Reality

2023-10-30

Chapter 2: Glitches

Morning light spilled across the school grounds, highlighting the chatter and laughter of students congregating before the bell. Birds sang overhead, their melodies harmonizing with the underlying hum of anticipation that always preceded a new school day.

David navigated through the crowd, spotting Jacob near the entrance. "You won't believe the morning I had," he began without preamble, his tone a mix of annoyance and genuine bewilderment.

Jacob quirked an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "What happened? Lose your homework to a mythical dog?"

Rolling his eyes at the tease, David sighed. "I couldn't find my favorite pen this morning, even though I'm certain I brought it home. Then, lo and behold, it was right back in our classroom from yesterday."

Jacob chuckled, clapping David on the back. "Sounds like you're becoming forgetful in your old age. Maybe you just left it there."

David frowned, considering the possibility. "Maybe. It just felt... off. But let's get inside before we're late." With a mutual nod, the two friends headed into the school, ready for another day.

Inside, the classroom was alive with the usual morning commotion. Students exchanged tales of their weekends and the latest school gossip while preparing for the day's lesson. David methodically arranged his textbooks on his desk, while Jacob lounged back, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere.

With a clap of her hands, Mrs. Mathers, their history teacher, called the class to attention. "Settle down, everyone. Today's topic is an important one."

As she delved into the lesson, David jotted down points, ensuring he missed nothing. Jacob, though not as studious, occasionally scribbled a note or two.

"And, as we discussed last week," Mrs. Mathers continued, "the Treaty of Versa played a significant role in the 19th century's geopolitical shifts."

David stopped writing. He glanced at Jacob, who looked equally perplexed. They both distinctly remembered learning about the Treaty of Versailles. David cautiously raised his hand.

"Excuse me, Mrs. Mathers," he said, attempting to mask his confusion, "I thought it was the Treaty of Versailles?"

A few students snickered, while Mrs. Mathers regarded him with a mix of surprise and mild annoyance. "David, we covered this just last week. It's the Treaty of Versa." Around the classroom, students nodded, affirming her statement.

David felt a pang of unease. He scanned the room, trying to find someone, anyone, who shared his confusion. His gaze briefly met Alice's, who seemed lost in thought.

The school courtyard was bathed in warm sunlight, with students occupying every available space, immersed in animated conversations. David and Jacob, however, chose a relatively secluded bench, the morning's events weighing heavily on their minds.

"It was Versailles, David. I remember studying it," Jacob insisted, leaning forward.

David sighed, rubbing his temples. "I know. So do I. Something's off."

As they delved deeper into their conversation, neither noticed a solitary figure observing them from a distance. Alice, who had been sitting alone at a nearby table, had been unintentionally eavesdropping on their discussion. The resonance of their words with her own observations compelled her to act.

Hesitantly, she rose and approached the duo. "Excuse me," she began, her voice soft and tentative, "I couldn't help but overhear. I've... I've noticed some of those things too."

Both boys turned to her, surprise evident in their eyes. Jacob, recovering first, gestured to the empty space next to him. "Please, join us," he said, his tone welcoming.

David studied Alice for a moment, taking in her slender build, short black hair, and the deep contemplative look in her eyes. It was surprising to him how they had never truly noticed each other despite sharing classes. "So, you've noticed the discrepancies too?" he asked, breaking the brief silence.

Alice nodded, her fingers playing with the edge of her skirt, a hint of nervousness evident. "There's this song," she began, her voice soft, "from when I was younger. I remember humming it all the time. But now, it's like it never existed. I've searched everywhere, but there's no trace of it."

Jacob leaned in, intrigued. "That's... unsettling. We've been noting changes in historical events, classroom materials, even the layout of this school. It's all subtle, but it's there."

Alice looked between the two boys, her apprehension fading slightly. "I thought I was just being forgetful or maybe... maybe I was losing my mind," she admitted. "But hearing you two talk about it, it's a relief, in a way."

David offered a reassuring smile. "We're in this together now. We need to figure out what's happening, and why."

The courtyard gradually emptied as students began making their way back to their respective classes. The hum of conversation dwindled, replaced by the distant echo of footsteps against the linoleum floors.

"We should keep track," Jacob suggested, pulling out a small notebook from his bag. "Document everything we notice, no matter how small."

Alice nodded in agreement. "That's a good idea. Patterns might emerge, or we might find some consistency in the changes."

David glanced at his watch, realizing they were running out of time. "Let's meet after school, compare notes and see if we can make sense of all this."

The trio agreed, and as the bell rang, signaling the start of the next period, they headed in different directions, each lost in thought about the peculiarities they had encountered.

The sun shone bright, casting elongated shadows on the school's basketball court. P.E. class had begun, and students were split into teams for a game of basketball. David and Jacob, both on the same team, tried to focus on the game, but their minds were elsewhere.

As David dribbled the ball, he noticed something off. He paused, looking down at the court markings. The three-point line seemed slightly misaligned from where he remembered it being. He passed the ball to Jacob, who also seemed to have noticed the discrepancy.

"You see it too, right?" David whispered as they moved down the court.

Jacob shot a quick glance at the markings and nodded. "Yeah, it's off. But how is that even possible? They can't just repaint the court overnight."

