Chapter Nine:

Right when the principal was done talking, the bell for fifth period had rung. So Night was walking through the halls to Theater. Though on her way, some kids were chasing each other through the halls and didn't see her. One of them pushed her over while running and Night fell to the ground.

"Sorry-" The kid who had knocked her called, still running.

The kids still in the halls walked around Night, and she quickly got up, dusted herself off, then kept walking. She felt her arms bleeding a bit, but not enough to notice.

Night soon got to the theater room and walked inside. The events of science still disturbed her. Candy was gone.. But Night had a feeling she would come back. That insane fox would find some way to escape the prison.. But she snapped back into reality when Cindy tapped her shoulder.

"Are you okay?" Cindy asked.

"Um.. yes?" Night replied, puzzled.

"But your sleeves are all red! Do they do that a lot?"

Night glanced down at her arms to find them bleeding. Uh-oh, apparently it was worse than she thought. But Cindy was still looking at her for an explanation.

"W-we were doing something in science and I spilled red food dye on it," she lied, hoping that would satisfy Cindy.

It did. "Okay!" she chirped, skipping off to May, who had just come in.

Luckily, there were two doors in the theater room that led to the rest of the school, so Night slipped out through the one that no one was using and made her way to the bathroom. When she was in, Night went into the stall to change her bandages. P.N. appeared but didn't say anything. It made Night uncomfortable when she did that. She couldn't read her expression..

When Night was done she flushed the bloodied bandages down the toilet and walked out. Another girl was washing her hands, so Night did too. The bell rang when she was putting the paper towels in the trash, and Night hurried back to theater.

When she walked in everyone was still chattering and goofing off. Night went to her seat where her tattered, old backpack was. She really needed to get a new one- the nets that held pencils on the sides of the backpack were torn up and useless. Just like me, Night thought. Cindy was there talking to May.

"There you are, Night!" Cindy greeted.

"Hi," Night responded, sitting down, "Do you guys.. Know what we're doing?" Night had assumed that Mrs. Tree had already explained.

"Nope," Cindy said, "But here comes Mrs. Tree!"
Night followed her gaze and saw Mrs. Tree walking to the front of the room, her eyebrows furrowed.

"Class!" she shouted into her microphone, "I have got to talk to you guys!"

The rowdy students quieted down some, and most of the got back to their seats.

"We have a problem," Mrs. Tree continued, "Someone keeps putting gum on my desk, and I need it to stop."
A few kids looked around at each other, but no one spoke up.

"Just.. Please stop," She said, "Anyways, today we're receiving scripts. Some of you won't get one, due to the school's budget."

I hope I'm one of those people, Night thought. She didn't want to have a big part- in fact, she didn't want to be on a stage at all.

But to her dismay, a student helper came straight to Night and handed her a script.

"U-um.. can I trade people scripts?" Night asked.

The girl shrugged, "Yeah, I guess," she said before walking off.

Phew.

Night waited until the student helpers were done handing out scripts. May received one, but Cindy didn't. "Just practice," Mrs. Tree said.

Night looked down at her part. "Princess Zoey".

That's a lead part! Night thought, I CAN'T play this!

"Huh, I got 'Traveling merchant'" May said.

Cindy looked a bit sad, "Why don't I get one?"

"Here, Cindy, I don't want mine," Night said, handing it to her. There was no way Night was going to play that.

"Ooh, i'm a princess!" Cindy exclaimed, "Thats cool!"

Night smiled, win-win.

Theater was boring for Night, since she didn't have anything to do. so she pulled out her sketchpad and started to draw a cute cat.

Then, Becca approached her. Night sighed and put away her sketchpad by the time Becca was talking.

"Night," she said in a bratty and I'm-trying-to-be-intimidating voice, "I don't know if you heard, but I'm going to fight you."

Night had heard. This morning in art that dog girl had warned her.

"Ok," Night said. She honestly wasn't scared of Becca.. She was just so.. Braindead, really.

"Meet me if the field after school today, and i'll tear you apart! If you don't come then your a coward!"

"I'm good," Night said simply. May came up behind her to watch.

"Coward- you know you can't beat me!" Becca screeched.

Night looked at her, "Yeah, whatever.."

Becca stomped her foot and spun around, walking back to her seat.

"That was entertaining," May commented, "Nice keeping your cool."

"You should go," P.N said, "You know you could easily teach her a lesson. I wouldn't normally say that- but she's made of twigs, so even a weakling like you could do it. Then she'll leave you alone."

Night shook her head. That would only get her in trouble.

