Merton entered the principal's office, and slumped into a chair.

"This is not right!" He heard a kid scream off in the distance.

He shook his head and gazed out the window. Rain was slowly beginning to fall, slicking the roads to a glossy finish. A kid burst open the door, exiting the principal's office.

"Since when is bringing knives to school against the rules?" the boy screamed. He looked at Merton who just laughed at him. He sighed, shook his head and ran out into the hall. The principal stuck his head out of the doorway of his office.

"Mr. Dingle?" the principal said, turning to Merton. He motioned for Merton to step into his office. Merton sighed and got up from his chair. He went over to the principal and slowly walked passed him into his office, staring at him.

"So. This isn't like you Mr. Dingle; three times in one day." He shook his head as if he were disappointed.

Merton rolled his eyes. "Well get used to it," he sneered, glaring out the office's window.

"I have gotten plenty of complaints from teachers and students. Your attitude doesn't seem to be getting you too far."

Merton nodded. "Shows how much you know." He cleared his throat and stood, heading toward the door. "I'm out of here," he said pulling open the door and disappearing into the sea of kids. The principal sighed and shook his head, scribbling something down on paper.

"People these days, ugh." Merton turned up the hall, passing a class, and heading toward the bathrooms. He swung open the door and growled. A girl screamed and ran out pulling her skirt up, and brushing hair out of her face. "Oops." He let out a nervous laugh and turned to leave.

He turned and entered the right bathroom. He turned on the cold water and splashed some in his face. Merton looked up into the mirror. "Ugh. I can't take this shitty school anymore," he said. He looked up and noticed there was a window. He smirked and went over to it, opened it, and climbed out. He hit the ground with a thud, unaware there was quite a drop below. He pushed himself to his feet, and looked around before he ran off down the street.

XXX

Tommy was at his locker when Lori walked up to him. "Hey Tommy," she said.

"Oh, hey Lori. Have you seen Merton today?" Tommy asked.

"No, not since second period when he was sent to the principal's office for carving his initials in the desk," Lori said.

Tommy shook his head. "I never got in trouble for-um, I mean..." He paused and looked to Lori, who was staring past his shoulder, paying no attention to what he was saying. "What?" he asked turning in the direction of her gaze.

Scarlett was fumbling with the lock on Merton's locker, trying her hardest to get the combination right. Tommy cleared his throat, hoping to catch her attention. She paid him no mind, and continued.

"Um, hi," he said, taking a hold of her hand, and shoving it back at her.

"Not that it's any of our business, but what the hell are you trying to do?" Lori asked, pushing past Tommy.

"Nothing," Scarlett said. "Merton just asked me to get something out of his locker for him," she said, turning back to the lock.

"Merton's in the principal's office, what exactly would he need?" Lori asked, grabbing Scarlett's shoulder and turning her in her direction.

"I don't think you need to be in his stuff," Tommy said, his eyes glowing.

Scarlett narrowed her eyes at him, and tried to push past again.

"What the hell is your problem?" Lori said, getting closer to Scarlett.

"My problem? This would be so much easier if you weren't being such a bitch about it!" Scarlett said, glaring at Lori.

Lori clenched her hand into a fist, ready to punch her. Merton appeared at the doors, and slowly made his way toward them.

"What the hell is going on here?" he asked, glaring at Lori.

"Well, your girlfriend here is trying to steal something from your locker," Lori said.

"I am not!" Scarlett said. She turned to Merton. "Didn't you ask me to get something from it?"

Merton raised an eyebrow, and looked from her to Tommy. "Yeah," he said smiling at Scarlett. Tommy narrowed his eyes at Merton who smiled back at him, and began walking away. "C'mon Scarlett, we have better things to do than hang out at this hell hole."

"What was that all about? "Lori said looking up at Tommy.

Tommy shrugged and watched as the two disappeared behind the glass doors. "Beats me."

