Chapter 9

Reconsidering

Early on a Saturday morning, a week after Sigmund's tour tickets had went up for sale, there was a ringing of my doorbell that woke me up from my depressive slumber. My thirteenth birthday had been the day before and I'd spent it completely alone, as expected. My cousins had given me a call and sang to me over the phone, but that had been just about it on the festivities. It was a lonely feeling and I'd planned to sleep through the weekend, until this moment.

The doorbell had sounded like it was just about to explode with the way it was being pressed. I was outraged. Looking to the grandfather clock in my living room as I passed it, it was six 'o clock in the morning!

"Who on Earth?" I muttered as I pulled on my house slippers, tightened my robe to a close and exited my flat to look outside of the building. Opening the front door, my eyes fell on Fanboy and Chum Chum, the last two people on the planet that I'd want to see so early in the morning on my weekend.

"Are you MAD?!" I shouted. "It's six in the morning!"

"And you aren't dressed?" Fanboy gasped. "Don't you know what today is?"

"What do I care?! Did you know what yesterday was?!"

"Friday?"

"MY BIRTHDAY!"

"Oh..."

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KYLE!" Chum Chum grinned, much to my displeasure. I frowned.

"Why are you two ninnies at my door?"

"Sigmund's meet and greet is today!" Fanboy told me. "Oz says there's already a bunch of people waiting for him at the comic book shop! We've gotta get going!"

"I told you already about a thousand times now, that I'm not going!"

"Oh c'mon, Kyle!" Fanboy whined. "We were really looking forward to you going with us!"

"Yeah!" Chum Chum nodded with a saddened pout. "It won't be the same without you!"

"Please, Kyle?"

"Pleeeeease?!"

"PLEEEEEEASE?!"

"ALRIGHT ALREADY!" I groaned in annoyance. It was too early for this noise. As I turned away, the boys followed behind me into the building. Before they stepped foot in my flat, I spun around quickly to halt them, pointing a stern finger. They jumped in response.

"I'm going to get changed and I need to brush my teeth. DO NOT touch anything in my living room! And I mean nothing! Don't lay a finger on anything! Got it?"

After they agreed with giddy nods, I sighed and finally let them in, regretting it instantly. They bolted from one end of the apartment to the other, pointing everything out. And although they didn't touch anything, they still found a way to annoy me.

"What's in that jar right there?"

"How many books do you have?"

"Can I see your closet?"

"Can I look inside the fridge?"

"Ooooh! You have expensive bubble bath!"

"Look at the tea collection! So many flavors!"

"OKAY, GET OUT! GET OUT!" I finally shouted, pushing them out. "Enough of this! Wait outside the building!"

I closed the door behind them and a deep sigh escaped me. I didn't want to go anywhere, truthfully. I'd considered it last week, but with the day already here, I was apprehensive about the entire event. My Necronomicon followed me to my bedroom and waited outside the door whilst I got changed.

"Are you really going?" The book asked me. "I'm surprised with you!"

"I'm surprised with myself..." I muttered, pulling a polo shirt on over my head. I reached for my favorite pullover sweater afterwards. "I feel like I'm going to regret this, but then I also feel like I'd regret not going. Does that make sense?"

"Yes, yes. It's certainly understandable. You were schoolmates after all..."

"I don't want to see Sigmund. I just want to see how this all unfolds." Popping my head out from my room when I was finally dressed, I pouted in thought. "I'd also like to confront him."

"Oh?"

"Why Galaxy Hills of all places? I'm absolutely sure he didn't read any of those fan letters. And why is he blocking me from going back to Milkweed?!"

"You're going to confront him about Milkweed at the event?"

"It might just be my only opportunity to do it!" I nodded. "He thinks he can get away with what he's done, trying to keep me from the re-entry forms, and I won't let him off the hook for that just yet!"

"How bold! Oh please, Kyle, take me with you!"

"You just want to see your idol again..."

"I'd like to see a bit of the drama as well~!"

I rolled my eyes as the book giggled and grabbed it from the air before I finally headed out. As I stepped out of the building, Fanboy and Chum Chum's heads lifted up from where they'd been seated on the stoop in excitement.

