Day Nine: Tuesday
Alisha found no motivation to get out of her bed when she dismissed her morning alarm. Thoughts of what had happened on her bed barely twelve hours prior were still fresh in her mind, experiencing a mix of emotions and feelings that left her in a state of mental agony. Guilt in particular heavily lingered from her part in Jackie being drugged and taken advantage of by Evan. Even though Alisha knew that it was Vicky pulling all the strings in how everything played out, it was Alisha that had to ultimately live with the consequences of both their actions.
"Come on Lish, it's time to get up," nagged Vicky.
"Vicky..."
an emotional Alisha began, still laying in her bed, tired.
"What's the point? How am I supposed to go to school and look my friends in the face? You've now had me get two of my closest friends... taken advantage of! And -"
"And, you will continue to do as I tell you! Like it or not, this is your life now. The sooner you accept it, the sooner it gets easier for you."
Alisha sighed and sat up.
"You almost sound like you're speaking from experience,"
Alisha said passively to Vicky as she walked towards the washroom.
"I am."
"Wait, what do you mean exactly?"
"I am speaking from experience. You're not my first human, remember?"
"So, how many... people have you controlled before me?"
asked Alisha as she began to brush her teeth.
"You're my fourth,"
said Vicky.
"What happened to the other three?"
"I think you mean how did I leave them, don't you,"
said Vicky.
"Well... yes."
"That's a complicated answer, Lish. I didn't exactly leave my other hosts. It's more that I multiplied."
"What does that mean?"
"It means that as I continue to live inside you, I slowly grow. And when I grow too big, I divide myself into a few pieces. One part always stays with the host and starts the process all over again. And the others are, well, expelled from the host. In my case, my last host placed me and the other two expelled parts into containers, to be eventually given to new hosts."
"And who was your last host?"
"That's not your concern,"
said Vicky. "All you need to know is that all the memories and experiences are passed along as we divide and find new hosts. Now, enough about me, you need to get us dressed and off to school. I am very much looking forward to seeing how both Evan and Jackie are doing."
***
As Alisha exited the washroom at school, part of her now daily routine of getting changed into more revealing clothing when she arrived, she saw Jackie and Rachel down the hall talking. Alisha wanted to turn and walk away in the opposite direction. The last thing she wanted was to face Jackie.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Anywhere but where Jackie is! Besides, English class is this way anyways."
"You can get there if you go towards them too, it'll just take a few extra minutes. Now, turn around, and go say hi."
"No, I-"
"TURN AROUND, AND GO SAY HI."
Alisha stopped, and slowly turned around. She began walking back to where she had seen Jackie and Rachel standing in the hall. As she got back around the corner, she saw that Jackie was nowhere to be seen, but Rachel was still there.
"She's not there, it's just Rachel."
"Go and say hi anyways."
Alisha continued down the hall, walking a bit faster now that Jackie wasn't in sight.
"Hey," said Alisha as she approached Rachel.
"Hey," said Rachel.
"Where'd... where'd Jackie go? I thought I saw her here."
"She went off to class."
"Oh..."
"Yea," replied Rachel. "So how'd things go yesterday?"
"What do you mean?"
"At your house..? Your math study session?"
"Oh... that."
"Real smooth, Lish."
"So?" asked Rachel.
"It was alright."
"Alright?"
"Yea. Why?"
"Why? Because I asked Jackie the same question barely a few minutes ago, and all she did was give me the silent treatment. Did something happen?"
"Oh..."
"Yea. So..?"
"Well, yea."
"Yea what?"
"You're drowning here, Lish."
"You're telling me!"
"I got this."
"Well," began Vicky as she took over Alisha. "There was an incident. It's not really my place to say though."
"You can tell me," said Rachel, leaning in close to Alisha, lowering her voice.
"Ok, but you didn't hear this from me," said Vicky. "So, we were all in my room, and we were working through our assignment. I went to get everyone more to drink, and when I came back, I saw Evan and Jackie... kissing."
"Are you serious? Jackie?"
"Yea!" said Vicky. "And it didn't end there either."
Rachel's eyes opened wide with concern. "What do you mean?
Vicky leaned Alisha in to whisper into Rachel's ear. "Sex. They had sex. On my bed."
"No. No way. Like actually?"
"Yea! I asked Evan about it afterwards, and he said she came onto him. I was just as shocked as you are now."
"I can't believe this," said Rachel. "She's always been so... so..."
"Against premarital sex? I know! But she did. That's probably why she was so quiet around you. She probably doesn't want anyone to find out."
The two of them were interrupted as they heard the bell ring to signify classes were about to begin.
"Anyways," said Vicky. "I need to get to English. Please don't tell anyone I told you."
"I won't, I promise," said Rachel. "We'll talk about this later."
***
English class was thankfully easy for Alisha. Having been given a reading assignment last class, the first half before break was all spent discussing the assigned chapters. While Alisha did all the reading, she wasn't quite in the mood for actively engaging in the group discussion, only speaking up twice so as to not look like she was completely disengaged.
"Looking forward to break, Lish?"
"What do you think?"
"I think you need to loosen up. You could even be happy for your friend."
"Excuse me? Happy?"