Chapter Three

Sorry for not updating for a few days…anyway, Happy Reading~

Jason

"Jason," Todd whispered to his friend. "Psst, Jason. Give me the answer for number six."

Jason furrowed his brow while he concentrated. He was ignoring his friend because he wasn't gonna cheat. Jason Grace would not, could not cheat. Especially after what his sister went through to help him get his grades back up. Jason, only losers cheat, She had told him. You're not a loser because you're my brother. Okay?

"Psst," Todd's voice was more persistent this time. "The answer. Number six."

Annoyed, Jason shook his head. He focused on the test.

"Ja-son. The frickin' answer for number six!" Todd hissed. Without warning, Todd snatched the test paper from his friend. Jason gave his friend a glare but Todd only smiled. "Yeah, that's what happens when you don't help the first time."

"But this isn't helping. This is cheating. Thalia said not to teach," Jason said matter of factly.

"Oh, look who's the good boy. Good for you! I'm sure your sister must be so proud."

"Just give back the paper—" He was interrupted by a very clear ahem.

"Well, well, well," Mr. Andrews stepped into the picture. "What do we have here?" He turned to Todd. "Two test papers? May I ask why?"

Todd quickly flipped the sheet over. "Um, no, sir," He replied before flashing an innocent smile. "That was just…my, um—"

"Perhaps, cheat sheet?" Mr. Andrews raised his eyebrows questioningly.

Todd gave a nervous laugh. "Me? Cheat sheet? Of course not, Mr. Andrews."

Then Mr. Andrews turned to Jason. "So, Jason, may I ask why you don't have a test paper?'' Hearing this, Jason turned to Todd giving him a glare. Todd replied back with puppy dog eyes. "Please," His friend mouthed. "Just this one time. Please."

Jason sighed. "I didn't get one," He grumbled in reply. Todd gave a comical fist pump.

Mr. Andrews didn't seem fooled. "Oh, you didn't? But it's been fifteen minutes into the test. I even asked if everyone received a paper. Perhaps, Jason, are you lying?" The boy shook his head in reply.

"Are you sure?" Mr. Andrews put both his hands onto Jason's desk. He stared deeply into his eyes. "Are," Mr. Andrews slowly said, "you sure?"

If there was one thing Jason was bad at, it was lying. Sure, it could be remembering stuff since the accident deeply affected his brain, but lying would be one of his worst abilities.

"Y-yes, I'm d-definitely sure," Jason stuttered out. Todd gave a silent groan and put his head in his hands.

"You're lying," Mr. Andrews concluded. He turned to Todd. "I would like for you to give Mr. Grace back his test, Mr. Rivera."

In defeat, Todd handed the paper to Jason.

"Oh and as punishment, I would like for you two to serve after school detention. And also for Todd, I want you to be on cleaning duty at the dance," Mr. Andrews started to walk back to his desk.


"I'm forcing you to go to the dance, no matter what," Todd declared. It was now dinner, after they spent the detention.

"Dude, I caught cheating because of you. I'm not gonna help you clean," Jason muttered before biting into his sandwich.

Todd grabbed the sandwich. "But you have to go!" He whined.

"I don't want to clean."

"Well, you don't have to clean! Just go there for fun!"

"What if I don't want to go for fun?"

"You have to go! Just go!"

Jason took his sandwich back. "What do I get out of this?"

"Fun!" Todd simply replied.

"There's gotta be more than that."

Todd started to think while Jason continued eating. During that time, Jason began to think. I wonder what things were like before I lost my memory. I never really thought too much about it but now...I'm wondering more and more. A few days ago, I thought about kissing under the apple tree. I know this school has an apple tree, but why would I kiss? And especially, why Piper? I mean, she's weird. She used to talk to me or be sad the first days I came back from the hospital. But now she acts really flustered whenever I'm near her.

"You know what? If you go, I'll pay you twenty bucks. And to top it all off, I'm gonna get you your mask for the Masquerade thingy. I promise," Todd said.

