Hey all! I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, I tried to get another one for you guys to make up for long wait. Let me know what you think it would be appreciated. I will try and get another chapter tomorrow at latest it will come out the day after tomorrow.
Early next morning, Mary woke with a plan fully formed in her mind, like though her sleeping brain was nettle planning on it all night. She got up, dressed in the sunny haze peeking through her shades and rummaged for her phone within jumbles of papers. Mary pulled out Callum's icon and wrote the following text.
Hey Cal. I reckon ur still asleep but I wanted to c if we keep our friendship thing on the down-low. I want no trouble.
She threw the phone back into her bag. Aunt Diane was already rummaging noisily through the living room muttering about her keys, as per the usual morning routine. Not saying much to Mary, who'd poked her head out of her own room, Aunt Diane had carried drowsy Jaime in her arms and took off into the busy street. Mary watched from the living room window as Aunt Diane ran to her small sedan with a familiar sense of unease knowing at her stomach. If only Mary could trade worries with her.
"Don't you think he'll be cross now, Mary," said Zoe disapprovingly, when Mary told her what she'd done.
"Maybe for the best," said Mary. "My troubles could decrease don't you think."
"Hey girls," said Billy out of nowhere as Zoe opened her mouth to argue some more. For once, Zoe didn't press the topic and fell silent at Billy's very cheery appearance. Instead, Zoe hid her lips, a common affliction she had when trying to stifle a laugh. Clearly, she hadn't forgotten Billy's accident history.
"Hey Billy," greeted Mary energetically, glad to not be subjected to another nag session. A snuffled laugh nearly escaped Zoe's lips which Billy thankfully didn't notice. Confused, Mary followed Zoe's line of vision. Oh, dear god. Billy's pants were not the normal shade of blue which normally was distributed as the St. Ollena's uniform. Rather than the navy blue, his pants shouted a baby blue similar to the color of the sky. Mary stared in horror. "What happened?" she gasped petrified. More chortles were coming from Zoe but Mary ignored her. Billy, however, did not seem aware of anything out of the ordinary as he continued to beam at them both.
"Oh. There was some mix up with uniform delivery. I didn't have anything else as formal for school so I opted to come in them. Super comfortable though," Billy added, clicking the heels of his shoes together. It gave Mary the odd sensation of watching a colored version of the three stooges. Thank god she wasn't laughing.
Other students were beginning to notice as they didn't have the decency Zoe was trying to show by hiding her laugher. Billy ignored most of them and directed most of his attention at Mary who tried her hardest to avoid looking at the odd clothing.
"How's work treating you?" inquired Billy, genuinely curious.
"Eh the coffee gets made so, well I guess," replied Mary. Man, she sucked at small talk.
"I tried to come yesterday to see you," said Billy with a note of urgency in his tone. "But, uh my mom wanted me to help out at home."
"Aw our own momma's boy," Zoe teased, allowing Billy to turn a deep red.
"I'd be elsewhere if I could—"
"She's kidding, Billy," said May reassuringly. Her eye caught the bright pink lipstick and suddenly she had an evil plan. "We do that. Watch me." Mary turned directly to face Zoe, trying to keep her face as calm as possible. "Zoe, that new lipstick… makes you look like a Jersey Shore girl. There I said it. The truth is out and I have cleared my conscious." Mary lifted her hands dramatically while Zoe gasped in shock.
"NO! LIAR! Let me see!" said Zoe, aghast, now searching through the mess that was Mary's locker for a mirror. Mary grinned and patted her friend compassionately.
"There, dear Zoe. I am only being honest," said Mary in feigned displeasure.
"Oh, piss off," Zoe remarked still rummaging. Billy laughed and the nervousness he's had before seemed to evaporate. Good, at least he didn't have to feel like crap in the beginning of the day.
The warning bell rang indicating that there was 15 minutes until classes begun. Mary waved Billy off to go ahead as she had to run to the restroom before class. Billy tried to insist on staying, but when Mary reminded him of the penalty for being late he scampered off.. while knocking another girl to the floor. Some people never changed.
"This color is perfect. I'm never listening to you again," whined Zoe as she pondered at her reflection in the mirror.
"Are you done Narcissus? I have things to do," said Mary, reaching for the mirror. Zoe moaned in protest but gave up the mirror. "Now go. I'll see you in a few." Zoe strolled away, a little slower than usual. Yeah, she'd get over it. If they were going to go to the dance then at least that lipstick was out of the question. Bright pink, agh. Mary detested the color in clothes and shoes, you bet that she'd hate it in makeup.
"God," whispered Mary, staring up at the ceiling as she did. "Let me continue this day in peace please. So many things going on. What shall I do?" Releasing another expulsion of air, Mary slammed her locker and swerved to head to class.
