Speak+Up!

I'm Kyle. I'm a smart kid, sure, some would call me a genius. My best friend, Lavender, keeps saying I should run for class president. Sure, that would be cool, but a couple of problems stand in my way.

First off, I'm a loner. I hang out by myself unless Lavender's there. I'm known as "that awkward nerd no one talks to." I'm not good at making friends--never have been. The only friend I've ever had was Lavender, and she's a social butterfly. The only chance I'd have at winning is if she could convince everyone to vote for me.

Oh, and then there's the fact I can't talk to people. Lavender and teachers are one thing, but a crowd of my peers (or even one of my peers)? No way! If I try to say something, the words just get stuck in my throat and people start laughing at me. I just can't take the laughing. I'm a seventeen-year-old boy for Christ's sake! That kind of torment kills you on the inside.

Well, here comes Lavender, her long blonde curls bouncing up and down as she walks through the hall. "Hey Kyle!" she says once she reaches me. I say a short hello back. "So," she begins. "I signed you up for the election!"

"You //what?!"//  She just giggles as if she knew I'd react that way. "You're officially in the running for class president, thanks to moi!"

"Lavender!" I yell at her, outraged. "I can't believe you did this!"

She waves her hand to dismiss my fury. "It'll be fine. Oh, by the way, the candidates have to give a speech at lunch so be ready! Ok, bye!" Before I can say anything else, Lavender has already run away.

I sigh and start walking to my first class, AP calculus. As I approach the door, Jefferson High's very own "Queen Bee" stops me. Tamara is "the hottest girl in school" according to the masses. She's tall, well-built, with sleek brown hair and piercing green eyes. Why that bi witch would talk to me is anyone's guess. "So I hear you're running for class president." And BAM! There's her reason. Let the suffering begin. "You don't have a chance. I'm going to win, you little nerd. What have you got to say about that?" I keep silent and start walking into my class. "Oh, poor little genius still hasn't learned to talk. You better learn to speak up by lunch." I listen to her cackle as I close the door to the calculus room. Tamara's right, though. I need to figure out how to talk.

Come lunch, I've still got nothing. I'm sitting in one of the plastic chairs near the mic and podium and listening to my classmate's speeches. The audience roars in applause Tamara's speech, but the crowd falls silent when my name is called. I walk up to the podium, not really sure what to do. Lavender is standing in the front row trying to cheer me on.

"Any day now, Mister Chang," the principal says.

I lean towards the mic and open my mouth, but nothing comes out. I stand there gaping like an idiot. Everyone in school begins to laugh at me. Finally, I can't take anymore and run away.

***

The full moon tonight is so pretty. I'm glad it's one of the last things I'll see. The small pile of pills in my hand rolls smoothly over my palm. The last thing I need to do is read over my letter to everyone:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">"I have no words."

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Return to The Nightmare Series?