Author's Note

Aquí guey, take it or leave it ;)

Chapter Six: Twilight Zone

Chapter Six: Twilight Zone

Monday, woop woop. Fun.

No, Mondays suck. Especially for someone like you, who doesn’t like to rise early. You nearly smashed you alarm clock to bits when hitting the off button this morning. You’re sure a turtle could’ve gotten ready for school faster than you did as well. How the hell aren’t you running late? You were currently on your way to school, driving through town with a thermos of coffee in hand. Taking a sip, you let the hot, black fluid run down your throat. Smacking your lips and giving a satisfied “ah”, you grew one baby step closer to being something close to being awake. You turned the radio up a bit, that ought to do the trick. Maybe some early heavy metal will shake your brain to life. Aw what the hell, of course it will.

Tapping your steering wheel and lightly head banging, you continued to drive down the streets of Canterlot. Stopping at a red light, you took another sip of your coffee. Your Nonny senses kicked in and you felt as if you were being watched. Looking to your left you found your observer. It was that Twilight chick from your first period, watching you carry out your morning transportation routine. You locked eyes with her, getting a blush from her and looking forward, avoiding your gaze.

You chuckled. “Weirdo.”

The light turned green and you hit the gas, continuing your drive to school.

You got to your first period and as usual, you saw Twilight at the table the two of you shared. The first day of school was the only day you had arrived earlier than she did. That still surprises you to this day. You may only have her in one class, but a nerd like her should never get beaten to class by someone like you. Shit, by anyone really. Unless there’s a secret race of super nerds you don’t know about.

You threw your bag on the ground next to your chair and took a seat. You took a few moments to sit on your phone before the bell rang. When it did, your teacher stood up from his desk and began the lesson.

“Goodmorning class!” He said enthusiastically.

You remained silent as the class gave a bland “goodmorning” back, save for Twilight who was pretty energetic.

“I am happy to announce that today will be your first class project!” He said, pointing to the board. He then went on to explain what your assignment was, a physical model of any chemical reaction.

“Sounds simple enough.” You thought.

“However, I’d like the class to go outside of the box.” Your teacher said. “It cannot be baking soda and vinegar, it’s too common.”

Fuck.

“And, the model must have some creativity to it, as well as a piece of paper, trifold, or something of that sort explaining what happened during the reaction. You will be partnered up with the person next to you. This will be due one week from now. You may get to work.”

Phew. Why phew? Because Twilight is your partner, duh! This should be an easy grade.

The classroom started to fill with the sound of chatter, signaling that it was time to work. You turned to Twilight, who was already typing on her laptop.

“What do you have in mind?” You asked.

“Well I was thinking we could take some sodium and put it in water!” Replied Twilight.

“Like salt?”

“No, silly. That’s sodium chloride. Sodium by itself is a metal, which can react with water in its pure form when it comes into contact.”

“Which does what?” You asked.

“It creates a flame, it’s quite spectacular actually.”

“Fun. How’s it gonna look creative?”

“Still figuring that out, I’m thinking maybe dropping a ball of sodium into a model volcano, making it literally erupt into flames!”

“Huh. That could work.”

“We clearly don’t have the materials for this here, so how about you meet me at my place after school so we can work on it? I’ll buy everything we need.”

“I have practice after school, but sure. I’ll be there. Where do you live?”

“Here,” Twilight said, grabbing your hand. She wrote her number on your palm.

“I asked for your address, not your number.” You said flatly.

“I know, but it’s always nice to be able to communicate when we aren’t in each other’s presence. Besides, I can just text it to you!”

“Fair enough.” You said with a shrug. “Okay, nerd, show me the game plan you have in mind.”

“W-what?” Twilight asked, looking a bit shocked.

“Relax, I’m messing with you.” You said with a smile. “Being smart is a good thing, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

Twilight smiled back. There was a silence between the two of you for a moment. You happened to not like that very much.

“Hey, let’s not waste time, let’s get a blueprint going or something.” You said, breaking the silence.

“Oh, right!” Said Twilight, whipping out a sketchbook. “Well, here’s how I was thinking we could go about it.”

***

The rest of your day went as usual. Sitting in the back of classes not talking, eating lunch in the car, Flash and his goons being pissed at you for taking Flash’s spot at fullback. The usual. You stepped out of the school, hair still damp from your shower. You shivered slightly at the wind hitting you. Walking to your car, you remembered your project with Twilight. Fuck, you really needed a nap. You considered going home and just ditching for today, but you’d feel like a complete jackass if you did that. You’d be pissed if you had to do all the work for something by yourself, so you couldn’t do that to Twilight.

