Jess...

A compass needle always points north. This stupid bottle, too, when rotated, comes to rest pointing at me.

I don't know why, I choosed ( or rather- selected) a dare. That stupid, nasty girl Sofia dared me to say: " I like your style" to the hottest guy of school, EDWARD TYLOR. Sofia knew I had a huge crush on him. l mean, almost every girl had a crush on him. The problem with me was, I lost my tongue in front of him. I always did. I'd stammer and slutter and became speechless.

I shot Sofia an angry glance and walked to his table--- table of guys, as they called it.

I cleared my throat and almost immediately regretted it. All seven guys at the table looked at me.

I locked my eyes on Edward's perfect face.

I could feel myself getting hot all over.

What was the dare? What did I have to say to him?

I couldn't remember.

"Hello can I help you?" !! It was Edward.

Just say it and go, the voice in my head said.

Say it!!

Say what? I asked to the voice.

That you liked his style.

But I don't like his his style. I ...I LOVE his style.

Say it then. It doesn't make much difference.

I don't know. I can't.

Why not? It's the truth. He might be flattered.

Edward? Flattered? I don't think so.

But it's a dare. You don't want Sofia to laugh you!

I don't care what she does. It doesn't matter.

Edward cleared his throat.

"Ah...are you okay?" He asked.

" I... I... wanted to...ah... say ..." I stammered.

" Yes?"

"I ... that ...you guys look awesome!" I blushed. It wasn't me! It was voice in my head! Speaking through my lips.

Before I could say anything or even think anything, the guys at the " Table of guys" hooted and cheered. Even Edward! Was this real? Guys hooting for me?

Sweat broke out of my body as I walked back to my table.

The voice in my head had done a good job afterall.

I told you . I'm great.

I have to admit, yes. But... HOW COULD YOU DO IT?!?

I'll kill you! Do not ever use my lips again.

Actually, it was more like controlling , not using.

Whatever they mean the same.

"Why are they hooting?" Laura asked, a bit of jealousy in her voice.

" What did you say to them?" Sofia demanded.

" What you told me to." I answered calmly.

" Liar! Why would they hoot on that?" Sofia shouted.

I shrugged.

"Okay now. Let's continue the game." May intervened.

" I don't want to." Sofia snapped, stood up and walked away.

" It's no fun without Sofia." Veronica said. She too went away followed by Molly, Kate and Ella.

After a moment, May left too.

I looked at them, puzzled.

This table was now empty except me.

Why did they go away ?

Two words: Jealousy and attitude.

You sure? I don't think of May like that.

Appearance are deceptive.

I know. Don't tease me.

Why not?

Because you are IN me.

So?

Do, you have no right to legally teach me.

Who says?

I do.

Well, stop being so nasty. I impressed Edward on your behalf.

Oh great. Thanks.

Do you mean it or are you just being sarcastic?

What do you think?

I think what what you think. You are my brain. Or maybe I'm your brain or a part of it anyway. So I can't think what you think you can't .

Fine but you are confusing me now.

Okay. Guess I'll stop for sometime.

" Hey" someone said.

No not someone.

It was HIM. Edward!

I blinked.

"Oh... ah... hi."

"Edward Taylor."

I froze, staring into his deep, dark, ocean-coloured blue eyes which stone like crystals. They talked for fun, amusement and great----

Yeah yeah , say something now.

I can't. I don't know what to say.

Don't panic. Let me--

NO! Don't. He's mine. I'll talk.

Really? But he turns you dumb.

What to say? What to say?

Let me think for a sec.

"Ah... actually we thought you might have lunch with us. Sofia is there too."

Oh hell! Why did she have to be there?

It doesn't effect me.

"So, what do you say?"

"No!" I said and bit my tongue. It wasn't me!!!

For a second he looked hurt and surprised.

"Fine. What's your name anyway?"

"J... Jess...y."

"Will Jess do?"

I nodded slowly.

"Okay. See you later, Jess." He said and retreated back to his place.

Why did you do it?!?!

I don't know. It didn't seem right.

Nothing seems right to you.

I'm your mind. I know what's right.

It was a chance to have lunch with him.

And what would happen then? You'd just stare dumbly at his peeerfect face while Sofia and others laughed.

I didn't reply. The voice in my mind was right.

You know, it wouldn't hurt if you gave me a name.

Huh? Name? Why?

Because I'm not just the voice in your head.

Okay. What do you want me to call you?

Um... How 'bout SIMMY. Super Intelligent and Magnificent Minded Yearner.

Okay. Simmy is good. I'll get used to it.

The shrill sound of the bell rang through my thoughts. It was time for Physics class, i.e., Mr Rufas . As the name said, he was rough***

He hated almost every kid and almost every kid hated him. Me too.

But... he did NOT hate Sophia.

That was another reason why I hated him even more. Maybe I could----

Bunk the class? Simmy offered.

Well... yes. But, no.

Good. I love physics.

Really? How?

Physics deals with physical quantities. Considering I'm just an abstract thing, I'd love something physical.

What do you mean? Physical touch?

Not exactly.

What EXACTLY?

Stop it. You'll be late for class.

Oh! You are probably right.

Then, run!

I did run but unfortunately Mr Rufas was already in the class.

When he saw me at the door, he gave me a cold hard stare.

