//------------------------------// // Layers of Fear // Story: The CHS Poltergeist // by Will-o-Wisp //------------------------------// Well this is going to be as much fun as a sandpaper dildo. I don't blame us for not noticing him, he is just as sneaky as me. Smoke N'Mirrors has a light grey complexion with light blue short hair and eyes, he is also a bit of a nerd but he's an intimidating nerd, underneath those glasses and flannel shirts he always wears is someone that knows how to get in your head. I was slightly prepared for Furnace but I definitely wasn't prepared for Smoke and all these other students are now staring and why is everything blurry? Why is the floor coming toward me? Blast Furnace P.O.V "And there he goes." I say as Firesprout faints and plants his face in the floor, "So guys are we taking him to his house?" "That'd be for the best, come on Striker let's get him to your car." Smoke said putting Sprout' left arm around his neck. "Actually I don't have the car today, my Dad needed it but I know that Blast has car." Striker put Sprout's other arm around his neck, "You remember where he lives right?" "He lives on Elm Street, to The Cruiser!" "Okay first, you just told everyone here what street he lives on. Second, cruiser?" Striker looked at me like I was insane. "Do you honestly think that anyone would follow the Poltergeist home?" "Pinkie." Smoke responded very assured of himself. "Yeah, I would." Pinkie called out walking by with her sisters. "Okay then, as for the name. When I got the car I decided to call it The Cruiser because I can since it's mine." "Fair enough. Lead the way Furnace." Smoke replied looking irritated, probably because this is taking so long. School Parking Lot (Still Blast Furnace P.O.V) "What a piece of shit." Striker said looking at The Cruiser. "I take offence to that sir," I say putting a seat belt around Firesprout, "My car runs perfectly fine." "Looks can be deceiving Striker." Smoke added getting in the passenger seat. "Waffles." Firesprout mumbled in his unconscious state. "See? Sprout likes The Cruiser." I said from the driver's seat. Striker sighed, "Fine I'll get in the rust bucket. I better not get tetanus." "Rude." I replied starting the car. "Engine sounds fine so we should make it to Firesprout's" Smoke said. "Seriously? At least I have a car to myself you two." I stated and was answered by silence, "That's what I thought now shut up and buckle up." "So what're we gonna say to him when he comes to? We should give him an explanation for the past few years." Striker said from the back seat. "Easy, we tell him the truth." Smoke replied. "And when he gets mad?" Striker asked looking at Firesprout. I answer driving out of the parking lot, "Calm him down and explain." "Good thing Eclipse will be there," Striker pointed out, "I think she's the only one besides they're parents who can easily calm him." Firesprout's home (Firesprout P.O.V) "What happened and why am I in a shower with all my clothes on?" I ask completely confused and wet. "According to the guys you fainted and face planted. How's your forehead?" My sister Eclipse asks sounding worried but looking amused. "Hurts but I'll live. Did they leave?" "No, they're in the kitchen shooting the breeze. Was going to join after getting out of my Crystal Prep uniform." Eclipse looked me in the eyes, "What're you gonna do though?" "You realize that was a good opportunity for a pun wasted." "Be serious." "Can my head stop hurting before I see them?" "Of course. Don't stay in here too long." She said leaving. I hit that floor really hard, there is definitely going to be a bruise there. Things happened way too fast for my liking but I could've handled that better. They said that they didn't blame me for distancing myself but all of us could have made an effort all this time to talk to each other a little. Maybe I wouldn't be the Poltergeist if we did but who knows. I just noticed something that might be an issue, "You could have at least left me some dry clothes!" "So are you going to just stand there or are you gonna say something?" Eclipse asks from the kitchen table. "If I stand here I'll eventually think of something to say and I feel weird without a hoodie." I answer from the doorway. "You always where a hoodie when you want to hide from others but you're not hiding from us Firesprout." Smoke Interjected, "Not anymore that is." "Well when you put it that way I'll happily sit and act like these past few years never happened." I say sarcastically and sit between Blast and Eclipse, "Hey remember that time I was in the hospital and