SIXTEEN

Addie nearly sprinted off the bus when they FINALLY reached school.

Hague had been his usual self. Flirting with everything around him with boobs, smirking at Addie for no particular reason and…well that’s about it…but still!

Addie breathed deeply when she was out of the bus and started towards the school when someone intercepted her.

It was a petite girl who looked to be maybe a year younger then her. She had green eyes, pale skin and unnatural looking blonde hair that looked like a home done job.

“Are you Addison?” She asked in a disgusted tone as her eyes critically took Addie in with revulsion.

Addie rolled her eyes before replying. The girl knew dam well that she was Addison; it was such a small town that it was next to impossible not to notice anyone new. This girl was just looking to either mark her ground or to blatantly insult Addie.

“I sure am! And you must be blind.” Addie said in mock enthusiasm.

“Excuse me?” The girl with unnatural hair snapped.

“Well you either fell into a barrel of Peroxide on the way to school or you’re blind walking around with that murderous hair attempt.” Addie snorted and then walked around her without another glance or word at her.

Addie knew she had been a tad mean…okay really mean. But if there was one thing Addie did not what to put up with now…it was little b****ing girls full stop.

“OOo! Ouch!” A voice said beside her.

Addie didn’t need to look. She recognized that voice.

“Not a morning person huh?” Salem said as he fell into step with Addie.

“Not a smart person then are ya?” Addie said as she burst through the school doors, hoping to lose him in the crowds gathering by the entrance; it didn’t work.

“Is that an insult?” He said as she smiled down at Addie and raised his eyebrows at her.

“No. An accusation or rather fact. If you thought I was not a morning person then why would you provoke one?” Addie sighed at his slowness as she walked down the corridor trying to remember which way was her locker.

“Okay, okay. Point taken, but just a little suggestion…” Salem said as he started to move closer – it didn’t escape Addie’s notice either.

“What makes you think I need you suggestions?” Addie said as she stepped around someone to get away from his advances – it (again) didn’t work.

Addie stopped in the halls as students pushed and shoved as Addie and Salem.

“What is it with all of you? Don’t you get my blatant hints? Do I really have to bring out the finger puppets to make you understand? Leave me alone!” Addie said the last part slowly for emphasis.

“Finger puppets? I like that.” Salem said, dismissing everything else Addie had said, “But what do you mean ‘all of you’?? Salem asked and discreetly leaned down as if he was talking to a child.

“You! Hague and…” Addie retorted and then cursed herself as she tried to remember the other one’s name…DAM!

“Oh that’s right and Murray.” Addie said while placing her hand on her hips.

Salem frowned at her as confusion took over his face. Then without any warning he burst into laughter.

Addie stayed there with her hands on her hips and impatience blazing from her.

“What is so funny?” Addie said as she stomped her foot.

Salem stopped laughing (slightly) and looked down at Addie incredulously.

“Did you…did you just stomp your foot at me?” Salem asked on the verge of laughing again.

“Very mature, now what was so funny?” Addie said exasperated.

“What do you think my name is?” Salem asked doubtfully. Addie thought if the room would have allowed it he would have folded his arms in superiority,

“What? ARGH! Fine Salem! It’s Salem. Now what was so funny?” Addie said clenching her fists; she hated repeating herself and it seemed she was doing that a lot these days.

“Murray? Are you serious? Yay high.” Salem said indicating the same basic height of him, “Green eyes…” Salem said listing his characteristics.

“Yes, yes I know who you’re talking about the one in my Art History class and P.E, but what’s so funny?” Addie cut him off.

Salem laughed and shook his head as if I was missing a vital point.

ARGH! Addie screamed internally.

“Well, wonder how Murray will take his new name.” Salem said more to himself then to Addie.

“And that mean’s?” Addie said throwing her hands in exasperation.

“You’ll see. Just make sure I’m there when you see him next. He doesn’t take the brush off very well. Ha-ha that the funniest thing since he tried to jump off Hague’s place once when he thought he could fly while under the influence.” Salem said conspiringly as he winked to drive the point of ‘under the influence’ home; not that Addie needed it.

Addie raised her eyebrows at him.

Huh? Addie frowned at what he had just said, not making any sense.

“Whatever!” Addie said giving up and stormed down the corridor trying to find her locker again.

Addie got about five paces before Salem’s hand caught her arm and swung her around to her come face to face with a locker.

What the hell?…Addie thought, but then a moment too late realized the locker number.

Hers.

Addie coughed trying to hide her flaming cheeks and then worked her combination.

“Your welcome.” Salem said in her ear, giving her gooseflesh.

Addie reacted instinctively and automatically, elbowing him in the gut.

He was faster and drew back faster than Addie’s elbow and laughed.

“Argh! Again, do I really have to get out the finger puppets to get you to leave me alone?” Addie was on the verge of shouting.

“I like a girl with attitude.” Another voice said as a locker slammed shut three lockers down from hers.

Murray was it?

Great! Another one! Addie groaned internally.

“Well pity they don’t like you back.” Addie retorted and grabbed her text books for her first and second period.

