Chapter Theme Music: Silken Twine ~ Amethystium122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FGZS24LEJ
<01/04/2011 - 14:45 | Saffrin Middle School (Music), Austell, GA, USA>122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5BmA1xA48
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"These guitars are so lame, and they break too easy." I can't stand having to practice with these basic acoustic guitars. I wasn't expecting anything too special for a middle school music class, but when I think of guitars, only the hard rock electric guitars excite me. I've practiced with these class substitutes instead, and I'd feel the same playing a banjo. Not only that, but the strings on these things really do break way too often. I bet real rock stars don't have to put up with that cheap quality crap as often as this.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAykxijh9Dd
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"Well what about... Hey! Is that a real piano?" Lumina almost confused me with the way my eyes drifted like that. She's curious about this music class, even though it has little to offer. In the center of the class, right where the teacher sits, there is this large piano just sitting at the front of the room.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxVf6fdqeH
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"Don't get all excited for that electric piece of crap. You can't call something like that a piano."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5VzI5xQEZ
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"So then, it's not a piano?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqffenSZerI
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I'm amazed she hasn't learned this much already. "It may look like a piano, but a real piano has several elevation levels. The proper term is grand piano. When you ask for something acting like it's all exquisite, it needs to be in the same class as a grand piano." I only care for one reason. Those who lived around the 1800's and early 1900's were people of refinement, people who wore excellent fashion of clothing, decorated living spaces better than anyone I've ever seen, and mostly upheld honor. I learned this much on my own, not from some memory transfer crap Lumina pulled earlier. The grand piano is not something to be mocked, but the electric piano does just that, less it be called a kid's toy.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPnPP9BImw
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"I'm not that stuck up! Why are you so hung up on a piano anyway?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfa61g7P5R
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"I happen to appreciate proper instruments... Sorry if that offends you." My sarcastic side showed itself again, just to tell Lumina I really wasn't sorry. It's her fault for not knowing something so basic.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmXnCMA83J
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"Okay, no need to dork out on me... Hey, you should sit down there and play something."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMd6nFojxiE
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What, now? In that seat? "But that's the teacher's seat. Besides, I barely know any of the keys."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVWmVL5Krj
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"Oh, so you can't play the piano, but you'll leverage its history against me? Some connoisseur you are."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLJI6EB36T
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"Shut up already!"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlDd4HzFN7
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"Your teacher is late anyway. What's a couple of keys going to hurt?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4DrMMr6gj
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I glanced around, slowly moving my feet towards the stool for the piano. I was a bit blown away by how easily Lumina made short work of my attempt to sound all smart and classical. She'll pull no punches to either make fun of me or embarrass me, but never in a way where it would do permanent damage. It's more playful than anything. I try it on her every time, but fail nine times out of ten to push her buttons.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtD2VF7SrZ
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"You're doing it? What song are you going to play?" Lumina sounds way too excited for my imminent performance. I just told her I don't know how to properly play yet, and she thinks I'm going to just Beethoven my way through this? We'll be lucky if I can play Pop Goes the Weasel.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmT5fQP7yFo
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"I don't know. The only tunes I can remember how to play are easy game tunes, that and the theme for the Halloween Movie, the scary one."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhc08Bww2zR
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"I don't know that movie though."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SaKILGoq2
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"Play something Reed!"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSpD10P8cC
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I straightened my back, realizing that I was already sitting down on the stool, attracting half the attention of the class. People were now anticipating that I was going to just start randomly playing the piano, which I was. Either way, I felt a little strange being up here now, with Malica cheering me on from a distance.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIJhYj7eUe
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"I forgot she was in this class too."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OiAoKMF9G
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"Somehow we both did." Malica is becoming a little less memorable to me lately, not that it's a bad thing after all she did to me many months ago. I wonder if she— Oh crap! My attention darted to the door, as the teacher was now walking in. But here I am, sitting in her seat touching her fake piano. I've got only a few seconds before I'm asked to get out of it!122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pKvLSCkXt
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"Ah, fuck it! Here goes whatever!" My hands went straight into the piano, playing the first tune that came to mind. Since it wasn't exactly expected that a student would be playing at all, Ms. Patterna didn't try to stop me right away. She was curious to hear what this was about to be too.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJ3HWHfKQw
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Unfortunately for us both, the first thing that came to mind was the theme song for Halloween, the movie. I played it perfectly for the sixteen seconds it lasted without stopping, and the entire class blared at us with laughter. It was only then that I realized how special the timing of it all was. The theme of the song of a scary movie, and Ms. Patterna entering the classroom just before I started, made it appear to everyone in the room that my choice of music was a joke to associate dread and fear between this music and the music teacher. She was already giving me that mad Karen look, though I wasn't really as intimidated as she wanted me to be, and that's because I felt much better having accidentally made the whole class laugh at the unintended joke.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCzKidPW6h
