelings for a boy. But for some reason, I started questioning myself all those years ago. And here I am….never once feeling feelings for a girl…..yet finding this boy attractive. This boy that I thought was an asshole. Could I…..be gay?
I won't lie….back in 5th grade I did use a dildo on myself. In fact, with how good that felt, it's the reason I started questioning myself, to begin with. Whenever I watched porn, it was always gay porn. Yet, the thought of me being gay never came to me. Not until now at least. Not until I met him. Every time we talk, I feel safe. Every time he smiles at me, my heart skips a beat. Every time he bashes into me, it makes me blush. Everything he does with me or to me…..makes me feel all giddy. Is this what a crush feels like? Do I have a crush? Is he my crush?
If that's the case….then I'm gay. Would my friends be ok with that? My family? …..what am I saying, I don't give a shit. If they hate me, they hate me. Oh….but what if Ness hates me because of it? What if he leaves me? What if he never wants to see me again? Oh no….I-I don't want that. I want to stay with him….forever. I….I like him. I like him a lot. More than a friend...more than family….I want him. I need him.
I'm gay.
Next week
The Goonies' meetings in the Wii conference room is open on certain days of the week, since most of the time, the conference room needs to be used for something else. This is one of those Wii-less lunches. However, The Goonies always did something else during this lunch. We eat, of course, but then we play Minecraft on our school laptops. And when I mean we, I mean them. I don't get to join in because I still don't eat lunch and I don't have Minecraft on my laptop. I would always need to watch them. It's not too bad, but it still feels kinda bad to be left out the way I do.
This lunch is a little different. Yes, The Goonies are playing Minecraft with me being a spectator, that's still happening. But this time, Ness joins. So not only is he fucking hot and athletic….he's also a gamer. The perfect package. He plays with them for a bit, but after some time, he sees me on a separate table, watching the others play. He then decides to stop his gaming and join me. "Wh-what're you doing?"
"I don't want you to be by yourself. I can always play Minecraft another day."
"Th-thanks…"
"Do you not have your laptop today or what?"
"No...it's just that I don't have Minecraft o-on mine."
"Oh….hmmm, why don't you play mine?" I blush. He's willing to hand me his laptop and let me play his Minecraft? He's…..he's too damn nice to me.
"Oh….N-no it's fine. I don't w-want to accidentally break it." Ness smiles as he leans back, extending his arm behind me. He's sitting next to me, his arm around my back, and we're watching The Goonies play Minecraft. This…..feels like a date. He and I are talking about nonsense.
Next week
Welp….he sat with me every day. He's taking away the chance to have fun in Minecraft to relax with me. He….he's doing so much for me. He…..I feel like I can tell him anything. I…..I trust him. I really….really do. I can't believe it….but yes. I finally trust someone. He's….he's so damn amazing. Wonder when I should tell him I like him? We'll see.
The next month.
HOLY SHIT! I have been INVITED to a birthday party. Not once have I been invited to one. Not once have I been invited to ANYTHING. This birthday party is for Young Link. In the past few months, he has quickly become a pretty damn popular kid. Going from someone who hung out by themself, to someone only hanging out with Ness, to hanging out with The Popular Kids. In fact, most of the people he invited are from The Popular Kids. And yet, here I am, waiting for the car WITH them. I truly can't believe it. The guests are me, Ness, Inkling, Villager, Pit, and Dark Pit. They're crowded around each other, playing Clash Royale. Once more, here I am, standing away from them….alone.
AND ONCE AGAIN! Ness comes over to keep me company. He shows me what Clash Royale is. He does this until Young Link's car comes. We pile into the car, with me sitting next to Ness. The entire time, he's the one who ropes me into the conversation. Eventually….I am fully roped in. Chatting and conversing with them as if I've been doing it for years. The Popular Kids aren't…..too bad. Or mainly, it's just Ness that I care about.
