Hey!

It's been like over a year since my last update. I've just been crazy busy and things are starting to cool down.

So without further ado, here's Chapter TEN!

(And let Chapter Eleven be coming soon, also)

Chapter Ten: A New Me

"What the hell have you done to your hair?" asked Tom, looking up as the girl coming towards him raised her sunglasses in greeting.

Ruby flipped her red hair.

"Like it?"

Tom surveyed Ruby thoughtfully. Instead of its usual fiery auburn, her hair was ... red... although Tom couldn't say what the color was. It was surely no red found in nature... pure red, crimson red, red like blood. Ruby red.

"I most sincerely disapprove," he finally responded. Ruby shrugged.

"Anyhow," Tom continued, "It's time for you to meet Marie-Ann."

"Madame L'Estrange's daughter?" asked Ruby.

"The one-and-only," said a smug voice behind her.

Marie-Ann stood at about five feet one, normally, but her black, laced up heels made her around five-feet five. She stood with sass, one henna-tattooed hand balanced on her hip, while she twirled a strand of her long, curly black hair around the finger of another hand. Her makeup was perfectly done, and she wore ripped denim shorts and a black waterfall top. Silver bangles decorated her arms.

"Hey, Tom." Marie-Ann batted her mascara'd eyelashes, falsies sweeping delicately across her skin. She turned to Ruby.

"I like your style, girl," she smirked.

"Thanks," offered Ruby. "I like yours too."

Marie-Ann popped a gum bubble thoughtfully, "Nah, sweetie, you're just saying that."

She slid into a seat opposite Tom.

"So, how's Mom? What's she been up to?"

Tom shrugged, "The usual. Yelling at parents, hexing basilisks."

Marie-Ann reached across the table to place her hand on top of Tom's, rubbing soothing circles over it.

"Missed you," she leaned over the small table to kiss him. Ruby's mouth dropped open, blushing madly. Marie-Ann looked intently at Ruby.

"What's wrong?"

Ruby mistakenly said the first thing that came out of her mouth, "Aren't you a bit young for him?"

Tom chuckled, and Marie-Ann rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, well, if you call two years an age gap."

Ruby blushed hard again.

"Sorry... I thought we were the same age."

Marie-Ann pouted, "It's not my fault I'm short."

"But what does your mom say?"

The older girl shrugged, "I'm an out of control child. So was she. She still is. I mean, Chandelle-Ruby, you've met her, haven't you?"
Tom whistled, "People in glass houses should not throw stones..."

Marie-Ann rolled her eyes, leaned across the table again.

"Well, at least I'll have a girl-friend now. All the girls here at the Academy (A) hate my guts because I'm with Tom and they want to go out with him (B) are scared I'll report them to Mom because I'm a sadistic b***h like that or (C) they think I'll hex their guts out. All of which I would do. But you're not scared of anything, are you, Candy?"

Ruby coughed, "Candy?"

"Out of all the things I said, you picked on that, huh? I knew that we were going to get on from the moment I laid eyes on you. Candy's your new nickname, sweetheart." Marie-Ann smirked.

Ruby licked her eyes, a challenge in here eyes. "Why not? Annie."

"I'm game if you are." The two shook hands and erupted in laughter.

Tom rolled his eyes, "Women. Don't understand them: can't live with them, can't live without them."

Marie-Ann, or 'Annie,' slapped her boyfriend playfully, "Lighten up, Tom."

"However, Tom, if you call me Candy, I will kill you," Ruby laughed.

"Same goes for Annie, baby," said Marie-Ann, as she climbed into Tom's lap.

"Wasn't there a twin?" she asked Ruby, or 'Candy.'

"Yeah, there was a twin," Ruby stared at the ground, "Harry." She spat the name out.

"Whoa," said Marie-Ann, "Something between you two?"

"Used to start with an 'L' and end with an 'E.' Now after a word that starts with a 'B' and ends with a 'L' happened, all that's left is something that starts with an 'H' and ends with an 'E.'"

"Love, betrayal, hate?" she asked.

"Yeah, that's about right," responded Ruby, "Forget him. We're over."

"Okay, that's cool, too." She beckoned to Ruby, hopping off of Tom's lap, "Come on, Candy."

Marie-Ann grabbed Ruby by the forearm.

"Where are you two going?" Tom ran a hand through his tousled hair.

"Oh God, Tom, don't do that worried face at me. Seriously, don't worry your pretty little head about it. Just sit there and look sexy."

Marie-Ann ran alarmingly quickly for someone wearing high heels.

"Where are we going, Annie?" asked Ruby.

"It's a surprise, Candy," responded Marie-Ann. The older girl dragged Ruby behind a tapestry, leading her into a room filled with smoke and laughter. Marie-Ann led her to a table at the back of the room.

A handsome boy waved them over.

"Who's the new girl, M?" he asked Marie-Ann.

"Dirk, this is Candy, my cousin, a second year."

"Candy?" Dirk raised an eyebrow.

"Don't ask," Ruby muttered. Dirk had cat-green eyes, sun-kissed skin, and short dark brown hair. He was more on the muscular side, with fiery tattoos decorating his arms, a smile that could make girls faint, high cheekbones. Dirk had a careless attitude, lounging on the chair as if it were a sofa.

"Dirk's a third year, like me," said Marie-Ann.

"I like you, Candy," he said thoughtfully, "You're cute and innocent, but you're clever too, aren't you."

"Oi, Jamie!" he yelled, "You need to meet someone!"

"Coming!" yelled a voice through the smoke.

"Hey Jamie, this is my cousin Candy," Marie-Ann said.

"Hi, Candy," Jamie shook hands with Ruby. Jamie was taller than Dirk by an inch or two, and he was also slightly tanned, but paler.

"He's American, and a fourth year. His girlfriend's in my year." Marie-Ann nudged her.

"Whispering is rude, M," sighed Jamie.

"Whatever," she sassed back.

He had hooded denim-blue eyes, dark, clever eyebrows, pale blond hair that hung over his forehead, and thin lips. Unlike Dirk, his body was constantly tensed, alert, like a bow. He didn't show off his body like Dirk did, either. He wore a grey sweater and denim jeans.

"How's Alicia?"

"Ally's good. How was France and your dad?"

"Boring as usual. How did Tom manage to survive without me?"

Jamie chuckled, "Well, I did have to save him from some near-death experiences a few times."

"And how was Mom, Dirk?" said Marie-Ann sweetly.

Dirk rolled his eyes, "She still hates my guts."

"Mom hates everyone's guts."

"Except me," Jamie piped, "She loves me."

"Yeah, maybe she should adopt you. You and Mom would make a cute f***ing family," Marie-Ann smirked. Jamie snickered, and Dirk turned to smile at some girls. Ruby fiddled with her hair.

"Language, M," said a tall Asian girl, stepping in front of Jamie.

"You must be Alicia?" queried Ruby cautiously, "I'm Chandelle-Ruby."

"She's Candy," Dirk butted in.

"I am Alicia." She flipped her straight, medium length black hair. Alicia had a pretty, open face, with full lips and dark eyes. Like Marie-Ann, she wore heavy makeup. She was dressed in a denim jacket and black biker boots.

"Great, another edgy little L'Estrange b***h," she snapped at Ruby. Marie-Ann opened her mouth to respond.

"Hey, be nice, Ally, Marie." Jamie stopped them.

"Whatever," Marie-Ann sat down, gesturing to Ruby to do the same, "Let's eat. I'm starving."

Hey guys! I hope you like the chapter! I introduced a lot of new characters, but feel free to leave a review with an OC that you want featured because I need to populate the Academy!

Love as always,

Sticky