We stop in front of Karyn's locker, and she says, giggling, "Okay, close your eyes and hold your hands out. I've got something for you." As she says it, I hear my own voice as well. There's one thing though. I got you something, now where did I put it?
I feel a brief touch of skin on skin, dropping a light package into my outstretched hands. As I look down, I hear giggling right next to my ears, and see a pack of condoms in my hand. The giggles retreat, but they turn into raucous laughter, intermingled with hushed whispers explaining the identity of the mystery gift. My mouth hangs open as I recall last night, my mother, with a horrible, chilling shudder; other memories try to slip in, memories of myself before I became me, but I push them down. "How could you?" I ask hoarsely. How could you? Karyn asks.
Karyn's fake smile has turned into a sneer, and she raises her voice. "Look, I really need you to leave me the hell alone. I'm so sick and tired of you trying to follow me around, okay?" My own voice echoes the very same sentiment, and I feel a sickening disembodied snap.
"So, just so we're perfectly clear..." Just so we're perfectly... "You need to keep your nympho crabs-infested ass away from me." ...overactive... the hell away...
Before I even realize it, I'm crying, little snuffling sobs. The laughter has faded into the background entirely, but it's still there, and how could the girl I thought was my best friend do this to me? How could she? What did I do wrong?
The echoes, the other-me and the other-Karyn, still play in my mind, and remorse creeps through me like poison. I'm so sorry, Karyn. I... know why you hate me, and I think I'd hate me too. Something is wrong here, and it starts with me... I killed Mikey and Zoe, for my own selfishness. Maybe that's why you hate me, too.
I don't know how long it takes for me to become aware of the world around me again, but now everyone is gone; there are only a few people walking through the halls, and none of them are looking at me, slumped against the lockers with my head on my knees. When my body stops shaking enough, I stand up, grasping the handle of the locker behind me for balance. My face hurts.
"Hey, are you okay?" Zoe asks me, and I turn toward the voice to see empty air. The bell rings, signifying that it's time to go to class, and I drop the condoms on the floor and head toward the homeroom class I once had. Maybe it hasn't changed.
