Disclaimer: I own nothing. I just toy with it for a bit. Thanks to Skykat for proof reading. You rule.


World Come Undone
Chapter Nine – Replacing the Bitch with the Beauty.

-

"So, I guess I'll see you around then," He said, as I flopped down onto my bed, a magazine pushed out in front of me.

"Yeah, I guess," I replied half heartedly, before looking up and flashing him an award-winning smile. Suddenly, I realised that if Henry was going to even contemplate playing the part of perfect sibling, brother and friend, I'd have to lead by example. And who better to sweeten up, than the dork from next door?

"Thanks so much for helping today, I really couldn't have done it without you," I said sweetly and I stood up and walked over to him. I pushed myself up onto my tip toes and whispered "Henry isn't really a fan of manual labour," into his ear, before standing back and squeezing his upper arm, "And he's not as strong as you either," I bit my lip, knowing I had this innocent act down to a tee. "I'll know where to look next time I need some man power," I giggled, and turned with every intention of walking sultry back to my bed. Only his arms snapped out and grabbed mine, turning me to face him.

"I wasn't born yesterday," His face was inches from mine, his dark blue eyes staring deeply into my own, making me feel more uncomfortable in my own skin than I had in a very long time. It was as if he had read my actions, and known of my motives, for longer than I'd known of them myself. And that thought terrified me. "I know your type. I've been trodden on year after year by your type, and frankly, I don't care if you do continue to put me down. All I ask is that you give me the respect to not pretend to be someone else when you're around me. I can see right through you Matilda Hunter, and don't you ever forget it," He finished, his eyes turning a little darker (if that was even possible!!) as he turned and walked calmly out of my room, without even letting me dismiss him.

Crossing my arms across my chest, I 'hmmped' before pouting, and stomping across the my bed, where I sat crossed legged and glared at Henry, who was doubled over in laugher.

"Shut up," I yelled at him, "It's not funny,"

"Oh, but it is," He replied in between gasps for air. "You were quivering at one stage there Matilda, and the last time I can remember seeing you quiver with fear was at age seven. That was before you realised quivering also helped you get what you want," He said pointedly, and I had to concede that point. I couldn't remember the last time the blood had pumped to my heart like that, or my breath had quickened to such a fast pace, or the fact that I'd felt dizzy after speaking to someone.

And no, it wasn't those kinds of feelings. Lust, want and desire. I'd feltthose in recent times. No, this was pure adrenalin… fear, or even excitement. It had been so long since someone that wasn't related to me; saw through me to what I was, the cold, cruel woman who cared little for anything or anyone besides her self. And that thought, was simply exhilarating. Only Henry had mistaken it for terror, but I wasn't about to correct him, and admit that I was a little fascinated by the geeky kid who knew more than he ever should about what it was to be a tired and trained liar.

"Chin up Matilda," Henry said brightly. He pushed himself from the doorway and bounced over to me on the bed. "Once I make friends with the thugs, I'll have them beat him up, how does that sound?" He asked, genuinely believing he was doing me a favour.

"Henry, sweety," I said, turning my head and pressing my hands together, "That's obviously not how they fix things here. If you haven't noticed the adults don't seem to be big on the 'beat them up' solution. And you need to learn to play their game as well, which means no hitting people," I paused dramatically, and watched Henry's face sag a little. "It also mean you'll probably have to cut every word you've ever used to describe members of the opposite sex from your vocabulary," I continued as he opened his mouth to rebut. "No Henry, I'm serious. No chicks, babes, animals, pieces of meat, fine ass, or whatever else you can come up with. They like to think themselves dignified here, and so we have to behave in that manner." I sighed, turning to face his saddened face.

"This place bites. Even the babes, chicks, I mean… lesbians are no fucking fun," He screamed in frustration, as I patted his hand calmly. "Matilda, we need to escape." He said finally, turning to me with wide eyes. "Mark's parents are in Europe for the year, you and he always got along, we could ditch the hick town and crash at his, until I get a job…"

"Doing what?" I asked him. "We need to be practical, and right now, neither of us have any skills aside from manipulation. And that isn't going to get us very far without references and our HSC."

"Do you honestly think you can survive for a year here?" He replied, raising his eyebrows and upping the challenge.

I smirked in reply, lying back onto my pillows, "Well, actress has always been an aspiration of mine. Why not get some training in early? And besides, your going to need to know how to act innocent if you want to be a lawyer. Why not use this year as training for your future?" I asked, raising an eyebrow, as Henry thought my idea through.

