Bridgette had no contact with anyone for the entire weekend. The shock of what she had experienced in Mr. McLean's office was more than she could deal with and she could not find a way to bring herself to tell anyone what had happened. This was a problem however, as she knew she needed to tell someone, if only to get it off her chest. But fear kept her silent. For whatever reason, she was afraid to tell the truth, afraid to revisit the horror of that day, afraid that no one would believe her and she would be cast off as some raving lunatic never to be trusted again. Bridgette knew this fear was irrational, knew that someone would believe her, but for now at least, the fear had control.
When Monday finally came Bridgette returned to school convinced not to tell anyone what was wrong. But when one disappears for two days one may find it difficult to keep the truth from ones friends.
"Hey Bridgette, where were you all weekend?" Nikki asked, meeting Bridgette in the parking lot. "You went to your meeting with McLean and then you just disappeared. What happened?"
Bridgette hesitated a moment, unsure how spin the story so Nikki would buy it. "I...uh, I wasn't feeling well and I didn't want to risk getting anyone else sick." She smiled, hoping to convey innocence.
"You seem to have gotten over whatever you had pretty quick though." Gwen said. Bridgette hadn't even noticed Gwen was there, having been too focused on Nikki to notice anyone else.
"I mean, it seems a little strange you were only sick for two days Bridgette." Gwen continued. "You sure there's not something else you're not telling us."
"Yes, I was sick and that's that." Bridgette snapped. "Quit pestering me, would you?"
"Okay, whatever you say Bridge." Nikki muttered as they made there way inside.
They had barely made it to their lockers when they were confronted by a very grumpy looking Geoff. "What the hell Bridgette." he almost shouted. "I called you, like, twenty times over the weekend, where were you?"
"She claims she was sick." Gwen muttered, with a disgruntled glance at Bridgette.
"Sick with what, the weekend flu?" Geoff snapped, his anger boiling over.
"No, it wasn't the flu." Bridgette said, not meeting Geoff's glare. "It was something else, I don't know, some kind of food poisoning or something."
"Ha! I knew it was bullshit!" Nikki exclaimed, rounding on Bridgette with a grin.
"W-what do you mean?" Bridgette stammered, her cover faltering.
"You said you didn't want to risk getting anyone sick, but the most common viruses that cause food poisoning aren't contagious." Nikki said. "The only way you could've gotten any of us sick would've been to give us some of the same food that made you sick, which I'm starting to think didn't actually happen, did it?"
"It did!" Bridgette cried. "I swear to you it did. I got food poisoning from something I ate for lunch on Friday and it lasted all weekend." She had them now. None of them knew what she had eaten for lunch on Friday and they had no way of finding out. But Nikki still wore a look of suspicion and Bridgette could sense this discussion wasn't over.
Fortunately she was saved from having to explain any further by the bell, which she had never been more grateful for in her life. However there was a downside to this as well, for going to class meant seeing Mr. McLean for the first time since Friday, something Bridgette was not entirely sure she was willing to do. But she had no choice, it was either go to class and face Mr. McLean or tell her friends the truth and at that moment she was more willing to do the former.
To Bridgette's surprise, however, Mr. McLean was not there when she arrived at his classroom. This was suspicious, and it seemed she wasn't the only one who noticed this.
"Where's McLean?" Gwen asked, as they took their seats beside Jude.
"No idea bra." Jude replied. "No one's seen him at all this morning. Maybe he's sick."
"Yeah, maybe." Nikki said, shooting Bridgette a suspicious glance.
At that moment Coach Halder entered, wearing a very disgruntled expression. He glared at the room, his gaze coming to rest on Bridgette, who felt a shiver go up her spine. What was Coach doing here? Was Jude's theory correct, was McLean really sick? Or was Coach Halder there for a different reason?
"Hey Coach, where's McLean?" Jude asked, his curiosity overcoming his fear of the coach.
"Mr. McLean is not feeling well, so I have been asked to oversee his...class." The contempt with which he spoke made the entire class recoil, as though they were afraid he was going to physically harm them for taking an English lit class. No one spoke after that and the class passed without further incident. By the time the bell rang everyone was glad to leave, as none of them had experienced an English lit class that bad before.
Bridgette was particularly keen on getting out as fast as possible, but Coach Halder had other ideas. "Miss Wells, could I speak with you a moment?" he asked before she could slip out.
Bridgette froze and shot a fearful glance at Nikki and Gwen who were still there as well. "May I ask what it it you need to say?" Bridgette asked, hoping she was making the right move.
Coach Halder glared at her. "What I need to say is of great importance, but it also does not concern your friends." he growled. Bridgette shot another glance at Nikki and Gwen who both shrugged. Coach Halder continued, "Miss Wong, Miss Carver you may leave, I assure you Miss Wells is not in any trouble."
Bridgette nodded and Nikki and Gwen left. Bridgette then turned her full attention to Coach Halder. "So, if I'm not in trouble, what can I do for you?" she asked, still unsure if she wanted to know.
"Come with me." Coach Halder responded. "We have a request to make of you."
