Replacement

Jacky walked back in. He forced his tremulous shivering to stop like a statue. He walked very awkwardly like a robot needing some oil for the joints. “What is it?” asked Jess. Jess was Jack’s girlfriend who he has been dating for 4 years. Jack carefully observed Jess as if she was something extraordinary. Jack placed his hands on Jess’s face and strokes it gently. He felt her smooth chubby cheeks sliding through his fingers as streaming water would slide through your hands.
“You’re freaking me out Jacky. What’s wrong? What was it out there?” asked Britney. Britney is Jacky’s oldest friend. They’ve know each other even before their preschool years. They were friends even with their limited vocabularies and syllables. They attended the same elementary, middle and high school together. And College was another path they took together.
Jacky slowly turned his head toward Britney. With his eyes wide open and lips trembling, he started to move toward Britney. “Jacky! Stop it! You are scaring me!” Britney stretched her arm out trying to keep distance from Jacky but jack grabbed that arm and pulled Britney right up to his face. With his face so close to her. Britney could feel Jacky’s pulse and their nose and lips were almost touching. It was almost sexual in a way but no one thought of it like that. As Jacky breathed, Britney’s eyebrows twitched. Jacky inhaled for about 2 seconds than with a somewhat barely traceable smile said “nothing”.
Then he busted out laughing. Then Britney exhaled with a laughter indicating her relief. Tommy, who is Britney’s girlfriend and Jacky’s best high school friend, started laughing and said “I knew it man, I knew it. I saw that look on your face from the moment you walked in that door.” Jane’s face bloomed with relief and smiled out of silliness.
Then all of a sudden, Jacky insisted “Guys, I have a surprise for you. Go into that closet and come out when I count to 100.” All the other guys looked dumbfounded and kind of amused. “Well you always have a surprise for me Jacky, and I do too for you” said Jane slurring out some syllables. “I’m serious, I’m sure you guys will all like it. Just come out when I count to 100” said Jacky ignoring Jane’s seduction. Forcefully, all of the guys sluggishly dragged their feet into the closet.
“Man what is this? What is wrong with him” complained Tommy. “HA! Don’t worry guys, I’m sure his planning something” replied Britney. As they waited in an absolute dark, their visions dulled as their hearing sense sharpened. “What is he doing out there? Yo Jacky! Jacky Boy! Can we come out yet?!” Only a Blank echo answered back. “Jacky Honey… are you there?” No answer was replied. “Hey Jacky? We’re coming out now ok? Jacky?”
Then all of a sudden they heard a knocking on the door. It was more of a banging than knocking. And Jacky’s voice blared from distance. “Hey guys! Hey guys!”
“Ok, this is ridiculous I’m going out” Jess grabbed the door knob, and the knob was intact, not turning rightward or leftward. “Step aside” said Tommy. With his size 14 feet, he kicked the door several times. Then with a loud grunt he body slammed the door collapsing it as they broke free.
The banging on the door became louder and more frantic. “Hey guys! Guys! Open up! I’m back; it’s freezing out here hurry up!” As Jess, Brit and Tommy peeped through the peep hole, surely there was Jacky standing outside in the rain. They opened the door and Jack came rushing in complaining and shouting at the guys for letting him in so late. “But, you told us to go into the closet Jacky. Remember?” Asked Jess with a very doubtful expression. Jacky stood dumbfounded, “What are you talking about Jess? I just got here, can’t you tell? And why do you have that black smear all over your face?”.
They felt something sweeping by, not physically but mentally. As the three gazed through the room they all stopped and stared where their last 15 minutes of memories occurred.
Jacky walked over by the fire, sitting where the guys were sitting before. Jacky looked up and smiled with partial teeth showing, gesturing them to come sit. He was waiting for the other 3 to fill in the spot.