Theater had went by fast, and now it was sixth period, CCA. Bendy was in this class with her, and so was Jax, but he was still suspended.

As Night walked through the halls, she thought.

He was suspended for three weeks, Night thought, It would have been six if he hadn't paid the hospital fees.

He would be back in a few days, Night knew. The thought made her shudder. He would either back off, or bully her even more- but be more careful about it. Night had a strong feeling that he would choose the second option. But for now, Night focused on getting to class. She found her room and walked inside, looking up at the projector. The board said to 'grab a pencil and be at your seat.'

Night did that. There were four seats at Night's table. Bendy sat across from her, Jax sat next to him, and another girl named Aster sat next to Night.

Aster was a brown deer that loved flowers. She was sweet and quiet, but hated when other people were being bullied. She also loved Christmas. Aster was there with a pencil ready when Night sat down.

Soon Bendy came in, slightly limping. Night still felt a bit guilty about Bendy going to the hospital.

"Hi Night," He said when he sat down.

"Hi," Night said, slightly blushing.

"I heard something happened in your science class," he said in a worried tone. Night remembered Candy..

"Y-yeah, Candy was arrested."

"Really? On the spot?"

She nodded, "It was scary.."

"Must have been.." Bendy murmured, "I'm glad you- er, no one got hurt."

Night glanced at him, then looked away, nodding.

"So how have you been, besides that?" Bendy asked as he reached down to get a pencil from his backpack.

"G-good," she lied, "How about you?"

Night felt her face heating up. Why do I have to be so awkward..?

"I've been recovering super well," he said, "and I just got a donation for my cartoon business, so that's awesome."

Night had forgotten he owned a business.

She thought of how to reply. I don't want to act like I want in on his money, but I want to say good job.. What will I say after that? How will he reply? I hate socializing!

"That's cool," She said.

Bendy smiled and opened his mouth to say something, but Mr. Miller started addressing the class.

"Everyone, get out your packets, too. I forgot to put that on the board. We're taking notes today," he said.

Students muttered complaints as they pulled out the colored papers.

"Turn to page six," Mr. Miller instructed.

P.N had disappeared, Night realized. She really hates Bendy.

The teacher turned on a slide and the class filled in some blanks. It was pretty easy, since everything you had to write down was bolded on the slide. Night got a warm feeling when she was in the same room as Bendy. Her stomach fluttered every time he spoke, and her heart jumped when he looked at her.

Night knew that she liked him, and he probably liked her back..

But she didn't know why.

Maybe there doesn't have to be a reason, Night thought, Maybe I don't have to be completely alone anymore..

Night blinked slowly, then continued listening to Mr. Miller. The rest of the period went by pretty fast.

The five minute bell rang and everyone began chattering as they cleaned up.

Night was waiting by the door to exit in the back of the line when P.N said, "You'd better stay away from that disgusting beast."

"We both know you can't be separated from me," Night said.

P.N hissed, "No, idiot! I mean Bendy- you don't deserve a popular kid. Actually, you don't deserve anyone! Unless it was someone abusive and cruel. That would do," she spat venomously.

Night lowered her head. Maybe P.N was right.. She was wasting her time. No- his time.

She really didn't want to deal with P.N right now.

"I can't believe he invited you to that stuipid party. You know why he did that?"

Night looked at P.N. "I bet that he was dared. All the cool kids in school don't go to school-arranged events. If he actually liked you, he would invite you to some party with alcohol and no teachers around,"

Night lowered her head again, and her eyes decided to start leaking tears.

"Cry-baby," P.N spat, "You know it's true, Bendy doesn't like you at all. I mean, can you give me a good reason why someone like him would like a nobody?"

Night opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. P.N floated down to meet her in the eyes.

"You. Are. Nothing," P.N said slowly.

"That's not true!"

Startled but still crying, Night recognized Bendy's voice. He can't see me crying! Night thought. So she hurried to the front of the messy line, just in time for the bell to ring. P.N floated along behind her, shooting a smirk at Bendy on her way out.

It was homeroom. But Night was currently in the girl's bathroom. She had checked in with her homeroom teacher and then asked to go to the bathroom, planning to stay there until school ended. She had brought her back pack in with her.

P.N was invisible, but Night knew she was watching her cry. What P.N said made sense. It always did. Whenever Night felt this sad, she tended to imagine herself dying. Jumping off a cliff or building would always be quick and painless, and Night already knew where the school's roof access door was. May wouldn't be too sad if I was gone- she's tough, Night thought, and Cindy wouldn't understand. But no one else would notice.. Or care.

