Chapter 2: Day 2, and the Forgotten Sorrow

It was in that moment of returning to the realm of sleep that Etoile remembered the dream that took place the previous night, and his fears of the shadowy realm were re-discovered. This time, however, it felt more real than the last time he had visited, and this made his fears grow even worse. The soothing voice, and the comfort that it brought did not appear. Why was it absent? Did it regularly appear once to people with "powerful light", and then thrust them back into the world of shadows all by themselves? It didn't make one bit of sense to Etoile as he stood there on the infinite plaines of the shadows. This reoccurring dream he had was definitely a sign of some sort, maybe for events that were to come? Was this an example of his inevitable death? All things would die eventually, but this did not frighten him in the least bit. The thing that did, though, was the fact he felt naked standing there on the plaines of darkness. He felt vulnerable, and he didn't like it. It was like coming to school, but only just then realising that he had forgotten to wear pants. This place was all too frustrating, why was he placed here again? "I don't understand..." Etoile whispered as he placed his hands on his face, and fell to his knees. He was like a newborn baby-put into the world by means unknonw to him, and forced to try to make out as to what this new, and unknown world was. It was truly frightening, and Etoile felt as if there was no escape. "What must I do...?" His question was simple, and plain. Etoile grasped his shoulders as his body began to quiver, and he layed down on his side while curling his legs up to his chest. "What does this all mean...?" Still he sought answers, but his attempt to find them were in vain. He was like a fly trying to escape from a glass prison, he could see the outside, but he kept hitting this invisible boundary that kept him from realising the truth. Was this the darkness's plan, to capture him, and break him within the shadows? This nightmare felt like it would go on forever. Etoile's body was now half-way submerged in a thick cloud of the mist that lay in a thin veil across the plaines, he was hopeless, and he was scared, but most of all he wished the voice would return, and grant him the same warmth that it did before.

Nothing...

As Etoile closed his eyes to shut away the nightmare, he felt as though his body was spinning in circles, and not allowing him to keep his eyes shut. "No..." He moaned as he lay there with his hands over his face still. He tossed and turned as the nightmare tried to force his eyes open, but he resisted with every ounce of his strength. One thousand hands reached out, and grabbed Etoile as he churned-a last effort of resistance against the belly of the beast he lay in. "Etoile..." A familiar voice called out from the abyss, sending shivers down his spine. "Etoile..." The voice was like a whisper across the wind, elegantly drifting across his eardrums like the smooth sailing of a phantom. "Etoile..." The voice became more apparent, and much louder than before. "No...!" He cried out, still turning with each time the voice came to him. The arms still held him, and shook him, though he thought they were trying to force his eyes open. "Etoile! Wake up!" The cry of Etoile's mother shook him wide awake as he lay in his comfortable bed. He arose with a panic, and scurried up against the wall like he did the previous morning, grasping his chest tight, and panting heavily in fear. "Etoile! See? What did I tell you? You must get to bed earlier tonight." His mother said softly, trying to ease his fear. "You really need to quit that!" Etoile said between breaths as he stared at his mother, and shaking his head as he spoke. "You know outside influences can cause people to have wild and crazy dreams?" Etoile went on, this time lecturing her with some bit of knowledge he happened to have picked up. "No, silly, that's just an urban legend. Now get dressed, someone's here to see you." His mother was kneeling at his bedside this time, and she wearily got up, and then walked out of Etoile's room. "Awesome..." He said to himself as he leaped out of bed, and changed into something a little bit more sociable. Not much of a change in wardrobe, since he still wore the same pants, bandanna hanging out of his pocket, same shoes, though this time he simply changed shirts. There was not much of a change in doing this, since the shirt was a V-neck as well, but it was white(which was the only diference). Etoile quickly rushed into the bathroom to take a look at his hair, and the wet his hands, and simply ran them through his hair to keep his same spikey hair-doo. Faux-hawks were in this year, but he really didn't matter what was in since he never cared what looks other people liked, but only cared for the look he liked to pull off.

