Quick four in the morning update because what in the fuck is a sleep schedule anymore. :D
Please someone save me from my suffering.
ANYWAY! I hope you guys enjoy this and since this is a 4 AM update, I say sorry in advance for any errors this update has or any run-ons that end up not making any fucking sense. Honestly, if you see any, point them to me. I'll fix them whenever my brain isn't absolutely trash.
All in all, I hope y'all enjoy it! And a happy belated New Year to ya!
"I can't believe the three of you got yourselves caught." I let out a soft sigh as my mom parked in front of the school building on an early Saturday morning.
"At least Mr. Uhl didn't see the goblins." I gave my mom a nervous smile as she just gave me a small one in return.
"At least I was able to convince him into having you do detention instead of having you spend a night in jail. We don't need the Eclipse being locked up now, do we?"
"I'm sorry you're all roped into this though, mom. You don't deserve it." She reached out and combed her fingers through my hair as her smile just grew.
"What I don't deserve is a son willing to give up his life for the world." I smiled up toward her as she continued. "When did all the time go, huh? One minute you're crushing on that councilwoman's daughter at a fundraising party and the next minute you're off saving a world I didn't even know existed let alone understand. Yet somehow you're able to stand in front of the bombardment of whatever it has thrown at you. You've grown up way too fast for me, Jim." I blushed at my mom's words as I shot a glare toward Toby.
"You told her." Toby instantly held up his hands in a defensive stance.
"HEY! You're mom's fucking terrifying! Like Christ, she knows all the weaknesses in the human body. You can't tell me not to tell her."
"You broke the sacred pinky-promise, Tobes." I smiled as my mom just laughed at us as she just ruffled my hair gently.
"See. That's why I'm proud you're my son. You're still the same even after being forced into such a role." She smiled down at me before looking over toward the school once more. "You and Toby should go though. We don't need you two getting in trouble for being late for detention on top of having detention as well."
"Yeah. At least we're not suffering through it alone though. Right Tobes?"
"Too bad Claire had to deal with the wrath of councilwoman Nuñez." I shivered at the idea before exiting the car and giving my mom a weak smile.
"I'll text you when we get out. Thanks for all of this, mom."
"Thank you for being honest with me." Toby and I closed our respective car door before turning toward the school once more.
"I guess I'm not going to be allowed at that family picnic at Claire's today, huh?" I shot Toby a nervous smile before we started making our way up the staircase of the school building and toward our boring detention day.
"Oh more than likely not, buddy."
I sketched idly in my notebook as Señor Uhl took the phone sitting on my desk as he went through the row of desks to take our devices.
"You will not speak to each other," I glanced over toward Claire who was sitting next to me only to see that she was looking over toward me at the same time. "There is no technology, and there will not be any form of joy within these next handful of hours." I looked around the classroom to see Steve, Eli, Mary, and Shannon were joining me, Claire, and Toby during our weekend torture session. I turned my attention toward my best friend in question as he grabbed something out of his school bag before it was taken by Señor Uhl just like his phone was. "Food is included with that, Mr. Domzalski." The teacher looked over the tinfoil covered object within his hands before giving Toby a skeptical look. "What even is this?"
"A burrito." The older man just rolled his eyes at Toby as I tried my best to hold back a snicker.
"I'll be the one to judge that." Before Toby could warn the older man of what I knew was his favorite beefy burrito from hell, the man unwrapped the top of it and took a bite without a second thought. "All of you will be working on school work."
"What if we already have that done?" I glanced over toward Eli who asked the question as our teacher just leaned against his desk.
"Better get used to doing nothing then." I sigh as the teacher took another bite from the burrito in his hands as I glanced back over toward Claire who was now writing something within her notebook.
And dread the fact that you got your girlfriend in trouble with her parents before you could meet them as her boyfriend? Totally got it covered, Mr. Uhl.
I turned my attention back toward my school books and homework papers along with the notebook I was sketching within.
But at least I could get some late homework assignments done.
I flipped to a clean page within my notebook and decided to get some math work done.
Maybe I could sneak some help from Claire as well if I'm sneaky enough. Maybe then I could sneak in an apology as well.
I glanced out of the corner of my eye to see that she was glancing back at me. I smiled at her which she shared in reply that only caused my heart to flutter within my chest as she pulled her attention back toward her work.
Doesn't seem like she cares if I do or not though.
