[ WP ] You 're friend keeps talking like he is breaking the `` Fourth Wall '' and you 're no longer sure he 's acting crazy .

It was a funny quirk at first, but the more Jake kept on with it, the more concerned I got. 
 
 ``'Berta, you really do n't see them? Honest to god, you do n't?'' 
 
 I put my hand on top of Jake's and squeezed, `` I always just assumed it was a quirky thing you did, maybe you were trying to get attention?'' 
 
 Jake looked at me, `` Now Alberta, does that sound like me?'' 
 
 I punched his shoulder, `` You know I hate my full name!'' 
 
 Jake leaned and spoke over my shoulder, `` She really does hate that name, though she has n't ever explained why.'' 
 
 `` Stop it!'' I yelled. 
 
 I had known Jake for nearly a decade, since we were both around the age of fourteen. 
 
 `` Do n't worry, this is the just the set-up, the backstory. You'll get to the big stuff soon enough.'' 
 
 I frowned at Jake, `` Who are you talking to and why are you saying that random stuff?'' 
 
 He winked, `` Seriously, any time now.'' 
 
 In the decade I had known him, he had always spoke to some unseen entity that he insisted on calling the reader. In our teenager years it was n't a big a deal, but now that we were both in the real world it was starting to cause Jake issues with his work. He was on his last chance at his current employer and had already been let go by two others. 
 
 `` I really do n't want to see you lose everything to this, Jake. I want your life to work out, I want you to be successful and meet a nice girl and all that other stuff we are supposed to do.'' 
 
 `` You're a nice girl,'Berta,'' Jake said. 
 
 `` Oh, hush that,'' I blushed slightly. 
 
 `` No worries guys, this is n't romantic. It is n't going to turn sappy. Neither of us have any kind of feelings like that,'' Jake said, past me. 
 
 `` Damn it, Jake, say those things to me!'' I yelled. 
 
 He stopped looking past me and looked directly into my eyes. The sudden shift in mood caught me off guard and left me wondering if we had ever made eye contact like that before. He always seemed to be looking off somewhere else. He had a surprisingly piercing gaze. 
 
 `` I just want you to stop for a moment and listen to me,'' he said, concentrating on every single word, `` Can you trust me?'' 
 
 I sighed loudly, `` We've been through this, Jake. This is n't about trust, you know I trust you as much as I trust anyone.'' 
 
 `` All of these different stories in all of these different cultures say we are being watched by someone else,'' Jake said. `` They all claim a higher power is up there, somewhere. You do n't down those people; you do n't call them crazy. It just so happens that I see you. I do n't mean you,'Berta, I mean you, the person reading this right now. I see you sitting there, staring at your screen, taking in the words.'Berta, you can see them too, I know you can if you just really try. It is n't even that hard, they are always checking in, any time anything interesting is happening. I know you're going to see them,'Berta, I know it because that is the only interesting possibility that is left for this moment. They only stop in when something big is going to happen, and you're that something big this time.'' 
 
 I stared into his eyes the entire time he spoke, those sincere, honest eyes. My mouth was left open for far too long and I was beginning to feel self-conscious about it. 
 
 Finally, I decided to play along with him, `` Alright, Jake, fine. Let's just say you are right. What do I do?'' 
 
 `` Just narrate it. You're writing this story.'' 
 
 I exclaimed, `` Jake, I do n't know what the hell that means!'' 
 
 He smiled, `` You've been doing it this whole time, right guys? You've heard her? You've heard what she is thinking? Just think it.'' 
 
 I rolled my eyes, `` Alright, we'll see.'' 
 
 I thought very hard about the reader and the way they were listening to my story, when suddenly, I did n't feel so alone. Slowly, I peered over my shoulder, and with eyes wide with shock, I locked gazes with you. 
 
 
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