It was awkward during P.E the next day, as it was only you and one of your friends, stretching near the containers of basketballs they kept in the courtyard. It was not as freakishly hot as yesterday and the week before it; The sun did beam down, but it was a comfortable warm. And your friend was making no effort to talk first.

" ...Are you going to the dance? "

" We talked about that yesterday [name]. You have the memory of a goldfish. "

C'mon now. " I was just making conversation. " You truly did not know enough about him to ask anything else.

Well there was no helping that. You frowned and left him to himself, getting a ball to bounce on your own. In your own way of normal, the competitive nature of people playing real basketball did not seem alluring today. The current excitement of people crashing into each other, scraping of tennis shoes and the ball being fought over like some sort of deity came off as odd.

The fact that you were about the only person not involved in one of these tangos was also now very obvious... as your P.E teacher seemed to have it out for you and your points for the day, you could see him assessing you and then demarking the sheet of paper on his clipboard.

Leech.

Man, what's with this place and putting you in a bad mood? Maybe it's just school itself. Chee was now busy helping another guy out towards the building, probably to the nurse. And you were truly alone, again... as usual. You continued to bounce the ball.

-

Groups of people were looking at something on each other's phones. You chose to ignore it, but the sound of the commotion made you very very nervous, especially while you were changing. It was ew's and fake screams of horror.. and for a moment you were afraid that the photo may have been you. But that's silly. So who?

You took no more time changing your shoes and shorts and rushing out the room with your backpack.

" Chee. " You whisper-yelled, grabbing him by the shoulder. He did not seem particularly alarmed, even after seeing how surprised you look. " Are you going to ask me if I'm going to the school dance again? "

You leaned in closer, trying to make him take this seriously. It did not work. " No, maybe later. Were people showing each other stuff in the locker room? "

" Eww. What's that to you? "

" Not like that. Were they showing.. scary.. things on their phone, what was it? "

" Mmmm. " He took out his phone. It was very new, you heard all too much of it. the screen was completely digitalized and capable of loading pixeled photos on it's screen.. but you also assume it was probably his mom or dad's, no way he had one of these at his age. The most you had was a normal house phone.

While you were in your own mind about how nice his phone was, he went 'Aha!' and reflected the screen back to you. You would've rather not seen it, but it was a woman. Let's just say she did not look well - The thing is she didn't look dead, just asleep with her eyes open. Beneath the photo, text read

So the screams were not fake? " Do you believe it? "

" Naturally. It's been spread all over the school forums and even emailed to some of us. It's weird, know? "

" Seems like one of those fake things. "

" Well, I was just sent it. Maybe we will see it on the news. Hopefully it wont make my mom cancel our plans. "

" Yeah, that would suck. 'Forward to 4 people or you'll be sucked of your blood'."

" Next week, you'll come in looking like a raisin. "

" Not even funny. "

The bell ringing was hardly like a surprise, and you almost missed it if Chee started to speak after you. Well, you both have a habit of walking together and back to your classroom so you'd have all the time in the world to talk.

" What happened to that kid at P.E? "

" Nothing with his blood. " He shrugged. " I think he just fell wrong. On his ankle or knee; I couldn't tell which one it was over his mumbling. "

You felt creeped out as the both of you took the stairs downward. " He couldn't speak? " you asked, holding onto your backpack.

" He could speak, he did so. Alot. Just not very loudly. Or- I don't know, I just don't know what he was saying.."

You didn't want to repeat the question again, or ask a different one. So he was either making gibberish, or speaking so low and fast that big C couldn't understand him. Fair enough, but it'd make more sense for a kid to be shrieking in pain rather than mumbling.

" Weird thing is, I don't know how he hurt it. All I saw was him fall, and it just looked like he needed help. "

" This school is full of freaks. " You opened the door for C and he got in right after, greeting whoever followed in tow.

Hmmm...

Something is off.

No sight of Nos Feratu. Amazing, no matter where he's liquified and poured off to, you're ecstatic about it not being near you.

"So Misaki, How are you feeling about Tomorrow? "

" I'm almost more excited than Sayuri. " She had her legs swaying back and forth. " If that's even possible. Have you talked to her? " If you're honest, you barely know who Sayuri is. She has a slightly familiar surname, and things feel off when you see photos of her on the honor roll shrine. But Misaki is really keen on being her friend, so you know About her. But otherwise.. No.

" No. "

" That's alright, she's wanted to talk to you for a while. She also said she had a question for you? I wonder what she's asking."

Oh.

You do too.