//------------------------------//
// "You don't need it." 
// Story: Paranoid Passion 
// by D4RTH4NN3 
//------------------------------//

I ran down the sidewalk, mind racing. Thoughts poured into my brain, making it hard to focus. "Son of a bitch, if I'm late again I swear to Celestia! Ms. Cherilee is gonna be so pissed at me, as if she doesn't have enough reasons already." I looked up into the sky and saw the sun rising, painting the sky with glorious hues of yellow and red. Seeing this would normally fill me with joy, but I was too stressed to feel anything other than panic. I ran past houses, cutting through yards, stepping in puddles, skin freezing in the autumn weather. "Damn, they didn't have to take my backpack this time." I thought, refering to how Featherweight and his goons brutally beat me and then made off with my stuff. I might have lost my notes, but i have a spare binder and notebook in my locker. "At least this time they didn't give me the 'specialty'. Those jerks actually gave their form of punishment a name, how cliche." I looked ahead and saw the school. My school goes from grades 6th to 12th. I'm in 9th, same as Scootaloo. Featherweight is in 10th, along with Snips and Snails. Ms. Cherilee teaches history, math, and english. Me and Scoots are both in her class together. My science teacher is Orange Glow, and Rainbow Dash (we all call her Dash) is the coach. Gym is Scoots favorite class. I swear, sometimes I think she's in love with the coach. History is my favorite subject, we're learning about how the Celestia family came into power. Celestia the Fifth is our queen now, along with her sister Luna the Fifth. Celestia the First Conquered King Sombra 450 years ago and became the ruler of Equestria as it is today. Many kingdoms popped up across the land later on as people became independent, but the Celestia family is still the ruler of all Equestria. 

I ran to the front door of the school and rushed inside. "Thank Celestia for air conditioning." I thought, embracing the heat like a convict embraces parole. I walked past the office and made my way upstairs. I walked into the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror. I washed my face, cleaning the dirt and blood, then glanced through the mirror at my shirt. It's stained with mud and blood and puke. "Oh well," I think. "Not much I can do there." I exited the bathroom and headed down the hall towards my locker. I unlocked it and took my binder out from it, turned around and closed it behind me. I walk to my classroom and reach for the door and hesitate for a second, then shrug and open the door. 
"Uh, hey Ms. Cherilee. Sorry I'm late...again." I said pathetically.
"Sorry won't cut it this time Turner, this is the 5th time this month. Care to explain?"
"I uh, tripped." I said, looking down in embarrassment.
"Well that explains why you look like such a mess, but then again, you always look like a mess. Now take your seat and quit wasting our time!" She exclaimed. I headed over to my desk. I could hear everyone whispering about me. 
"Look at him. He must have gotten beat up again. What a loser. Late again? Probably jerking off at home like a perv." I hunched forward in shame, covering my head. I felt my phone vibrate through my pocket so I took it out and checked to see who was messaging me. It was from Scootaloo. It said: 'What happened!?! You look like shit!' I looked up and saw her staring at me intently. I shook my head and mouthed 'later'. She rolled her eyes and smiled. I turned my head and listened to Ms. Cherilee, taking notes as she spoke.