We soon make it to Enchanted Castle. Young Link's mom orders food and drinks. We eat and drink before exchanging gifts. I feel bad. I didn't have money to buy Young Link a gift. While everyone is giving him a gift, I'm just standing aside, watching it all. Young Link comes up to me with a smile. "I-I didn't have money for a gift…"
"Oh, it's ok. Just try to have fun," He says with his perfect extroverted smile. I shyly nod my head. He turns away. I can't help but feel like I betrayed him. Sure, he said it's fine….but is it really? It's his birthday and I got him NOTHING! Ugh.
We soon part ways to do our own thing. We're mainly just stalling time for when the bumper cars are available. Soon enough, I walk to the bumper cars and see Ness and Young Link waiting there. "Hey, Lucas, could you get the others? The cars here are open," Ness asks.
"O-ok." I run around the building and recruit The Popular Kids...as if I'm a part of them, even if only temporarily. We make it back to the bumper cars. We're issued in by the overseer and choose a bumper car. The game begins. We start driving toward each other and they yell at me as if I'm one of their friends.
"Hehe, Lucas is having a lot of fun," Dark Pit points out as he crashes into me. And, he's right. I'm genuinely having the time of my life. Hanging out with The Popular Kids is making me feel so…..so me. I can get used to this.
A few days later
We're practicing Golf in gym class. I'm partnered with Ness. This crush on him is getting to be quite tough to hide. I think I've been doing it well, but in my head, it's just too much. I know what I need to do. After the first part of the Golf lesson, we're issued to take a break. I hang out with Ness and another boy named Popo. "I'm telling you, Stunt Double Johnny Cage is the best," Popo says.
"No, you're just blatantly wrong. It's A-List," Ness retorts.
"Lucas, which is better, Stunt Double or A-List?" I look between the two. I don't play much Mortal Kombat X….so I don't really have a strong opinion on either. It's all a matter of who I want to side with. Oh what's the point in stalling, it's obvious who I want to side with.
"A-List," I say. Popo crosses his arms and walks off in a huff. Ness shakes his head.
"He takes that game so seriously…." Ok...here it is. We're alone…..I need to ask him. School is almost over, summer is almost here. I need to tell him before 8th grade.
"N-Ness?" Ness turns toward me and smiles.
"What is it?"
"Uhm…..W-would you want to hang out during the summer? Just the two of us?" Ness crosses his arms and thinks. It doesn't take long before he has his answer.
"Sure. But when?"
"Hmm...m-maybe June XXth?" Ness smiles.
"Sure thing. I don't plan on dumpster diving that day."
"ALRIGHT CLASS, BACK TO GOLFING!"
"Back to golfing," Ness mocks. I laugh as we return to golfing.
Next month
Oh boy. In just a few days….I'm coming out and telling Ness that I like him. Just a few more days. I've been getting antsy. Hopefully, he doesn't forget the date we established. I doubt he has. He can be a bit aggressive and dominant, but he's not forgetful and he makes due on his promises. I'm so antsy I needed to relieve some of that energy outside. God….I just can't wait. He's not only my first crush….but he's also the first person I can confidently say I trust. I can't believe I have him. I just…...I need him in a different way. I need to hug him….to kiss him….to…..do other things with him.
After using up all my energy, I walk back into the house. I see my mom on the phone, with a somewhat horrified face. "Hey, Lucas, do you know someone named Ness?"
"Yeah….he's my friend. Why?" She slowly looks at me, her horrified expression grows more somber.
"He's dead." What? Is this some sick joke? "He was riding his bike and when he was turning a corner, he was crushed by a garbage truck. He died in the hospital earlier today." He's…...he's dead? No….h-he can't be. HE CAN'T BE! I run over and see the email given to her by the school talking about his death. It's official….Ness is dead. I stand up straight and look down at her with a blank expression.
