Bella-Donna

Part One: Meeting the Edge

Chapter One

Bathory High

Donna gazed up at the school, looming over her like a threat. At the top of the building stood a belfry, minus a bell. Kids were gathered along the steps of the school, socializing and trying to get in last minute studying before school began.

Donna could feel stares bore into her skin. She tried to ignore them and reminded herself that this was just another school. Her parents had promised her that they wouldn't move again. But they said that about the last several places.

Like every time, Donna pushed through the crowd and entered the school. A banner hung above the lockers. It read in big letters, "BATHORY HIGH SCHOOL" The sound of clanging locker doors filled Donna's ears but she drowned the sound out by trying to locate the front office.

Shouldn't the front office be in the front of the school? she thought to herself. Donna tried to weave through the crowd and was overjoyed when finally against the right wall in the middle of the hall, the front office was just mere feet away. She joined the line waiting for schedules or schedule changes.

Meanwhile, Donna observed her classmates around her. Gathered around the doors was a blur of pink. She could barely make out any other colors. A girl turned her head away from the crowd and met Donna's gaze. She smiled weakly but before she turned back to her group stole a glance at two boys standing against a set of lockers.

She followed the girl's eyes and found the boys she was staring at. One was handsome with light brown hair. His eyes were full of enthusiasm and excitement but were often trained on other girls. The boy standing next to him was obviously his friend. He was the exact opposite. At least in clothing.

He donned a black shirt and his black hair hung in his eyes. His skin was pale white and he had a thin frame. There was nothing exceptionally handsome about him, but there was an air of mystery about him. Donna quickly noted that he should not be fraternized with.

Before she could look around any further, a stout woman behind the counter in front of Donna called her, "Hello? Miss?"

Donna stepped up to the counter and before she could greet the woman was asked many questions, "What's your name? What do you need? A schedule? A schedule change? God knows I ain't doing another one of them things."

"A schedule," Donna butted in before old wrinkles started to have a conversation with herself, "I'm new here. My name is Bella-Donna Todd."

Wrinkles frowned, obviously unhappy with Donna trying to get a word in. She turned slightly in her seat and turned a key in a drawer. Her stubby fingers shuffled through the files quickly, there was no hiding the fact that she had been doing this for years.

"How do you spell your last name, dear?" she asked.

"T-O-D-D." Donna answered. It's not that hard a last name. My first name should be enough to give you the clue which file is mine.

Wrinkles pulled out a thin slip of paper and handed it to Donna. "This you?"

She only needed to look at the first name to be sure, not many people had a name like hers. "Yes, ma'am." Donna turned to leave but was caught by Wrinkles bony grip.

"Are you named after the poison, belladonna?" she asked, not letting her go until she got an answer.

Donna nodded and then pulled her arm away from Wrinkles. This was a question she got every time her family moved. And quite frankly, it was a question she was getting quite tired of.

She looked down at her schedule and looked at the teacher for first period. Science. A teacher wasn't listed, only a room. Donna made her way there and was the first one in the class.

The teacher sat at his desk and didn't look up from his paperback until the class was completely filled. Donna counted her lucky stars for being left alone in the back of the room. Just as she did this, the boy she had seen earlier walked into the room.

Girl's eyes caught glimpse of him and then quickly looked away, not wanting their friends to realize they were staring at him. Little did they know, all their friends had their sights set on him too.

"Mr. McMillian, do you have a pass?" the teacher looked through his spectacles that were precariously perched at the edge of his nose.

"Um… sorry… no…"the boy stared at the girls that had previously been staring at him.

"Don't let it happen again." the teacher told him and the McMillian kid scanned the class for a seat. Donna slumped in her seat, trying to make herself as small as possible hoping this kid would just leave her alone. A smile spread across his face. He made his way to a the seat next to Donna.

"Now!" Precarious Perched Spectacles began, "Let's turn our attention to the board!"

"Hey," the boy sitting next to Donna whispered. She said nothing, "I'm Henry, what's your name?" he held out a hand and she reluctantly took it.

"Donna."

"Cool, so are you a new kid?" he leaned in his seat, trying to seem as normal as possible.

"I come in five weeks after school's started. I have a schedule on my desk and I look out of place. How'd you guess?" Donna said sarcastically.

