Chapter 6: I'm Going to Help Him
‘It, feel like I’ve been thrown into a fire pit…’ I thought, unable to move at all. I had my eyes closed, and if I could have screamed, I would have. It was as if I was melting. My hair felt like it was getting shorter, and I felt like I was getting lighter. I could feel the tears in my eyes, but just as quick, the burning sensation stopped. I sat up slowly, and a few tears slid down my face. Hei sat down next to me and I took a few deep breaths. I noticed a mirror across the room and was able to see myself. I now had shoulder length brown hair, and light brown eyes. I had gotten thinner, and from the feel of my clothes, shorter. “This isn’t happening…”
“It p-probably w-will only last 12 to 24 hours.” Hei said softly. I didn’t hurt, and nothing I did was going to change what had happened, so I just needed to wait it out.
“Hiro!” I pointed at him.
“What is it?” He asked.
“I blame you! You gave me the drink!” I said smiling.
“Hey, I didn’t know either.” Hiro defended.
“M-Maybe we should just head to bed.” Hei spoke up.
“Alright, good night guys…” I went to leave but stopped at the door. “At least, you both look good.” I said before I walked out completely. My clothes were pretty baggy on me. My curves were gone, and my chest was flat as a board. It wasn’t that I thought I was ugly, it just wasn’t me at all. Hiro looked like he was a bit of a flirt, and Hei still had an innocent thing going on. But me? I didn’t know what I had anymore. I got down to my room, and collapsed onto my bed, and fell asleep right there, too exhausted and overwhelmed to do anything else.
~*~
The sun shone on my face brightly, and I looked at the clock. It was a Saturday, 8:00 in the morning. I had slept off about 11 hours of this curse. ‘Hei said it would be about 12 hours to a full day before this wore off. Great.’ I got up and got dressed in the smallest clothes I had and put on a belt to keep my jeans up. I left to wander a little. I found where my classes were going to be, and felt kind of happy with myself that I was on top of my school stuff. It was about 9:00 when I went to find Hei or Hiro, wondering if maybe they had changed back. I went to their room, and debated on knocking or just waiting. I thought about it, and it sounded quiet, so I smiled. I was going to burst in and wake the sleepy heads. I burst through the door. “Wake up sleepy heads!” As I suspected, they were both in bed. Hiro just grumbled and rolled over in his bed. But Hei launched up out of a seemingly dead sleep and sat up in his bed. My grin fell when I saw he had no shirt on. He had been blessed with a beautiful, wonderfully toned body. ‘Those muscles…no wonder he was able to pin me against the wall with such ease…’ I couldn’t wrench my eyes away from him. He blinked and rubbed his eyes, trying to get the sleep out of them.
“I-I…um…” I stuttered. ‘Apologize stupid girl…and stop staring!’ I thought to myself.
“Good…Morning.” Hei smiled at me. ‘He has to still be half asleep to smile at at me like that…’ I thought.
“G-Good, morning…” I squeaked.
“Hold on…let me get a shirt on.” He muttered and plucked a tank top from his dresser and threw it on. Shaking my head, I walked over to Hiro’s bed and poked him. He waved his hand and pulled his covers back over him more. I yanked all of his covers off. He somehow crawled under his sheet.
“5 more minutes…” He groaned. I sighed and looked over at Hei.
“I see you both haven’t changed back.” I said sadly. Hei still looked like he was sleep walking.
“Hiro should…if a few…” He said softly. ‘What is he talking about?’ I sighed and decided to give up on waking Hiro up for now, so I laid down on Hei’s bed. I was surprised; the sheets were still warm. I felt like I could go back to sleep, but I wanted to talk to the guys about, stuff. It had been a while since I had new friends, and maybe I was being over zealous. But I didn’t care. Having new friends was like a breath of fresh air. Hei sat down on his bed and yawned. “So just going…back to sleep?”
“No, just waiting for Mr. 5 more minutes over there to wake up.” I answered with a slight smile.
“Oh, ok…” Hei said sleepily.
“So, what were you saying before exactly, about Headmater Nightray and using the school for something? You never really finished that sentence because you…” I trailed off. 'Because you decided to kiss me since I was in a panic…' I suddenly felt my legs get heavy and Hei was slouched over my knees, dead asleep. I sat up carefully, and shifted so is head was in my lap. I shook my head and brushed some of his light hair back out of his face. He looked so peaceful, and emotionless, but wonderfully so. “I must be pretty boring then.” I looked over at the other lump that was nestled in the opposite bed. “Hiro, you awake yet?” I asked.
“No.” The lump said.
“Alright.” I nodded. I was silent for a few moments, and then frowned. “Wait a minute, you’re conscious enough to comprehend me!” I pointed out.
“No, not at all.” I glared at him. ‘yeah yeah understanding all those big words in his sleep, he must be a genius.’ I rolled my eyes.
“Your roommate is heavy.” I said out loud. ‘Maybe because of these beautiful muscles…’
“Not my problem.” Hiro finally sat up and smiled at me. He was equally as good looking, but more playful with his longer black hair sticking up every which way. “Looks like he’s your problem.” He nodded.
“He just fell asleep in the middle of my question, am I really that boring?” I asked.