"You're really coming with us?!" Fanboy gasped. I descended the stairs and started down the sidewalk. They scrambled to catch up to me.

"Hurry up before I change my mind." I told them. Fanboy pointed out the other end of the street.

"Wait! The comic book shop is the other way." He informed me. I shrugged.

"Yeah, and the Frosty Mart is this way." I replied. "If you think I'm standing outside without having eaten anything for the morning, you truly are more foolish than you look."

"FROSTY MART SNACK RUN!" They screeched, grabbing my free hand to bolt down the block. Of course, I was dragged all the way there, no matter how loud I screamed and protested.

When we finally arrived to the convenience store, we grabbed a couple snacks and each chose a drink. I went for apple juice, you know, something you'd have for breakfast. The idiots on the other hand poured Freezy Freezes of all things. As if they needed a sugar rush on top of the energy they were already displaying. They sipped their drinks all the way to the comic book shop, which I appreciated. It kept the walk fairly quiet, minus the occasional drag of an empty straw pull here and there.

As we rounded the corner on the block of the comic shop, my eyes widened. The crowd outside on the sidewalk was massive. I'd spotted some of our classmates and even a couple of teachers! Seeing the crowd made Fanboy and Chum Chum giddy all over again.

"We made it!" Chum Chum grinned. Fanboy tapped the shoulder of one of our classmates, Duke.

"Did Sigmund get here yet?" Fanboy asked. Duke shook his head.

"Nah, not yet. I think they said another hour or somethin."

"Another hour?!" Fanboy groaned. "Awe man! But I'm hyped right now!" Duke shrugged and turned his attention back to his friends. Chum Chum hopped in place as I took a sip from my bottle of apple juice.

"Hey! Let's find Oz!" Chum Chum suggested. Fanboy nodded. Again, without my consent, the duo dragged me in the direction of the shop's entrance. The sudden jolt caused me to drop my juice.

"HEY! Ugh!"

Ignored, as usual, the pair knocked on the window of the shop and after a while, an obese man answered the door. His hair was disgustingly greasy and pulled back into a stringy ponytail. There was also instant body odor when he'd stepped out with a grin towards the boys. To my displeasure, he was sporting a shirt with Sigmund's face on it. I'd spotted the same shirt amongst a couple others in the crowd as well.

"The Oz Man!" Fanboy greeted. Oz smiled brightly.

"Hey Fan!"

"Can we come in?"

"Yeah, yeah! Come on in! I've been waiting for you guys!"

I followed behind as the boys walked into the comic book shop. Oz closed and locked the door behind us. In the middle of the rather small, shabby shop, there were folded tables and shopping bags.

"If you guys can help me out, that would be great!" Oz spoke to us with a spit-filled lisp that made me cringe. "Sigmund's management team came through last night and dropped off some table cloths and booth supplies. I've gotta set them up outside for the pop-up!"

"No problem!" Chum Chum smiled. Fanboy nodded.

"Yeah, we can help you! Right, Kyle?"

"Huh?" I blinked. "N-no, I'm sorry, I won't be helping Sigmund with his pop-up. No offense to you, Oz, but I'm not exactly a fan of his."

"Meh. None taken." Oz shrugged, lifting one of the shopping bags of merchandise. "But if you're not a fan, then why are you here?"

"Sigmund is Kyle's old friend!" Fanboy answered before I could. I rolled my eyes. I wasn't going to correct him anymore. "He's just coming to say hi!"

"Oh, seriously?!" Oz inquired. "That's rad!"

Seeing Fanboy and Chum Chum struggle with the folding tables whilst Oz lifted the lighter weighted bags, I sighed to myself and helped them lift both tables with magic. The boys gasped at my display and followed me out after Oz unlocked the door.

"Wait—! You're a sorcerer too?" Oz asked me. I shook my head.

"Wizard." I corrected. "Conjurer, to be exact."

"Is that how you know Sigmund?"

"Yes, we were trained at the same school. He was my roommate."

"Oh wow! That's seriously awesome!"