Night thought that Bendy would be heartbroken, but if P.N was right, he would probably just feel a little guilt. He.. He is a demon, after all..

Night got quiet as someone entered the bathroom. She heard high-heels clacking, as well as some others following behind. Night saw from under the stall door, four pairs of shoes. Those High-heels must be Becca's, Night thought, Maybe she's skipping school with some friends.

Homeroom was a good time to skip, considering that sometimes the attendance for some students wouldn't go through. Even if Becca was caught, Night knew that the principal wouldn't punish her. Becca was the principal's daughter, after all.

The four girls began gossiping as they pulled out make-up kits and started to apply sparkly colors to their faces.

"Ew, why would you use green?" Becca asked one of the girls.

"Just wait, it'll look good in a sec," another girl replied.

"O.M,G, did you guys hear that Kyler just broke up with Samantha?" another voice said.

"Where did you hear that, Karen?" Becca asked.

Karen is my "mom's" name, too, Night thought.

"Samantha herself texted me about it- look, she even has screenshots!" Karen replied.

"O.M.G! I can't believe Kyler would do that!" A fourth voice said.

"Do you think he cheated?"

"I bet, his latest snapchat has a pic of him and-"

"Who's in that stall?"

Night quickly wiped away her tears and adjusted her hair, picking up her backpack and flushing the toilet to make it seem like she was using the bathroom. Then she took a breath and walked out, meeting the judging gazes of four girls.

Night smiled nervously and looked for a place to wash her hands, but there were three sinks and all of them were occupied by the girl's make-up. They'd make fun of me if I didn't wash my hands, Night thought.

She scooted by one of the sinks and began to awkwardly wash her hands as quickly as possible. Night could handle Becca, but not four Beccas.

"You're still going to fight me," Becca said.

Night shook her head and got some paper towels.

"The whole school is gonna be there to watch, and if you don't come then everyone will know you're a coward," said Karen.

Not that anyone knows me in the first place, Night thought.

"Don't you talk?" Said Becca again.

Night finished drying her hands and met Becca in the eyes, but before she could speak, Becca must have noticed her tear steaks on her face.

"Hah, you're so overwhelmed that you've been crying! What a cry baby!" She sneered.

Cry baby. P.N's words echoed in her head.

"Hate to say I told you so," P.N said, appearing beside Night.

Night let out a frustrated breath and pushed past the girls, walking back to her homeroom. It was probably only ten more minutes until the final bell of the day rang. P.N followed her through the halls in a lying down pose with her head propped up with her hands.

"Becca's pretty stuipid, but even she can see the truth about you.." P.N remarked, "Why not teach her a lesson? She invited you to, with the fight n' all."

Night shook her head yet again, turning a corner, "I told you, that would only get me in trouble..!"

"And..?"

"And I don't want to be in trouble!"

P.N sighed and disappeared when Night walked into her classroom.

To her relief, the class was rowdy and the teacher was gone, probably taking a bathroom break. But when Night made it to her seat, she spotted a small crowd gathering around two boys. Mark, a brute-like kid Night recognized from around the halls, and.. Hydro? Yes, it was Hydro.

Mark was grinning at Hydro as he towered over him. Hydro wasn't meeting his gaze. Mark's smile reminded her of Jax's.

"Got nothin' today?" Mark asked in a deep voice.

Hydro didn't do anything. Night assumed Mark was asking for money. She noticed that Hydro was clenching his fists. Mark gave Hydro a little shove.

The class had gone silent by now. Only a few students, including Night, were in their seats. The crowd was getting bigger, and Night couldn't see well from her spot.

"Hey!"

Suddenly, the teacher was at the doorway of the classroom. "What's going on here?"

Mark looked up as the kids started going back to their seats. "Oh, nothing. Just having a chat.."

The teacher glared at Mark, "A chat that deserves an audience?"

"Whatever," Mark mumbled, going back to his seat. Hydro put his clenched fists in his pockets and walked back to his seat, too.

It was only about two minutes that the class chatted until the bell rang.

Night headed out the door, avoiding Mark just in case. But he didn't seem to even notice her. P.N floated beside her as Night made her way to the buses. Night's bus was late today, so she stood not far from where it usually parked.

Then, Echo from her language art class hurried up to her.

"Hey, Night.." She greeted, "I-I'm moving to a different school and I won't be here tomorrow.."

"What?" Night asked, disappointed, "Which one?"

"Water Oak high," Echo replied, "I'll miss you.."
"Me too.." Night said. Echo hugged her and then walked to her bus, turning back to wave goodbye.

"Abandoned," P.N said, "Just like you deserve to be."