only my family visited? Good times guys. Good times." "The amount of sarcasm in those words was lethal." Blast mumbled looking at Smoke and Striker. "Well what do you expect Furnace? You all avoided me like I had a plague, I was fine when Eclipse went to the same school but when High School started and she went to Crystal Prep. Well, I didn't have anybody to talk with and my social skills were basically dead. You guys could have made an attempt to interact but you didn't." "You're not wrong Sprout it's just that, well," Striker trailed off. Smoke stated while looking at the ceiling, "We didn't know how you would react. The fact you and Gem beat the ever living shit out of each other was a complete surprise to everyone considering you were never the violent type. I'll be honest we thought you'd try and fight us as well so we just let you be." "I see, you were scared of me the whole time." I mumbled and put my head on the table. Eclipse slammed her fist on the table, "The reason you guys avoided my brother was because you thought he'd lash out at you?! Do you realize how badly none of you being around affected him? He was prescribed anti-depressants until his doctor decided he was stable enough over the summer without them." "We had no idea Eclipse." Smoke interjected. Eclipse cried, "Of course not! You we scared to approach him and he thought you all hated him. You guys were his greatest friends and you just avoided him and let him distance himself!" "I think they get the idea Eclipse." I say lifting my head up, "Well, what now guys?" "We're sorry Firesprout, we just didn't know what to do. We didn't want to pick a side and we did try to talk to you a few times but you avoided us as well, care to explain that?" Smoke asked. Eclipse looked at me, "You never said they tried to talk to you." "They did but I was afraid of what they'd say. I don't think I could have handled them saying anything negative at that point in time so I avoided them." Eclipse sighed, "If you all avoid each other how are things supposed to be fixed?" "It won't." I admit. "Exactly and I think we all want to be friends again." Striker added. "Will it be the same though?" I ask everyone and there is a few minutes of silence as everyone gathers their thoughts. "It might not be the same for a while but we can salvage this shit show of a friendship we have and I for one think we should hurry up and fix this cause I have to be at the forge in 37 minutes." Blast added looking at his phone standing up, "So are we friends or not?" "Of course but that sounded a bit heartless Blast Furnace." Smoke said standing and adjusting his glasses. "Hell yes we are!" Striker yelled standing. "Definitely." My sister added getting up and poking my head, "Come on you." "Fine," I sigh and stand, "Well now I'm standing. Happy? We're all standing now. Bunch of jackasses, standing in a circle." "But we're a bunch of jackasses that are all friends, right?" Striker asked looking at me with a grin. "Yeah I suppose so." I say crossing my arms. "A bit sad this took five years." Smoke added. "Shut up Smoke, You're ruining it!" Eclipse yelled. "Sorry!" Smoke cried. "So what're we gonna do at school?" I ask, "With me being the Poltergeist and all. Also the school is pretty divided in groups like Striker and the soccer team or Smoke and the nerds. Furnace I'm not exactly sure if you really fit in a group considering you can pretty much befriend anyone." "What can I say? People like the fro." Blast commented putting a hand up to his Afro, "We can still talk and hang out with them but you do take priority since we have a longer history. Speaking of where do you eat lunch? Never see you in the cafeteria." "School roof, it's nice up there and if there is bad weather the school has rooms that aren't really used." "Well I guess I have a new place to go for lunch tomorrow and as much as I would love to stay longer but," Smoke said preparing to leave, "I have homework to do and don't want to bore anyone with it." "Actually Smoke there is something I want to ask you." I mumble and scratch the back of my head. "Well speak up. What is it?" "Can you help me with homework? I'm kinda falling behind in two classes and can use your smarts." "I'd be happy to help Firesprout," Smoke smiled and added, "What kind of friend would I be if I didn't help?" "I am SO happy right now!" Eclipse interrupted and hugged the two of us, "Our group of gremlins is coming together again! Striker are you gonna stay? You probably need help with homework as well." Striker chuckled a bit and said, "Fake laugh. Hiding hurt feelings."