Chapter 1 My legs felt weak. I’d been running for what seemed like…maybe an hour. “Come back here!” A kid behind me yelled. “Uh, Anwin, maybe we should..” The other, skinnier kid protested. Moblit, I think. “Come on Moblit! Is all you think about other people?That explains why you’re so thin,” The third kid said. Moblit, Anwin, and..Sullivan! That’s his name! I felt someone grab my sweater and pull me down. “Hmmm…Do you have crackers?” Sullivan peeked in my lunch box. “Um- uh- yeah..” I watched him take them from my lunch box. “Thank you,” Sullivan sang. Him and Anwin walked away from me, while Moblit protested. * * * “Grandma? Is it alright if I go downtown with Simona?” I asked. “Sure, but be home by 8,” She said. She started to flip her hair back, but stopped midway. “You don’t have homework, right?” She asked. I shook my head. “Alright,” She said. I opened the front door and sighed. Ever since my mom had died in a car crash, I’d lived with my grandparents. I wasn’t complaining, just that I had no parents. No other relatives. I guess it wasn’t that bad. Afterall, I had Simona, that was pretty nice. “Heey, Aarav!” Simona said. “Hey. What’s up?” I replied. “I heard some drama earlier at school, wanna hear some?” Simona cocked her head. “Sure,” I said. “You know that sticky note on Mrs. Thatcher’s door?” I nodded. “It was Hyun-Woo,” Simona said, smirking. “I don't think he'd do that,” I said. “What?!” Simona protested. “He’s rude, but he’s really sweet once you get to know him,” I smiled. “You’re just being stubborn!” Simona snorted. I chuckled. “Okay,” I said sarcastically. I mean, Hyun-Woo had an ego, but he’s not that confident. I had 4th hour with him, and he never has anything to say. He definitely wouldn’t go that far. Plus, he loves Mrs. Thatcher. “Well, anyway, why don’t we pick up some food?” “Fine,” Simona rolled her eyes. I looked over. Oh hey! Anwin’s here! Praying to myself I wouldn’t get embarrassed walking up to my bully, I slid up to him. “Hi?” I said. He didn’t react. “Anwin??” I looked over his shoulder. He was staring at his hand. Or, the air. It had disappeared. “Um, Anwin, you uh… Wanna break outta it?” I pulled him back, but he just… What's the word? Disintegrated. Chapter 2 I stood there for a few seconds, taking in what I’d seen. My eyes widened at the sudden realization. Anwin had died right in front of me. How? How did he die? I was confused. I carefully looked at my surroundings, analyzing everything. Maybe someone killed him? A murder? No. That wouldn't be possible, nobody can just make someone disintegrate out of thin air. I swallowed, a dry feeling in my throat. “Simona, did you-” I turned around, and her playful silhouette wasn’t there. Oh god. I looked around. Where was everyone?! Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry- My eyes welled with tears. “Aarav!” A familiar voice called. “You alright?” I looked over to see Sullivan. “Anwin, Anwin’s dead! Gone!” I said, my hands resting on Sullivan’s shoulders. “I..uh, I know,” He said, lifting my hands away from him. “I guess it just…Doesn’t matter too much to me.” Sullivan chuckled. “Oh…” Why couldn’t I have that view on life? “Aarav!!” I heard Simona chime. “Simona!” I smiled. Sullivan crossed his arms. “What’s wrong?” She asked. “Nothing,” Sullivan snapped. “Uh, yeah,” I said. I slid my hands into my pockets. “Um, Sullivan, how’s you feel about coming over later?” I asked, my voice trembling. “Sure!” He replied. * * *
“I have a theory!” I said. “I saw what happened to Anwin- He disintegrated. Maybe- again, just a theory- We are living…In a simulation.” Sullivan scratched his head. “I…I don’t know…” He mumbles. My dog, Birdy, barked at me. She wanted my blanket. Who knows why, but she did. “BUT, if you’re right, anything must be possible, right?” Sullivan beamed. “I guess,” I said, in deep thought. “Uh, doggy, thing…woof,” Sullivan said. I stared at him… awkwardly. “Nice try, but that’s not what dogs sound like- not me, not any,” Birdy barked. I screamed. What the heck!? “Cool!” Sullivan said, picking the dog up from the ground. Birdy growled. I chuckled. “Birdy, you’re so silly,” I said, taking her from Sullivan