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"Really Reed? Get out of my chair!"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEtzQwn8Rq
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No arguments here. I stood up, feeling both defeated and accomplished at the same time. I knew Patterna would not hold it against me. Plus, I just proved to myself that I can play any song I want by memory if I practice for it long enough, despite being unable to read notes. Once I finally sat down again, the teacher prepared to begin as if nothing happened.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmsWtny93B
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"What just happened? I thought it was pretty good." Has she really not seen an orchestra before? That was as tacky as I could be.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXV6E7Dfwc
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Still, it also seems Lumina doesn't understand the association, since she doesn't know the movie at all. "I'll explain the reference later. But, feel free to stay for the ear piercing string blowout." You ever hear twenty-two acoustic guitars going crazy at once out of sequence? It's quite the therapy, for a lunatic at least.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXR5GCX84jG
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"And, that's my cue to leave."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EUPrx0GXe
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I nearly chuckled at how easy she gave into the weakness of chaotic noise. I mean, it's not like I can focus on her from this point on anyway, not once we start the guitars. Still, she's been doing that thing of hers a little too often lately. "Don't forget. You can only phase out the connection three total times per day, and only two times within the same hour."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1klfn9osG5
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"You realize I'm the one who taught you that, right? Oh, whatever. See you soon!"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnB4AHrBS8
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Just like that, she was out again. Lumina can phase the connection, allowing her to live her own life again while waiting on my life to become just interesting enough to hang out with me again. I got to say, if she finds talking to me that interesting, then the Altiri must be bored to all hell up there.
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<01/04/2011 - 15:39 | (Enroute), Austell, GA, USA>122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ApHl5kxDq
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You know, looking outside the window and into the incredible Earth atmosphere seems so different these days. I never knew how much more there was to the infinite cosmos of the world, that and the sky over here itself. Even though I'm sitting by myself on the bus ride home, I'm enjoying the serenity this time.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHj7qJ1BbKj
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"Hi Reed!"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNK8trIWvrD
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"Dagh-ah!" My heart jumped through my chest, as I nearly fell backwards out of my own seat. Before I could register what happened, the people in all adjacent sides from my seat turned around and laughed right at my face. I could even hear Lumina laughing at me too, just after I figured out what was going on.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOy0Tmx77y
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"What the hell was that for?" Lumina was about to collapse in laughter as she interrogated my reaction.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWNyyWS3nk
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She can't seriously be asking that! I've never felt so nervous in all my life. Why did she have to just scare me like that? I'm not used to hearing full volume telepathy with that much energy after minutes of dead silence. Anyone would have jumped out of their seat in a panic!122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN753QbCw5E
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"Hehe! You okay? Sit on a thumbtack?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiRzgrLTSN
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I turned my face to the idiot girl holding her head above the seat behind me. "No I did not sit on a thumbtack. Mind your own business!" I wanted to sound cold just now, but it was hard to hide how much I was blushing from embarrassment. I don't do well with jump scares like that. Now everyone must think I'm a dork.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hNshV0i1s
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"Guess you don't like those kinds of surprises."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡml7z8f0zhg
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"Just warn me first whenever you do that. I can't tell when you phase the connection back in. I literally have no way to know."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJmfBM0aa3
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"Where's the fun in that? Haha! Made you jump!" Her voice just went back to that of a tom girl, just so that she could rub it in more.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyfbIwz6cH
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Curse you Lumina! Man, I'm so embarrassed that she of all people so easily got me to jump like that. It's worse because she could do it again at any time, even in the middle of class. Why do you enjoy torturing me Lumina? "Man, when I get up there..."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpTlT87CiM
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"What? Are you going to build a rocket and fly your way over here?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVk07ODzE7
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"No, but I'll find a way to tell Junko that you're due an ass kicking." I don't know them too well, but I think Junko is a strong and willing fighter in the Cy-Stars.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpUqHBREyR
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"And who do you think would be kicking who's ass in the end?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqq2WXti1IC
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Is she saying she could take her sister in combat? "You can't seriously be that strong."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXoQ8z4qUq
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"You can say that knowing that I can literally punch two-inches through all earth metals?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOltmIPWFDi
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"Yeah, well then maybe I'll have to kick your ass instead. I'm curious enough to find out which one of us would win." I already know a human like me can't compare, but I still have my own pride to protect here.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiFz0ov5fw