Practically sprinting through the hallway, and then up to the front door, Etoile burst outside, and came to a halt. Standing before him was someone very close to his own height-if not the same-, and wearing a pair of baggy camo shorts, a black t-shirt, black knee-high socks, and red checkered slip-on shoes. The person smiled at Etoile as he made his fabulously late appearance, and held his hand up to signal he was getting ready to perform a bro handshake. "Yo! Etoile! What's up, man?" He said with a wide grin on his face as Etoile met this person's hand with his own. "Yo, Balthazar! Missed you, bro! When did you come back?" Etoile was happy to see this person, since they had been friends ever since kindergarten. Balthazar had been away on a cruise or something, which left Etoile very bored during spring break. "Just this morning! I came to visit you earlier, but you slept in apparently, so I came back after lunch, and I guess my hunch was right. Haha!" Balthazar put his other arm around Etoile's shoulders as they shook hands, and began to walk with him out towards the street. "Really? Oh, I'm sorry dude...I had a really messed up dream." Etoile said rather gloomily. "What was it about? Was it I, Balthazar stealing your chicas? Heheh!" Balthazar placed his right hand on the rim of his own shorts, and pelvic thrusted once as he spoke, laughing the entire time. It was a comedic attempt to cheer Etoile up, and also a humorous attempt to get at him-with no intention of a negative meaning. Etoile smiled maliciously, and shoved Balthazar away from him,"No, it was I, Etoile, stealing your fine-assed mother!" Etoile chuckled while doing the exact same thing Balthazar did to him. Balthazar shouted out with disbelief as Etoile made a perfectly fine comeback towards Balthazar's previous question. "Well, either way, we're both lucky." Balthazar said, and then hit Etoile's chest with his hand, though there appeared to be something within his palm. Taking his hand, and prying the object out, Etoile was grasping a rolled-up piece of paper that was advertising something. "What is this?" He said, unbeknownst to what Balthazar was planning. "It's an event, dude! Everyone's going, it'll be a blast!" Balthazar exclaimed with sheer excitment lingering on his words. "Do you know when it's going to be held?" Etoile asked, curious now of what was in store. Wait a moment, didn't Etoile think about going to something yesterday? Just what was it exactly? This really bugged him, why couldn't he remember? "That's funny..." Etoile whispered to himself, placing his index and thumb of his right hand on his chin, and holding his right elbow with the opposite arm. "What's funny?" Balthazar asked, curious as to what Etoile was thinking to himself. "N-Nothing. Let's go to the store, maybe we'll find Bretta and Jesse there." Etoile said trying to change the subject. Balthazar hesitated for a minute as Etoile walked passed him, and then he ran to catch up to Etoile. "Wait up!"

Something weird was definitely going on, first he was having those dreams-no, those night terrors. Now he was experiencing memory loss. What sort of crazy shit was in store for him? The duo walked along the side of the road towards the center of the town. It wasn't a very big town, just a few blocks with buildings on them, and a railroad in the oldest region of the town. Just think of a suburban neighborhood built around a historic town. Cars drove steadily by as Etoile and Balthazar walked down the street to a gas station not too far from where Etoile lived. There, two other teenagers were loitering about an ice machine with a big sign on it that said,"Out of order." As the duo approached the store, the two other teens saw them, and shouted,"Hey guys!" There was a rather petite female with long, brown hair sitting on top of the ice machine while the other teen-a tall, skinny, dark skinned male-stood with his arms crossed, and leaning up against the machine. "Yo!" Balthazar shouted as he ran over to meet the two. Etoile grinned subtly as he watched the three exchange a series of secret handshakes and chest bumps, though a tingling sensation began to overtake his hand. It felt as thought it had fallen asleep, or something. What? He thought as he examined his hand. "Yo! Etoile! Whacha' waitin' for? Christmas?" Balthazar cried out, which snapped Etoile back into reality. "Coming!" He replied, jogging steadily over to the three of his friends. "Hey Etoile!" The young girl giggled as she watched Etoile approach, and blush. "Hey Bretta." He said with a simple wave of his hand. "Sup, dawg?" The taller male said as he walked up to Etoile, and proceeded to perform yet another bro handshake. "Hey Jesse." Etoile replied, which set off the taller teen for some reason. "Hey! The name's Juicy J., remember?" He seemed rather flustered, but Etoile only raised his two hands up in surrender. "My bad!" He had a nervous grin on his face until the dark-skinned friend calmed down. "Ah, it's 'aight. Nice to see you two again! Never thought I'd be happier to hang out. Only had Bretta keeping me company, and pleasing women is not my cup of tea." He placed his hand on the side of his mouth so as to keep what was to be said secret from Bretta. "Pleasing them the old-fashioned way, that is!" He whispered, which made Balthazar, and Etoile chuckle. "Hey! I heard that! What? Am I no fun?" Bretta shouted as she crossed her arms. "N-No! It's just that-" "Then you shouldn't have asked me to be your girlfriend, then! Hmph!" She continued her rant, and turned her head away from Jesse. "Aww, baby! Don't be like that!" Jesse began to plead with her, and practically knelt down on his knees shaking his clasped fists at her-as if praying to the gods.

