//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1: Doubts 
// Story: Nobody 
// by Blazer 
//------------------------------//

"Agh! Damn!" 

I pulled my hand back, cursing as a small chunk of hot broccoli landed on top of it. My eyes scanned the sprouts, my head bobbing in approval. "Hm. Looks done." After one last application of garlic salt, I emptied the pan's contents into a ceramic bowl. "Alright, dinner's ready. Get it before I eat it all," 

Grabbing a paper plate from the shelf in the garage, I took a seat at the table, eagerly spooning a generous serving onto it. Adding two scoops of rice from the rice cooker, I tucked into the meager meal. 

Bryan took a seat next to me, groaning in disappointment. "Really? Just cooked broccoli and rice?" 

"S'matter with that? Nothing else in this house anyways; mom threw out all the chicken," I mumbled through a mouthful of rice.

"True that. Why is it that she chose such a bad time to go vegan?" 

"Wouldn'tve mattered if it was the summer anyways; it would've sucked either way."

"Yeah, yeah. Just the deal with leftovers always being nothing but veggies every day." 

"You know the saying. Mom going on a diet means the entire family's going on a diet."

Another few moments of furious eating passed before our mom sat down at the table. "Thanks for making dinner, Jay. Looks good." 

"It's my week," I replied. 

She helped herself to a couple spoonfuls of broccoli. "Bryan told me about the good news."

"The what?"

"Your job interview."

"Oh. Well, they didn't tell me about a time, yet, so I don't even know if it's still going."

"Well, at least you heard from them."

"Yep."

"So, how're your grades holding up?" 

"Huh?" I pretended not to hear her in a futile attempt to delay the inevitable. 

"Your grades. You picked up your report card from the post office today, didn't you?"

"Er... Yeah. I did."

"Well? How do they look?"

I sighed. "Good enough."

My mom's eyes narrowed. "Jay. C'mon. I need to know."

"Two C's! I got two C's in Math and Anatomy."

"Two C's? Jay, you can't be serious."

"Do I look like I'm joking?" I growled. 

My mom put down her fork. "Jay, have you talked to your teachers about what's going on?" 

"...No."

"Well you should-"

"I know."

"Then why haven't you?"

"I've just... Been a bit busy."

I pushed my rice around with my fork, glancing at my mom. She frowned before going back to her food. "Well, you know what you need to do. And you know what this means."

"Yeah. No electronics until I can bring it back up. Got it."

"It means no homecoming this Saturday."

"What?!"

"That's what it means, Jay."

I gripped my fork tighter. My mind raced back and forth, wondering if I should be mad at myself for having let my grades slip so much or at my mom for pulling this bullshit on me. "Mom. This is my last homecoming game," I began. "You can't just take it away from me like this!" 

"I can. And I will. Because I know you'll need those." She pointed to the Prius keys on the key rack. 

I ground my teeth. "Fine. You win."

A few moments of silent eating passed before my mom ventured another question. "So, got any plans this week? I need to know just in case you need the car again."

I swallowed the broccoli sprout I was eating, taking a moment to glower at him before speaking. "Friday night. Jen and I are going to the Melting Pot at about 9 o'Clock."

"Melting pot?"

"Fondue place."

"Isn't that pricey?"

"Well, yeah. It's coming out of my bank account."

My mom groaned. "Jay, you can't keep taking out of your bank account."

I glared daggers at her before tapping my chin thoughtfully. "Well, I haven't seen her in a month. I thought I should... y'know, make it special."

Mom took a sip of water. "Okay. Whatever you say. Just make sure you know that it's not an unlimited supply of money. Gotta put some of it on a CD and set it aside. Interest rates may be low right now, but you never know what could change in a year."

I nodded, waving a hand dismissively. "Yep. I know."

I missed a scowl crossing my mom's face as she returned to her meal. "Just some food for thought, Jay."

I shook my head, finishing the last of the rice. "How come you're letting me take Jen out for a date, but you're not letting me play in the homecoming game?"

"I didn't want to damage your relationship with Jen; she's a nice girl. Wouldn't want you to lose her." 

I couldn't help a smile. At least there was that.





I rubbed my eyes furiously. I should probably turn on the lights; it's pretty dark outside now. I flipped the switch, rubbing my eyes again. Light splashed over the plain white walls of my bedroom, making the light from the computer screen easier on my eyes. I didn't know what I hated more at this point. My dad, homework or college applications. 

The faint buzzing of my cell phone caught my attention. Snatching it off of the bed, I flipped it open, holding it to my ear. "Yello? Jay here."

"Hi, Jay Akamatsu?"

"Yep. Who am I speaking to?"

"This is Adam Paulson from Toys R' Us. Manager of the location on Greenback."

My brows shot up. "O-oh! Hi! How are you?"

"I'm doing well, thank you. Just wanted to ask if you're free tomorrow at around 8 o'clock?"

"Er... Yeah! Yeah. I'm free."

"Ah, excellent! In that case, I'd like to interview you tomorrow. Get to know you a little better."

"Great! I'll be looking forward to it, then!"

"Same here; see you tomorrow!"

"Yes, sir! See you tomorrow."

I flipped the phone closed, feeling slightly elated. And then my stomach sank. My date was tomorrow at nine. 

Shit.





My cavernous yawn echoed throughout the empty gym, save for the other two seniors stretching in the corner. The one nearest to me gave me a nod. "Sup, sleeping beauty?"