I smiled to myself. For the first time, someone had actually listened to me about my abilities. And although I didn't exactly fancy Oz, I found it refreshing.

We caught the attention of the crowd when we started putting the tables down at the end of the sidewalk. Excited chatter erupted and I found it all annoying. People were really lined up to see Sigmund. It was a concept I just couldn't process, no matter how hard I tried. As Fanboy and Chum Chum laid out the table cloths, Oz pulled his cell phone from his pleather jacket. Ending the obnoxious ringtone that was playing, he quickly lifted the phone to his ear.

"Hey, this is Oz!...Oh, seriously?!...Alright! We're just about ready!...Sure thing! See you in ten!"

Ending his call, Oz turned to us and leaned in to whisper. Fanboy and Chum Chum raced to hear the secret, but I preferred not to get too close. I couldn't take anymore of the body odor.

"Sigmund's gonna be here in ten minutes!" Oz spoke. "His car is on the way! Get ready!"

Now, they were really bouncing off the walls. Oz rushed off, making his way back into the store, leaving me with the overexcited idiots. I distanced myself from them when I grew tired of the yelping and weaved my way through the crowd of fans on the sidewalk. With a sigh, I leaned against the wall of the comic book shop and observed the joy of everyone. They really loved Sigmund. They were all so happy about this event. I hated it.

They had no idea what kind of person Sigmund was. No clue how he spoke to the people around him. I recalled calling him for help and having him tell me I was a curse on his life. The way he'd shouted at Erin that evening and chucked that object at her. They had no idea how heartless he truly was. The persona he put on for his television show and appearances was far from the truth. Far from reality.

To the shock of my life, there was a booming explosion suddenly that nearly made me jump out of my skin. Others in the crowd had actually screamed out in fear. That was until they'd spotted the strange, purple anomaly in the sky. Above the crowd, a purple cloud of smoke formed that quickly took to the shape of none other than Sigmund himself. Once the crowd realized what was going on, cheers erupted, cell phones shot into the air and cameras instantly flashed for pictures. Sigmund was making an entrance.

"OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH!" Fanboy shrieked when he'd found me in the crowd. He gripped my arm tightly in excitement and pointed to the sky. "He's here!"

"Get off me!"

"It's Sigmund! Kyle, look!"

I shoved Fanboy off of my arm and looked up at the display. The crowd below pointed out the figure and waved frantically before the anomaly pointed out the true star of the day. I couldn't see Sigmund beyond the crowd, but I could hear him.

"You've been dazzled~!"

Instantly, more cheering and screaming as the smoke figure vanished from the sky. A queue formed quickly and we found ourselves at the end of it without even moving. I still hadn't spotted Sigmund, but knowing he was at the other end of the line made me feel uneasy. I pulled myself off the wall of the shop and turned away. I didn't want to see him.

"I'm going home..." I muttered, mostly to myself. The Necronomicon under my arm, Fanboy and Chum Chum all gasped in shock.

"HOME?!" Fanboy asked. "What do you mean?"

"I'm leaving. That's what I mean."

"But what about Sigmund?!"

"I don't want to see him anym—! AH!"

I was sick of Fanboy constantly dragging me. This time, he pulled me through the queue, pushing and shoving his way towards the front of the line. At the corner of my eye, as we passed displeased and angered fans, I noticed Sigmund's buffed up security team looking for a way to get to us. More than likely, to stop us.

"F-Fanboy!" I gasped. "Stop!"

"I'm not letting you leave without seeing your friend!" He argued back. I did my best to pull my hand from his grip, but it was simply impossible!

"I DON'T WANT TO!"

"You have to!"

"FANB—!"

Realizing I was at the front of the line, I quickly ducked down behind Fanboy. I'd noticed Sigmund sat behind the booth we'd set up earlier, but I was quick enough to hide before he'd seen me just then. I thought, for sure, that the security detail would've dragged us off for skipping the line, but they hadn't.

"WE ARE HUGE FANS!" Fanboy exclaimed, hopping with joy. I gripped his cape to try and keep him from exposing me, but he wouldn't quit moving about.