XXX

Merton pulled up in his Hearse in front of a blue and white house. He turned to look at Scarlett. "You sure you don't want to come over?" Merton said. "We could watch a couple of scary movies..." Merton tried to do his best puppy dog face.

Scarlett shook her head, smiling softly. "Cute, but no." She leaned in towards Merton and kissed him on the cheek, and opened the door.

"I'll call you!" he yelled out to her as she opened the door to her house, and went inside. Merton shook his head, and backed onto the road.

When Merton got to the Lair, he found Tommy and Lori waiting for him there.

"Haven't you jerks ever hear of breaking and entering?" Merton said, moving over to his couch.

"It's not considered breaking and entering when you're allowed," Tommy said, folding his arms. Lori nodded in agreement. "What's with you man?" Tommy asked, moving a bit closer.

"Nothing." Merton growled, glaring at him.

"No, it's not 'nothing'."

Merton shook his head. "Why don't you just leave me the fuck alone? All you have done is follow me around. What the hell do you want?"

Tommy shook his head. "Tell us what's going on."

"There's noting going on!" Merton yelled, his eyes glowing. He blinked to cover it up. "What's it to you anyway? All of a sudden you care about every single thing that I do? Why don't you tell me what going on with you," he said, poking a finger into Tommy's shoulder.

"Because I'm not the one with a stick up my ass!" Tommy growled, his eyes glowing.

Merton chuckled. "Oh really? I'm the one with a stick up my ass, when you're the one wasting you're time trying to figure out something about me that isn't even there? When you're the one criticizing my girlfriend and accusing her of trying to steal some of the shit that's in my locker?" Merton said, having Tommy backed up across the room. "Well let me tell you something, buddy, you have another thing coming to you." Merton growled and turned to get his jacket. "I'm going for a smoke and you losers better not be here when I get back." He slammed the door on his way out.

"Smoke...?" Tommy echoed him, turning to Lori. She only shrugged and turned to leave. Tommy sighed and followed Lori out the door.

Merton watched as the two disappeared down the street. He shook his head, and dropped the cigarette into a puddle before opening the door to his hearse.

Merton drove around for about fifteen minutes before going back to Scarlett's house. He got out of the Hearse and walked up to her door, ringing the door bell. Scarlett answered the door.

"Hi," she said, a small smile on her face.

"Hey," Merton said with a wide grin. "Um I was wondering if you'd want to go to the Factory, hang out, or whatever..."

"Uh, sure. I got most of my homework done anyway."

Merton smiled, and took a hold of her hand, guiding her to the hearse. Merton started the car. "You do homework?" he said. He laughed as Scarlett playfully hit him on the arm.

They pulled up to the Factory and entered. They sat at a table.

"You want a drink?" Merton asked, getting up.

"Sure..." she said, staring off into the crowd at Tommy, who sat at a table staring back. He turned to Lori, escaping her gaze.

Xxx

"You know what?" he said, in a near whisper. "I think I know what's going on with Merton, but I cant be too sure..." He paused for a second, looking back over to the two who sat chatting happily. "It could just be a phase."

"What do you mean 'a phase'? "Lori asked, shoving a fry into her mouth.

"I don't know, think about all those abdications he went through..." he said, taking a sip of the blue liquid in his cup.

Lori raised an eyebrow. "Abdications? Since when do you use words like abdications?" Lori said.

Tommy shook his head, "Hey, it was what he called them."

Lori shook her head, and let her gaze drift to Merton and Scarlett at the bar.

Xxx

"So, what are you doing tomorrow?" Merton asked, running a finger along Scarlett's cheek. Scarlett smiled.

"I'm going to school like everyone else," she said.

"You don't have to..." Merton said, smiling slyly. "We could just hang out for the day."

"Merton," she paused smiling sweetly. "I have to go to school," she said sarcastically, kissing him lightly on the cheek. Merton tried to stifle a low, soft growl that was growing in his throat.