We? Who the hell is we? Bridgette thought. And then, like a bolt of lightning, realization struck. She was going to meet with the Kings. Of course she was, how had she not seen it from the beginning? Coach Halder was one of them after all. The question now was, what did they want from her and would she be able to carry out the task?
Moments later they arrived at what appeared to be the school's boiler room. They entered to find Ron, Chef, and Duncan waiting for them. Bridgette felt an involuntary spasm pass through her as her fear battled her curiosity. She was torn between an overwhelming desire to run and an equally overwhelming desire to find out why she had been brought here. Duncan grinned at her as she and Coach entered.
"Welcome to the hideout, Blondy." Duncan said, glancing at Coach as he spoke.
Bridgette wanted to make some snarky comment about Duncan and the Kings being some kind of messed up gang but she thought better of it. Pissing them off now would do her no good. Better to just go along with the game and see what it was they wanted from her.
"So, like Duncan said, welcome Miss Wells." said Chef, his voice deep and gravely. "Welcome to your first day in service of the Three Kings."
"Service? You didn't say anything about service." Bridgette said, shooting an accusing glare at Coach Halder.
"One thing you need to understand about the Kings, Blondy, is this, they never give straight answers." said Duncan, with another grin.
"Is this some kind of game to you?" Bridgette shouted, glaring at Duncan. "You come into my life, stalk me like I'm your prey, and then tell me you work for these so called Kings. What the hell is wrong with you Duncan? What's fucking wrong with all of you? Are you just playing games or are you all seriously sick fuckers? Tell me the truth or I swear to God I will fucking report you all to authorities more powerful than you."
"Language Miss Wells." Ron scolded. "You want the truth from us? You want to know what the game, as you say, is? Well, then we need something from you as well."
"What?" Bridgette asked, her anger still seething. "What do you want from me?"
"We require your help, that is all." Chef answered, with a slight nod.
"And what, exactly, do you require my help with?" Bridgette asked, trying to keep her voice level.
"Me. They require your help with me." Duncan said, not meeting Bridgette's gaze, all of his usual swagger gone.
"You? Why would they need me to help you?" Bridgette asked. And then, in a sudden rush of realization the answers came to her. What was it Mr. McLean had said, something about the Kings wanting to help Duncan so he didn't end up like them. Could this be what McLean had been talking about?
"You think I can help him graduate?" Bridgette asked, glancing at each of the Kings in turn, before coming to rest on Duncan.
"That is what we were hoping for, yes." Ron answered.
"Is that why you had Duncan stalk me?" Bridgette asked, still staring at Duncan.
"Not stalk. Observe." Chef corrected. "But yes, that is why he did it. We needed to see if you were capable of handling the task."
"And what would this task be, exactly?" Bridgette asked.
"We need you to tutor Duncan, specifically in English and math." Coach Halder said.
"And what makes you think I'd be any good at something like that?" Bridgette asked.
"Don't sell yourself short Miss Wells." said Chef. "From what Duncan has told us, you are an excellent student and we think you would be the perfect person to help Duncan graduate."
Bridgette was taken aback by Chef's honesty. She had not expected the Kings or Duncan to treat her with respect and was surprised to find how generous they could be. Still, she was dubious of their plans. Were they really being nice or was this all just part of a sick game?
"Well, um...thanks for that, I guess." Bridgette said, giving Chef a small smile. "But I still don't understand why you chose me?"
"Because all the nerds at this dump of a school can't handle me." Duncan said, with yet another sly grin. "Also, you're new so it was only logical for the Kings to assume you'd be able to handle the job."
"Okay, just so I'm clear you guys want me to tutor Duncan so he can finally graduate because I'm the only person you think is strong enough to handle the job?" Bridgette asked.
"That is correct." Chef replied. "So, do you accept our proposal?"
"I...yes, I'll tutor Duncan, but I have something to ask in return." Bridgette said.
"Do you now?" Chef asked. Bridgette noticed the quick glance he shot at the other two Kings. The look that passed between them made her shiver. Did they already know what she was about to ask and would they help?
"Yes, I need your help with something as well." Bridgette said, looking directly at Chef, who nodded. Without waiting for the others to respond, she proceeded to tell them about what had happened between her and Mr. McLean the previous Friday. Neither the Kings nor Duncan made any comment about her story, though all four of them seemed to grow darker as the story progressed. When she was finished Bridgette looked at each of them in turn, awaiting their response, but none came.
Finally Coach Halder spoke. "Very well, we shall see what we can do." he said.
"And I have your word you won't tell anyone else?" Bridgette asked.
"You have our word." Ron affirmed. "You may go Miss Wells."
Bridgette nodded and left the room, glancing back at Duncan as she did. He was not looking at her, but was staring at the floor, a slight smile playing about his lips. And for reasons she could not explain, that smile filled Bridgette's heart with dread.
A/N: Okay, so we're finally getting into the meat of things with this fic, and like I said in my last authors note things are going to get worse for Bridgette. Some things will get better as well, but that may take awhile. Also, I realized recently that I have never clearly stated what grade this characters are in so, just so you're aware, they are all seniors, more or less (a couple are actually juniors, but I'll point out who a later point).