Gorillaz High School Chap 4. : A Halloween Party?
October had gone by pretty fast. Halloween was a week away.
Monday had rolled its ugly back around, starting another exhausting week of school. Kids were walking on the sidewalks. It was another cold fall morning and the wind blew making matters worse. Val shivered at the corner of a street, waiting for the sign to change to 'walk'. Her mind was somewhere else at the moment. Still thinking about Murdoc and how his plans of getting her attention were getting to her. She couldn't seem to get him to leave her alone.
He just doesn't get it…, she thought, I don't want anyone like that in my life right now…
"Valerie?" asked a rather deep, raspy voice. Val snapped out of her thoughts and saw that Russell was standing next to her. "Looks like something is troubling you."
Val smiled. "No, it's nothing. Nothing's bothering me." She said. The sign finally changed to 'walk'.
"You don't have to lie to me or hide your feelings from me," Said Russell. "I can tell when you're sad because you're always happy and greeting everyone in the morning. Now you're quiet and keeping to yourself."
"Is it that obvious?" laughed Val. She looked down, blushing because it was all true. "Well, I'm sorry. There's just some stuff on my mind."
It went silent. Russell was always a quiet guy until one of his friends were in trouble. Then he felt a pair of arms wrap around his side. He looked down and saw Val was hugging him. He smiled and patted her head.
"It'll be okay, Val. You know it'll turn out fine, whatever's bothering you." He said comforting her like he always does.
Stuart was the first one in his class. He didn't really like his class. He sat in the back where he knew no one would bother him. He was quiet, never socialized with anyone. He just kept his distance with all the kids.
Class had started and all the kids rushed to their seats and awaited the teacher's instructions. Stuart opened his notebook and started doodling stick figures in the corner.
"Now class, we're going on a little trip to the elementary school and celebrate Halloween with them." The teacher said.
All the students started to groan.
"Oh hush now! It's a good way to miss you're 3rd period class." She added to make them stop complaining. There were murmurs and interjections of this being a good idea.
Stuart, however, was not interested. He stayed doodling in his notebook.
"Now I have paired each of you up with a student with the class we are going to visit." She proceeded to pass out name cards of the students in the elementary class.
Stuart had finally gotten his partner. He had read the card, but did a double take on the name.
"Noodle?" he asked himself. "What kind of name is Noodle?"
The boy that sat in front of him overheard him and said, "What kind of name is Stuart?" and laughed. The whole class joined in his shenanigans even though they didn't have a clue what was really going on.
Stuart slumped down in his chair and tried to ignore everyone by going back to doodling.
"A Halloween party?" asked Val looking at the invitation with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, it'll be fun. Only the 'in' crowd is allowed to come so we don't have to worry about any losers showing up." Said Val's friend, Lina.
"Well, I guess I'll go. What are you going as?" asked Val.
"I think I'll go as a sexy bartender." Lina winked. "What about you?"
Val thought for a minute and then said, "I think I'll go as… Jane." They both looked at each other and laughed.
"We are going to be looking HOT!" Shouted Lina, as she laughed again.
"Well, do you know anyone else that's going to be there?" Val asked.
"Well, I know the whole football team and cheer squad is invited… and basically anybody who's anybody." Lina said. Then she thought for a moment, "Oh! And those Goth kids are invited too because they know how to get booze."
Val's eyes widened. "You don't mean… Murdoc Niccals's group, do you?"
"Actually… I do…" Lina said, being a little hesitant.
"Well it looks like I'm not going anymore." Said Val, folding the invitation and putting it into her pocket.
"What? But you have to go! I promised Michelle you would come!" begged Lina.
"Not if that creep Murdoc is gonna be there." Said Val, turning and walking away.
"What's wrong with Murdoc? I mean sure, he's an asshole sometimes, but he's cool." Said Lina, following her.
"He keeps flirting with me and I can't stand it."
Lina stopped in her tracks. "Wow… I hope he does know that you two are on the opposite ends of the high school food chain…"
"It's not that he's a creep and doesn't have very good hygiene… it's that… I'm not ready for another relationship…" Val hung her head down.
"Oh… right. Well, you should still come. It'll be fun and if he tries to come at you then I'll sock him right in the face." Lina smiled at her and Val laughed.
"You always find a way to make me smile."
"I know."
