"Here."

I look up from the book I pretend to read. Logan came to me again. Found me behind bleachers. Well, actually I didn't intend to hide, so I'm on my usual spot. In Logan's outstretched hand is a bottle of pills.

"What is it?" I ask nonchalantly.

"Pills," Logan replies.

"Are you selling drugs now?"

"No, damn it. It's THE pills you wanted. To get rid of shining."

He sits right beside me and puts the bottle on the grass in front of me. I look at the bottle and then at Logan again. It's like I try to solve a puzzle in my head...

He said he didn't care, and now he gives me the pills? Pricey, maybe not-even-working pills? From where I stand, it doesn't look like "don't care".

"Why... why do you give them to me?" I ask. Logan avoids looking at me directly. He shrugs and purses his lips.

"You said you needed'em."

Blue screen of death... I freeze on a spot. His words caused too many logical collisions.

"No, thank you," I finally utter. Logan turns to me, and he seems offended.

"Why not?"

"I... mmm..."

"Do you think I try to poison you?" His voice starts to sound metal.

Yeah, actually, this is exactly what I think... By the way, what happens if one of the shining ones dies? The other continues to shine? Or dies too? Or what?

"Well... I would not exclude that, though... I would not bet on poison... but laxative is a quite possible option..." I smirk. But Logan frowns and exhales loudly.

"Did you take them?" I ask. He glances at me.

"No."

"Why not?"

But Logan just doesn't answer. And silence drags on. I come back to pretending that I read a book; Logan is sitting next to me. We shine in unison. I feel my skin tingling, but it's nice. Just like last time, Logan's phone is buzzing, but he switches it off and sits with me until the end of recess.

Then Logan gets up and leaves. The bottle of pills remains on the grass in front of me.

I would never have thought to take them... But...

The next day the first class is history. I came early. Surprisingly, Logan did too. Well, I think we are getting synchronized in some way, so I should stop being surprised by it.

I take my seat far away from Logan, but when I look down at my hands, I see them reddish. I wonder if soon my whole body will shine. Maybe I overthink things? As I said there are few shining guys in my class, so I could pass as just a shining teenager. But... My shining is different, it pulsates. It's like it wants to synchronize with Logan's! And this is noticeable.

I tried to convince myself that it would not be a big deal. After all, Logan was my biggest problem. I don't think that someone will beat me or us because of shining. But... no one can stop others from gossiping behind my back or laughing right into my face or... I don't know what else. I just don't want it!

So before the class starts, I slip out of the room and go to the bathroom. Having locked up the door of one of the stalls, I take out the pills and look at the label. I checked the name yesterday. It's really anti-shining pills. Though the bottle wasn't sealed. Maybe Logan tampered with them.

Why would he do that? Out of sheer spite. But! He can't hurt me, or he will suffer too, he knows it, right?

I unscrew the cap and place a pill on my palm. It looks like a capsule - half white, half green. I look at it, rolling it back and forth.

Ah, screw it...

I swallow the pill hard and go back to class.

I don't feel very different. Mr. Walsh gives us a new assignment, and then... I look at the card with the task, but the letters are blurry. I try to focus, but can't. It's like shining pours into my eyes. I feel hot, and I can't breathe. I can't see anyone around me. Panic clutches me tightly. In my mind, I try to jump on my feet, but I don't think I could do this for real.

Everything is drowning in light... I sink in it.

I hear distant noises, snatches of phrases...

"open the window..."

"he can't breathe, the collar is too tight..."

Everyone will see my shining now... I hope I'm drowning for real.

"I'll take him to the nurse."

Oh, this voice I hear clearly. His voice.

And I'm being carried somewhere...

I feel the cool air on my skin.

A lot of water splashed on my face and neck. Does someone try to extinguish me?

"Come on, Stone..."
 
His voice again. My eyes gradually come back to normal. The first thing I see is Logan's worried face. Then I look around - this place looks familiar. It's my spot behind bleachers. I lie on the grass, the vast blue skies above me.

I try to sit up but feel dizzy and fall back. There are few bottles around me.

"Here, drink it," says Logan and gives me a bottle. "It's water. Just water. I promise," he adds hastily.

I drink a bit and look around again. My face is wet as my hair and my shirt are. And I feel chilly.

"Can you get up?" asks Logan. And it seems to me I hear a sincere concern in his voice.

I can't answer this question, so I try to sit up again. This time I manage to hold my balance. I brush my wet hair back. Then I pull the shirt up with the hope that my sufferings were not in vain. But... shining is still here. Bright as ever. Pulsates like crazy.

Keeps me warm at least.

I feel the urge to lie down again. Well, I think it takes more than one pill to get rid of shining. Why would they sell bottles of pills when you need only one? But I'm not sure I want to repeat the experience.

"I... I didn't know," suddenly says Logan, bitterness in his voice. "They were real. I didn't change them..."

I don't know if I believe him. He sounds candid.

"I told you I would not exclude poison," I smile mirthlessly in an attempt to make a joke. But Logan takes it differently.

"Where are the pills?" He asks frowning. I take the bottle out of my pocket. Logan grabs it and pops it open. It takes a second for me to realize what he is about to do. And I push his hand with all the strength I have; the bottle falls out of Logan's hands.

"What is wrong with you?!" I ask. "What are you trying to prove?"

Logan looks at me, eyes hard, mouth thin.

"Maybe we both need to take them," he says gloomily.

"Did you read the instruction?" I squint. "Did you... even see the instruction?"

Logan still keeps silent.

"Where did you get them?" I continue to ask.

"Borrowed from a guy..."

"You stole someone's pills?!"

"I didn't!" Logan snaps.

"Just... give'em back... to your guy...  Oh... yeah, shit..." I look down at scattered pills.

"He doesn't need them anymore," Logan says plainly, twirling a grass blade between his fingers.

"Why? Did the pills help?" I ask with hope.

But Logan shakes his head.

"No, not really... it just stopped being a problem..."

"Did your friend leave town?"

Logan chuckles; his smile fades quickly. But I caught a glimpse of his smiling face. And it was not a vicious predatory smile before beating me up...

"No..." says Logan and turns to look at me. "They just got together."

His eyes are deep. It's like he's implying something without saying it. But I play dumb. And I don't believe that he is implying exactly it!

"Ok, pills were a very bad idea. Lesson learned," I say calmly. "I... I don't blame you..."

We are silent for a long time.

"I think... it will go away eventually. Do not overthink it. Don't pay too much attention to it." My words sound like I say them more for myself than for Logan. "Just stay away from me, okay? I think when we are close, shining gets stronger. So let's keep a distance. It's not so hard... And... this feeling... it's addictive, but... I think it's better to avoid it. I think the more you feel it, the more you want it. But before that, before shining..." It's hard for me to go on. This memory of our past is still painful. "So, here is the deal. If you want to help... I mean if you want to get rid of it as much as I do, just stay away. And I promise to stay away from you. Deal?"