Ok... here's the deal... Thanks for the reviews... I don't own anyone... except me. So there... and yes... if you don't like it... tell me. Cause I wanna know. So there. WHOO! Here's to my girls. You know who you are.

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My stomach was growling loudly as I sold my last paper. The voices were still there, but were a lot quieter now. At least I don't have a horrible headache.

"As the voice of reason here, I would say you need some nutrition," Aki said. Voice of reason my foot.

"Good one, Sherlock. He never would have figured that one out," MG scoffed.

"Oh stuff it, MG. Just because you're crabby, doesn't mean the rest of us have to be."

Remember that headache I said I didn't have? Well, it just arrived. Damn girls. 'Will you two give it a rest? My head is going to split open," I thought angrily. They were really starting to annoy me.

"Of course they will, Crutchers. They will be more considerate of you as well. Won't you girls?" Shoe prodded, almost motherly.

"Sure."

"Whatever."

"Good. Now, on to food!" Shoe exclaimed.

The whole time I was alking towards Tibby's, where I hoped to find Jack, I was trying to ignore them. Unluckily for me, it wasn't working so well. Drat.

I opened the door, the bell rang, and I scanned the small restaurant for Jack. I found him sitting, no more like lounging, at a small table with Racetrack and Pie Eater. I limped over to him, smiling and putting up a "I'm-okay-it's-a-wonderful-day-don't-ask" front that nothing was wrong. "Heya, Jack? Can I talk to you for a minute?"

Jack nodded, his goofy grin still in place. "Sure thing. Have a seat," he answered, gesturing towards the only empty seat left at the table. Race and Pie took their cue and left, greedily clutching their food to their chests, making sure no one else snagged it.

I sat down, quite confused at how to go about this. I couldn't really put the words together and make it come out right. I sighed and decided to just say it. "Jack, I think- I think I'm starting to hear voices. In fact, I know I'm starting to hear voices. Three teenage girls. And they are really annoying me."

Jack's face paled. His eyes darted around quickly, to make sure no one was listening. He leaned across the table to me and motioned for me to come closer. I did so, waiting for him to say something. By this time, I knew he wasn't going to laugh at me.

"When did it start?" he asked, his voice quiet.

"This morning. When I woke up," I whispered back.

"Ooh! It's Jack! If Stress finds out we saw him, she'll be so jealous!" Shoe squealed.

"I don't like him. Never will," Aki said indignantly.

"Me either. For the first time today, I agree with Aki," MG replied.

"Psh. Stress will appreciate it. So there. Who asked you two anyhow?" Shoe said, brushing them off. I could only picture a two year old sticking her tongue out at her playmates.

Ignoring them, I continued on. "Well, Jack? Have any great ideas?" I couldn't help it, but I think I sounded a slight bit sarcastic with that question. If Jack caught it, then he didn't show it.

Jack shook his head. "I'm glad to know I'm not the only one! When I was in the washroom this morning, I started hearing this voice. And it's a girl. I figured I was going crazy from all that nagging and yipping Sarah does," he rambled.

'Great. Are you guys attacking him too?'

"No! And we aren't attacking! We're... visiting," Aki replied.

"How many are in your head?" I questioned, still whispering.

"Just one. Calls herself Stress. Keeps squealing on and on about marrying me or something. Half the time I can't understand her," Jack said, exasperated.

'Stress? Is she a friend of yours?' I thought to the girls.

"Ooh! Stressie! She's here? Where is she?" Shoe asked excitedly.

"Stressica? She's awesome," Aki mentioned.

I rolled my eyes. 'She's in Jack's head.'

"Figures. Girl always gets what's she wants," MG muttered.

"Well, tell him to think to her that we say hi," Shoe declared.

'Fine.' I sighed, knowing this was crazy. "Jack, this is going to sound insane, but here goes. Shoe, Aki, and MG tell Stress hi."

Jack sat there for a minute. 'Tell Stress that Shoe, Aki and MG say hi. Okay.'

"What? Where are they? They're in Crutchy's head, aren't they? Poor MG. I know she must be going crazy. And how did they end up there? And why all three? They are probably fighting. Or maybe MG is being an instigator. Ooh! I used a big word! Awesome. Wait 'till the others hear about this. I can't wait to tell them. You know who would absolutely die?" Stress rambled on, only to be inturrupted by Jack's thought of 'Shut up!'

"Hmhph," was all Stress could say.

"We need to figure out how to stop this," Jack whispered, leaning back finally, sounding kind of stressed.

I nodded my agreement.