"Actually, you don't stand out that much. I have a friend that I think would like you. You interested?"

She looked at him in disbelief, "You don't even know me and you're trying to set me up on a date?"

"No, that's not what I meant. It's just that you seem sort of like him. Just by your attitude and clothing. I was wondering if you'd want to sit with us at lunch." Henry clarified.

"I don't know," Donna thought it over but then remembered the boy that he had been hanging out with earlier. She decided against it.

"Come on, Vlad's a really cool guy." he pushed.

"No thanks."

"Whatever, you don't know what you're missing." Henry finished and turned toward the board with an absent stare.

"Mr. McMillian, is there something you'd like to share with us?" Precarious Perched Spectacles asked, interrupting his own lesson.

"I just wanted to mention that the way crickets mate is quite interesting." he said without hesitation. Giggles erupted around the classroom and Donna rolled her eyes.

"Indeed," the teacher replied then returned to his lesson.

When the bell rang Donna attempted to get out of the class as quick as possible. Fate had other plans though. Her book bag strap caught around the seat and the bolted in desk and chair combination pulled her back.

Henry looked at her and held out a helping hand. She grabbed it but before he pulled her up asked, "Will you at least give it a shot?"

"I said no," she reminded him. He shrugged his shoulders and then halfway into pulling Donna up let go. She fell back on the floor.

The next several periods, Henry sat next to Donna. By lunch, she was glad to be out of his sights. Donna made her way through the lunch line and looked around for a free seat.

Waving arms caught her eye and when she saw who they belonged to began looking again. Finally, finding no other choice but to sit with the waving arm freak, made her way to the table.

"Hello, Henry… again." Donna said, focusing on her food.

"I told you I'd get her to sit with us." Henry nudged his friend who had just bitten into a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

"I'm not surprised you did." his friend said through mouthfuls of his food. He took long bites like a predator does when it savors it's prey. A line of crimson jelly ran down his chin and Donna alerted him with a gesture.

"Oh…" he wiped the line of jelly away quickly and then quickly gobbled up the rest of his sandwich.

"So where'd you move from, Donna?" Henry asked, trying to break the ice barrier that was clear in the middle of the table.

"Santa Cruz, California." she replied.

"Wow!" Henry said dramatically, "So is Joss here!" he gestured toward a blonde haired boy sitting next to Vlad. Donna hadn't noticed him.

"Hey," he said.

"Hi," she replied.

"You guys have so much in common!" Henry pulled his arms together gesturing Donna and Joss.

"I doubt it." Joss said quickly.

"Yeah, we're probably completely different people." Donna backed him up.

Henry picked his fork at his food and then muttered under his breath but still loud enough for them to hear, "They say opposites attract."

"Henry! Stop trying to play match maker! Eat your food!" Vlad spoke up and then apologized to Donna, "Sorry about him. He can be obnoxious at times."

"I've met more obnoxious people than him." she said staring at Henry. He grinned and she couldn't help but laugh a little.

They ate the rest of their lunch in silence. Even Henry didn't try to make small talk. Donna resumed her classes and each and every one Henry was in. And each and every one he sat next to her, pestering Donna about the most pointless things.

It wasn't until sixth period she was finally relieved of Henry's presence. However, someone else was ready to take his place.

Vladimir Tod walked through the door and spotted Donna. She didn't try to hide, finally realizing that did nothing but get people to sit beside you even more. Instead she gestured for him to sit beside her. He obliged.

"Hey," he said sliding into his seat.

"Hi," Donna greeted him, "I'm sort of glad Henry's not in this class." there was an awkward silence and then she stuttered, "I mean- I'm sure you don't think he's annoying… since he's your friend and all- what I mean is… ugh…"

Vlad's lips turned up in a small smile. He breathed a laugh and Donna hid her face in her hands. "I'm completely making a fool of myself."

"It's fine, I don't mind." Vlad said, "It's a nice refresher from Henry's usual nonstop chatter."

"Is he always like that?" Donna spread her fingers apart, looking through the slots.

"Actually, no. Not since last Friday." he explained.

Before Donna could get out another word, the teacher strolled into the classroom. "Good afternoon, class!" he said in a cheery voice. "Please take out your homework from last night and I'll come around and collect it."