You got to your car and climbed inside, pulling out your phone to text Twilight. Thankfully you added her number earlier, because your palm no longer had it written on there.

Hey it’s Anon, I just got done with practice. Give me your address and I’ll make my way over there.

You barely set your phone down before you got a reply.

Hey, how’d it go? I’ll have everything ready by the time you get here!

You sighed upon reading when she asked how it went. Already texting you like she knew you.

“Get the dick out of your ass, she’s being nice.” Said the angel version of you on your shoulder.

“Can it, Angel Non!” Shouted the Devil Anon on your other shoulder. “He’s a badass, too cool for a nerd like her, she probably doesn’t understand a thing about football!”

“Do you have any idea how retarded you made me sound?” You asked Devil Non. “I’m a badass? Too cool for her?”

“Oh come on, I’m on your side here!” Cried Devil Non.

“Nah man, just for that, I’m gonna side with Angel Non on this one.”

“Ha!” Said Angel Non as he pointed a finger at his nemesis.

“Now both of you get the fuck outta here before I get pissed.” You said.

“Thanks for doing the right thing.” Said Angel Non as he disappeared.

“Fuck you, man.” Said Devil Non as he did the same.

You shook your head as you replied to the text.

It went great, thanks. Still need the address tho lmao

That’s as nice as Anon gets for now.

Oh, right. Here you go, see you in a few!

She sent an attachment with her address in it, which you put in your GPS. You started your car and pulled out of the school parking lot.

The drive only took you a few minutes, as for Twilight’s house wasn’t very far from the school. Rounding the block that led to her street, you took a look around the neighborhood. It was an upper middle class type of area, nice houses with pricey but not too pricey cars.

“Huh, nice place.” You said to yourself.

“You have arrived at your destination.” Said the GPS voice in your phone.

Looking to your right, you saw that you were outside of a purple house with hints of dark blue. How funny. Hell, even her car was purple. Some weak ass Fiat 500. You grabbed your bag from the passenger seat and stepped out of your car, shutting the door and locking it. You walked up the driveway towards the front door. Stepping up the porch steps and reaching the dark blue door, you gave it a knock.

“Coming!” You heard from the other side. After a few moments of waiting, you heard the sound of the door being unlocked. When it opened, you were greeted by the familiar face of a nerd you know. “Hi! Glad you could make it!”

“I’d feel like a douche if I let you do all the work, I know I’d be pissed if I had to.” You replied with a shrug.

“Oh, that’s okay. I wouldn’t mind, I enjoy working!”

“If you say so. You gonna let me in or what?”

“Oh, right! Please, come in.” Twilight stepped aside, letting you pass by. You took a look around you, taking in the sight of the nice interior. Shit, this is better than you’ve ever been in before. Glass chandelier from the ceiling, leather furniture, expensive tech, you name it. And that was only in the living room for fuck’s sake. There’s still more of this house you haven’t seen. You took off your boots and stepped onto the carpet.

“Looks like your parents are taking good care of ya.” You said with a chuckle.

“I live here by myself, actually.”

You’ve gotta be kidding.

“You’re joking, right?” You asked, turning around to face her.

“Well, I have a dog but that’s it.” Twilight giggled.

“Did you win the fuckin’ lottery or something?”

“Hehe, nope!”

“Give me your secrets, Einstein.”

“Ohhh, I’m afraid a magician never reveals her secrets!”

“Very funny.” You said with a chuckle. “Come on, I ain’t got all day. Let’s get to work.”

Twilight nodded, leading you upstairs. She took you to her bedroom, where you met her dog, Spike. He seemed like a chill little fucker, normally the smaller dogs will just sit and bark. Maybe even bite your ankles at the very most. But this dog, he just looked at you and went back to sleep. Can’t say you were complaining. Scattered across the floor were various materials, all for the project.

“Huh, it’s all here.” You said, looking over everything.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?” Asked Twilight in confusion.

“I don’t think normal people have sodium laying around the house.” You said, picking up the shiny metal.

“Looks like I’m not normal then!”

“I see that.” You said, putting down the metal. “What’s the plan?”

“Well, all that needs to be done is make the model. I was thinking I could make the base and you could make the volcano.”

“Works for me.” You sat down on the floor, trying to think of a good start. There was paper mâché and sheets of newspaper, so you figured that would work. Twilight took a seat across from you. “Uh, are you sure it’s a good idea to have paper mâché all over your floor when it’s carpet?” You asked.

“Oh, here.” Twilight said, reaching behind her and grabbing a large tray. “Use this, thanks for mentioning it.”