"Sup, jackwagon."

"Nothing yet. It's still the morning." 

Chuckling to myself, I glanced around the gym. "Where's the coach?"

"In the suites." He nodded to the small PE office towards the rear of the gym. We called it the "suites" because there was a small window that allowed the occupants to look into the gym, and vice versa. 

"He's listening to the results from the Knicks game the other day." 

"Guy loves his team, huh?" I joined my teammates in the stretching, starting off with my calves. 

"Talk about passion for the sport." 

I grinned. "That's why we're all here at 6AM, right?"

The fellow senior stood up off of the wall. "Damn straight." 

I pushed myself off of the wall, moving to the ball cart. I frowned. "I'm..." I stopped. I wasn't going to just let this homecoming game slip away. It'd be my last; surely I'd play more in college, but it would be the last time playing with the teammates I've suffered with for the past four years. 

Before I could think of my decision, an insidious plot popped into my head. "I'm... I'm in need of a ride on Friday. Parents need the car for a date night." 

The junior still stretching nodded. "Yeah; sure. I can pick you up." 

I released a breath I didn't realize I had been holding. "Thanks."

A long silence passed before the senior stopped me again. "So, how are things going with Jen? Heard you haven't seen each other in a month." 

"Who told you that?"

"This is a big school, but news travels fast. That's Country Day for you."

I groaned. "It's nothing. We were a bit angry at each other after our last date."

"I also heard that 'date' never happened."

"...Okay, so I was five minutes late."

"Well, a little bird told me it was thirty."

"...It was Bryan, wasn't it?"

"What're you talking about?"

"Y'know he's full of shit, right?"

"Multiple sources confirm that he wasn't lying." 

"What sources?"

"Tom, Ian, Gordon..."

"Fuck me."

"No thanks. I'm good."

I couldn't help a laugh as I continued to the ball cart. "Dammit; can't stay mad at you, can I, Alex?"

Alex waved his hand dismissively. "Anyways, so you haven't talked to her in a month, and all of a sudden, you set up a date?"

I took one of the balls, taking a couple of experimental dribbles. "Well, I just felt... bad."

"Took you long enough to feel that way, dude." Alex plucked an outdoor ball from the basket, dribbled it twice before throwing it back. "Meh. Flat."

"Thanks, Captain Hindsight." I mumbled dejectedly. 

"Whoa. Hey. Sorry; didn't mean to put you down." Alex apologized. 

"Yeah. Whatever. Asshole." 

"Hey, hey. Dude, chill. I said I was sorry." 

I sighed. "Yeah. It's just that I really want to make it up to her, and I've just been really busy lately with the start of the season." 

"Jay, why are you worried? You're a natural at this stuff. It helps to take a day off and take it easy. Make sure all your bases are covered." His eyebrows bounced. "Get to second base with a certain somebody."

I raised a brow. "Dude. That's creepy."

He chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. None of my business. Just find a way to balance out your time; you can't take people as special as Jen for granted."

My grip on the basketball tightened. "I know."

Alex shrugged, selecting another outdoor ball. "Just saying." 

I scowled, turning away. I freaking know. Prick. My eyes fell on the coach limping through the door. "Get warmed up. We'll start with a shooting drill until the rest get here." 

A collective groan echoed around the gym.





Twilight nearly leapt out of her skin when a certain pink pony burst through the door. "Twilight!"

"Wha?! Goddess above, Pinkie!"

"Twilight, I just got a doozie!" 

"Doozie?" Twilight frowned. "What do you think it is? Monster? Somepony in trouble?"

The party pony shrugged. "I dunno. Just thought you should know! Spike told me that you were going to do some kind of transpor-teleportation-thing-a-mabobber." 

Twilight's eyes narrowed. "Did he put you up to this?"

"Put me up to what, Twi?"

"To this! Trying to warn me against using long-range teleport!"

"Hahaha! Silly Twilight! Trix are for kids!"

"What? Trixie...?"

"See ya, Twilight!" The pink pony trotted out the door, humming a familiar tune. Twilight sighed, returning to her books. She frowned. Now that she thought about it, the more a foreboding feeling built in her gut. And not a good one. Although she had no idea if Pinkie was really telling the truth or not, it was still that shadow of a doubt that tugged at the back of her mind. Maybe she shouldn't do this after all...

The unicorn shook her head. No! Why should I be worried? It's just one teleportation spell, just like the rest I've executed! According to my texts from Starswirl the Bearded, this is nothing out of the ordinary! Just a few extra tidbits that would be used to amplify the magical energy, but nothing different! There's nothing for me to be afraid of! Twilight puffed out her chest subconsciously. She wasn't going to get worked up over something completely insignificant. It was just a long-range teleportation spell... right?





I straightened my tie, glancing at my reflection. Honestly, I sort of liked the look. I didn't know why my mom always said I looked "cute", but I certainly looked sharp. With a red dress shirt and a black tie, I cut a pretty impressive look. Kinda reminded me of some sort of Devil's Advocate, which wasn't what I was aiming for in my interview, but it didn't matter. This way, I wouldn't have to change for my date. 

Moving away from the mirror, I headed for the door. I had an hour-and-a-half to get through my interview, and another thirty minutes to get to the Melting Pot. Shouldn't be a problem...

...Right?