“That’s what you think…” He said and quickly closed the space between them.

Addie thought exasperation as she folded her arms and gave him a pointed look saying ‘WHAT?’

He took the hint; good boy.

“Rumor has it that you’re getting with a guy from Kingstons.” He said as he looked down his nose at her smirking.

“Well rumor has it that you thought you could fly. So that shows how much you know.” Addie said and tried to out step him, but he wasn’t finished as he blocked her again.

“What?” Murray (was it?) said as he looked…or rather glared down at her, “Where did you hear that?” He asked, his voice holding no humor or mockery.

Addie flinched away from him.

“C’mon now, we don’t want to be late.” Salem said as he stepped in between Addie and…Murray?...Yes Murray.

Addie took the invitation and stepped around them.

“Ahem, Addie?” Salem said. His voice was now audible as the hall’s were nearly deserted.

“What Salem?” Addie said deflated – they seemed to have that effect on Addie lately.

“Where are you going?” Salem asked mystified as he tilted his head to the right.

“Art History?” Addie said apathetically.

Salem laughed and pointed in the opposite direction Addie was walking in.

Dam! Addie thought.

She turned and with what dignity she had left walked in the direction Salem had pointed.

“Definitely not a morning person.” Salem said as he fell into step with her, Murray on the other side.

“And yet you and Murray still…” Addie said annoyed.

“Murray?” Murray interjected, a smile playing on his lips.

Addie looked up at him and raised her eyebrows at him as if he was mentally challenged.

Salem burst out laughing, “Yes Murray. Didn’t you know that was your name?” Salem said in mock surprise.

Murray looked at Addie then Salem, then back at Addie before he too burst into laughter.

“Argh I give up with you two!” Addie said shoving past them and into the Art History class room.

“Addison. I’m glad you could finally join us.” Ms Rolfe said as she looked over her glasses at Addie, “Maybe you could also join me with detention. Today. Lunch and please don’t be late to that either.” Ms Rolfe said as she turned her back on Addie and carried on writing on the board.

Addie was about to object when Salem and…oh dam what was his name again…

“Murdock and Salem. You too can also join me at lunch time today. I do not tolerate lateness from my students. Please be seated.” Ms Rolfe said, all the while her sight and hand never leaving the white board on which she was writing.

Murdock? Addie thought.

“Oh one objection Ms Rolfe. My name isn’t Murdock.” He said as he bit his lip to keep himself from laughing.

“Oh Murdock please will you just be seated! You have disrupted my class long enough.” Ms Rolfe said as she took off her glasses and finally tore her eyes from the board and looked at…Murray? Murdock?

“Oh not Murdock. Murray. Isn’t that right Addison? It is Addison isn’t it?” Murdock said then finally let out a held in laugh.

ARGHHHHH! Are you kidding me? Addie groaned internally.

Addie walked past them and sat down in the seat next to…Hague (cringe).

Salem…and Murdock (double cringe) sat down in front of us still laughing.

“Seems I missed out on the big joke.” Hague said beside Addie as his eyes looked her over.

“You sure did. Seems like my name is now Murray.” MURDOCK (Mental note…Do not guess names!) said as he looked over at me and winked.

“Oh c’mon are you that immature or is Galesend really that small that you find the most pathetic things funny, say someone who mistook someone’s name for Murray.” Addie said both exasperated and really proving that she wasn’t a morning person.

Salem and Murdock stopped laughing and looked at Addie as Murdock continued to smirk; proving that yes Murdock really was that immature.

“I don’t think it’s that but rather at the fact that any girl forgetting Murdock’s name…” Salem said frowning; obviously he didn’t like being called immature – or being compared in parallel with Murdock.

“Whatever I don’t care.” Addie said as she raised her hands to silence him. Then looked away from their emerald eyes and directed them towards the white board.

Addie fished out a pen and opened her book to a new fresh page when Murdock started to chuckle quietly again.

Are you kidding me? Addie thought.

Addie sighed loudly. Murdock took that as an invitation, Dam!

“Okay, okay I’ll stop if you answer me this. Are the rumors true? Are you really getting with a Kingstons’ Pom?” Murdock said wiggling his eyebrows at Addie.

“Okay I’ll answer that if you answer me this.” Addie said as she turned her full attention towards Murdock.

Hague and Salem noticed Addie little negotiating and they too turned their full attention to the convocation.

“Tuesday night. Were you or were you not by the riverside?” Addie said in full confidence, but low enough that only they heard.

It was like someone had flicked a switch. They all turned around back to their work and were suddenly preoccupied with copying the noted from the board.

“I thought so.” Addie mumbled as she too cast her attention to writing the notes on the white board.

Just wait until detention, Addie thought mischievously. I’ll get it out of you eventually.

(the next chapter will have DRAMMMMAAA...detention is not going to be so safe anymore when i'm done with the next chapter...sorry this one didn't have much...i wanted to save it all for my next chappie...be sure to catch this one...more than the others...mwahahahahahaah...i love suspense!)