11. Through thick and thin
The two of them just shake their heads and stare at me with a loss of words. Not that I blame them for that, if I was them I would be doing the same thing. Dylan continues to examine me as if I was a circus freak while Sam starts cracking up. That's a bit surprising. Usually when something baffles him he shuts down completely or rambles on and on in nervousness.
Instead he just keeps on laughing and looks around the room suspiciously. "Okay guys I get it this is a giant punk you can come out now. And I have to say I totally bought it until a second ago the eyes were just a bit too fake."
Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, "The eyes are real Sam this isn't a prank."
"Of course it is as payback for all the shitty pranks I've pulled on you. I had no clue you had this in you Matt, I've got to go to class I can't ditch English again."
With one last brief look at me he just shakes his head and walks away. I'm not mad though. How could I be mad when it is hard to believe and does seem like something that would be on Pranked? Except there are no cameras, I know that even though I wish there were.
Dylan is still sitting in silence staring at me. An unknown part of me is scared of this, much more than when Sam left and the fear of him telling people or something. But no Dylan's reaction that seemed to be curiosity and belief reminded that part of me that was me but wasn't of something. Out of nowhere a wave of worry that him wanting to know about all of this would lead him to wanting a part in it which would lead to his death.
The smell of pickled onions comes along with this feeling and once again I swear I'm losing my mind.
"What's going on?" Dylan asks so quietly that I almost didn't hear it.
"Dude you're never going to believe me," I snort and he gives me a 'try me' look. "Okay apparently I'm some sort of superhero and I have a bounty that psychopaths are trying to kill me. And before you ask I'm not on drugs."
"Well on the bright side the superhero gets the girl," he laughs. Dylan tends to bring in humor when he was uncomfortable.
"Funny, but I'm not really a superhero, that's just what Ms. Tall is saying because I'm not exactly supposed to know the truth yet."
"Well that explains why you're always with her but what the fuck?"
I don't know how to explain all of it in a sentence or two so I figure telling him the entire story would be best. We'll have to skip the rest of the day and I pray that my parents don't find out. They don't really like it when I ditch even one class.
So I launch into a tale of the past few weeks of my life starting with the weird feeling during wrestling practice and the picture fiasco and finishing with my strange attitude this morning. I leave out the part about the blood though, it wouldn't really be a good idea to tell him that. I also don't mention the past life thing even though that was the biggest past. If I did he would ask too many questions about it and I didn't really know. Even with what I'm telling him there's a chance he'll lock me up. Maybe my eyes will convince him though. Glancing in the mirror I notice that they're back to the normal startling emerald.
"Well then it's pretty much a given that we're going to win state's again next year and would in wrestling if you rejoin the team."
"So you believe me?"
"No dude every person comes up with that farfetched of an excuse to cover up drugs and steroids. And I've seen you run faster than you should and you beat Bill and well that stuff. Plus changing eye color isn't a sign of drugs according to Ms. Pierce."
I crack a smile, "I mean if any health teacher knows about drugs it would be Ms. Pierce I still say she's on heroin."
"Nope, it's definitely acid and pot. But anyways do you know anything?"
I shake my head, "What I told you is all I know."
"So you don't even know what species you are?"
"No, but…" I start before he cuts me off.
"And how's Bill related to all this?'
He really needs to stop asking me questions even though I told him everything I know and he sounds way too excited about it as well. Before I even think it my hand is on his larynx as if I'm going to rip it out. My nails scrape his chest and his scream makes me dig in a bit deeper. Blood seeps out and stains my fingers. I go in as if to lick it and stop myself before he may realize that little detail.
"Damn your fingernails are sharp."
I look down at them and stare in wonder that he's right. "You want to get out of here?"
"Sure practice was canceled today so we can head to my house and play video games. I'll text Sam to come over."
We walk out of the closet and into the crowd of kids rushing to get home when he looks at me and shivers a bit, "Matt fix your eyes man they're creepy and may draw a bit of attention. I don't get it they were fine and the second you looked at me as if you were going to kill me they changed. Are you sure you aren't possessed or something.
Instead of answering I just hit his arm and he winces. Dylan lives relatively close to the school so unlike to my house the walk was less than ten minutes. I was relieved by that too, no chance of getting kidnapped in the middle of a street full of kids.
Sam didn't end up coming over. He said it was because he had to study for an algebra test but I knew that wasn't the reason. In reality he was wigged out by me and more than a little terrified. I wasn't mad though. Hell he probably was worried that I was going to kill him. And in the mood I'm in it wouldn't surprise me. On top of that I still wasn't sure if he thought it was a prank or not.
"So what can you do exactly?" Dylan asks as we sit there flipping through channels.
"Um run fast and lift heavy things, not much."
"You can do more than that even from what I've seen. Come on you have this new aura that like demands respect."
I frown, "Oh um I don't really know. Apparently others like me are princes though." It was true; I just left out a lot.
"Okay whatever but there has to be more to you if people are coming after you?"
"Well apparently I'm not a normal Halfling but that doesn't answer anything since I don't know what a Halfling is."
He shakes his head at me, "Obviously you're like half human half something else."
That would actually make sense, "That would make sense. Want to see something?"
Dylan nods enthusiastically, "Yeah come on and show me what you got."
We turn on the video gaming system and put in Halo. Usually I suck at video games, they just aren't my thing and Dylan knows it. On the other hand he's a beast at it and I don't know anybody who beats him.
It doesn't even take a minute for me to get in the lead and kill him. Dylan groans and tries to kill me. Only he can't. The game continues in this fashion for about half an hour before he gives up and throws the controller to the floor.
"What did this show besides that suddenly you're good at video games?"
"It's why I am good. MY peripheral vision has improved so I can see your hands move before you actually press anything and my reflexes are also suddenly a lot better."
"Cheater," he whines
"Sore loser," I shoot back. "Any more questions."
"Is the spider here now?" he asks with a shaky voice. Dylan has arachnophobia.
I look around, "Next to your foot."
He looks down and gasps as Madame Octa glances up at him in understanding. "That's insane."
"I don't know why she's following me but she is."
He shudders, "Ugh get her away before I kill her."
She hears him and runs away onto my shoulder, "She seems to like me."
"Maybe you're spider man."
"Last time I checked I wasn't shooting webs from my wrist or sticking to everything. Although how cool would it be to have web shooting action?"
"Being superman would be better. I'd totally become the next MVP of the team and knock you of your pedestal."
"In your dreams Dyl, in your dreams."
It's quiet for a moment until he looks up at me with a serious gaze in his eyes, "You know I'll help you find this stuff out." I nod and he continues. "And don't worry I won't tell anyone not even Sam but I will try to get him to talk to you again."
"And please don't tell him the truth to convince him."
"Sure can we end the chick flick moment now?"
"With pleasure," I laugh and take a swig of my coke before beating him some more.
Not my favorite chapter but the next three have a lot of serious stuff in it so I wanted a lighter chapter even though it isn't fluff. Oh and sorry I'm a few minutes late at updating I didn't get home until later than I expected tonight.