Chapter 11

I woke to screaming girls, early in the morning. I wasn't in the mood to get up so I just laid in bed until my door flung wide open. I sat up glaring.

" You were in my room last night!" Caleb accused angrily. I smiled pleased with our efforts. I looked down at his bare feet.

"Kale you forgot to put your shoes on. I know you wanted to see me but you are looking kind of desperate."

The girls who had gathered around my door behind him, roared with laughter.

" How the hell am I meant to explain this to the teachers? It was hard enough to cover being pink." I smiled stretching my arms over my head.

" Be creative, say it's a protest or something for some cause. If you think a few icky feeling toes is bad just wait until you see what I have planned for Nelson house. Trust me when I say you will be thanking me for the fruit salad."

"Unbelievable." He muttered walking out as the girls rushed in.

"What are you going to do to Nelson house?" Audrey said excitedly.

"Actually I was thinking of in listing your sister into the cause, fetch her will you?"

It was near the end of the school day and in five minutes Alex, Bernie and I where sneaking off for the last half an hour of the day.

" This is a mistake." Kat hissed across the desk to me. " Call it off."

" Sorry Kat, not going to happen."

"This is dangerous, someone could get seriously hurt Tegan." I could hear the pleading and fear in her voice but nothing could deter me, I had this planned down to a 'T'.

I raised my hand.

" May I go to the ladies room." He nodded. I gave Kat one last passing glance as I glance as I left the room.

We meet down in front of Nelson house. " You guy's ready?" I asked Alex and Johnstan who had decided to tag along. They nodded. I grinned. " Let me introduce you to my resident arsonist, I believe you've all meet her, Bernie Burns." She grinned at me, bowing. "I believe you need this." I pulled out the green lighter waving it under her nose. "Remember smoke, no flames, we don't want to burn the place down."

" Spoil sport. Did someone get the cigarette butts?" Johnstan pulled out a bag handing it to her."

" What are they for?" Mitchy asked.

She laughed. "So I don't end up in Ju've." She ran into the house first. I looked at Alex's face of confusion, he had seen Bernie but not like this. With a lighter she was a wild woman. I grinned he'd figure it out later.

I followed Bernie in and found two bins next to each other. Bernie dumped the butts in them then sparked the lighter. The flame danced and the odd colour mix made me think of Christmas, I bet that was how Bernie felt right now.

I stood guard at the door watching to see if Alex saw anyone coming. He signalled, I turned to Bernie who had a large amount of smoke rolling out of the bins, " Quick, out the window." I whispered as we heard the front door open. We took off in a run as the alarms in Nelson house went off. We left one clue, that we were ever there, a note.

Candlelight dinner with fruit salad on the side.

Panic and ponderous broke out, which brought me back to the fact that I am in charge. I was responsible in this situation, in more ways then one.

Forty six names had to be counted and all those girls had to be controlled.

" Regina house, over to the meeting point!" I yelled over the terrified voices.

The girls made their way over, Kat and Amber were comforting the crying girls, while I marched around ticking off names.

" Tegan!" Screeched Audrey throwing her arms around my waist dramatically. " I can't find Bernadette." She sobbed as Martha came over with Daphne and Rowya from year nine with annoying glittery chain that sparkle, hit my eyes just on the wrong angle. They looked urgently at me for answers.

" Bernadette was with me when the fire alarms went off, she's…" I spun around spotting her, " There." I waved and she grinned back. The girls ran over to her leaving me to tick the last name, my own. I made my way over to Kat and Amber who were calming the year sevens.

"Tegan!" I turned to see Dylan Rodgers and Caleb Woods. Coming over to me. "You did this.!" Rogers screamed.

" I would like to take that privilege, but sadly no." I looked around, "Bernadette." I called her over. " Dylan I don't think you've had the chance to meet my favourite year ten, Bernie Burns." She smirked, as his face dropped. She really did have one hell of a reputation.

He turned back to me. " You could of burnt Nelson house to the ground!"

" I wish." Muttered Bernie loud enough for all of us to hear.

" What the hell did you say?" Dylan yelled angrily.

" I said your lucky Tegan was around because other wise it would have been more then a little bin." She snapped stalking back to Audrey who clung on to her big sister.

" There was no need to speak to Bernadette, like that Dylan." Kat said.

"See that red truck and the men in yellow," He pointed to the firemen combing his house, " I think that gives me the right to say what I fucking want to!"

" Dylan!" She hit him hard. " Don't you dare swear at me. Do you want me to give your mother a call?" She threatened.

He gave her a cold stare then turned to me, " This isn't over Tegan."

Now we were left with Woods. I glared at him as he moved closer to me.

" That was stupid Tegan."

" Maybe." I agreed.

" Dylan was fuming enough, was there really any need to add wood to the fire?"

" Are you trying to be funny?"

" Maybe." He smirked. He noticed then, that he was surrounded by the whole of Regina house. " This isn't a threat." His eyes rolled around at my girls faces. He shrugged, grabbing my wrist pulling me close to him. He whispered in my ear. " Meet me tonight in the chapel." He then pulled himself away as Bernie reached my side. " Oh and thanks for burning his house and not mine." He winked, pushing his way past a wall of girls.

" What did he say?" Kat asked. I found myself trapped by Amber, Kat and Bernie.

"He was being an arse." I said bluntly.

" But what did he say?" Amber pushed.

I didn't want them to know, he wanted a meeting because they would want me to go, and discuss the war but I knew Caleb Woods wasn't interested in fighting over a couple extra hours in the games room. What he wanted to talk about wasn't a subject of my life I wanted to re-visit.

" It was rude ok?" I snapped.

" Well lets hear it then." Bernie perked up.

" He implied that Dylan would be devastated to lose his special magazines to the flames." Bernie roared with laughter and Amber looked as if she had sniffed something rotten.

Once the fireman had cleared the house, we were free to return to our houses. I approached the principal and chief fire inspector.

" Excuse me Mr Gates, but I was wondering what happened? Was there any damage?"

" Sorry miss but that's none of your concern."

" Yes it is. I have girls really upset, possible traumatized. As a house leader they look to me for answers. I have to talk to them later about safety issues. I just want to know that I can say it was a stove left on, or whatever happened and this is how you prevent it from occurring." He sighed.

"It was a cigarette incorrectly disposed of, the bin caught alight, it was mainly smoke. There's no real damage, just the bin."

"Thank-god."

" We will talk to the students tomorrow on safety, now good day." Mr Gates finished.

When I got back to my house a cheer went up, Bernie was everyone's new hero.

"Well?" She asked jumping off the table.

" Cause an incorrectly disposed of cigarette." I grinned.

" Yesss!" She high five-ed Audrey. I left them to celebrate, going to my room. Kat was waiting, sitting on my bed.

"What did he really tell you?" I glared at her. " You were lying to them, fine, but I have a right to know."

" He wants me to meet him."

" Then you should go." I sighed annoyed.

" Well I am not."

" Why not? We have gained the advantage." I raised my eyebrow at her, she was meant to be the one with a brain.

" Because if it was a serious trade or meeting, then I would be talking to Dylan." I paused. " By the way, what was that crap before?"

"Nothing."

" Lair." I smirked.

" Well I am just using your answer to everything." She snapped.

" You know what, a meeting with the enemy is looking like a better option then listening to your bull." She huffed out the door and I exited by the window.