"You are late."

"I'm sorry, sir."

"What is that supposed to do to? Rewind the time?"

I didn't reply.

"Today, you'll clean the whole classroom after school."

I nodded.

"Good, now go to the seat."

I did it and sat down clumsily.

Cleaning the classroom? It sucks!

I knew it that today, Sophia and her friends would extra dirty the class. Just to make the job harder for me.

Sure enough, in the last class, Veronica puked, spoiling the cemented floor.

Gross! Who'd clean THAT?!

No. Not me.

The smell of her vomit was disgusting and seeing it made my own stomach heavy.

Don't look at it or you'll puke too and then you'll have to definately clean that!

Aww... It's so disgusting.

Vomit can never be not disgusting. Especially when it comes from Veronica.

Ha ha. Very funny.

Thanks.

I didn't mean it.

Neither did I.

The last bell rang and the students poured out of the classrooms.

"Jess, don't forget to clean it." Sofia said and hopped away, laughing.

My eyes fell on it and I almost---

Stop. Don't look at that. Look at Edd. He's just there. Look...look, in the ground.

I think... I'm gonna puke.

No. No. Control it. Move out of class.

With great difficulty, I moved out, clutching my stomach. I sat down in the corridor.

Veronica came to me with a bottle of water.

"Sorry, Sofia made me to do it."

She offered the bottle.

I took it.

No, don't!

Why not?

She is Veronica --- an evil serpent.

Veronica is not IN water.

But Jess,---

Or I'll puke... I can't hold...it.

Okay okay. Drink it. Just don't blame me later.

I drink the water in one gulp and handed the bottle back to her.

She smiled and ran off.

The puke feeling had been suppressed now.

Thanks to Veronica. She wasn't so bad after all.

I stood up and picked my backpack.

As I took the first step, the ground seemed to shake.

My legs trembled as the walls rotated around me.

"Jess." I could hear him he was close.

But his voice was so far and so mingled up with other voices.

Why are they hooting?

Will Jess do?

Don't forget to clean it.

Let's continue the game.

You are late.

Okay see you later, Jess.

Jess? Jess? Jess? Jess? Jess? Jess?

Why was everything blurry? My vision clouded, darkened. My ears failing to hear. My eyes failing to see.The ground was shaking. The sky was falling. Everything was turning darker.

I moved my hand around to grab something to steady myself.

But all I catch was empty air.

I felt myself fall in the deep dark black hole.

Everything was white. White and bright.

I could see a girl.

A girl with pink-tinched cheek and a thin pale face.

Beautiful curly copper and bronze coloured hair covered her head. Her eyes were golden. They was sad. But still hopeful and determined. Her lips were red. She looked like she'd been ill-treated for a long time.

I kind of recognise that face.

"Who are you?" I managed to ask.

The girl smiled.

"I'm your mind. I'm Simmy"

"Simmy?"

"Yes. But we are conversed. You are in my world. You are in your brain."

"Brain?"

"Yes. In your world, you are in a state of deep sleep. Unconscious."

"I don't understand."

"Look, you drank Veronica's water. Well the water she offered to you. She is not your friend. You are now suffering from myalgic encephalomyelitis. It is a long lasting illness, caused by virus. It makes a person to feel tired all the time. It also causes muscle pain. But worse is still there. When you had that pukish feeling in your stomach, your brain send repairing cells . Your immune system started recruiting cells to the affected area. But the chemical in the water- Pestribience Datlyatica, which is very rare---destroyed the cells completely and mixed with your brain metabolism which usually results in the split personality because the brain cannot detect which cells contain what protoplasm. It gets diverted to two cells which seems to be different but are identical at the same time. It tries to make out between the two but fails which then results in in various disorders. But you are lucky. I was your inner personality--- your mind. Now, it's just the converse. I'll be you and you'll be me."

"But----- " I started.

"Don't worry. You'll always be heard."

SIMMY......

I open my eyes slightly. It seems so new! Seeing through my own eyes. It was so bright and lively.

"She's okay." Someone shouted.

It was my mom. Basically, Jess's mom.

I opened my eyes wider to inspect everything.

"Are you okay, Jess? Jess? Talk to me."

I groaned in reply.

"Jess?" Dad.

Dad helped me to sit straight.

I looked around. Familiar faces.

Oh! Who was that?

Was it Edward? WOW

He was impossibly smart!

Deep bue eyes, the depths of which to me were unknown. Shining white skin and lips the colour of ripened cherry. His hair was silvery. He was perfect. Flawless.

So that's what made Jess speechless.

"Are you okay?" Mom asked.

I tore my gaze away from Edd.

"Yes I will be good." I mumbled.

The doctor checked my forehead.

"Jess, you are suffering from myal---"

"ME., I know.I'd prefer being called Simmy."

"But Jess----"

"Simmy."

"Okay. Simmy.What do you feel?"Doctor asked.

"I don't really feel anything right now. Either that or I don't know what I feel or maybe, all the feelings are mingled up."

Doc laughed.

What was so funny?

"Okay. Simmy, take some rest here." He said and then turned to the others. "We should let her be by herself."

"But she recovered just now and---" Mom started.

"It will be fine. Trust me."

Mom nodded uncertainly.

Soon everyone was out of the room. I sighed a short sigh of relief....