Everyone did as he said and Donna couldn't help but thinking that this guy had some kind of obedience chip planted in their brains. Every look was the same, bored-out-of-my-mind-and-desperate-for-the-final-bell-to-ring.

The teacher walked down the area between Donna and Vlad's aisles. He picked up Vlad's paper and smiled briefly at him. He reached at Donna's desk and his smile faltered for a moment while he tried to think of the words to say. "Is there a reason you're missing your homework?"

"I'm new hear, sir." she explained weakly.

"I see! No wonder I haven't seen you before! What's your name?" his grin returned to his lips.

"Donna," she half whispered.

"No, please! Come," he grabbed her arm and practically yanked her from the desk, "Stand in front of the class and let's get to know you!"

Donna stood in front of her peers, trying to hide the small quivering of her knees that would soon turn to rapid shaking. She parted her lips and then closed them, not sure what to say. "I'm Donna… that's short for Bella-Donna. Spelled, B-E-L-L…"

Every letter she spoke brought her a new thought.

"A-" Am I really spelling out my name to them?

"Hyphen-" How am I making such a fool of myself?

"D-" Dumb-ass is what they'll call me.

"O-" Oh my god, I really am spelling out my name!

"N-" No! Stop! You're just making it worse!

"N-" Now? I can't stop now? Oh, god! Look at their faces. They think I'm an idiot!

"A." Absolutely. You've done it now. Just walk back to your seat. Now before you do something worse.

"Wonderful!" the teacher exclaimed. "Donna, I think you've inspired us all to re-introduce ourselves. If I could, I'd spend all period having everyone come up and spell out their names! Alas, I cannot and we shall have to do what I have scheduled. You may be seated."

Donna stared down at the floor as she made her way back to her desk. She only glimpsed at Vlad's face which was covered with a look of amusement and curiosity. She tried to ignore his stare but finally, when the teacher was at his maximum volume level, she asked, "What? What do you want?"

Vlad laughed a little, "Why'd you spell your name?"

"I-I panicked!" Donna defended herself.

"Mister Tod and Miss…" the teacher leaned back and took a peak at his new roster, "…Todd. Is there something you'd like to share with the class?"

"No." they said in unison. With a gesture that said he was watching them, the overly excited teacher turned back to his board and started speaking in high speed chatter.

When the bell rang, everyone was too eager to get out of the classroom and there was a momentary clog at the door. Donna took her time as she waited for Vlad to gather his things.

"Does he always act like that?" she asked Vlad who had just slipped on his bag.

"Sort of," he answered, "You should have seen him the first day. He was almost jumping around and walking across the tables."

Donna raised her eyebrows in disbelief and they left the class swiftly, not wanting to be alone in a room with the teacher any longer. Joss and Henry met them just outside the door but when the teacher tried to engage them in conversation, they inched away down the hall.

"What a freak!" Henry voiced his opinion.

The three of them nodded together.

"So did you miss me, Donna?" Henry grinned.

"I'm going to take a wild guess and say no." Joss answered before she could say anything.

"You had last period with him?" Vlad guessed.

"Whatever," Henry shrugged the comment off, "So are you still coming to the movie this Saturday?" he asked Joss.

"Can't, Aunt Matilda has me helping her out. I already agreed to do it. Unlike you, I actually help our around the house." Joss gave his reason.

"I've lived there my whole life, I'm entitled to a day off." Henry justified his actions.

"A day? How about my entire visit so far! Next weekend I'm not taking your load of chores." Joss argued.

"Fine!" Henry ended the discussion and looked at Donna, "Do you want to come?"

"What are you seeing?" she asked, finally allowed to speak.

"Psycho Slasher Chain-saw Guy From Hell." Vlad said before Henry could.

"Sure." Donna confirmed.

"Awesome." Vlad replied.

With no further words, the four of them walked out of the now empty hall and down the steps of Bathory High. Steps that Donna would get to know very well…soon.

Joss tripped down the final step and Donna noticed a tip of silver poke through an opening in his backpack. He quickly brought the bag around to his front and tucked the tip back into his back, making sure all the openings were completely sealed.

"Paranoid much?" Henry asked, having seen Joss's strange act.

"You can never be too sure." he replied.

"Too sure of what?" his cousin asked.

"Y'know…" Joss looked up at Donna with a strange look in his eyes, "…just stuff."