David shook his head, equally baffled. "It's like the hallway color and the history lesson. Small changes, but they're there."

During a brief water break, Alice approached them, having been in a different P.E. group. "Have you guys noticed the basketball court markings?" she asked quietly.

"We were just talking about it," Jacob replied, wiping sweat from his brow. "It's another inconsistency."

Alice looked thoughtful. "I wonder how many more of these we'll find."

The remainder of the P.E. lesson passed in a blur, with each of the trio distracted by their own thoughts. When the final whistle blew, signaling the end of class, David, Jacob, and Alice quickly made their way to the changing rooms, eager to continue their discussion.

The school library, with its tall wooden shelves and muted lighting, always had a serene ambiance. It was a place of refuge for many students, offering a quiet escape from the bustling school environment. Today, however, for David, Jacob, and Alice, it was a place of investigation.

As they entered, David immediately made his way to the history section, trying to cross-reference the fact they'd learned in class. Jacob, ever the skeptic, murmured, "You think these books are going to be any different?"

Alice, ever observant, noted, "It's worth a shot. Besides, I've noticed changes in some of the books I've read here." She motioned them to follow her to a corner of the library where she'd been sitting earlier. A few books lay open, marked with colored post-it notes.

Jacob raised an eyebrow, "You always this organized?"

Alice shot back with a smirk, "Someone has to be."

David, acting as the mediator, chuckled and said, "Alright, let's see what we have here." He picked up one of the books Alice had marked. Reading a passage, he frowned, "This isn't how I remember it."

Alice nodded, "Exactly. Minor changes. A paragraph added here, a sentence removed there. It's subtle, but it's there."

Jacob, flipping through another book, grumbled, "So our reality is now editing books? What's next? Changing the color of the sky?"

Alice replied, "It's not about reality changing, Jacob. It's about things not being as we remember them."

The weight of their situation settled on them as they continued to investigate, cross-referencing their memories with the altered texts. The soft hum of the overhead lights and the distant sound of pages turning from other students created a backdrop to their focused activity.

After what felt like hours, David sighed, rubbing his temples, "It's consistent. The changes are everywhere."

Jacob, leaning back in his chair, quipped, "Well, it's not like we can just Google the truth, can we?"

Alice, with a thoughtful expression, responded, "Maybe not. But we can document these. Keep a record. If things change again, we'll have something to refer to."

David nodded in agreement, "A baseline. Good idea."

The trio spent the rest of their time in the library making notes, documenting the discrepancies, and forming a plan. They realized that this was just the beginning, and they needed to be methodical in their approach.

As they packed up to leave, the setting sun cast a warm glow through the library windows, painting the room in golden hues. The enormity of their task lay ahead, but together, they felt a sense of purpose and determination.

Jacob, breaking the silence, remarked, "You know, this is the most time I've ever spent in a library."

Alice rolled her eyes, "There's a first time for everything."

David, with a hint of humor in his voice, added, "Let's just hope there isn't a second time for reality shifts."

The drama club's rehearsal room was filled with the sounds of lines being recited, props being adjusted, and the occasional laughter. A stage had been set up at the front, with rows of chairs placed for the audience. Jacob, being an active member of the drama club, was in his element, going over his lines and giving pointers to other members.

David, not a member but often visiting to watch rehearsals, sat in one of the chairs, his attention on Jacob. He always found it fascinating how Jacob could switch between his usual skeptical self to embodying a character entirely.

As the rehearsal progressed, a particular scene began that neither David nor Jacob recalled. The dialogues were different, the characters' motivations shifted, and even the setting seemed out of place.

Jacob, momentarily stepping out of his character, looked at David with wide eyes. David returned the gaze, equally puzzled. Jacob approached the drama teacher, Mrs. Hargrove, a passionate woman in her forties with a love for theater that was infectious.

"Mrs. Hargrove, I don't remember this scene," Jacob said, pointing to the script. "Did we make changes?"

Mrs. Hargrove looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Jacob, we've been practicing this scene for a week now. Don't tell me you forgot."

Jacob glanced at David, who shrugged. Not wanting to make a scene, Jacob simply nodded and went back to his position. But the unease was palpable.

Later, as the rehearsal ended and the members began to leave, David and Jacob huddled in a corner.

"This is getting weirder by the minute," David whispered, looking around to make sure no one was eavesdropping.

Jacob leaned against a wall, his frustration evident. "I swear, I've never seen that scene before. And I've read the script front to back multiple times. This isn't like forgetting a line; this is an entire scene!"

David frowned, flipping through a copy of the script he'd borrowed. "I believe you. And it's not just this. The library, history class... it's like pieces of our reality are being rewritten."

Jacob tried to process it all. "But why? What's causing it? And why are we the only ones noticing?"

David sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know. But we need to find out. We can't keep going on like this, second-guessing every memory."

They decided it was best to head home for the day, their minds burdened with the weight of the day's oddities. As they exited the drama room, the setting sun cast long shadows, adding to the eerie atmosphere of the day.

"Let's regroup tomorrow," David suggested. "Maybe with fresh eyes, we can make more sense of all this."

Jacob nodded in agreement, though a hint of unease lingered. "Yeah, tomorrow. See you then."