"YEAH! BIG, BIG FANS!" Chum Chum nodded frantically. "WE SENT YOU LETTERS EVERY WEEK!"

"O-oh. Thank you very much..." I heard Sigmund cough. I noticed a pause in the conversation suddenly that gave me goosebumps. I did my best to shrink myself down, but it had been no use.

"Kyle? Is that you?"

I'd been spotted.

"Oh, well, hello there." I chuckled nervously, stepping out from behind Fanboy. Fanboy gasped when Sigmund had said my name.

"YOU REALLY DO KNOW HIM? You guys really are friends?!"

"I told you already, we were roommates at my old school, Milkweed. He's not my friend..."

"Definitely not friends." Sigmund spoke up, harshly, folding his arms. "Not even close."

"I made that very clear already!" I shouted at him, folding mine in return. "I don't want to be friends with you!"

"Wunderbar!"

"Fantastic!"

"Whoa..." Fanboy mumbled, looking between us. Sigmund straightened himself out quickly and reached into the pocket of his ridiculous get up. From the jacket pocket, he pulled out what looked like ticket stubs.

"I was going to raffle these off later today, but since you seem to be in such a bad mood, I'll make your day. You can have them!" He actually held the tickets out to me and gave me one of his false, celebrity smiles. He never smiled like that at Milkweed. And he was never so generous to do something like this. Free tickets? He was trying to save face. I snatched the tickets from him. I figured I'd just pass them on to Fanboy. Sigmund continued with a knowing look.

"By the way, those were the last of them for tonight's show. My show is sold out! Oh, and lucky you, FRONT ROW SEATS!"

"Huh?!" I gasped. Before I could even process the information, I'd been swarmed by the fans behind us who clearly hadn't been lucky enough to get tickets for themselves. In all directions, they pulled on me and begged for one of the tickets. I felt violated in the worst way and Sigmund chuckled through it all. He'd done this on purpose.

I shoved people away, pulling myself back from the crowd to face Sigmund again. He bit down on his lower lip to keep back his laughter as I flashed him a nasty look.

"Ugh! I don't need these! I have more important things to do tonight!"

"Like what?" Sigmund questioned. Truthfully, I had no plans at all. I refused to let him know that though. Quickly, I came up with an excuse.

"Like...open all my birthday gifts that are ten times better than these useless tickets! A-and study, that's what!" My face flushed as laughter boomed from Sigmund, but he collected himself quickly to question me yet again.

"What exactly are you studying for, Kyle?"

"I-I need to practice my magic..." I admitted. "Regardless of my exit from Milkweed Academy, I'm still very much in training." Yet again, he laughed in my face and his fanbase behind him were loving every minute of it. Fanboy leaned over the pop-up booth to speak to Sigmund.

"You've gotta excuse my buddy here." He told him. "He thinks he's a wizard..." More laughter. The loudest from him yet. I was mortified.

"Oh! Oh gosh!" Sigmund cried out. "Please! Hahaha! Give me a moment!"

I looked around as the crowd behind us laughed along with him, flashing more photos of him in the process. I was regretting this, completely. I was furious and embarrassed. Sigmund went on with his taunting.

"Pathetic." He giggled behind his gloved hand. With a sigh, he finally stopped laughing. "Come see my show tonight. Bring your friends. You might actually learn something new!"

"I'd rather eat my trainers..." I spat, finally turning away from him. I pushed through the crowd and ignored Fanboy's calls as I started down the sidewalk. Eventually, Fanboy caught up to me, but I hadn't wanted him to. I felt tears welling up in my eyes all of a sudden. I felt low. Sigmund was right, I was pathetic and he was the star. All those people were there for him. He had all the success and I was fighting, tooth and nail, just to have my re-entry forms glanced at.

"Where are you going?" Fanboy gasped, setting his hands on my shoulders when he stopped in front of me. He paused and leaned closer to analyze my face. "Whoa...are you about to cry?"

"No!" I lied, lowering my head and quickly turning away. Chum Chum, who was clearly shorter than me, frowned when he'd caught my expression.

