I've always thought that the 'N' in my name stood for Nightmare. Hell, my first name should be Nightmare instead of Nash. Ever since I lost my parents when I was ten, I've felt like I've been having an endless cycle of nightmares. There's this one reoccurring nightmare that I keep having over and over. I've been having it since I was thirteen. I've always found myself placed in dark woods late at night. I don't have any money or a phone or a flashlight so I can't see where i'm going. And, i'm always wearing pure white pjs. I'm not sure if that means anything because every time I go to bed, I never wear pure white pjs. Then, I hear wolf howls. At first they're distant but then they seem to be coming closer and closer and that's when I start running. I try to run as fast as I can. But then a wolf jumps in front of me and i'm trapped. I'm standing in a circle with 5 wolves surrounding me. And just when I thought that my life was going to end, another wolf comes jumping out but he isn't just a normal wolf. He's a werewolf with thick black hair all over his body and he has these piercing bright yellow eyes that glows in the dark. He slowly walks up to me, barring his fangs. And without warning, he jumps on me and that's when the nightmare ends.
"Nash, get yer butt up!" A gruffy, old man voice yells.
I opened up my eyes to see the bright blue sky. I didn't even realize that I've been asleep. I slowly sat up and looked around me. I've been laying in my Uncle's boat at the dock. The waves were gently rocking the small boat back and forth. Since i'm pretty much an orphan, my Uncle looks after me. But sometimes I feel like he doesn't want to look after me anymore. He probably thinks I need to go off on my own now even though i'm only sixteen. My Uncle doesn't really take me seriously. Especially when I mention my nightmares. He thinks i'm nuts and thinks that I need to work harder instead of dreaming all day.
"Nash, help me bring the fish into my shop." Uncle demanded.
I sighed and stood up in the boat then hopped onto the dock and grabbed a bucket of fish. I scrunched my nose up from the smell. My Uncle owns a fishing store near the docks. I sometimes help him work the store, other times, I just sit around and watch people come in to buy dead fish or buy fishing lures then walk out or I might just sit at the edge of the dock and look out into the ocean. I go to a public school nearby but lately, I've been absent. I don't like it when kids at school make fun of me. They call me weird or a freak. My Uncle has been pushing me to go to school and my comeback is mentioning that he needs help with his store. It normally works and so far, My Uncle never really talks about the subject anymore but I know that sooner or later, i'm going to have to go back to school eventually. I need my education and I need to graduate. It's what my parents would want but i'm not sure it's what I want. I don't have a goal in life or a career I want to achieve. Hell, I feel like my career is helping my Uncle handle his store everyday.
"Nash, hurry up and get those fish in the store! It's blazin' hot out and I don't want those fish goin' bad!" Uncle shouted.
I sighed as I tried to pick up the pace and put the fish into the freezer locker room in the back of the store. I set the bucket of fish down then started to rub my arms as I walked out of the locker room. Yep, this is pretty much what I do everyday. My Uncle goes fishing, he brings back three buckets of fish, I help him put the buckets of fish in the freezer in the back and then I help him maintain his store either by sweeping the floor or handling the cash register. Then when the day ends, we both go home to his small little house up the road that sits ontop of a hill that overlooks the ocean. I like the house because it has a nice view even though it's kinda small.
"What's goin' through yer head today, boy?" Uncle said as he carried a bucket of fish into the store.
I shrugged. "I just...it's-"
"You better not say what I think you're goin' to say." He quickly said.
I kept my mouth shut. I knew that if I mentioned my nightmares again, he might slap me.
"Sorry..." I mumbled as I shoved my hands into my pockets.
"Whatchu sorry for? Men are never sorry."
I sighed. "Yes, Uncle."
Uncle nodded. "Good. Now, go bring in the rest of the fish." He said.
I nodded then jogged out the store and out to the docks. I walked over to the boat then picked up the last bucket of fish and set it down on the dock. I looked up towards the sky and squinted my sea blue eyes as the sun hit my face. I ran my fingers through my brown hair then picked up the bucket of fish again and walked back to Uncle's shop. On my way there, a group of boys started to past me and one of them held his foot out and made me trip and fall onto the ground. I laid on the ground as the group of boy's laugh then walked away. I glared at them then looked at the bucket of fish to see that a few fish fell out. My eyes widen in horror as I picked one up and looked it over to see if it was okay. I knew that I was going to be in big trouble. Uncle wouldn't care if I got tripped by somebody. He would just say that a man protects his fish or some shit like that.
But since the fish were already on the ground, I knew they were no good. I sighed sadly as I started to pick up the fish when a stranger knelt down and started to help me pick up the fish. I slowly looked up to see the face of the stranger. The stranger looked at me and smiled. He had black hair and brown eyes. He sorta looked familiar but I couldn't pinpoint where I've seen him before. Maybe school? Granted, I haven't went to school since last week.
"Um...you don't need to help. I've got this." I said as I quickly put the fish back into the bucket.
"It's no problem." He said as he stood up. I stood up also and picked up the bucket.
"You look familiar..." I said. "Do you go to my school?"
"Is your school Jefferson High?" He asked.
I nodded.
"I go there. I've only been going there for two months, though. How come I've haven't seen you around?"
I looked away. "I haven't been going to school..."
"Why not?"
"I..."
"Nash! Get yer lazy butt in here!" Uncle shouted from his store.
I sighed and rolled my eyes.
"Nash huh? I'm Cyrus. Cy for short."
I smiled and nodded.
"NASH!" Uncle shouted again.
"I'M COMING!" I shouted back. "Sorry. I have to go." I said then quickly started to walk away.
I walked into the store and quickly took the bucket of fish to the freezer.
"Jesus, Nash. You're about to make me have a heart attack." Uncle said from behind the counter.
"Sorry..." I said as I emerged from the freezer.
"Forget it. I don't need you anymore today. Go on, get!" He shooed.
I sighed then walked out of the store. I looked around to see if Cy was around but he disappeared. I frowned. I was hoping to keep talking to him but I suppose that he had other things to do. Oh well. I wish I can say I can see him at school on Monday but i'm not sure if i'm ready to go back.
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