"Ok." I walk off. He's dead….he's dead…...he's gone…..forever. I'll never get to see him again….I'll never get to talk to him again…...he left me. I sit down on the couch and stare aimlessly at the tv. I sit there for hours. I stand and walk to my bed. In that bed, with the dark aura around me from the naturally dark night sky, and the knowledge of….Ness's death….I just breakdown. I cry…..and cry….and cry. I lost him…...I needed him and I lost him. I hug my pillow and cry more. Never once have I cried nearly as much as I just did. Before I know it…..I have cried myself to sleep.
A month later
I still can't believe he's gone. Just when I needed him most…..he left. It's because of me, isn't it? He died because of me. If I didn't decide to meet with him, he wouldn't have died. It's all my fault. I should've never met him. If I never met him, he'd be alive, and Young Link would have his best friend. But I just took him away….I killed him. He's dead because of me…
I walk lifelessly into the kitchen. I grab a knife and look down at it. I don't want to hurt anyone else. Not anymore. I've hurt too many people….killing Ness is too much. I'm an evil person. I hover the knife over my wrist. My hands are shaky though. Thoughts of my brother…..my twin….Claus comes into my head. What would he do if I died? Would it hurt him? It probably would. Even in death…..I'd still hurt people. That's all I do is hurt people. I want to make sure I never hurt someone again….but why can't I just cut? WHY CAN'T I FUCKING DO IT! Every time I want to try….I just can't bring myself to do it. I sigh before putting the knife back. I look around and find a lighter. "Perfect."
I walk over and grab the lighter. I flick it on. It works perfectly. I hover my left hand over the flame, burning it. I flinch in pain but leave it there nonetheless. After a while, the pain gets to be too much and I rip my hand away. Despite the pain, the fire didn't leave a mark. I touch where I put the flame and flinch in pain. I deserve this. I'm the one who killed Ness…..I shouldn't even be alive. But this should be good. I put the lighter in my pocket and walk back to my room. I tuck myself in. I would cry….It's just that I'm out of tears.
I lie in my bed, just casually on my phone. That's when someone breaks into our house with a gun. He walks into my room and knocks me out.
I start opening my eyes. Once my eyes adapt to the area, I see the man, dressed in black, standing by my family, who are all tied to chairs. Even my best friend, Fuel, is there. The man holds the gun toward my mom. "NO! DON'T SHOOT THEM!" He doesn't listen to me. He shoots my mom straight in the face. She's not dead just yet though. She's screaming in pain. That scream hurts me. "PLEASE!" He doesn't listen to me. He shoots her a few times more, blood spattering. No…."YOU BASTARD!" He points the gun at my dad and shoots him. He dies from one shot….his head is….just not existent. "S-stop it….please." I cry a tearless cry.
"You killed Ness…..you mercilessly took a star from this world…..I'm going to make sure you realize what you did," the man says as he grabs Claus and brings him closer. The man forces me to grab the gun. "Shoot him."
"N-no."
"SHOOT HIM!"
"NO!" He then forces me to pull the trigger….shooting Claus in the chest, making him spit blood onto me. He falls over….dead. I killed him. He's dead, because of me. The man walks back and grabs Fuel. He then takes Fuel outside and lays him down on the ground in the road. He forces me outside. Fuel can move….but for some reason, he doesn't. I look down the road and see a garbage truck. It rushes toward Fuel. "FUEL! MOVE!" The garbage truck goes fast and soon crushes Fuel.
I shoot up, shaking. I get off the bed. I start walking in circles, trying to calm myself down. "They're fine, they're fine, they're fine" I repeat over and over. It doesn't help though. I still feel all panicky and scared. I run to Claus's bed, and check to see if he's ok. Yes, he's perfectly fine. It still doesn't help. I start panicking more. I leave our shared room and check our parents' room. They both are ok. I still feel all panicky. I actually start feeling tears fall from my eyes. "Fuck…..the hell's wrong with me." As time passes, I get more and more and more panicky. I start frantically walking around the house, still getting more and more panicked.
Soon, I step onto the cable remote. It turns the tv on and shows the tv show "Friends". I look at the tv and for some reason…..I feel calm. Watching the show progressively helps me go back to normal. After the episode, I feel perfectly fine. As if I never panicked to begin with. Heh….how ironic is this….I needed Friends to calm down. I hate this.