"You have tears in your eyes, Kyle!" He gasped. I quickly turned the other way and wiped my eyes swiftly when a tear escaped.

"No I don't!"

"What's wrong?" Fanboy asked. I folded my arms, fighting the tears that wanted to follow.

"Didn't you hear him?!" I asked the duo. "Did you not see him teasing me?"

"He wasn't teasing! He was joking! Didn't you see him laughing?"

"He was laughing at ME!" I turned away to continue my walk home. This conversation was pointless. The idiots were oblivious. Again, they blocked the sidewalk to keep me from moving on. I was tired at this point. I held out the tickets in my hand to Fanboy, who took them carefully from me.

"Enjoy the show tonight, okay?" I told him. "I'll be fine. I really don't want to go."

"Kyle, I won't have fun if you don't come too." Fan responded with a pout. "You have to come with us."

"I can't, Fanboy."

"Why not?"

"Because I just can't! Okay?!" I didn't mean to shout, but I was frustrated and drained. I decided to tell them the truth, but I would only say this once. I refused to correct or repeat the situation any longer. "Sigmund's been keeping me from going back to my old school!"

"The magic one?" Fanboy blinked. I nodded.

"Yes! I was expelled and I got an opportunity to try and go back. He's been doing everything in his power to keep that from happening!"

"...are you sure?" Chum Chum pouted. Fanboy frowned.

"He doesn't seem like that type of person..."

"But he is!" I stressed. "He is and he's no friend to me! I just want to continue my studies. I just want to learn magic again! I really miss magic, more than anything right now. He's ruined my life and I'd rather not watch his show, okay?"

The boys glanced at one another. For the first time, it actually looked as if they were collectively thinking. After a pause, they looked back at me and nodded.

"Alright, Kyle." Fanboy nodded. "We understand."

"You do?!"

"Yeah, it's alright." Chum Chum agreed. "But we were supposed to go to his VIP photo op after the pop up."

"Oh yeahhh!" Fanboy gasped in realization. "Oz said they're setting up a trailer for Sigmund behind the shop. He gave us permission to stop by and meet him..."

I frowned. I really didn't want to go back. Fanboy continued.

"...buuut, if you don't want to go, then Chum and I can walk you back home and we'll just see his magic show later!" Chum Chum nodded in agreement.

"Huh?!" I gasped. I was shocked. They were willing to skip the meet and greet, just to walk home with me?! I knew how much this entire day meant to them, they'd been going on about it for weeks. They'd been sending Sigmund letters for months! They'd started that online campaign and their efforts actually worked! Yet here they were, willing to skip out on the event. I felt emotional all over again, but for different reasons. I was really touched by their empathy.

"Let's go then!" Fanboy grinned, starting down the sidewalk. I shook my head. I couldn't let them miss out on their favorite celebrity, even if I hated Sigmund. They didn't deserve missing out solely because of me.

"Wait..." I spoke up. The boys paused and glanced at me. I shook my head. "No, you guys deserve the meet and greet."

"But Kyle—."

"Come on, let's go back. I'll be fine."

The boys followed behind me, back to Oz's comic shop. They did their very best to contain their excitement, for my sake, but they'd failed when we'd been escorted by Oz to the rear exit of the shop. Outside the back of the store, there was already a short line in the back alleyway, waiting outside of Sigmund's trailer. The pop up looked to be yet another success, seeing so many on the line with the new merchandise that had only recently been sold.

When the line started moving, I moved off to the side and watched again. Everyone waiting was smiling in anticipation, yet again. From the inside of the trailer, I could see bright flashing and could also make out the faint sound of a camera shutter. There must've been a photo op with the meet and greet. It didn't take long for the length of the line to shrink down. There weren't many VIPs and the ones there didn't spend any longer than five minutes, each, inside the trailer. That was until Fanboy and Chum Chum had their turn.

They'd raced one another inside and stumbled in. I could see the trailer physically rock when they'd crash-landed inside. I had a good chuckle about that. On the inside, I was hoping they were causing Sigmund as much stress as they caused me on a daily basis. To my guess, I figured they had when the pair had been pulled out after a while by one of Sigmund's security guards. They hadn't been set down, they'd been escorted all the way to the opposite side of the comic shop. That gave me an even better laugh than before. When I caught myself, I looked to the door of the trailer, which had been left open.