Etoile and Balthazar laughed heatily as Bretta humiliated Jesse, who at this point was practically to tears. "C'mon, let's go do something." Balthazar said tapping Jesse on the shoulder, and laughing still. Bretta hopped down from the ice machine and caught up to Etoile and Balthazar as they walked away. Jesse followed quickly behind her, and tried to grab her hand, but she snatched it away, and crossed her arms. They were a happy posse, and it seemed that nothing could pull them apart for long. Etoile and Balthazar didn't meet Jesse or Bretta until later on in their lives. Etoile and Balthazar were actually the first two of the posse, and Jesse was the third. They met Jesse one day after grade school when a bunch of bullies had him cornered in an alley downtown. Luckily for him, Etoile and Balthazar just happened to be chilling out around that area, and saw how those horrible brutes ganged up around him. Yeah, sure they were only 10 at the time, but they could still whoop the shit out of other kids, and after a long, brutal bloodbath-and even taking a few lickings themselves- Etoile and Balthazar managed to chase off the bullies, and successfully rescue who would be their new buddy. When they all finally managed to get to middle school, they met Bretta. She was from some other town somewhere far away, and since then Jesse's been panting behind her like a little puppy. It was strange to think that this was their final year in school together, though they still had a few weeks left to milk out, but after that time goes by, they'd all be going their seperate ways. Balthazar would head off to basic military training, Jesse would be moving out to study music, and hoping to make a career out of it. Bretta would be going off to dance school, which would leave Etoile all alone in this little dead-end town. Where's the fun in that? He'd probably be stuck doing chores until he got sick of it and went on that road trip he was talking to Shosanna about. Come to think of it, now that he remembered Shosanna's beautiful, and angelic eyes, Etoile began to crave her audience. In fact, he thought nothing ill of that girl, and he had hoped that by the end of the break they would both be a couple. It wasn't so far fetched as it sounded, because he could've sworn that she liked him the same way he adored her. Why wouldn't it make sense? The way her lips caressed his was like a midsummer's night dream, it was just perfect. Etoile knew right then and there that he would hopefully meet her at this gathering his town was having, and then he would be able to ask her himself.

