The dream shifted around like oil on top of water. Jacob felt the swirling, nauseating him as he spun in it. He didn't grasp what was going on. Even as he cried out in frustrating terror, there wasn't anything he could do. Nothing worked for him.
Falling asleep had become an utter nightmare for him. From watching as the alien snake dragged Shanda off to meet her fate, to being terrified of the giant pulsating cocoon in his parent's shabby room, Jacob found himself alone. For three nights he had laid exhausted in bed, confused as to what his life had become.
When he did wake in the morning, it was to the sound of a blaring alarm. With an annoyed groan, he rolled over in bed and groggily walked through his room to the bathroom. There, he relieved himself before getting into a cold shower.
Sleep dissipated rapidly under the torrent of frigid water. With a twist of a knob, the water quickly turned hot and he relaxed a moment before washing himself. As his mind cleared, he became increasingly aware that today was his first day of school in almost two weeks. A sudden nervousness began growing in him and so he tried to think of other things.
The pulsating cocoon in his parents' room only came to mind. An alien looking thing for sure, he hadn't gone into the room since it had hissed at him two days ago. As curious as he was, he didn't investigate it further due to the possibility of unknown dangers.
Finished with his shower, Jacob completed a new routine for his morning. Getting dressed in fresh clothes, eating a healthy breakfast, and packing his book bag. He remembered to get his doctor's note that specified today's return. At least the doctor cared a little. Everyone else had abandoned him. His dad was late coming home, and the alien had forsaken him to become whatever horror it wished. With a sigh, he escaped his home and headed for school.
Silverton High wasn't in any way renowned. Even when one walked past its well-manicured lawns and up the polished concrete steps, the sole lustrous thing in the place were the trophies that greeted the students in a massive display case right in front of the doors. On each side of the case was a door to the main office, which Jacob chose to use the door on the left. Thankfully no one paid mind to him as he walked through the crowds at the entrance.
The high school's age was evident in the main office. Built years ago, everything in the office was stained dark as the wood took up almost every seeable surface. The giant counter that greeted anyone looked like a clerks counter one would find in a courtroom. Six openings allowed for school officials to talk to students or parents but currently, these were all taken. Jacob leaned against a wall and grimaced as the bell rang signaling the start of class. His hope had been to be seated in class before anyone recognized him. Now, he would have to walk in with all eyes on him.
"Next," a voice called out.
Jacob walked up to the only opening passing a woman who looked disheveled. As he walked up, he saw etched on a golden plaque on the right of the opening, "Grace". The red-rimmed blonde peered up at him. She had emerald green eyes and shiny red lipstick on. To Jacob, Grace looked young enough to pass as a high school student and the reaction in his groin surprised him. He couldn't identify a time looking at a girl or anything in that matter out in society had elicited a response. Becoming aware quickly of how the tightness in his pants increased, Jacob smiled.
"Hey there," she said. "I don't think I've seen you before."
That stung, and he winced from those words. She didn't seem to notice, and he kept the smile on his face.
"Actually, you have," he said. "It's me, Jacob."
His voice couldn't have been any meeker if he tried.
"Jacob Grand?" she asked with surprise evident in her voice. He saw her stand up and take off her glasses before cleaning them. Once back on she let out a squeal of surprise. The whole office had gone quiet with noise. He apologized, and everyone continued to stare at him.
"Come around quick," Grace told him, but he didn't really hear her. People were staring at him. Each glare a dagger into him, a reminder of how his presence had interrupted the day-to-day dealings of the office. Feeling exposed, he moved quickly to the side where Grace authorized him to go behind the counter. She ushered him into a side room.
"Are you really Jacob?" she asked him.
He pulled out his doctor's note and held it out to her. Right now, he wanted to escape the room and subsequently the school. Besides, now that he was isolated with a woman in a conference room, his nerves began to get the best of him. She accepted the note from him and read it. While she did, Jacob drank in the sight of her, trying to calm his shaking.
Before, he could only see the blonde had her hair over her ears and the red-rimmed glasses shielding green eyes. Closer now, he could see that underneath, her hair was dyed jet black. Long and straight, the end of it went past her breasts. Breasts that were concealed by an ornate white blouse. The ornateness evident in the sewn patterns.
The blouse went down and he visually followed it down until it transitioned into a black skirt. The skirt was short and there was barely any bare skin shown as she was wearing stockings. Polished black shoes were on her feet, but her legs enticed him.
"Ahem," Grace said, getting his attention. His eyes snapped back to her. "My, I can't think of a time the massive Jacob would dare be seen checking a girl out."
He felt the heat rise in his cheeks from being caught. The rightness of her statement to expose him to a feeling of embarrassment he wasn't used to.
"I uh," he started.
"Don't worry about it kiddo," she said with a gleeful laugh. "It's surprising. What on Earth happened to you?"
Her nonchalant dismissal of his staring dalliance made him feel for a second like he should tell her what happened. Something told him that it wasn't the time to. "I don't know," he replied. Trying to stop to keep his voice steady and from failing. "Just woke up like this one morning. Doctors couldn't tell me and kept me out of school for the past two weeks." A gaze swooped all over his body. He got the impression of being sized up.
"I hope it's permanent," she said but then she blushed. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that."
A compliment, even if it needed to be taken back, hit him in a strange way. Receiving praise from a woman for the first time in his entire life sent a shockwave of confusing emotions through him.
"At least one thing is still massive," she spoke. He looked at her and saw a look of amazement on her face as her jaw slowly dropped. Then he realized the heat of her gaze was on his crotch.
"Class," he stammered out suddenly to get control of the situation. The office was just a door away. "I need to get to class."