Twenty minutes or so passed before Uhl rushed up to his feet and dashing out of the classroom without a single word to the rest of us. I just smiled at the commotion before leaning back in my chair and turning my attention toward Toby who was sitting in front of me.
"You tried to warn him."
"Warn him about what, Lake?" I looked over toward Steve that was sitting near the front of the classroom behind where Eli was.
"That burrito Tobes had with him tears your insides out if you're not used to it." I closed my math book as Toby took my attention once more. "How long do you think he'll be in there? An hour or two at the very most?"
"Honestly, yeah. Maybe three if it's not the only thing in his system." I saw out of the corner of my eye to see that Claire just shook her head at us.
"You boys know too much about that stuff." I just shrugged as I shot Claire a soft smile.
"I blame Tobes for eating those things so much."
"Can you three be quiet?! He might hear us." Toby just chuckled at Eli's exclamation as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"When he's probably making the nearest boy's restroom a fucking radioactive zone? Doubtful. What are you even doing in detention if you're being such a goody-two-shoes, Eli?"
"Leave the Buttsnack alone, Domzalski." I shot a shocked look over toward Steve as he was glaring at my best friend.
"Did you just-? Sorry, I thought hell froze over for a second there." Steve turned his attention toward me before rolling his eyes at me.
"What? I can't be nice for once?"
"That's like saying you have more than two brain cells, Palchuk." Mary joined in on the conversation as she just smirked at Steve's angry look that he threw toward her.
"Oh yeah? I don't see you being in a better predicament than I am right now."
"That's because of pure chance that Miss Janeth dropped her phone under the bleachers and found me kissing a rival student under there. If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't be sitting here. Unlike you. Didn't you get caught trying to spraypaint the boy's locker room with your own name?"
"It's not as stupid as whatever the hell Lake is in here for!" The blonde turned his attention toward me before tilting his head to the side. "What are you here for anything?" I froze on the spot as I knew saying 'Hey, I stole Señor Uhl's pickup truck and somehow didn't get detention from it due to my mom talking it over with him' was probably more unbelievable than just saying I was the fucking Eclipse within that moment.
"We were planning on pulling a prank on Strickler since he's been giving us hell." I looked over toward Claire who had a smirk on her face. "Bastard would have deserved it though."
Thank you Claire for saving my ass part seventy-something.
"Really? Were you guys planning on doing?"
"Gluing everything down on his desk." Mary gave her friend a pleased look as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Nice~." She elongated the word before unfolding her arms to pull something out of her bag.
"How do you have your phone? Didn't he take it?" Steve gave Mary a curious look as she just looked over at the blonde as if he was stupid.
"Ever heard of an emergency phone? Do you think I could live without one? You got the wrong bitch if you think that." I couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction as Toby got up to his feet.
"Then how about instead of wasting our two hours of free time here, how about we go on an adventure? We do have the whole high school to ourselves." I looked over toward Claire to see how she thought about the proposition.
"I don't see the hurt in it. What do you think, Jim?" I shrugged at the idea before raising to my feet myself.
"Why not? As if he's going to be out of that bathroom any time soon. We just need to steer clear of that area. If not for not getting caught, then for our own health, honestly." I heard Claire giggle at me before shaking her head at my comment.
"Again. Only you and Toby would make such jokes."
"If you're calling us immature, then you're not wrong!" I laughed a little at Toby before making my way toward the front of the classroom.
"Then let's go on this adventure then, huh? I know that at least the gym is open still. We could find a basketball or something."
"If we do, I challenge ya to a game, Lake." Steve rose to his feet as I just gave him a small smile.
"In a friendly way or you're going to kick my ass if you don't win?"
"Friendly. I'm not as much of an asshole as you make me out to be."
"You're not seriously planning on leaving here, right?" Steve looked over toward Eli who was now tugging at the taller boy's wrist. The blonde just gave him a small shrug as he looked over toward Mary.
"Well everyone else is going." He then looked over toward Shannon who rose to her feet.
"Might as well get in trouble together if not." Mary rose to her feet and joined Shannon's side with a smile.
"As long as I can message Jeremy on my phone."
"Jeremy? What happened with Tight Pants Hank?"
"We called it quits." She just shrugged as she answered. "So, adventure?" I smiled at the ragtag group before Eli rose to his along with us.