"Etoile!" Balthazar shouted, practically three inches from his face while the others stood around and looked at the two of them. "Huh?" Etoile had been completely oblivious to everything around them, and to what they were doing. Apparently they had come to some sort of festival, because there were tents, and rides set up all over the place. This was their town's annual spring-time carnival, which featured tons of fabulous rides, food, and musical guests. It was themed much like an old circus, though minus the clowns and animals. "Are you gonna' pay your share?" Balthazar followed up with this question, and looked at Etoile with his arms crossed, and his eyebrows cocked. "O-Oh yeah!" Etoile finally remembered, and pulled out the munny which was required for his own ticket. He handed it over to Balthazar-who took it begrudgingly while staring down Etoile-, and then looked over at the other two. Bretta had been giggling the entire time as she watched Balthazar try to snap Etoile back to reality. "What's so funny?" He asked, and looking quite flustered. "you were thinking about Shosanna, weren't you?" Bretta said with a sly tone, almost like she was teasing Etoile. "Was not!" He exclaimed as he pointed a finger at Bretta,"Yo, dawg. She be a triflin' hoe. You keep your shit away from that." Jesse said with his deep, and dull tone. "Hey! Watch it! She's a nice girl." Etoile said as he crossed his arms and glared up at Jesse. "Hey man, it's whatevz. If you don't believe me, fine, but just so you know, I saw her yesterday with a couple of guys. One of them she seemed to be getting a little too friendly with, if you smell what I'm steppin' in." Jesse nudged Bretta at the end of his statement and chuckled, though Bretta didn't seem the least bit humored by what he had to say. Jesse looked back over at Etoile, who seemed wrecked by this news that Jesse dilivered to him. "Was it something I said?" Jesse said rather confused as to what Etoile was feeling. "Where did you see her?" Etoile said with a fragile tone, almost as if he were at the point of getting ready to burst into tears. "At the back alley of the Warehouse Market...Why? Ohh..." Jesse finally realised what was happening, and began to feel really dumb about what he said. Bretta looked up at him with an angry face, and her fists resting upon her hips while she growled at Jesse. "Do you not have a heart?" She snapped, causing Jesse to flinch. "Hey! I'm just lookin' out for my boi! Don't act like I'm the monster! It was the truth!" Etoile began to look very depressed at this point, and stared down at his feet, and hunching over slightly with his arms hanging down by his sides. Jesse and Bretta looked over at Etoile with a worried look on their faces. "Are you okay, Etoile?" Bretta asked as she walked up to Etoile, and placed her tiny little hand on his shoulder. Jesse walked over as well, and placed his hand on his other shoulder. "Yo man, I didn't mean to be so harsh. I know how you feel for her, heh, I've known since the beginning of Highschool." Jesse also attempted to comfort Etoile.

Balthazar came back right about this point with everybody's tickets, and a big smile spread across his face. "Woo hoo! Let the festivities commence! haha-Oh? Hey, what's up with Etoile?" Balthazar suddenly became worried as well as he walked up to the other three, and slightly pushed Jesse and Bretta aside. "You gonna' be okay man?" Etoile nodded as he continued to look down at his feet, and hunch over. "Well, whatever it is, you'll forget about it after a couple of rides. So c'mon! We've got some partying to do!" And with that, he handed everyone their tickets, and lifted Etoile's chin so that he would look at him. "Don't worry about it! Look, by the end of the day, you won't remember a thing about it." Balthazar was always good at cheering Etoile up, which seemed to work 100% of the time. Etoile smiled and put his shoulder around Balthazar-who in turn did the same with Etoile. "Let's go fuck shit up!" Etoile shouted with a rock on hand gesture, and then sticking his tongue out. Balthazar laughed histerically, and then replied with his own loud,"YEAH!" and the tow of them bumped fists. Sprinting along the fairgrounds with seemingly weightless feet, the four of them raced through the carnival dodging people, and machines alike to get to the rides they wanted to go on the most. The first was a teacup ride that allowed you to spin while sitting inside of a giant teacup by turning a wheel in the center. The four of them rode in one teacup, and spun it violently as they all shouted, and cheered with glee. They did this until they couldn't walk straight after getting out, and then they were off to the next item on their list. There was a massive, elongated cage that had many chambers suspended along it, and it was cleverly dubbed "The Chainsaw". The four of them split up into pairs, and rode in two seperate chambers. When the ride finally went off, the giant cage began to lift, and flip upside-down, and caused the chambers around it to rotate fast. Unfortunately for Jesse, he had something to eat prior to coming on this ride, and he began to feel nausious. "Ohhh man..." He groaned as his face turned green. When the ride finally came to an end, he literally flew out of the chamber he was in-knocking Bretta out of the way practically-, and went to the nearest garbage can he could find. "BLUUUUAAAAHHH!" Jesse projectile-vomitted inside of the garbage can as he got up to the side of it, and slunk his head over it. "Awww! Nasty!" Balthazar shouted as the three of them laughed, and pointed at Jesse. "Couldn't hold it, huh Jess?" Etoile kept the taunts going as the three of them laughed at the scene unfolding before them. Bretta couldn't think of anything to say since her laughter rendered her unable to speak. "Shut up guys..." Jesse moaned as he lifted his sicky green face away from the garbage can so he could look at teh trio laughing their asses off.

