Kringgggg!
"Claudette, wake up." A voice called.
Claudette woke to the sound of her alarm clock. She rose from her sleep, gently tidying up her bed and searching for her phone. Claudette knew exactly what day it was. It was her first day of class in ninth grade. "7:30 AM" was the time that displayed on the screen of her mobile.
The calender behind her door says "June 16, 2015". She reached for the doorknob and made her way outside of the room. She paved her way to the dining table making lazy steps on the stairs. She was met by her mother's voice, asking in a corncerned, motherly way like the ones you see on tv shows.
"Claudette, are you not attending your first day? You might be missing the orientation."
"No mom, I won't" Replied Claudette.
"But tomorrow I will, I guarantee." She added
"Well, okay. Just let me know what you need." Her mother quipped in return.
Her mom didn't scrutinize her more. Off she went to attend her work. Claudette has decided last night not to attend the first day. After eating a loaded breakfast, she then made her way back to her room. She launched herself into her bed, grabbed her phone by the desk, and texted one of her friends, Julia. She is a petite, young-looking woman with her distinct curly hair. They became friends on eighth grade.
"How's first day?"
"Nah, it's nothing unusual." Julia replied.
"Where are you, btw?" She added.
"I'm at home. I'm sick. I'm not attending." Claudette pretended.
"But I'll be there tomorrow. Are there new classmates?" She added.
"Oh yes, only a few. And some from other section." Julia stated.
"Oh, I see. Okay, see you tomorrow." Claudette promised.
The reason why Claudette hasn't attended was because her now-bestfriend, Kristen, has transferred. Eighth grade was a big leap from her loser life in seventh grade. Everyone knew she came from the second section and since she was a consistent honoree on seventh grade, she transitioned to the first section last year. This was the year Claudette met a new clique who made her feel that she deserved to belong - that she needed to discover the public. And they weren't your typical, mean girls who'd expose you to intoxicating drugs, boys and the like. In fact, they weren't mean after all. They were mean when it's necessary.
This was the year she met Kristen. Among her friends, she was her closest. Kristen was the kind of girl boys would fall for albeit her bubbly, loud persona. But underneath that, she was femininely beautiful except that she was way too skinny. Claudette was cigarette and she was lighter. Together, they both deserve each other.
When she knew a lot of them were transferring on ninth grade, she was left with no choice but to move forward. However, Claudette and Kristen were close as ever despite all of what's happened.
She knew ninth grade would be depressing because nothing will ever be the same again.
----
Second day came, she attended class all prepped up in her school uniform with her tiger print backpack. Claudette was met by warm welcome from her friends i.e hugging. Julia, Aira, Sid, Hale were among the remaining of the clique.
"How'd your summer go?"
This was the question that Claudette was frequently asked for. Otherwise it'd go like this,
"I miss you. How are you now?"
Etched on Claudette's face was a warm canvas of joy fueled by delightful greetings. She knew she still had them.
"I'm doing very well, thank you." She'd say.
What she didn't know was the truth. What she didn't know was how to face it in the harshest form it could ever take.
By break time, they trampled their way to the cafeteria and Claudette stopped all of a sudden. She stood stone cold, barely keeping her eyes off of a new student. She swore time froze at the very moment when their universe collided.
"Who is that guy?" On the table they sat around, she asked.
"Who?" Aira asked.
"Oh, that cute guy sitting over there." Claudette exclaimed.
"I don't know. I think he's new here." Aira said, her eyes searching the crowd.
Dylan Hall. 15. He came from a city north of hers. He was the embodiment of cute. Most catchy feature of him was his cheeks.
Suddenly, she opened up about missing a lot of them.
"So have y'all texted them? Chris? Pat? Maya? Kristen? To check them out?"
Like an eagle's eye, they made sharp looks at each other. They knew whom she was missing. And it was Kristen that she was more specific of.
"Uhm, no." Juliet claimed.
"Me neither." Hale added. Soon after, Sid followed.
"I just kind of miss them." Claudette exhorted.
"Are you sure you're okay? Maybe we can help this out." Aira asked, concerned.
"Help this out. Help this. Help."
A voice echoed on Claudette's mind like an endless ripple of memories crashing. Trip.
"Ouch. My head. It hurts." Claudette placing her hand on her head, agonizing the pain.
"Oh, Claud. Are you okay?" Aira asked.
"Ugh. I can't take this anymore. Excuse me for a while." Sid walked away.
"Sid!" Aira shouted.
Everyone looked at them in a blanket of confusion.
"There must be a way." Hale whispered to Aira.
"Maybe we should just tell her. It's been past 2 months already." Julia added.
"Tell me what?" Claudette overheard.
The ball rang and they went back to their rooms. Claudette's question was left overheard.
---
"How'd it go?" Her mom asking.
"Oh, it's fine. I was glad to see them back again. I just kind of miss them especially Kristen." Claudette told.
Her mom wore a weary expression. The kind of expression you do when you know something is amiss.
"Claudette Olsen." A woman in her mid-30s called.
"Oh, I have to go now." Her mom whispered and left her forehead a kiss.
Her mom walked past through her room and out she went.
"Claudette, it's time to take your medicine." The woman approached.
She slightly nod. The woman handed her a glass of water and a capsule.
"What really happened? My friends seem to hide something away from me." She exhorted.
"Oh, your friends." The woman stated, worried.
"What about them?" She asked.
"Oh, nothing it's no---" The woman was abruptly cut.
"Tell me the truth! I know you know something!." Claudette became violent, lashing at the woman.
"Do you still hear the voices in your head, Claudette?" The woman asked calmly.
"What voices? I don't know what you're talking about" She claimed.
The woman seemed to dodge her question.
"The trip. The fire. Have you not remembered any of these? " The nurse said, serious.
"No." She said.
"Well, two months ago, you were on a field trip with your classmates. You were having fun on the trip. Laughter were heard. Gossips were told. Right in the middle of Oakland, the wheels of the bus suddenly deflated and scream filled the air. The witnesses saw the bus slid off a cliff, claiming ten lives." The woman told.
"Who were those ten?" She asked.
"Five of your friends were among them - Julia, Sid, Hale, Aira, and Kristen " The nurse worried.
"No, no, no, no--."
"Yes, Claud. You've been telling us all this time you're still talking to them. You've completely made them all up. They're all in your head, Claudette. And now you think Dylan exists. Pat, Maya, and Christ had to transfer because they couldn't brace the weight. And that's the truth, they're gone. Gone. Gone."
"Ouch. My head. It hurts." Claudette swelled in pain.
She tilted in motions of black and dizziness. Claudette was unconscious on the floor. The woman, turned out to be a nurse, gestured on two men to carry her to her room.
"I think it's time for her to rest." The nurse told them.
Claudette, as it turns out, was not living in the luxuries of her home. In a big white room, she's been locked for almost three months. Delusional about the events that transpire, she had to go for countless therapies and stress debriefing.
"The truth is, you'll never really know because I've grown to the illusions of life. The illusions of loss. Yes, I've been a little unwell. And sometimes it's the truth that I've been in need of - my remedy - to make me feel better."
The next day came and her mom paid her a visit.
"How are you doing, dear?" Mrs. Olsen said.
And very quietly, Claudette said one word,
"Better."
Her mom was relieved to hear that when she added,
"Oh, I just want you to meet my new friend. Dale."
"Oh, Claudette." Her mom moaned, feeble tears rolled down from her aging cheeks.
"Nurse! Nurse!"