Chapter 4: First Day Blues
Monday morning dawned bright and early at the Reynolds place. Hali woke up and stretched, getting out of bed. "What time is it?" she mumbled.
"It's 7:00." A voice said from the window, making her jump.
"Atem!" she hissed, hurrying over to the window. Atem was sitting on the sill, grinning at her. "What are you doing there?"
"You left the window open, I decided to surprise you." He said, getting off the window. "Morning."
Hali sighed. "Well, you better not let David catch you, he'll kill you." She said, heading for the bathroom. When she came out, Atem was gone. "Atem?" she asked, looking around.
Atem appeared at the window sill again, his head and neck just showing. "Is he gone?" he asked.
"David? Yeah, he's not in here. Did he see you?" Hali asked, imagining the tongue-lashing she'd get having a boy in her room.
"No. I heard him coming before he came in. I went out the window." Atem grunted, climbing easily through the window.
"Hali, what is he doing in here?" Hailey asked, sitting up in bed.
"His idea of a joke." Hali said, pushing him toward the window. He didn't budge, glancing down at her. "We'll see you at school, okay?"
Atem frowned. "Why do you want me to leave?"
"David will catch you." Hali said, making another fruitless attempt to push him to the window.
"He won't catch me. I'll hear him coming, remember?" Atem reminded her with a wink, tapping his temple.
"Ugh, just get out so I can get dressed!" Hailey groaned.
Atem chuckled, but climbed out the window. "How can someone so hot be that annoying?" Hali muttered, rolling her eyes.
"I heard that!" Atem called from outside the window.
Hali and Hailey arrived at school and spotted Atem and Yugi waiting just inside the door. "Sorry about Atem this morning." Yugi apologized, at which Atem glared at him.
"It's fine." Hali laughed. "David didn't see him in there."
"What's your first class?" Hailey asked, changing the subject.
"I've got Algebra." Atem said. Yugi nodded.
Hailey glanced at their schedule. "I know where that is. It's my first class too."
"See you guys at lunch." Hailey said, heading in the direction of her class.
"What's algebra?" Atem whispered, as he followed Hali and Yugi down the hall.
"It's complicated math. It isn't as hard as it looks." Hali explained. She looked into his eyes, which were a dark, deep red. "You sure you should be here? Your eyes…"
Atem swallowed against the aching thirst that was a dull burn for now. "I'll be fine."
At lunch, Hali and Atem walked into the cafeteria, holding hands. "Would you hold my tray for me?" Hali asked, getting in line.
"Sure." Atem said, distracted, his dark eyes scanning the room, narrowing.
Hali nudged him in the ribs. "What's wrong?" she asked, grabbing a tray for herself.
"Hm?" Hali asked, looking down at her. "Sorry. I was just hearing something I didn't like."
"Do I want to know?" Hali muttered, getting her food.
"Most aren't nice. Jealousy is not a pretty emotion."
"Who's jealous?" Hali asked, following him to a seat by the window.
"All of the women in here. New boy is already taken.
A tall brunette male sauntered past their table just then, in a silver trenchcoat. Suddenly, Atem jumped up, a growl erupting from his chest.
"Atem!" Hali said sharply, grabbing his arm. "What's wrong?"
Atem continued to growl, his now black eyes on the boy. "Turn to face us, you coward." He hissed.
The male turned in mild surprise. "What, shrimp?" he snapped.
"Say that to our faces." Atem answered, eyes smoldering.
"Say what?" the brunette asked, surprised.
Atem snarled in return. Hali tugged at his arm, aware that every eye was on the trio. "Atem, go now." She ordered quietly.
Atem suddenly lashed out, hitting Hali. The blow caught her just above the ear. She fell to the ground, unconscious. He stared in horror at what he'd done.
"Guess I was wrong." The boy spat and walked away.
"Atem, what did you do?" Yugi asked, kneeling beside Hali. He looked up at Atem's black eyes. "Go now. Get something to eat. I'll cover you." He said quietly.
Atem backed away, toward the exit. Once he was free of the school, he ran as fast as he could toward the forest.
"The ambulance is on its way. Hopefully she'll wake up soon." Hali heard a voice say, as though from a great distance.
"Atem…?" Hali mumbled, opening her eyes. Yugi's worried face appeared above her. "Yugi, where-?"
Despite the throb in her head, she understood what he meant. She looked around, realizing she was in the nurse's office. "What am I doing here?"
"He hit you in the head. Don't take it out on him, he'll torture himself enough."
"He hit me?" Hali asked, incredulous.
"Quite hard, as a matter of fact. We're sending you to the hospital to be on the safe side." The nurse said shaking her head.
"Oh come on!" Hali protested, as the paramedics came in with a stretcher. "It's not bad, really."
"You may have a concussion." Yugi reminded her. They got her on the stretcher and led her away.
