"Tell the truth, everyone needs a friend."

“Okay, I just hope this doesn’t cause any universes to implode. But hey if it does I don’t want you guys to worry at all. I will be fine, and I’ll just pick some other people for another go at this. So fingers crossed, let’s hear it Mona. I wonder if Alex will believe you.”

“So I can just tell Alex everything?” Mona asks hesitantly.

“Yep, just tell her. You got your own confidante through this trial. Aren’t you a lucky little lady?” the Universe replies curiously.

“Okay. So you found the collar, then what?” Alex asks now that time has obviously unfrozen again.

“Oh yes, um let’s see. So I found the collar and you can see right here,” Mona leans in showing your name, “it says ‘Sam’ but I don’t know why but I put it on. Then the clasp disappears and I can’t take the blasted thing off again.”

“So it’s like a magic collar? Who is Sam?” Alex seems remarkably accepting of the oddities of the story.

“I’m getting to it. So this is where it gets weird.”

“This is where it gets weird? The magic locking collar isn’t the weird part?” Alex laughs.

“Absolutely, so the collar locks around my neck and time freezes. Everything from the trees to the birds in the sky and my body included. A mysterious figure is walking around me, they’re indescribable but they call themselves ‘the Universe’ and are some kind of supreme being. So the Universe goes over my personal info before starting to talk to a person named Sam. Evidently Sam is from another universe exactly like ours and the Universe is going to let them make decisions about my life.” Mona wraps up the explanation.

“So this is why you streaked through campus? That is insane. Can I see the collar?” Alex is surprisingly curious rather than skeptical.

“Yea here,” Mona lets Alex look over the collar. “The first command was for me to streak back here. It was so cold and embarrassing. Then I get back here and they hit me with two more. I had to wear those bells and masturbate in the library.” Alex’s hands run along the length of the seamless collar, tracing each letter of Sam, and fiddling with the ring.

“At least jingle bells won’t ring if you wrap your hand around them.”

“Do what?” Mona turns to look at her roommate/lifetime friend.

“Oh my you let those bells ring the whole time you got off in the library, that must have been so noisy. I can see it now, you sitting in that musty library getting off to the sound of jingle bells. So what do you have to do now? Do you need to burn down the Science Hall or sleep with the Eta Iota Mu fraternity?” Alex laughs at Mona’s woes.

“Ew gross. Those HIM guys are such dicks. No I was ****, well or maybe allowed is more accurate, to tell you the truth. I guess I just do whatever I want until the Universe stops time again letting Sam pick some terrible task for me to do.” Mona shudders at the thought of an impending command.

“Well if you ever need any help, don’t be afraid to message me. But maybe we just watch The Good Place, I need to know what’s going to happen next.” Alex flicks on the TV.

“That sounds nice.” Mona and Alex curl up together on her bed to watch TV. They eventually change into their pajamas and order some pizza, letting the night pass by. Mona eventually lets her guard down no longer expecting to see the Universe at every passing moment.

“Still no Universe interruptions?” Alex asks as the two girls finally lay down for bed.

“No. Maybe it’s all over already. I can only hope. Well goodnight Alex.”

“Night, Mona.” The two girls turn out the lights and drift off into a peaceful sleep.

“Well it’s about time they went to bed.” The Universe appears with a slight glow to them. “This Alex lady would believe anything. Remind me to try and sell her a timeshare later. But anyways, I thought it would be fun to change up Mona’s dream tonight. You give me the word and her dream will be changed. Then we can watch it unfold in her mindscape. So what should little Mona dream about tonight?”