Twenty bucks? Jason nodded his head slowly. "Make it twenty-five and I'm in."

Todd shrugged. "Fine, whatever."


Piper

Piper looked at Marlin who was smiling brightly. They were at the Rec room, sitting on the couch. (A/N: I don't know how to spell that...)

"What are you going to wear for the dance?" Marlin asked, reapplying lip gloss. Piper rolled her eyes. "I thought I said I wasn't going."

Marlin froze. "What?" She quickly shoved it back into her purse. "Memory refresher: you said you were going. I even got you to sign a contract! But are you still not going?"

Piper sighed. She had been so determined to not go that she forgot about the contract. "Yeah, Marlin, I'm not going. I'll pay the fee."

Marlin shrugged before taking out her compact mirror to check her mascara. "Fine by me. Twenty bucks isn't that bad."

"Twenty dollars?!"

Marlin shut her compact mirror. "Yep. That's what the contract says," She replied not too considerately. "Hmm...do you think I'll be able to get some new clothes? Twenty should at least get me a new pair of skinny jeans or something."

Piper shook her head.

"So, no skinny jeans?"

Piper sighed. "No, that's not what I meant," She groaned. "I'll just go to the dance."

Marlin shrugged. "You don't have to go. I mean, twenty dollars can get me a lot besides skinny jeans. I might need some new perfume. I don't think Todd likes my Strawberry Vanilla one."

"But I got you the Strawberry Vanilla."

"Oh, well. Anyway, hurry up and decide! Are you going to the dance or not?"

Piper sighed once more. "Okay...I guess I'm going."

Marlin gave a curt nod. "Good. Now, what are you going to wear?"

"I don't know. I only have the school uniform and some sweats and tees. Those are acceptable...right?"

"No."

"No?"

"No."

"No..." Piper confirmed. What was she supposed to wear? She never went to the school dances, much less a Masquerade. All she knew was you have to wear a mask. Maybe a fancy tee and some jeans would do. And she could wear the school ballet flats.

"You know what, I'll give you some clothes. I have this old strapless black dress. You can wear a tulle vest or something," Marlin suggested.

Piper turned to look at her. "How long is the dress?"

Marlin cocked her head as if she were thinking. "A little bit past the knees maybe. Not that short, don't worry."

Piper perked up a little. "What about the shoes?" She was suddenly interested in this conversation.

"I'll give you my flats if you want. They're dark blue."

"And for the hair?"

"Jeez, Pipes. You sure are interested for someone who doesn't want to go to the dance."

Piper blushed in embarrassment. "I-I don't. I just want to make sure I don't show up naked."

Marlin burst out laughing. "Y-you said 'naked'!"

"Jeez, Marlin. You sure are immature for someone who's in high school," Piper mocked her.

"Touche, my friend."

Piper smiled playfully. "Anyway, what are you wearing?"

Marlin grinned since it was something she always wanted to share. "It's so pretty, Piper! It's pale pink and flows up to mid thigh! And I'm gonna wear a thin, little tan belt around my waist! It has spaghetti straps and made out of satin, cotton, and silk!"

"You sound really intelligent when you talk about fashion, you know."

Marlin grinned wider and started to twirl her reddish blonde hair around a dainty index finger. "Why, thank you," She said with her eyes bright.

"But that's only when you talk about fashion. Nothing else," Piper clarified her last statement.

Marlin cocked her head in confusion. "Um..." Her eyes widened as realization took place. "That's mean, Piper! Take that back!" Marlin grabbed a couch cushion and hurled it at her friend.

Piper started to giggle. "But it's true!" She squeaked through her giggles. She caught the cushion and started to whack Marlin with it. The two girls started to continuously hit each other with couch cushions.

Then bell rang and the girls stopped. It was now eight-thirty, meaning that they had to return to their dorms. They placed the cushions carefully before walking out of the rec room.

"Come to my dorm tomorrow so you can see the dress. Okay, Piper?"

Piper nodded. "After school, if a supervisor doesn't catch us." The students were only allowed to go to each other's dorms during the weekend.

"Okay."