In that moment, I felt more empowered to confront Sigmund. None of his little fans were around to stroke his ego and boost his confidence up. No one would be able to take part in any of his taunting. I'd probably be able to get through to his real side as well and not his passive aggressive celebrity one.

Climbing into the trailer, I'd spotted him catching his bearings in front of a vanity table while a photographer inside packed up their equipment. Clearly, Fanboy and Chum Chum had wore him out. He had also changed into a flashier coat than the one he'd been wearing earlier. I guessed by all the sparkles and pageantry that this was probably his outfit for the show tonight. I hated it.

"What's with all the diamonds?" I asked, making him jump to attention. His head snapped in my direction and to my displeasure, he spun around for me to get a better look.

"Like them?" He asked. I rolled my eyes as he shoo'd the photographer.

"You look like a circus monkey."

"But you're here to see the circus, so?"

"I'm only here because I finished studying earlier than I thought..."

"Why do you even bother lying?"

"I'm not!" I argued as he seemingly ignored my presence. He sat down on a lounge chair in the trailer, pulled his phone from his pocket and swiped through as I continued.

"And I'm only here to let you know how distasteful I thought it was of you to keep me from sending in my re-entry forms to Milkweed!"

My confrontational tone finally caught his full attention. He flashed me a bad look and I quickly flashed one back at him. Instantly, he snapped back at me.

"You told me you didn't want any help, remember? You had a trip to take that was more important, remember?"

"You've been making things harder for me than they need to be!"

"You made it hard on yourself!"

"You're trying to ruin my life! You don't know what I'm dealing with!"

"You ruined your own life and now you're ruining mine!"

"Now you're stalking me by having this show here! Of all places, Galaxy Hills? Really?"

"Oh, don't flatter yourself! My management set this up, not me!" Standing from the chair, Sigmund crossed his arms. "Are we finished here? I want you out! NOW!"

"Of course you do, COWARD!" I shouted. I'd had enough of him myself. His better-than-you-are aura was almost as nauseating at the outfit he had on. I turned away and started towards the door when I faintly heard him speak out.

"H-hold on..."

"What?!"

"...see you at the show?"

I paused. Was he being serious? Scanning over his expression, I could feel my own soften for a moment. There was something about the way he stood there, waiting for my response, that reminded me of the Sigmund I knew from Milkweed. It wasn't always confident. The façade, in the moment, had dropped until I gave an answer.

"I mean, I'm already here, so I might as well see what type of train wreck you put on."

I turned away from Sigmund after my response and finally left the trailer. I didn't care to analyze his expression or hear any back talk anymore. Looking around for the duo, they weren't anywhere to be seen. I figured they'd gone home to get ready for the show later. I conjured my broom and started my own journey back home.

Although I'd told Sigmund I'd be at the show, I actually decided to skip it. I just couldn't find it in myself to watch him perform. I didn't like celebrity Sigmund. I didn't know that side of him. That side of him wasn't him. And I still wasn't thrilled with what he'd done. I wasn't happy with him blocking me from Milkweed. He even claimed I was ruining his life! I had no clue what he was on about! He was a success and on tour! How was his life ruined? It was dramatics and deflection at it's finest.

Finally home, I walked into my flat and laid back on the sofa as my Necronomicon soared through the air.

"Aren't you going to get ready for Sigmund's show?!" The book asked in obvious excitement. I shook my head.

"I'm not going."

"W-what?!"

"I would never disrespect myself that way."

"But you told him you'd be there."

"And? He told me he'd help me back into Milkweed and look at how that turned out."

"B-but Ky—!"

Interrupting the Necronomicon was an alert on my crystal ball. I sat up from the sofa and walked over to the stand, letting my hands hover over the crystal to activate it and read the notification. It was the tracking on my re-entry forms.

"MY DOCUMENTS!" I gasped. "THEY GOT MY DOCUMENTS!"