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"Oh sure. Just whip out one of your lucid dreams again and find out who wins in the end."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0C2fH1zte
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I wanted to keep this going for longer. It may sound like Lumina and I are fighting or arguing, but we're actually having fun to see who can mouth off to each other the most and win. But when she spoke about lucid dreams, it reminded me too much about the past to keep the prior flow going. "You know those lucid dreams stopped, ever since the end of the purge."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEoY43l1Of
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"Yeah, I figured that might happen... What was it like, having lucid dreams?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQTPOSSRLg
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I remembered all too well. Those dreams were the most vivid moments I've ever had in my life, but the details were finally getting too fuzzy to read again. "It was unexpected. I never once got to control the elements of the dream like others theorized would happen. The only control I had was of myself. It's all filled with stuff from your subconscious, but it happens on its own. If you lucid dream, you can't control any of it. You're just there for the ride, in a more bunkered down kind of experience."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0gl0FPr6N
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"Sounds nice. I wish I could dream, even if it is a normal dream. It sure would help with the boredom I have up here."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YvELeLwBr
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"That's right! You Altiri don't ever sleep. That means you're actually awake for three times the duration I am in a lifetime."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvSmRv1S29
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"Yeah..." I didn't want to pry, but Lumina sounded really sad just now when she replied... "Sometimes, I wonder which is better. To live in a boring reality with crazy dreams, or to live a crazy reality with no dreams."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZSBRAKVmu
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I could tell something was off. I'm not good dealing with sadness, not when it comes from others. But for Lumina, I can at least let her see things my way. "Look up out there." I fixed my gaze to the sky through the bus window like I did before, with a cloud formation that was most beautiful for today.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeMcMsXCwE
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"I had trouble sleeping in the past, but now, all I have to do is imagine myself flying through the cosmos. I never used to do that, but I do now, because it feels so soothing... You have the ability to at least daydream, right?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCWe0f6FXy
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"Always..." Such desperation and longing in her voice only made it harder for me to determine how she felt.122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpLe7GrCev
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"Yeah, well here's a news flash. Dreaming can really suck sometimes. It can be amazing if it gets real and good, but it can also be random and horrible at the same time. You never know which dream you get, and sometimes, even good dreams tear us up inside, dangling desirable but impossible futures before us."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRlyJQQoib
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"So, you drift to sleep now by pretending that you are drifting alone in space?"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjPQrYpwq3
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"In the sky at least... But if I'm being honest, I think that actually makes it take longer for me to sleep. I get to sleep easier that way, but it takes so much longer too. When all the lights are out and everything, it can take me between two or three hours to finally phase to sleep."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgjw2UE8JY
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"That's a little too long."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGF5lvazOv
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See? Sleep isn't all that it's cracked up to be. That's two or three hours I could have spent doing something else, something more constructive maybe. But if I don't at least use it to wind down, I won't sleep period. "Well, if I can't sleep, I can't sleep."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcA7IM3PVfF
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"I kind of feel responsible for that. I mean, I had you all worried about all of these space aliens and stuff. Then my voice drops on you from the sky. You probably keep yourself up at night with montrums of us."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWwgpp0WvD
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"What's done is done. I don't blame you for that. When you learn something, you can't unlearn it. In this case, I'm better off knowing than not knowing."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJadfFNsfJn
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"I'm glad you think so."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNK5EuKAIbp
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I know so Lumina. I finally understand why I care about the Altiri so much now. It took a lot of time for me to realize it, but I've been trying to imagine what life would have been like if I rejected my decision to call her back that day, to pretend like it never happened... And I can't envision that possibility anymore. Maybe I've gotten too used to this, but it's too late to change that now. "Look, I have you now. And I'm not stupid. I know that I've slowly been getting smarter the longer we hang out together."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMMkK63twF
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"Nmhm," she nodded, "You were always smart Reed. You just needed someone to bring that out in you, the confidence to learn and handle everything properly."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCtCMpl9ax
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"Come on. I would have been a dumb tard without you in my head all the time. I'm still totally lacking street smarts, but that's only because you have none of it to offer. But that's beside the point. I may have had more friends without you coming into my life, but at the same time, it was you who taught me how to have the confidence to speak to other humans... It's too bad that I can't make any of them friends, since the things I want to say now will just get me laughed at or ridiculed. I can't prove your existence to anybody!"122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tk5NsNMb2
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"I know. It's not a good idea to tell them this if they won't believe it. But maybe someday, you'll find somebody who will accept your reality."122Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7p5IDyzY1j
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"That's the day I want to fast-forward to... But I guess as long as you're here with me, I can wait a little longer."
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