8th grade
Welp….what's left for me to do than to move on. I enter the school and see them conversing amongst themselves as if nothing happened. Why? Why aren't they sad? I soon see Young Link walk past….smiling. He's just talking with Dark Pit. Is….he not sad? Why am I the only one that seems to be grieving? Young Link stops and looks at me. He smiles more. "Hey there Lucas, how was your summer?" He asks. I'm about to answer, but then….
"Yeah, how was your summer?" Ness asks from the side of him. No….he's gone….why can I see him? I rub my eyes and when I look back at Young Link….Ness is no longer there. He was never there. I was just seeing him. Am I going crazy? N-no….I-it was just a one-off. I answer him with a hesitant answer and walk off, toward my class. Before I get too far, however, I look back and once more, see Ness walking with him. I shake my head and he's gone. Fuck….Stop seeing him….he's gone. Just fucking face it already.
Around Lunch, I sit at the table as I watch The Goonies play Minecraft. Sitting….on my own. Soon enough, Ness joins next to me. "Heh, by yourself eh?" Ignore him...he's not real. "Too bad I'm dead, isn't it?" Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. "The world is better off without me anyway." I shoot my head toward him…..only to see he's gone. Ugh, fuck…..I can't take it…..he's dead….he's fucking dead and I jsut have to fucking get used to it. But….every time I'm with a friend….I see him. Every….single….time…..I can't deal with it. If I want to stop seeing him…..I'll need to stop seeing them. I'll need to avoid them. It'll also mean that if something happens to them…..it wouldn't be my fault. I won't be their friend anymore….I can't hurt them like I've hurt Ness. Sorry….we can't be friends anymore.
The end of 8th grade
Well…..so much for that year. I wanted to avoid my friends all year….but I just couldn't. Eventually, Ness stopped appearing but still…..it was tough. My little panic attack thing at night continues happening. Each time, always relying on Friends, Full House, or George Lopez to help me get through the moment. I even had my bed moved into the living room to reduce the fact that I'd need to walk into the room. I could just turn toward the tv.
And now, today. My 8th-grade graduation. My last day before high school. I miss him. I truly truly do. But….I can't just rewind death. He's dead….and that's just how life is. Ness….if you can hear me….I'm gonna miss you. From now, until the end of time. You will forever be my first crush….my first realization of me being gay. I had wished you'd be my first in other categories….but looks like I'll need to find someone else for that.
Just as I'm thinking of him, the principal walks to the mic. "Now, we are missing quite a student from this year's graduating class. Ness…." A somber tone comes over the school as an image of Ness gets put on a projector. His parents then come up and grab Ness's certificate of graduation. "Let us have a moment of silence for Ness." Everyone quiets down….and I fight back tears. I'm never going to get over you. I truly needed you….I still need you. I'm sorry you died….I'm sorry.
After the moment of silence, the choir class walks up and prepares to sing a song. And guess what, I'm a part of this choir class. I have to sing a song. Granted, not by myself but still. The song is "Seasons of Love" by Rent. Quite the song, I should say.
We sing it perfectly. I surprisingly put all my heart into it. My deep baritone voice sticks out from the crowd. The graduation ends. We take some final pictures before going home….middle school is done. I sit with my family and watch the CD that the school gave us, going over memories with the students. From Pre-K to 8th grade. Just like the graduation...a section is dedicated to Ness. It just solidifies the truth that he's gone. Forever.
High School
Here we go. High school….without him. I want him with me….I really do. Life sucks….but, I can't do shit about it. Life moves and so should I….even if I don't want to. Even if I want to rewind time and protect Ness….I just can't. I sigh. "Here we go." I enter the school….trying to leave the past behind me. But I can't….and I won't. My past sadly defines me. My past will always define me. And I will always think….Ness is dead because of me. I…..am a murderer.