I leaned over the sink and listened to the trickling water.

I just need to calm down. However the words didn't stop my heart from practically beating out of my chest. I gripped the sink aggressively and stared into the bowl. Focusing on the water as I let myself calm down.

"Stryder, Strdyer…" It was like the trickling water was whispering my name.

I just tried to ignore it. The anxiety was just getting to me, that's all it is..

"Stryder...Stryder.."

I jumped from the sink as I heard my name called from behind me. My heart racing again as I scanned the bathroom. It had to be za- I stopped dead in my tracks. When I realized no one was in the room with me.

“What the heck...?" I mumbled to myself.

“You have been chosen by fate, by fate," the whispers continued to echo throughout the bathroom, the sound bouncing off the walls.

My head spun around the bathroom like an owl. Looking everywhere I could to find the source. But the voice just continued. Louder and louder!

“You shall become our knight!" The voice roared into my ear.

I panicked and ran out of the bathroom. My heart was punching against my chest, and I could barely keep myself still. It wasn't the voice that scared me so much. But it was the breath I felt brush against my face as I heard the voice.

This had to be some kind of prank. Come on Stryder, voices? Yeah right. I took a few deep breaths and started scanning around the house. Looking for anything that could've caused the sound. Or even an open window or flowing air vent for that breath. But nothing..

That voice. It called me a knight, just like the old man did yesterday. Is it possible they were connected? Or am I just hearing things thanks to the stress from the dream?

My theorizing came to a stop as I heard a loud obnoxious yawn coming from Zack. He sat up and stretched his arms to the sky. His long brown locks were frizzy, reminding of what hair looks like after an electric shock. He didn't say a word. He just got up and walked into the bathroom. Slamming the door behind him.

It was at that moment I remember school was gonna start soon. And so did the memory of how long one of Zack's 'beauty showers' were. I should really be getting ready.

I slowly creaked open my father's bedroom door. Sneaking my way inside to his dresser. I snagged one of his bottles of cologne and sprayed myself. Hoping the deodorant and cologne would mask any funk. Since Zack would for sure use up all of my shower time.

I sat back on the couch waiting for Zack to finish his beauty shower. I held up my mask in the air and turned it over in my hands. Feeling the cold and metallic material between my fingers. It was weird, the masked looked like it was plastic. But it was heavy and sturdy like metal. What I found even weirder was the lack of a watermark anywhere on it.

"And the devilishly handsome Zackeriah is complete!" I heard Zack cheer as he flung the door open. Steam from his hot shower flowing out of the bathroom behind him.

I just rolled my eyes and stood up. Dropping the mask on the couch.

"Whatever, come on let's go. Lux left us breakfast." I replied as I leaned down and grabbed my bag.

"Ah my sweet love left me a gift." Zack hummed happily as he strolled over to the kitchen. "I forgot something at home. So I'll just meet you at school!" Zack cheered as he snatched his food and ran out.

'I forgot something at home.' That was Zack's code for. My dick dad isn't home so I'm gonna skip. I wanted to drop off my food to the homeless guy. So I didn't bother arguing with him. I just grabbed my things and headed out.

As I came upon the alleyway however, I saw no sign of the old man. Which was bittersweet. At least I got to eat breakfast I guess.

I debated if I was gonna be a mom and go make Zack come to school. However, the memory of the last time detoured me from that. I walked in on him in only his boxers while he was singing some old rock song in the living room. Shredding a broom-like it was a wicked guitar.

So I guess that meant I was on my own today.

….

As the school day progressed, I had been getting really strange looks. People kept pointing and laughing at me, staring at me and taking pictures. I thought it was my cologne at first, but that didn't explain the pictures. I didn't really have any time to bother with it, so I just tried to ignore it. It wouldn’t be the first time a bunch of kids made fun of me.

It was fourth period now—gym class. I got changed out in my gym shirt and shorts and walked out to the gymnasium. We had two gyms connected to one another, the girl’s side and the guy’s. We had girls and guys free time today. Every Friday, after we worked out and did our stretches, we were free to do whatever we wanted in the gym.

Soon after we finished our stretches, the girls came over to our side. That's when I saw her—a goddess among the common girls, a beauty undefined by earth who could only be appreciated right by the heavens—Alexis Summers. Alexis had short black hair with fiery red streaks in it, and a creamy skin tone. She was about my height and had these breathtaking amber-brown eyes. She wore these wrist bands that had her favorite bands on them, and usually had a punk-rock style to her.

She smiled at me and strolled my way, but as she got closer, her face turned from her normal smile to uncontrollable laughter.

I felt my heart sink. Oh no. No! No! No! I needed to run! But I couldn't leave since that would be rude! But the smell must have been bad. She'd never love me if I stink! My mind raced until she said the words.

“Zack gotcha, dude!" She said between chuckles.

She held up her little makeup mirror thing and I saw my reflection. Zack had drawn all over my face. The markings under my eyes were smeared from my tears this morning. And in big bold letters on my forehead it read, “You got Zacked!” Lux saw me like this… Everyone saw me like this… Alexis saw me like this.

“I'm gonna castrate that boy when I see him," I growled.

Alexis just laughed.

"Come here, let me clean you up." She said between laughs.

Zack figured out early on that I had a crush on her. But I was way too shy to talk to her. So that’s when Zack got hell-bent on making us best friends. And ever since then the three of us have been inseparable. With Zack trying to play the wingman. But I’ll bet all my money that she's into Zack. She’s always talking about him, and laughing at all his jokes. It’s like her smiles always brighter when he’s around.

“Hey, did you have that dream again?" she asked, as she looked into my eyes.

Her face was only a few inches from mine. I could feel my cheeks flushing. I quickly averted from her gaze.

If I could have my way. I would just stay right here like this. Getting lost in her amber eyes. But this wasn’t a dream, and I couldn’t lie. With a shaky breath, I told her about my dream. Then she did the thing I hated most. She gave me the generic, it’s not your fault speech. I hated it, it was like pitying a child. I know it was my fault. They don’t need to sugar coat it. I know there’s blood staining my hands.

“Hey!" Alexis huffed.

I jumped a bit and she flicked my nose. Snapping me back into reality.

"Oh, sorry, I was lost in thought. What's up?"

“So Homecoming's happening soon and I was wondering…” She suddenly stopped, and I could see her cheeks becoming as red as the streaks in her hair.

She moved her hands behind her back, seemingly trying to hide her fidgeting.

I could feel my heart beginning to race. Was she gonna ask me to homecoming!? Me? Stupid old me!? I took a breath and tried to compose myself. Doing my best to conceal my smile.

“Yes?" I chimed.

“Could you…..drop a hint that I want Zack to ask me to the dance?" she blurted out.

I could feel all of the excitement inside me, just fade. I stared at her for a moment, not saying a word. Zack, she liked Zack…Zack. I forced my smile to stay on my face. I can’t let my feelings get in the way. I needed to stay smiling for her.

“Definitely!" I chimed.

"Ooh thanks, I'm so shy. I don’t think he would go for a girl like me, but maybe if you tell him, maybe he will!" She cheered as she playfully punched my shoulder.

“Hey, any guy would be lucky to have you. You’re great." I wanted to leave, I wanted to just disappear from the planet...

"Aww thanks. I'm glad we're friends. Now come on, let’s play some basketball or something,” she said, pulling me to a hoop.

Well, I guess I was right...