"And that's where Chrysalis comes into play. She has been trying to get our absolute hereditary monarchy to become an elective monarchy. She plans on becoming elected as queen and helping workers, middle, and upper class citizens. While Celestia and Luna mainly support upper class citizens, unlike the communist government in the Crystal Kingdom governed by Princess Cadence and Prince Armor, Chrysalis plans on cutting off all taxes to the lower class, effectively eradicating it so that everyone is upper class. She also plans on re-establishing trade with the Crystal Kingdom, ending the 5 year embargo. Chrysalis fully agrees with Princess Cadences decision to equally distribute money in her kingdom, ridding of classes. What is your opinion class?" I raised my hand. "Jake, we already know your opinion on this subject." She stated.
"But hear me out, Chrysalis could really help change this country. She would make such a difference and help out the poor. Plus, I agree with re-establishing trade with the Crystal Kingdom. Ever since Princess Cadence decided to make their government a communist government, Queen Celestia and Queen Luna shut off trade with their kingdom and it's really caused them to suffer. Besides, the Celestia family has been in power for too long, it's time for a new form of government to come into play!" I shouted proudly 
"Traitor!" Someone shouted from the back. Everyone laughed. 
"Sounds like you want an overthrow of the government, or as you've previously stated, a 'peaceful revolution'." Ms. Cherilee said mockingly.
"Yeah, that'd help a lot of people." I stated
"People such as yourself?" She asked.
"Uh, yea." I mumbled.
"Very well Jake, if that's what you believe will help." She rolled her eyes. "Ok class, next subject." She turned and erased the board. "Hey, you should get up and curse her out! Call her a slut. Yeah, screw this shit Jake, just leave."
"No," I whispered, "I can't do that." "You're such a pussy. Look at her, I bet she fucks her students." I laughed out loud. Ms. Cherilee was probably the hottest teacher I know, but thinking of her fucking her students was the funniest thing you'd ever thought of. 
"Do you find post-modernism funny Jake?" Ms. Cherilee asked, annoyed at my outbreak.
"Uh, sorry, It's just the voices." I said sheepishly.
"Again? Look I know you have a condition, but can't you keep it under control, or did you forget your meds?" That crossed the line. I got up, tears in my eyes, fists clenched, and left the room. "Son of a bitch, why'd she have to say that?" I thought angrily. I heard the door open, then close behind me.
"Hey, wait up!" I turned around and saw Scootaloo walking towards me.
"Go back, you're gonna get in trouble." I said.
"Screw that bitch, I want to be with you." She said, smiling. 
"Don't listen to her, she's with them. She's a traitor, a liar, don't listen!" The voices were screaming in my head. "Get out of my head, get out of my head, get out get out!" I shouted repetitively. I began pacing back and forth, the voices overwhelming my thoughts. I twitched uncontrollably, and yet Scootaloo stayed. When I yelled at nothing, she stayed. When I called her a bitch, she stayed. When i began sobbing uncontrollably, she stayed. And when I began to calm down, she walked towards me, hugged me, kissed my cheek, and held me. The voices began to fade, and soon it was just me and Scootaloo. "God I love you." I said, and then immediately regretted it. "Shit sorry, way to soon, WAY to soon! Sorry!"
"Jake relax!" Scoots said, gently shaking me.
"Well we've only been dating for 2 days and I just said I love you."
"Yes, but we've known each other for 5 years." She replied.
"But we've mainly only hung out at school or the mall, but never at each others houses, hell I've never even met your folks and you don't want to meet my mom and-" I said, rambling on.
"Relax," She said, interrupting me. "I love you too." I instantly relaxed, filled with happiness. "Speaking of my folks, wanna meet them today?"
"I can't, i gotta watch over my mum, sorry." I answered sadly.
"Oh, maybe tomorrow then?" She asked hopefully
"If my moms not stone cold drunk." We both laughed and looked at each other. I leaned in to kiss her, and then the bell went off startling me. Kids poured into the halls, surrounding us. "Walk me to class?" I asked. "Sure." She replied, and she reached down and grabbed my hand.

