Cassie

"…I think you like this band, don't… where's Jake?" Chapman was back to life as was the rest of the cafeteria. I looked around. Tobias and Ax were gone. So was Jake.

"I think you're dreaming, sir," I said, snapping out of it. "Jake left, remember?"

"He did?" Chapman said, looking confused. "Did he try out his Discman?"

"He left it at a homeless shelter," Marco blurted, spontaneously.

"A homeless shelter?"

"Uh, yeah," I said. "That's why he was late for first period. He didn't feel right taking it."

"Oh, right," Chapman looked angry. He walked away without saying another word.

I looked over at Rachel. She looked how I felt. Shocked, angry, hurt, all at Jake.

"He's not going to kill you," I reassured her.

"That is not Jake," Rachel agreed.

"And if that was his final decision, then why do we still remember everything?" Marco wondered. "This is not right."

"I have a headache," a familiar voice said.

I looked up and saw Jake slump next to Marco. Rachel was looking at him, shocked. Marco had his mouth wide open.

"Jake?" I said astonished.

"I know I should have gone to class so don't bug me on it alright?" he sighed and dropped his bag on the floor.

"What are you doing here?" Marco blurted.

"I am allowed to be in the cafeteria right?" Jake asked.

"You just said you'd kill me," Rachel hissed.

"What?" Jake said, looking surprised. "I would never say that."

"When the Ellimist said…"

"Wait a minute," Jake interrupted and I could see he had snapped back into leader mode. "The Ellimist was here?"

"You don't know do you?" I said, taking his hand from under the table. "That wasn't you."

"What wasn't me?" he asked, frantically. "Tell me."

"So who was it?" Marco said. "Crayak?"

"Or somebody working for Crayak," Rachel said. "The Drode."

"Excuse me," Jake said, impatiently. "What is going on?"

"But the Ellimist acted as if it was really Jake," I said. "Maybe he didn't know."

"How could he not know?" Rachel argued.

"If you don't tell me what's going on right now, I'm going to…"

"The Drode has been imitating you all day," Marco said. .

"Not all day," Jake said. "I was with you until you left the bathroom for class. I never did get to class. I sort of wagged."

"You wagged?" I said, disapprovingly.

"Well, do you blame me?" Jake said, defensively. "Do you know what it feels like to have people point and stare at you?"

At that moment the bell rang. Everyone started to leave but we just sat there.

"Jake?" I said awkwardly.

"Yeah?" he said, distractedly as he picked up his bag and started to get up.

I glanced at the others. Rachel nodded, allowing me to tell him. I looked at Marco. He didn't seem too happy about the prospect, but knew Jake had to be told.

"The Ellimist told us that you have to choose which future to take by the end of today," I said quietly.

At first I thought he hadn't heard me because he just stood there, expressionless. Then he sat down again.

"What?" he said.

"I'm sorry, Jake," I said, softly.

He buried his face in his hands. When he looked up again, he looked so tired and weary. It scared me because I hated to see him like this.

"Are you sure?" he asked. "Maybe it's changed because the Drode was imitating me."

"I don't think so," Rachel said. "Jake, I won't blame you for what you choose. It's my fault we're in this mess anyway."

"No it's not Rachel," Jake sighed as we picked up our bags and started to walk out of the cafeteria. "It was something that was meant to happen. I might just wag the rest of school. The Drode might fill in for me if I'm lucky. I shouldn't have come back anyway."

"You just walked out of school?" Marco said. "How'd you manage that?"

"Flies aren't noticeable," Jake smirked.

I lowered my voice.

"You got your morphing power back?" I asked as we reached our classroom. We all had double history.

"Yeah," he grinned.

"How'd that happen?" Rachel asked. "Aren't you supposed to relax or something."

Marco and Jake exchanged looks. It was then that I realised. Relaxing wasn't the only way to get rid of stress, worry and pressure. Talking about it could help too. Marco was a good friend to Jake and I knew I could count on him for helping Jake when I'm not around.

"Look," Marco said cheerfully. "The teacher's here."