Free The Games Heroes Play by Joshua Debenedetto Page A

who has experience.  I hate little runts like you who think you’re all that.  If you were any older I’d make you eat your words…”
    “Duke!   Knock it off, he was talking to me!”
    It was difficult to tell who was more surprised by Jay’s outburst; Duke, Michael, or Jay himself.  Duke was the first to shake off the silence.
    “If you ever tell me to knock it off again, I’ll knock your nose off, right off of your smug little face.  That goes for you too, you little snake.”  Duke turned and walked straight to his office, slamming the door behind him.  Jay was really sorry for the events that just took place.  He thought Duke was a really nice guy, who cared for how he and the rest of the first years fared in the school.  Jay did not want to be at odds with him.
    It took Jay a moment to notice that Michael was also gone.  One good thing about having the bed next to the bathroom, it was easy to slip away if one of them needed to be alone.  Jay wished he had learned how to push pictures out of his head, so he could keep himself from eavesdropping on Michael’s tear stained thoughts.
     
     
     
    JAY FAILED BOTH of his defensive techniques tests the next day.  He knew the material this time, but his thoughts could not help but wander, trying to think of some way of straightening things out with Duke.  Jay could see that Michael had also failed his defensive techniques test.  They took that week’s test at the same time, and Jay could not help but notice that Michael was looking out the window the whole time.  When the test was over, Jay noticed Michael go to put the cap back on his pen, only to realize the cap was still on.  He had never actually gotten around to writing anything, so had never removed the cap in the first place.  Michael walked out ahead of Jay, and Jay had to hurry to catch up. 
    “Don’t let it bother you, Duke was just upset.  It was a misunderstanding and it will all be forgotten before you know it.” 
    “I don’t think it will be forgotten that quickly.  A number of older kids have started calling me snake.”  Michael would not look at Jay, but at least he was talking again.  Jay decided it would be best to try to make light of the situation.
    “Well, you knew you’d get a nickname at some point.  Personally I think it has a nice ring to it.  Maybe we could negotiate for something a little more exciting, like viper or cobra.”
    Michael did not smile, but Jay could see a slight humor pass through one of his pictures.  The instant he noticed it, however, it was gone.  Michael stopped walking and turned to face Jay. 
    “Can I ask you a question?”  Michael asked Jay.
    “Of course.”
    “Why don’t you ever mind your own business?”
    This was not what Jay was expecting.  The problem here is Duke, why would he be getting mad at me?  Jay thought.  He almost expected Michael to answer his thoughts, but after a few moments, Jay realized he had to respond. 
    “I’m sorry if it seems like I am intruding right now, I was just trying to make you feel better.”
    “No, it’s not that, this conversation is fine.  It’s fine because we can verbally tell each other what we want to say.  It’s the fact that you are in my head right now.  Why can’t you just let me have a few thoughts to myself?”
    “What are you talking about?  I’m not trying to read your thoughts at all right now.”
    “Don’t lie to me Jay, I can feel you in here.”
    Jay was not sure how to respond.  The fact that Michael had called him Jay proved to him that he was not messing around.  He can feel me in there?  Jay did not like the idea of this.  If he can feel me intruding on his thoughts when they are merely a part of the collage, does everyone else think I’m trying to read their thoughts too?   “I’m sorry, Michael.  I’ve told you about the collage.  That’s all it is right now, and you are mixed in there somewhere.  I’m not looking at your pictures, so I