As the night commenced, the four friends had a wonderfull blast at the festival. Riding all kinds of carnival rides, playing games-and utterly loosing-, and enjoying food fried so deep that it could cause a heart attack with one bite(an exaggeration of course). The sun had not yet set beyond the horizon, and as the twilight took its hold over the sky, the four friends found themselves stumbling to the front gates of the carnival. "Oh man! That was tons of fun! I can't wait until next year!" Balthazar said as he bent over his knees, and tried to catch his breath from all the running. Etoile stood a few feet away, and placed his hands on his hips as he, too tried to catch his breath. "All I know...Is that...I'm exhausted!" Etoile said between breaths. Bretta came riding on Jesse's back with her head laying against his shoulders, and her eyes closed. There was a peaceful smile across her face as she rested, and Jesse hadn't waisted his energy racing towards the front entrance to the carnival. "I think it's about time to head home. What do ya' guys think?" Jesse said with a dull, and tired sounding tone. Etoile and Balthazar looked at each other and shrugged,"Maybe, we had one helluva day." Balthazar groaned as he stood straight back up, and stretched his arms. Etoile yawned, and then turned his head to view the setting sun. "I may have forgotten what I was so upset about, but I know for sure that I'll never forget teh time we had today." Etoile sounded all philosophical as he stared off into the setting sun, and Balthazar, and Jesse both smiled when they looked at him. "When this school year's over, let's promise to keep in touch, eh?" Balthazar said as he walked up behind Etoile, and patted his left shoulder. Etoile turned around and nodded,"Yeah." Jesse chuckled, adn then turned back around as the three of them walked back home. It was a fun day indeed, and with all of this fun came the forgetfullness of previous sorrows felt. However, the discords Etoile felt inside when Jesse mentioned Shosanna being with another guy had not been forgotten permanent, and soon he would recall the pain he felt inside that stabbed like a sharp blade. The three of them waved good-bye to each other-with the exception of the slumbering Bretta-, and then parted ways down the road. Etoile and Balthazar were the only two of the group who remained with each other as they walked towards Etoile's house, and when they finally reached his front yard, it was a bittersweet feeling. "Well, I guess I'll be seeing you tomorrow. We got a big day ahead of us." Balthazar said as he yawned, and then scratched his back. "Yeah, I'll make sure not to sleep in too late." Etoile laughed, and then the two of them shook hands. "Take it easy, Etoile." Balthazar said as they relinquished each other's hands,"And if it's easy, take it twice! Haha." The two of them laughed at this joke, and then they, too parted ways.

Etoile walked into his home reluctantly, remembering the nightmares he had, and knowing he'd be going to bed sooner or later. His mother and siblings weren't in sight at the moment, which meant he could make an unnoticed entrance. Still, though, the thought of Shosanna struck his memory again, an as he passed by a living room window, he could see the window to her own room. "Shosanna please...Don't deceive me." He thought to himself with a heavy sigh, feeling the pain of a love gone to waste. He walked quietly back to his room so that he would not be confronted by his family, and then shut the door silently behind him when he entered his room. Taking his shoes, and his pants off, Etoile jumped into bed, and layed down to go to sleep. Still, the thought of the one he had strong emotions for being held by another guy, and being loved the way he loved her just yesterday hurt him. There was no greater pain felt then the pain of a cracked heart, though he wouldn't go as far as to call it broken, because if worse came to worse, he wasn't going to let this girl completely ruin his life...Or would he? He fought with the question, trying to thwart it with a confident denial, but he always found himself being saddened by the thought of her not loving him. It didn't matter, though, at least not right now...Not yet. Slowly, Etoile closed his eyes, and peacefully drifted off to sleep.

"Don't lose hope..."