Mateo: I cannot believe I used to think you were cool. You aren't cool; you are just a pathetic loser.

"I cannot believe I used to think you were cool. You aren't cool; you are just a pathetic loser."

Dark tendrils shot out from your hands, over Mateo's, and up Jake's arm. They traveled aggressively across his chest and up his neck. Jake opened his mouth to scream, and the black runners surged into his mouth and down his throat. Jake's eyes rolled back in his head, and he crumbled to the floor.

The tendrils began to glow an eerie color, and balls of light rose from Jake's body. The iridescent orbs traveled along yours and Mateo's arms and into your bodies. Soon the glow faded, leaving Jake engulfed in a dark cocoon. He started convulsing on the ground, stiffened suddenly, groaned, and then went limp. The cocoon decayed, turned to dust, and disappeared.

Time restarted. Mateo turned to you.

"Woah, what was that?"

You knelt forward and examined Jake. He was breathing, but he had a wet spot on his crotch.

Did he piss his pants?

"I'm not sure."

Mateo stood up and helped you to your feet.

"Come on, I know you saw that. What were those lights? What did you do?"

What did I do?

You shook your head.

Mateo still had blood on the side of his head.

"Let me look at your head injury. Do you have a first aid kit in your room?"

Jake moaned and rolled into a sitting position.

"and I'd rather not be around Jakey."

You went with Mateo to his room. You wiped the blood off the side of his head but were unable to find a wound. Mateo told you he didn't feel any pain.

You hung out in Mateo's room, and the two of you talked. It was a fantastic conversation. You were both engaging, dynamic, and confident. You had known Mateo for several months, but today, you felt a significant and powerful connection for the first time. Was Mateo always this fascinating? Were you? Something happened this afternoon and you and Mateo were changed by it.

You had a late afternoon class, so you got up to head out.

"Adam, I am glad we hung out this afternoon. We should have done this sooner."

You gave Mateo a fist bump, headed to your room to pick up your notebook and gym bag. Jake was not there. His gym bag was gone, so he probably headed to swim practice early.