"I'm not becoming your collateral," He said finally, jumping up from the bed. "I won't be a pawn in any game you're planning Matilda,"

I shook my head, grinning evilly. "Not pawn Henry, partner,"

-

"Maaattttiiiilllllddda,"

My mothers' sing-song voice broke through the sweet dreams I was having of white sandy beaches and dark, tanned Latino servers. Instead, I was waking up to my first day of year 12, in the most cringe worthy uniform ever created. Purple, maroon and blue? Not a good combination, especially with my skin complexion. Yet there it was, hanging on the outside of the old wooden wardrobe, taunting me, the final twist of the dagger – telling me that I really wasn't going back to where I belonged.

"MATILDA," Mother screamed from… wherever she was in the house. "You're going to be late for school if you don't get a move on,"

"Yeah Matilda," Henry snorted from my now open doorway. "You wouldn't want to deprive all those wonderful country bumpkin hicks of your company on your very first day in your last year of school, now would you?" He smirked at me as he walked into my room, pausing momentarily as he looked into the mirror, adjusting his tie, when in reality he was just checking to see if his hair had gelled right this morning. Vain creature, I thought to myself, as I rolled out of bed.

"Careful Henry," I said as I glided past him to pull the horrid uniform down, "Its seven years bad luck if you break that mirror," I laughed a little at his confusion as I walked into the adjoining bathroom and shut the door behind me.

This bathroom was possibly the quaintest room of the house. The ceiling had those intricate corner designs, and the bathtub had those giant massive golden feet, like the one Rachel McAdams has in the Notebook, when Allie finds out that Noah built the perfect house. And for that sole reason, I loved this room. It was my own personal place for escape, where the magic could happen, and the witch of east Summer Bay could be transformed into a personal Princess. I sighed, as I placed my uniform on the toilet seat. It was going to take a hell of a lot of make-up to take the bitch out of the beauty.

-

"Explain to me again why exactly you're here?" I asked Mum as she sat down next to Henry in the office of the school.

"Because darling daughter," Mother replied, in exactly the same snobbish tone I'd just used on her. "The principle wanted to meet with all of us," She stressed, "And sadly enough, that means your unfashionable mother must tag along as well," She finished, grinning cheekily at me. And she wondered where I got my snark from, I thought to myself, shaking my head.

"Ah, you must be Matilda and Henry," A raven-haired woman with a slightly stiff posture said, as she walked into the room from the hallway. "Mrs. Saunders," She continued, extending a hand towards my Mother. "Principle of Summer Bay High,"

"Beth Hunter," Mother replied, standing up to shake Mrs. Saunders hand atheistically. "I can't tell you how relieved I was when you accepted Matilda and Henry. I thought finding schooling for them at such a late stage of their high school academic time was going to be a nightmare," She babbled on, which was an unmistakable sign of her nerves. Thank god Robbie was her only child that seemed to have inherited that particular genetic deficiency, I thought, rolling my eyes at Henry who smirked in return.

"It was my pleasure," Mrs. Saunders offered a large smile which instantly relaxed Mother. "Now, lets see if we can't sort you both into some appropriate classes. I hear you're very good at Drama Matilda," She said kindly as she motioned us into her office.

"I was first in my year," I replied lightly, slipping into a seat, "every year," I added for emphasis.

"I'm glad to hear that. The Drama department here is wonderful but perhaps you're that little something extra that will push them harder," She replied, her eyes twinkling a little. "But your academic schedule is tough too. English advanced and extension, Mathematics, Chemistry and Modern History. It's going to be a long, hard year for you," Mrs. Saunders continued, peering over my records to look at me.

"I assure you, I can handle anything," I replied confidently, my tone shutting down any reservations she may have held concerning my academic brilliance. I may have looked like Malibu Barbie, but I was far from blonde and ditzy. I had a brain, and I wasn't afraid to use it, especially if it meant escape from this hell hole as soon as humanly possible.

"Very well then," Mrs. Saunders conceded. "I've assigned Lucas Holden to you as a guide, just until you get the feel of things. Your mother tells me you've already met, which takes care of introductions. Here is your timetable," She said, handing several papers, "Free periods for seniors are to be spent on school rounds. Under no circumstances are they to be viewed as casual time for shopping sprees," Her soft voice turned sharp and stern in a matter of seconds, as if she had read my mind. Suddenly she wasn't a ray of light, rather a major witch. Thankfully, that Holden kid turned up at exactly the right moment, and I was excused from any further conversations with the good turned wicked witch of the west.

Learning to play by their rules was going to be harder than I thought


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