My Online-Offline Twin

My name is Nichole. I am 16 years old. I live in 21 century and trust me, its not all its cracked up to be. We have iPhones and laptops and all types of devices we use to communicate with other people. Sometimes we get a little carried away. I was sitting on my bed a few weeks back and I asked myself, "Am I the same person I am online as I am offline?" It's sad to say my answer wasnt what I wanted it to be. I wasnt the same person I am online as I am offline. I go through my text messages and facebook chats and I realized i've developed a whole new personality online. Offline Im shy and smart and sensitive. Online im outgoing, fierce and and The Queen Bee of all social networking. At first i thought it was fine because i was online and my identity was anonomyous. I could put people down and talk about them and they never knew who said it or what for. It had gone to far when one day i spent several hours on the computer and i got up to use the restroom. As i was washing my hands my eyes drifted to the mirror infront of me. I didnt recognize the person stareing back at me. This girl's hair was a fire red, not a dull red like my hair was. Her sky blue eyes were as cold as ice and as deep and still ass glass. They held no emotion and neither did the rest of her face. As i looked into the mirror the girl in the mirror staring back at me looked at me with a face full of attitude and careless exposition. I lifted my finger to the mirror unlike i assumed the girl in the mirror didnt follow. She stared at me as if i were insane and extremely below her. Her eyes narrowed at me and it seemed that she stepped closer to me in the mirror. Her bow-shaped lips parted and a hard, cold, minupulative boise escaped them.

"Dont look at me as if you dont know me."she said, "You know me...you are me. I am you. There is no more sweet and innocent Nichole. There is a new me...a new you. I am Nikki. I am fierce, i am fearless, i am flawless and i am queen. You let me manifest and now im TAKING over. You are no longer in control. I control you. There will be no more hiding behind an internet browser. Your going public! And theres nothing you can do about it." Nikki finished an she stepped back and winked at me as she vanished and the girl in the mirror became me again.

Days pasted by with no sight of Nikki. I attempted to avoid the computer but the more i fought the more of an urge i had to rebel against it. I restrained as long as possible then i couldnt help but to simply give in. Everyday i came from school it was straight to the conputer, no homework, no friends just me, the computer and later joining us, Nikki. My grades started to drop and my teacher started to worry. The timw i spent on the internet must have fed nikki because soon enough she took over. My wardrobe changed, my attitude changed, even my looks changed. The dull red color of my hair turned to the color of fire. My shapeless dry lips turned a rosy pink shaped into a beautiful bow shape.

Nikki took over me completely took over me the day my english teacher pulled me aside to talk about my "sudden change".

"Ms.Jordan, please stay behind after class," my english teacher Mr. Monroe said as he wrote the english essay prompt on the hoard i knew i wouldnt do.

Over the time i started making my gradual change i beacem less involved with my study groups and more involved in cheer, sports, parties and the social network. Just as the end of the day bell rang my new boyfriend, Kody James appeared behind me and softly kissed my neck as he turned to leave class, knowing I had to stay back to talk to Mr.Monroe. Mr.Monroe looked disapprovingly at me and motioning for me to come to the front of the class. I handed my bookbag to Kody as he walked oit of the room and sashayed up to the front of the classroom.

Mr.Monroe lowered his glasses from so close to his face and stare me dead in the eyes with a face full of concern and determination.

"Nichole.." he started.

Suddebly I lost all control of myself as Nichole and Nikki took overpowered me.

"It's Nikki." Mr.Monroe stared at me as if he was trying to buy past my hard mask.

"Well...Nikki. i have noticed an extreme difference in your grades, your behavior and especially the new company you have decided to keep. I just wanted to talk to you before you head too far down the path of destruction."

Deep down inside of me i knew Nichole was still inside. Aching to get past the barriers that Nikki had created to withhold her true feelings. Shhe wanted to apologuze to Mr.Monroe for her grades and promise to do better but i had created a monster. I had stroked it and fed it and now it was bigger than me myself. Nikki locked the barrier and lost the key right along with all the goals i had set for myself before the internet took over.

"Thanks for your concern mister but its not wanted and its certainlyvnot needed. And i would appreciate t if you wouldnt waste my time with foolishness like this. Now if you'll excuse me i have a boyfriend to attend to." Nikki said as she turned soullessly and walked out of the room.
Weeks later i had mny more of those conversations and they all seemed to just make Nikki angrier which mad her more powerful. Spon enogh i forgot who i was a Nichole and just lived as a dying soul inprisoned in my own mind. Weeks and months flew by and next thing i knew i was awakening from my deep depressant by the forced imposed upon my limbs. I was being escorted to a juvenile home far awat from home. Nikki was forced to communicate with others verbally and was no longer aloud internet! This put me in more control of my body and weeks later Nikki appeared to have been just a really long nightmare. While i was in the juvenile home i proved myself sane enough to be moved back home and attend my life again. Weeks later i diagnosed myself strong enpugh to touch a computer again.

While on the omputer i delated my facebook under Nikki Jordan and made a new one under Nichole Jordan. I gave myself rules and commitments i had to maintain. While making my new facebook account i decided to make my own cover photo. I pulled up a picture of Nikki and photoshopped it to on the side of Nikki in her highest peak it said: MY ONLINE-OFFLINE TWIN. NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN.:)

A few days later i returned to school and back to my life i had before Nikki. Study group, homework, book club and an hour of computer time. I realized that i had made social networking a necessecity that soon enough turned into a dominant factor in my life. I am happy i went through that expericence so that i may never have it happen again. I returned to my regualr self but i decided to make it to where i stood out from my nerd crowd. I died my dull red haur a color similar to Nikki's and used lip outliner to make that pretty refined bow shaped mouth. I through in a little mascara, eyeshadow, blush and foundation and Ikki was almost as pretty as me. Except i had a special glow to me that Nikki didnt have. I used my potintial voice for good and not evil. I was apprexiative to have met Nikki so i knew what the new Nichole shouldnt do.

THANKS NIKKI AND I HOPE TO NEVER SEE YOU AGAIN! HAPPY 21 CENTURY.
TO: My online-offline twin ;)