and hugging her tightly. “Well, it’s almost time for school,” Sullivan said, looking at his phone. I nodded. Are we friends now? I think we’re friends. * * * I walked into the huge brick building. Brayden and Tigress bickered about cats and dogs, Hyun-Woo was bragging…As usual. Moblit was trying to start up a conversation with Simona, and Annie was standing by her locker…Just…Staring. “You alright?” I asked. She nodded. Zach and Zoe were fighting, swinging their arms at each other like little kids. “Zach? We’re gonna be late to class,” I said. He…hissed? I dunno, he was mad. “Byeeee Zoe!!!!!!” He called. “You love her, huh?” I said. “What!? NO!!” Zach protested, and I laughed a bit. They’re perfect for each other. How come I don’t have someone like that? I thought. It made me a little sad. “Aarav!” I heard Sullivan yell. “AH! What?” I quickly responded. “We’ve got first hour together!” Riiight! We had math together, how fun. “Uh, yeah! Right,” I replied. We walked into the classroom together. Eleanor was chatting with Mrs. Hart. Aaaaaaaaaand here comes Hyun-Woo, ready to start a conversation. Great. “Hey Aarav!” Hyun-Woo chimed, spinning around my desk. “Hi,” I said, looking down at my homework, pretending to do it. “Come on, Hyun-Woo!” Eleanor said, dragging him back by the arm. He protested in silence. What if my theory's right? How did they let me know? Why!? Thoughts swarmed my head. Oh great. Sullivan and Moblit were talking. It wouldn’t be a big deal, but Moblit is annoying. “Hey Aarav!” Sullivan chimed. “Woah! You’re tall,” Moblit said. “I didn’t notice that last time!” Great. That’s what I’m sensitive about. I shot him an upset look. “Sorry,” He said, his shoulders drooping. “Hi Aarav!” Simona beamed, walking up to my desk. “Oh, hi, Moblit! And Sullivan.” Simona smiled, curling her ginger hair around her finger. I smiled back. I didn’t want to say anything, there were too many people. So I just smiled. Simona started chatting with Sullivan. The loud bell rang in my ears. “Okay, pull out your homework. Answer to 1 is 4,” Mrs. Hart said in her monotone voice. “Yesterday’s assignment- Sullivan, you scored an F-. Hyun-Woo, you got a D+, Eleanor, you got an S. Aarav, A, as usual. Moblit, B-, Taylor, C-, Brayden, F, Annie, B+, Simona, B, Zach, D-.” Eleanor beamed, flipping her hair. Sullivan’s whole body drooped. Should I be proud? My mind wandered. “Today’s assignment is finding the value of X.” I hate variables. I hate math. “Hey Aarav! Wanna work with me and Hyun-Woo?” Eleanor asked. Hyun-Woo smiled- Smirked, really. “Sure,” I said, my voice dry and unenthusiastic. Hyun-Woo chatted about how “he knew the answer to every problem on the paper.” We worked for about an hour, chatting about our grades, our favorite foods, etcetera, etcetera. The bell rang, and I perked up. We had gym next. To be honest, I don’t actually mind gym. Hyun-Woo slumped. He hated our gym uniforms. We had to wear T-Shirts with cutoff sleeves, and baggy basketball shorts, colored in the ugliest shades of bright green and orange. The girls had to wear long sleeves, and capris. Hyun-Woo always complained that the shorts were uncomfortable. We walked down to the gymnasium, Hyun-Woo making dramatic movements. “Bleh. Gym sucks,” Hyun-Woo complained. “We know, Lee,” Eleanor replied. It’s so weird when people call others by their last names…”Well, bye!” Eleanor said, walking to the locker room. “Bye,” I said dryly. Hyun-Woo stopped to look up at me. “That was enthusiastic,” he joked. We got dressed and went back to the gym. The bell rang. Perfect timing. Hyun-Woo shuffled around in the uniform. “Hey, at least you’re not wearing long sleeves and capris,” Eleanor snapped. Hyun-Woo shoved her lightly. “Hey, if you guys are free after class…Can we meet up?” I asked. “Yeah, sure,” Eleanor said. Hyun-Woo nodded, staring at his feet. “I already asked Zach, so he’s probably gonna bring Zoe,” I replied. “Alright!” Eleanor beamed. She walked over to the other side of the gym, where all the girls were chatting. Tigress walked over to us. “What? I thought they were gonna let you on the girl’s side,” I said, watching her slump over to Hyun-Woo.