“No, he was up late last night. He was doing something on his desk.” Hiro said with a yawn. I looked over at the one desk in the room. A paper laid there with a dull pencil next to it, eraser shavings dusting everything.
“Do you know what?” I asked. Hiro shook his head, but shuffled over and took a look.
“Looks like some calculations of some kind. Our names are written and estimated guesses of when we should be back to normal.” He squinted.
“What times?!” I exclaimed.
“For me it looks about 5 or 10 more minutes, for you, in about half an hour. But the calculations for himself are unfinished, and look extremely complex. I don’t understand them at all, it’s like some other language.”
“Wow.” ‘He did this for us?’ I looked down at him and thought out loud. “We have to help him Hiro.”
“What?” He looked at me.
“We have to help Hei. Maybe we cant help with this physical change stuff, but we can help him with his shyness. Everyone has a sad story to tell, but there’s something different about him. Don’t you feel it too? Something about him just makes me want to help somehow.” I rambled. And then looked at Hiro, hoping he didn’t think I was crazy. Instead, he nodded.
“Makes sense.” He said. Hei moved a bit, and I looked down at him. He opened his eyes and looked up at me for a few seconds. I smiled a little, but then he shot up and off of his bed and backed away from me.
“I-I’m s-sorry, I’m s-so sorry. I-I d-didn’t mean to.” He apologized. Surprised, I blinked and tried to figure out what to say.
“It’s alright Hei, don’t worry about it.” I smiled.
“B-But I fell back a-asleep and I didn’t mean to.” He pulled at his hair, and I stood up.
“Not it’s ok, really, I needed yo chill out and relax and you needed a few more minutes of sleep.” I said, regretting waking him up in the first place.
“N-No, I can’t do that, I-I have to figure things out.” He sounded irritated.
“Like when you’re changing back? Why is it taking you longer to figure it out?” I asked, concerned for him.
“Just…difficult…different amounts.” Hei muttered.
“How much punch did you drink?!” I exclaimed. Hei didn’t answer me as he pulled out some clothes. I noticed Hiro swaying a little. “Are you alright Hiro?” I asked.
“Just a bit dizzy, I’m alright.” I went over and pushed him onto the bed.
“Sit down. You don’t need to go and hurt yourself.” I heard the closet door click, and Hei had gone inside, probably to get changed.
“I won’t.” Hiro smiled at me. I looked at him and whispered.
“Maybe I should go.” I smiled. Hei came out of the closet and started putting on his shoes.
“I just…need air.” He said.
“No, I’ll go…I’m sure you’re very busy and I understand. I’ll see you later.” I flashed them both a convincing smile, and ran out and up to my room. I sat on my bed after I opened up my window and pulled out my guitar. “I knew I was being to overbearing.” I sighed and played some of my songs before the guilt set in. “I shouldn’t have left Hiro.” I went back down, and knocked on the door. A normal Hiro answered the door.
“Well hello!” He smiled.
“Hey! How was it, I’m sorry I ran out. Its just Hei seemed uneasy with me.” I said walking back in.
“Not bad, just dizziness. And don’t worry, I don’t think he is upset with you, just frustrated about something else.” Hiro reassured me.
“Ok…” The dizziness hit me and I felt my legs start to shake.
“Lets sit you down.” Hiro led me over to the bed, and I started falling forward. He caught me and laid me down. I was seeing double, and then triple.
“I didn’t know you had 3 of everything.” I tried laughing a little. I could feel my body going back to normal, no pain this time. “My hair is getting longer.” I smiled and waited another minute and the room stopped spinning. I sat up and Hiro nodded.
“See? It wasn’t that bad!” I looked down and grinned. My shirt was filled out like normal.
“Yay! I have breasts again!” I looked at Hiro, a light pink dusted his face. I suddenly got an idea. “You know who could probably help us with Hei’s calculations?”
“Who?” Hiro asked. I walked over and grabbed the paper.
“Mr. Nightray! He’s old, and probably good at math. Come on!” I walked out and Hiro followed. We quickly got to the hallway and got to the door. We were going to knock, but we heard voices inside.
“Doc it’s not fair.” ‘Hei?’
“That’s the best I could do for you Hei.”
“Why do you always ruin my life.” The door slammed open and I leaned against the wall. Hei ran out, looking extremely upset.
“I guess this plan won’t work.” I gave Hiro the paper. “I’ll meet you in the room, hopefully with Hei.” I turned to run, but a voice stopped me.
“Miss. Katara, wait a minute.” I turned and saw a tall, dark haired young man, maybe 24 years old.
“Y-Yes? Do, I know you?” I asked. He smiled a dazzling, brilliant smile.
“I’m Headmaster Nightray. I will explain a few things to you both, considering you are involved with Hei, bless your souls.” He handed me two little pills. “For now, take these with you. One is his depression medication. Please see that he takes it. The other will help speed up the process of getting him back to normal.” My heart stopped. ‘Hei, has depression? No wonder I could sense something from him.’ “You may want to hurry with those, poor boy won’t listen to me.”
“Y-Yes sir.” And with that, I ran to find Hei. He wasn’t in his room. Or the auditorium. But I thought I did see a flash of blond hair go towards the edge of the woods. I rushed over there and looked around. ‘He has to be here…he has to be.’
