Ok, so I've just edited my drafts again and it seems like Part 2 of the Another World Saga is going to be insanely long and I apologise for the really bad pacing. I just wanted to put in a little adventure so that it is made clear that their lives don't revolve around babysitting Pierce and trying to not get her kidnapped again. The next few Chapters are going to be unrelated to the main plot line of the story but it does add some spice into the mix...
We stop to have breakfast then head for the car again, the chilly morning fast becoming warm. It's heading closer and closer to the hottest part of the year. I now only wear one layer of clothes and my denim shorts until I soil it and have to wash it.
"How much longer do we have until we reach the place?" I ask as we get back in the car with Dean in the driver's seat, Sam riding shotgun and me in between.
"Another hour or two," Dean answers.
This case is about a school in the town we're headed to. Its students seem to go missing at rather regular intervals. Nothing connects these students together apart from them coming from this particular school. The missing students are normally dismissed as them running away by the media. Now we are going to the school to see if the missing person's cases have anything to do with the supernatural. That's what we do, look for the supernatural and stop them from harming the rest of the world. It is heroic sounding, but dirty and bloody in reality.
We reach the school and park in the visitor's parking. Students walk past and ogle at our vintage little car. I agree, it does make quite a statement when it drives round. Also, it is not that little, taking up the entire parking lot and making the pick-up truck on our right look small. The looks on the students' faces when they see the Impala make me gloat with pride because I get to ride it while they can all stand by and let us through.
After we park the car, we head up into the building and to the reception. The receptionist smiles at us and I can see an odd, inquiring look in her eyes. It looks like she assumed something that is out of social norms. Dean smiles his winning smile at the receptionist and greets her.
"Are you here to sign your daughter up for school next year?" The lady asks. She had glasses hanging off the tip of her nose and she is dressed in a grey blazer and a matching pencil skirt. She smiles politely at Dean.
"Yeah, we'd like to check out the school," Dean explains. "We just moved into town and I'm looking for a school for my, uh," he looks at me oddly, "daughter."
The receptionist looks at me with a few questions brewing inside her. I stare back at her like a deer in headlights. There you have a good example of my social abilities. No wonder I was shunned in school last time. I may have a smart mouth in front of demons but humans just scare me. My throat is dry and my jaws are clamped shut.
The receptionist looks back at him and then at Sam, then at me again. "Oh, of course. Just write your name here, please and the principal will be with you shortly." She looks at us weirdly again before disappearing into the office.
"What name did you put down there?" I ask him, curious. I walk up to the clipboard the receptionist gave him and read the entire list just because. I see Dean's handwriting at the bottom of the page and it is signed Dean Winchester. "Why did you write your own name? Isn't it dangerous?"
"It's harmless," he shrugs.
"The principal will see you now, Mr. Winchester," she announces.
We follow her into the office where a rather round looking man is sitting behind a desk. He stands up to shake hands with Sam and Dean. Dean is doing most of the talking at this point, Sam preferring to stand in the back quietly studying the principal's office. I am aware of my rather sour and anxious expression that I can't hide because of the looming fact that I am once again surrounded by people my age.
"Good morning," The principal greets, a smile spreading above grey fuzz. "I'm Mr. Fitzgerald, the school principal."
"Nice to meet you," Dean greets back politely. "We just moved into town not too long ago, and we have to get her into school."
"Ah, this must be your daughter," he says and gestures to the empty chair next to where Dean is sitting. "Come, sit."
He looks at Sam and Sam says he'll stand by the door. I see the odd look on Mr. Fitzgerald's face when he scrutinizes us. Great, I realize, they think I'm an adopted daughter of a gay couple. It's hilarious that Dean doesn't see this yet. Sam is just sulking at the back looking at everything around him.
"How old are you?" Mr. Fitzgerald asks me.
I look him in the eye and notice his steely grey eyes that match his hair and moustache. "Sixteen, sir," I answer quieter than I would've liked.