"Ok, well I'm not gonna beg you. You can just wake up nice and early, go to the hell hole, listen to the same boring old hags, as I'll be nice and warm in my bed sleeping until five. My sheets are made of silk you know..." Merton said. Scarlett smiled, taking a sip of her drink.

"I know." she said, setting the cup on the bar. "You already told me. I wasn't serious about school, you know."

Merton grinned. "Of course you weren't," he said. He took the basket of fries that they ordered and walked back to the table with Scarlett.

"So, what exactly did you have planned for us to do?" Scarlett asked, picking up a fry.

Merton grinned again. "Same old... Same old," he said, taking a fry and shoving it into his mouth. Scarlett nodded, gazing back over to the table where Tommy and Lori sat. "What...?"Merton said. He turned his gaze to where Scarlett was looking. He growled. This time it was loud and clear. "These two assholes again?" he said. He threw his fry back into the basket and got up, heading over to where Tommy and Lori were.

"What the hell are you doing here?" He asked, pounding his fist on the table, causing a cup to fall to the floor.

"Excuse me?" Lori asked, getting to her feet. "I'm sorry, last time I checked it was a free country!" she said, glaring at him.

"Not while I'm around." Merton growled, moving closer. Tommy stood, his eyes glowing.

"Cut it out man!" he yelled standing between the two.

Merton's eyes glowed back. "And what if I don't?" he said. A confused look appeared onto Tommy's face.

"Merton," Scarlett said putting a hand on his shoulder, "c'mon, it's not worth-"

"Leave it, Scarlett," Merton said. "You wanna settle this outside, pretty boy?"

"Who you calling pretty boy?" Tommy asked, shoving Merton into Scarlett. Merton regained his balance, and charged at Tommy.

"Don't fuck with me man!" Merton said, as Tommy dove out of the way.

"Tommy," Lori said, "You can't fight him here."

"That's right, Thomas. Listen to your bitch, she knows about your other side," Merton said, laughing, making his way toward the door. Tommy clenched his teeth as he ran after Merton. Scarlett and Lori followed them, along with a couple of other people.

"Leave me the hell alone!" Merton said, getting right up in Tommy's face.

"Man, I'm gonna ask you one last time, what the hell is your problem?"

Merton cocked his head, smiling. "And I'm gonna tell you one last time," he punched Tommy in the stomach, sending him stumbling backwards. "Nothing!"

Tommy growled, and pulled himself to his feet. He gritted his teeth as he tried his hardest not to wolf out, yet was unsuccessful. A few people screamed, and ran off and others stayed, waiting to see what would happen next.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did that hurt? Here, maybe this'll make you feel better," Merton said. He kicked Tommy in the gut. "Ha ha!"

"Merton!" Lori said, running up to him. "Merton, what the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Oh, that's right," Merton said, "little Tommy's secret wasn't supposed to get out. Oh well! Now if you'll excuse me I'm finally getting the chance to kick someone's ass."

"No!" Lori said, pushing him against the factory wall. "You're not going anywhere." She pinned him to the wall, his feet slowly lifting off of the ground. He tried to break free, but it did no good. "Now. What the hell is your problem?" she said, grabbing his neck, and pushing harder against him.

"Nothing!"

Lori pushed harder. "Merton, think about who you're fighting." Merton growled, and pushed her away. "I don't give a damn about who the hell I'm fighting."

"Um, Merton," Scarlett said, moving closer to Merton, "don't you think that's enough-"

"Scarlett I said to stay out of it!"

"But Mer-"

"I said fuck off!" Merton turned to see the surprised look on Scarlett's face.

"Fine! I'll walk home!" she said. She turned on her heel and headed toward her house.

"No! Wait! Scarlett- just- d'I-" Merton said, but Scarlett kept walking. "Argh!" He turned to Tommy and Lori. "See what you did? Just stay the hell away from me!" Merton said. He turned and ran after Scarlett.

Tommy turned to Lori, "Hey, um..." he paused and looked back up the street. "Did you see his eyes glow too, or was it just me?"