The two of you began to go to work, you used cardboard and newspaper to make your volcano. It was relatively easy, but you can’t say you enjoyed the cold liquid covering your hands. It was nearly silent the entire time the two of you worked, which was also nice. That’s something you could say you enjoyed about her, she worked hard and stayed quiet in focus.

As you kept constructing your model, Twilight broke the silence.

“Hey, I’m sorry about this morning.” She said sheepishly.

“What do you mean?” You asked, not taking your eyes off the volcano.

“About staring at you at the traffic light. I know it was weird.”

“Oh, that. Yeah, I forgot about that already. No big deal.”

“Oh, that’s good. Thanks for not pestering me about it as well.”

“No prob.”

“I just thought it was kinda interesting to see you outside of school, like you were head banging to that awful music!” She said with a giggle.

“Okay hey hey hey, Metal is not awful!” You said with a chuckle. “It’s the best this for your ears on this planet. Besides, it’s a great way to wake up.”

“Hehe, if you say so. I kinda took you as the type that listens to rap like most people.”

“Why’s that?”

“Well, I don’t really know much about you. You aren’t exactly the most talkative person I know.”

“Sometimes actions are preferable over words. Not that I act much.”

“Any reason you think that way.”

“Are you a cop or something?” You asked with a laugh. “You’re asking a lot of questions.”

“What? No! I just... wanna get to know you better, that’s all.” Twilight said, beginning to blush.

“Okay okay, just making sure. I don’t have anyone that’s real close around here, I’m not very trusting.”

“Aw, why not? Everyone needs close friends.”

“Well, not exactly. I can get by just fine on my own.”

“What makes you say that?”

You felt a slight urge to tell her about your past, but you resisted it. You not knowing her well enough weighed out your small amount of comfort you had with Twilight. She was nice, but nerds tend to be snitches. She gave off a teacher’s pet vibe as well, so you held off on any beans spilling on who you were.

“Let’s just say I’ve been around. I know how to carry my weight.”

Twilight played with her fingers and looked at the floor, she was clearly thinking of something. You payed attention to her and worked on the volcano simultaneously. After a moment or two, she spoke up.

“Can you teach me to be like you?” She blurted out. That question caught you slightly off guard. Looks like you weren’t prepared for anything after all. You looked up at Twilight with a confused look.

“Huh?”

“I wanna know how to be as confident and mentally strong as you are. I’m not exactly the best when it comes to that, especially since I’m new around here.”

You paused for a moment. Was she really asking you this? It was kinda sad to hear someone your age ask such a stupid question. You pondered on the question for a moment. Do you really wanna help someone you barely know like that? Not to be narcissistic, but the world needs more people like you in it anyway.

“I don’t see why not.” You said, putting a wet piece of paper on the volcano mold.

“Really?!” Asked Twilight excitedly.

“That’s what I said.”

“Oh thank you thank you!” She reaches over to hug you, in which you held out your arms in defense.

“Whoa whoa, no touching.” You said.

“Oh, sorry.” Sorry said, backing away. Her cheeks began to heat up again.

“It’s chill, I’m just not very touchy. Trust issues.”

“You don’t trust me?”

“Well not to be rude or anything, but I don’t know you very well. It’s best not to trust anyone right off the bat for your own benefit. One act of generosity shouldn’t be enough to earn trust.”

Twilight reached into her backpack, pulling out a notebook and a pencil. She opened it and began to write, repeating what you had just said to her to herself. You laughed and gently pushed the notebook down, getting her attention.

“This isn’t something you can learn by studying, Twilight. It’s not school. It’s life. I should’ve mentioned that you can’t change who you are just like that. You have to experience things that make you like this. And quite frankly, most aren’t willing to do what I’ve done.”

Twilight thought to herself for a moment, looking at the floor.

“I suppose you’re right. Sorry for asking such a dumb question.”

“Hey kiddo, I get it. You wanna improve yourself. I respect that, I’m always trying to better myself in any way I can. It’s a good mindset to have. You’re pretty bright, brighter than most around here. That’ll get you far. And if you ask me, that’s all you’re gonna need at the moment.”

Twilight smiled.

“Thanks, I really appreciate it. It means a lot to me, you know.”

“Don’t mention it. Glad I could give you some words of wisdom.”

“You’re a great person, Anon. I’m glad I met you.”

Aw jeez. Emotions. You hate emotions.

“Say that again and I’ll cut your fuckin’ tongue out.” You said with a wink.

Twilight giggled.

“Let’s get back to work, I like to be early with this stuff so I have more free time.” You said, focusing on your volcano.

“Right! I didn’t mean to get off track.”

“Yeah, get with the program, nerd.”