Something hard hit Mary's face and for a moment she believed she had ran into a wall. Then again, the surface smacking into her nose was soft and smelled like expensive cologne. Mary shied away in the fear that she had hit a teacher or someone important. She craned her neck higher and nearly cringed. Rothford regarded her coldly and did not budge from his position. Where the hell had he come from? She pointed a finger towards him.
"Watch where you're going," warned Mary, delivering her own glower to match the hatred coming off of him. Rothford scoffed derisively.
"Polite as ever," said Rothford sarcastically.
"Tell you what. I'll start when you do. Now go away." For a second, Mary tried to walk past Rothford—but she couldn't do it. Before she could proceed forward, Rothford moved to block her path. Convinced it was a mistake Mary tried to divert to the right and again was prevented by Rothford impeding her path.
"Rothford what is it? I need to go," said Mary impatiently.
"Not my problem," said Rothford, his face clear with disinterest. The typical rage wasn't there when Rothford was concerned which really tapped Mary's supply of good comebacks. Now she was just tired and wanted a nap in History.
"Whatever," said Mary dismissively, there wasn't anything worth listening to. Mary pushed against his shoulder and proceeded towards the hallway. Fingers wrapped around her upper arm and Mary was thrust back to her locker. She gawked in shock at Rothford's huge form that towered over her in the now emptying hallway.
"Listen," said Rothford lethally which sent shivers of fear along the length of her spine. He crouched to reach eye level with Mary. "I just came over here to tell you something important."
"I'm not listening to anything," protested Mary, fighting against his hold on her arm.
"Unhand me!" Rothford relented without distancing himself from Mary. Her arm throbbed and Mary began to rub it sensitively. She knew that Rothford wasn't attacking her or throwing eggs, but she didn't care—at this moment she hated everything about Rothford, right down to the curls topping his miserable head. His own jaw hardened and he nudged her forehead with great force causing Mary to flinch away.
"I just wanted to get something across that tiny head of yours, okay!" shouted Rothford, his face reddening with anger. As if he realized that he had lost his composure he stepped away and wiped the front of his shirt, clearing his voice. A mischievous grin she was now used to reformed causing Mary's insides to jump in nervousness. Usually this meant he had an act up his sleeve. "Actually, I had a meeting with Dr. Apollan today." That was unexpected.
"And?" said Mary, confused. This did not seem to have the reaction he was anticipating for Rothford sighed in an exasperated manner.
"And he was asking me about whether I helped you with our group project in the class trip," said Rothford, menace trickling all over his words as he waited for them to settle in Mary's mind.
"Dr. Apollan… group project.." Mary said slowly—her brain seemed to be struggling to absorb yet another piece of surprising information. A distant memory that Mary had tucked in a remote corner of her mind recalled Dr. Apollan's comments. She'd dismissed it. Surely, he wouldn't actually believe Mary was capable of cheating. Look at her record. She had a scholarship even. There would be no proof of cheating, unless…
"He's under the pressure I did all the work on my own. Quite amusing actually," Rothford mused, watching Mary carefully. She on the other hand was nearly ignoring him trying to figure out what Rothford was trying imply here. Was he attempting to frame her for cheating? With such a small thing? Then, like a rocket ball, the memory of the night of the party returned to Mary's senses, and the words she spat at Rothford's face while gripping his hair. This is war.
"Amusing," remarked Mary softly, staring off into space lost in her own thoughts. Rothford seemed to get the thought process that was coursing through Mary and he bowed to get a good inspection of her face.
"Oh, you aren't worried are you," he said in feigned concern. Oh, how much money Mary would give right now to smash her books into his miserable face. A terrifying smile enveloped Rothford and Mary drew back into her locker, finally feeling cornered. Was this how he decided to get her kicked out? What would her aunt say? Mary wouldn't get to graduate and everything would be ruined. . . .
"What did you tell him?" said Mary gravely, paying careful attention to hide her emotions. Rothford shrugged but continued to smile cheerfully. It was like he floated in a sea of glory.
"Oh, not to worry, Marwee," chided Rothford, using Jaime's nickname for her. Fury pulsed through Mary's veins and she inched closer in her own menacing way. "I denied it, of course. We can't have the fun ruined just like that."
"What did you just call me?" said Mary dangerously. One more annoying comment and this guy was looking for her long nails across his pathetic face. Even if what he said was true, that wasn't the end. This douchebag clearly wanted something. "You want me to stay away from Callum as a deal, right? That's your price."
Suddenly, the cheerful mask disappeared and Rothford pushed himself in Mary's way. "This has nothing to do Callum. You're staying away from him either way," he threatened, placing both hands against the locker and on both sides of Mary's head, effectively trapping her there. Her lip curled in repulsion.
"Then what's making you so cheerful. You didn't tell the truth just for kicks," said Mary angrily, heat fuming around her ears.