"I don't have a good feeling around this." Steve just flung an arm around the smaller boy before bringing him close to his side.
"Aw, come on, Buttsnack! It'll be fun."
"Fun or troublesome." I smiled as Claire moved to joined my side.
"Oh more than likely troublesome, but we'll have fun along with it."
"Great. Just great."
"Unfair, Lake!" I dribbled the ball as I gave Steve a wide smirk.
"What? I didn't foul or anything. Right Claire?" I shot her a smile as she, Mary, Shannon, and Toby were watching the two of us.
"I didn't see anything sketchy."
"That's even more unfair! You two are-. Well, whatever the two of you are." I felt a small blush take over my face as I heard Claire call out from the bleachers.
"All because he's my boyfriend doesn't mean I'll always side with him. Well," Claire gave Steve a small smirk as she crossed her right leg over her left. "Actually, it does."
"You never told me you two were official!" Mary nudged Claire in the shoulder as I kept dribbling the ball in my right hand.
"You never asked." Mary gave her a hurt look as Shannon just laughed at the two of them.
"Oh quit being overdramatic. I know the two of you are theater kids, but Christ." I grabbed the basketball before making my way toward the bleachers as I figured that we were done with our game since the conversation took over. "But I do think you should have told Mary. It's good to be honest with those around you. Especially friends and family. You never know when you're going to need their help the most. Ya know?"
"Speaking of honestly." Toby popped into the conversation as he sat down next to Shannon with a curious look on his face. "Why are you here anyway, Shannon? I know you're quite the sickler for the school rules."
"Oh, I was caught embezzling from the student council." I felt a shocked look take over my face as an unfiltered response fell from my lips.
"For someone that just spoke about honesty so easily, that's rather ironic, don't you think?" Shannon just smiled at me with ease as she just placed her hands into her lap.
"Never judge a book by its cover, as they say."
"Well. If that's the most truthful thing I ever heard."
"HEY GUYS!" We all snapped our attention toward Eli who had a few bikes laying down next to him. "Look what I found!" I snapped my attention toward Claire who just shared the spark of mischief in my eyes.
"Bike ride through the halls?"
"Oh hell yeah." I dropped the ball beside me as Claire and I raced over toward the bikes.
"HEY! Not even going to give the rest of us a chance?!"
"There is such a thing as pegs, dude. Stand on them." Claire giggled beside me as I took a bike off the floor near Eli. Once I got onto the bike, she did exactly as I said before placing her hands onto my shoulder. "Let's go! Race all you guys to the cafeteria!" Claire tightened her hold on my shoulders as I pushed off to start peddling down the hallway.
"WAIT FOR US!"
I peddled as hard as I could as I felt the wind ruffling my hair with ease and Claire's arms wrapped around my neck. Her soft giggle filling the air as it whooshed past us.
"Are they even close?" I felt Claire adjust herself to look over my shoulder before settling herself back into place.
"I don't even see them." I smiled as I could hear the happiness in the girl's voice. "You know. It's nice having moments like this. Just us being normal for once." My smile widened as I nodded my head slightly.
"Yeah. Even if it is biking inside a school building during detention hours." I felt a sheepish look take over my face as I turned to go down a different hallway. "Sorry for having you deal with your mom's wrath though. I bet she doesn't want me at that party tomorrow as you wanted."
"Actually, I convinced her that it was all my fault. That I convinced you to hijack the truck with me. She doesn't believe me completely, but she believes me enough to give you a second chance."
"You mean you still want me to come to the party even though I bring chaos in my wake?" I smiled as I took a chance to glance up at the girl before bringing my eyes before me once more.
"Your chaos is my favorite type of chaos."
"If only your parents had the same mentality."
"I don't expect them to like my boyfriend." I felt her place a small kiss on my cheek before wrapped her arms around my neck once more. "Now, we've got a race to win!" I chuckled at her sudden switch in demeanor as a blush took over my cheeks.
I'll never get used to this, will I?
I snapped out of my dopey phase as I saw a familiar figure standing at the end of the hallway. I skid the bike to a halt as I narrowed my eyes at the figure.
"Draal?" Claire spoke my thoughts I felt her tighten her hold me to keep her upright. "What is he doing here? In broad daylight?"