"Ah, so it's sophomore year for you, eh?" He chuckles and reminds me of Santa Claus.
I nod, clueless to whatever he was talking about. He talks a bit about the school and its grounds and its facilities. He hands us a copies of timetables, extra-curricular activities and a map of the school. Apparently, it's a big school with a large number of students in its many blocks and the only public school in the entire town. I read the contents of the pamphlets while Dean handles the principal.
After explaining everything, Mr. Fitzgerald gets up and gives us a tour of the place. Dean hands Sam the softly beeping EMF device in his hand and Sam pockets it without Mr. Fitzgerald seeing. Dean walks beside the principal as he introduces the many rooms and spaces. Dean asks some questions and I just look around at the students doing their own things.
It's a very new environment for me because no one here is wearing any uniform. There seems to be no regulation on hairstyles or painted nails. There are student walking around with bright coloured hair that cannot be natural. Flashy accessories and stylish hair are paraded along with fashion that is occasionally skimpy.
People start to look at us as we walk past and I feel a nervousness I haven't had in a long time. I reach for my wrist but only feel my skin and some scabs left over from the chains. The weightlessness on my wrist makes me regret taking off the bandages before coming in. Looking for my other source of strength, I reach for my pendant and toy with it. I hurry up ahead to catch up with the three men, sticking as close to Dean as I can without looking like a five year old. I justify it by saying it because I don't want to get lost, but who am I bluffing?
Sam looks up from consulting the device to see me in my weakest state. He gives me a puppy dog stare full of concern and I shake my head, telling him it's nothing. He gives me another long look before turning back to the beeping. So far, it's been steady. No signs of ghosts anywhere.
I follow along for a short distance before something stops me in my tracks. I sense someone staring at me. Everyone is staring, really, but this one feels different. Whoever it is has been staring for a long time. I turn around and look across the busy hallway. There, a boy stands leaning against the wall. He seems to have a lean build and a confident air. His soft, golden hair glints in the light and he has eyes so blue I can see it from here. He is unabashedly staring at me and when I catch his eye, he winks with a sly smile.
I am stunned because no one has ever given me that kind of attention before. I look down in shyness and study my boots. I look back up again and he is still there with his charming smile of white, straight teeth. I think I feel myself blush but I cannot delve deeper into the situation.
"Pierce?" Dean calls from a little lane where they have gone into. "Are you coming?"
"Yeah," I answer and walk towards the three waiting men.
Dean doesn't look away from me as I approach so I meet his gaze questioningly. He looks to the blond boy then back at me with an odd look. "Were you flirting with that boy?" He asks in a hushed tone.
I reply, "No, I wasn't. I just caught him staring at us."
"Or you," he suggests.
I scoff at the possibility, but my cheeks burn all the same. "Don't be stupid," I mutter. "Let's get this over with, I don't like the attention."
He chuckles before laying a hand on my shoulder and walking me to the office where we finish off our tour of the place. More niceties and 'hope to see you here in September' talk before Dean finally gets down to business.
"Listen," He says. "I am truly thinking of putting her in here, but I have heard some news about some kids missing. Do you know what's behind all of it?"
Mr. Fitzgerald loses his happy smile and looks a bit worried. "What about them?"
"Nothing," Dean shrugs. "I just want to know if I'm leaving my girl in safe hands for five days in a week."
Mr. Fitzgerald tries for a reassuring smile, but fails. He says, "We are not proud of it, but students do have their groups of friends and some are less healthy for teenagers. The students all play truant and decide to run off. I'm sure your lovely daughter would have better sense than to do that."
"Okay," Dean says, obviously not getting what he wants. "Thanks for your time."
"Remember, school starts in September," Mr. Fitzgerald says, sitting back in his chair. "I really do look forward to seeing you here next year," he smiles at me.
Ooh, who is this interesting fellow? Just imagine Sterling Knight playing the Mystery guy because that's what I did. Mmm, Sterling Knight. I wonder how yummy is he now?