"Oh, duh, I just remembered me and the other cutie-mark-crusaders are gonna be thinking of ways to get our cutie marks today, so we couldn't hang out anyway." She said, looking relieved.
"Ok, what the FUCK is a cutie-mark?" I asked, puzzled.
"It's just a code-name we have for our talents. We try to find one thing that we're really good at, you know, for like hobbies or careers." She answered.
"And what did you mean by I had to be a 'filly' to join?" I asked, intrigued.
"Oh, that's an inside joke me and Apple Bloom made up. A filly is a young female horse, so we think of ourselves as fillies. It's sorta a silly thing now that I think about it." 
"That explains SO much. Oh look, we're here." I said as we arrived Orange Glow's classroom. Orange Glow is probably the creepiest teacher I've ever met. He has a deep voice and has bags under his eyes as though he doesn't get enough sleep. He looks like a serial killer. "Allright, bye." I leaned and kissed her on the cheek and headed into class. I dozed off through most of his class and decided to skip gym. Scootaloo would wonder where I was, so I made a mental note to send her a text explaining where I was. I decided to walk home since I was skipping gym, that way i wouldn't cross paths with Featherweight. I walked home slowly, enjoying the sun on my skin. A breeze rolled in and I shivered. I kept walking until I reached my apartment complex. I opened the door and a waft of smoke flew through the opening, "Oh no, I thought mom quit smoking." I said with a grimace. I hate the smell of cigarettes. I entered the room and closed the door behind me. I saw my mom in the kitchen, bending over, searching through the cabinets, muttering to herself. She had a bottle of jack in her hand and she picked up a Tupperware container and placed it on the counter. She turned around and saw me. "Oh hey sweetie, you're home early."
"yeah, school let out early." I lied. "Hey why are you smoking, I thought you quit?" She took the cigarette out of her mouth and walked over to the sink. She turned on the water and placed the cig under the water, extinguishing it. "Sorry, I was depressed." She said, turning off the water and then throwing the butt in the trash. She had a sort of glazed look in her eyes, and I could tell she'd been drinking for awhile. She hiccuped and took a swig from her bottle. I walked over to the cabinet to take my afternoon meds, but when I looked through the medicine bottles, I couldn't find mine. "Hey mom, where are my pills?" I asked, getting worried. I needed those pills, otherwise i would start seeing things. They are anti-psychosis pills that help with the voices and seeing things. I haven't seen things in a long time, thanks to the meds.
"Oh those, I threw those away. You don't really need them. Besides, I don't trust the doctor that prescribed them." She slurred.
"Mom, you're drunk again. You know I need those pills to help me!" I yelled.
"Don't yell at me! You don't need those pills, you'll do fine without them. They are a waste of money. And I'm not dr-drunk." She hiccuped and took a big gulp from her bottle, downing the glass. I clenched my fist in anger and left to my room. I grabbed my phone and dialed the number of my psychiatrist. "Hello, this is Nurse Redheart. The Doctor is currently unavailable right now, please call back later. Goodbye." "Shit, voicemail. I was hoping to order a refill of my prescription." I said after hanging up. I placed my head in my hands and sighed. I laid back on my bed and fell asleep.

I woke up 2 hours later and looked around my room. I saw a man standing in the corner, all dressed in white. He had red sunglasses on, a purple tie, and green shoes. He looked in my direction and took a step towards me. "I'm just seeing things. He's not real." I thought. I blinked, and he was gone. "Jake, Jake, Jake." The voices whispered. This could only get worse. I stepped out of my room and saw my mom sitting on the coach, smoking a cig. There was a bottle of ciroc on the table in front of her. She took a huge inhale and coughed. She then took a huge gulp of the vodka, drinking the whole bottle. "Honey, get me some more vodka. Pl-please. I need another dr-drink." She stuttered. I went over to the fridge and pulled out some apple cider and vodka. I grabbed a up from the cabinet and mixed the two drinks. "Hey, pour the glass on top of her. Grab her wallet and spend all her cash." I just ignored the voice and handed my mom the glass. "You know, I've been thinking. I realized why your father left us." She said, taking a drink from the glass. She got up and wobbled, grabbing the couch for support, and looked at me with anger in her eyes. "He left because of you. He never wanted a kid and you just had to show up, didn't you? It's all your fault you ass." Mom only cusses when she talks about dad. "I hate you. You're a family wrecker. You destroyed my love life you shit!" She threw the glass at me then grabbed me and pushed the cigarette on my arm. It burned like nothing I've ever felt. I screamed and pushed her off of me. I ran out the door, and I could hear her shouting behind me, yelling insults and obscenities. I started crying and tripped, tears clouding my vision. I took the damp part of my shirt, damp from the vodka in the glass she threw at me, and patted my burn with it. It was red and inflamed and the alcohol made it sting, but it cooled off a bit. I sat in the dirt crying, holding my shirt on my burn, and when I looked up, I saw the man in white. He frowned and held a hammer in his hand. He took of his shades and I saw that he had no eyes, just two black holes. He opened his mouth and spoke. "Go back, kill her. Take this, or better yet, kill yourself. Freak" I looked to my left and saw a black figure. It looked like a shadow and it moved swiftly. It spoke to me, sounding as if it was in my head. "You're a failure, a loser. Everyone hates you. Kill yourself." I looked to my right and saw another figure. It spoke as well. "Everyone's against you, they are all traitors. Don't listen don't listen! Run, hide!" I got up and turned around, ready to run, but when I did, three more figures were standing in front of me. The one in the middle looked just like my father from the pictures my mom has of him. HE screamed and said: "You're a bastard, I hate you!" I yelled, fear and hysteria taking control of me. Darkness began to surround me and my heart felt like it was going 100 miles a minute. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. I went through the contacts and found Scoots name and i sent her a text, 'HELP ME!!!' My eyes rolled in my head and darkness enveloped me like a blanket and I fell, unconscious.