"I don't know." I felt myself stiffen as I swallowed dryly. "Draal! What are you-?" His head snapped toward us as he started rushing down the hallway toward us. His normal bright yellow and red eyes now an eerie electric blue. I felt my stomach drop as a sudden realization hit me like a ton of bricks.
This is not Draal. It looks like him, yes. But this isn't him.
I turned the bike toward the cafeteria and started pedaling as hard as I could away from the rushing troll.
"Why is he attacking us?!"
"I have no clue!" I heard Claire grab out her staff with a simple whoosh.
"He's gaining upon us. We need to get out of here."
"Just don't portal to anyone else. We can't get found off-campus either. Keep that in mind."
"Don't worry, I have a safe place in mind." A portal appeared before us and I pushed my legs to start pedaling even harder to get us through it as soon as possible. Once we came through on the other side, the bike was caught on something as both Claire and I tumbled to the floor beneath us. I picked myself up as soon as I could before moving to help the fallen witch back up to her full height.
"Are you alright?" Claire smiled up at me before taking my hand to help her up.
"Yeah. Respecting the circumstances." I glanced around where we were to see that we were on the old stage in the theater department.
"I would have guessed you would teleport us to the theater department." I chuckled a little as she just smiled sheepishly at me.
"Well, it's our stage. It was the first thing to come to mind where I knew both of us would be safe."
"Our stage, huh?" I couldn't help but smile at the specific word in question as both her hands were now in mine.
"Well, I wouldn't have been a good Juliet without Romeo."
"It takes two to tango, Nuñez."
"Do you even know how to tango?"
"Nope. Two left feet, remember?" She just giggled softly at me as she squeezed my hands slightly.
"I would have to teach you someday. There's always some form of dancing at my mom's parties. Not so much at this fundraiser of her's, but when la familia comes around, you'll have to put those two left feet to good use."
"So you're saying I'll embarrass myself? Perfect. I already do that on the daily in the first place."
"Let's worry about the present first, huh? Even though I personally think it's adorable you're worried about that stuff already." I blushed a little at her statement as her hands took themselves out of mine so that she could pick up her staff that was still laying on the stage. "More specifically with what the hell has happened to Draal."
"Did you notice his change in eye color? His whole demeanor? It's as if he's there-."
"But he isn't in the same breath."
"FIGHT HIM!"
"B-But sir!" I watched as Gunmar swiped at the Gum-Gum with his sword. Once the blade touched his skin, a bright blue gleam started to take over the green cracks within the troll's skin. His emerald eyes turning to a sapphire blue as he turned rather limp for someone that was still standing before his general.
"I told you-." Gunmar narrowed his eyes toward the Gum-Gum before pointing a figure in my direction. "To fight." The troll turned on its heels before looking toward me with an emotionless expression. It looked as if he was a zombie. As if his own spirit had left its body within that direct moment. His will was now a slave to the command of Gunmar. A simple pawn in his game of chest.
Just as Draal was within the hallway.
"Gunmar. That blade he had in the Darklands." I looked down toward the wooden floor of the stage as I clutched at Claire's hands. "It could control your mind if you were touched by it. Turned the Gum-Gum's I saw in the arena into mindless zombies. Their eyes turning from mossy shades of emeralds to-."
"Sickeningly blues." I nodded numbly as Claire finished my thoughts. "Draal must have found him when he went out on that mission then. That explains his disappearance, at least. But if he was truly under Gunmar's control and he spotted us first, why didn't he rush at us sooner?"
"I don't know." I felt my voice crack as I felt a sudden dread spread across my chest. "But I don't want to end up losing him as well to all of this. It's bad even Vendel met his end with this God-forsaken prophecy. I can't lose-."
"You won't lose anyone else." I snapped my head up to look at Claire who had a determined gleam in her eye. "I'll be damn sure of it."
"You say it like we can change fate somehow." I chuckled weakly as I felt her hands slip out of mine before they found their way to my cheeks.
"We might not be able to change fate," I couldn't help but smile at her soft voice as her thumbs danced across my cheeks. "But we're going to sure as hell tempt it."
"I knew I liked you for a reason." I watched a smile appear on her lips before she pulled me into a tight hug.
"We'll save him someway. I promise." I wrapped my arms around her tightly as I tried my best to put faith in her words. "We'll find a way."
God, I hope so, Claire.
I buried my head into her shoulder as I felt her hands rubbing idle circles into my back.
God, I fucking hope so.
