Chapter 8
"Hidden"
The girls had hurried to reach the Great Hall on time, so that Mrs. Grue would not assign them a paper, as she had done for Taylor Abram earlier in the day. Rory and Morgan found Tabitha flipping through a book and scribbling down some notes. Rory snuck up behind Tabitha and grabbed her shoulders, making her jump in surprise. "Hey, doing homework at dinnertime? Now that's dedicated." Rory said teasingly as she sat down next to Tabitha.
"Well, I'd rather do it now then during my free time." Tabitha replied, eyes never leaving her texts.
Rory nudged her, "Come on, socialize!"
She shook her head, reaching for her glass.
Rory snatched it, and moved it away, "No socializing, no drink," she said with a smug little smirk.
Tabitha sighed and tucked her books under the bench. "Fine you win."
As promised, Rory returned the glass. Morgan whispered to Rory, "Are you gonna tell them?"
"I think I'll wait until everyone gets here. It's big news after all," Rory replied.
"What is?" Tabitha inquired.
"I'll tell everyone as soon as they get here," Rory answered.
Jessie had by now settled down with the others, and momentarily Madison and Hailey joined them. Once again Taylor was nowhere to be found. The girls snickered amongst themselves, wondering how late she would be this time.
From the front of the room, at the great table where the Headmistress and the Professors sat, there was a clinking of a glass. Rory frowned, "No more ceremonies," she murmured burying her head in her hands, pretending to be dramatic.
Headmistress Howe stood from her seat. "Hello girls, I hope that all of your classes have gone well for today. From what your Professors tell me, you are still as unique as ever." She smiled, "Now I will not delay you from your meals for long, I would just like to clarify things."
There as a murmur of confusion. What had the Headmistress meant by 'clarify'? Before Headmistress Howe could start to speak again there was the sound of skidding shoes on stone and rushed, breathless apologies. It was Taylor, late again. Headmistress Howe watched the girl as she embarrassingly hurried to her seat, then addressed the students again.
"There has been a rumor going around the school." At the words rumor, Rory frowned, this meant that what Professor Grenich had said about the Junior World Cup was in fact true. "There will be no recap of last years Junior World Cup. That is an event that occurs once every 5 years. I'm sorry to have disappointed some of you."
Headmistress Howe's eyes drifted to the table where last years players sat, a look of surprise and disappointment on their faces. "So if you are told about another Junior World Cup occurring this year, know that you all have heard the same information. It will not occur for another 5 years." She paused. "Alright girls, enjoy your meal." Headmistress Howe sat down watching the buzz of conversation going up. She looked to the other Professors, most of which who regarded her in return.
Rory's eyes had never left Headmistress Howe and the table up front. She noticed the glances that the faculty passed amongst each other, something was most definitely up. There was something that the staff was keeping from its students. Rory turned to the others, who had already begun to eat, looking disappointed, "There's something they aren't telling us you know."
Madison replied, "Nah, they're probably just as disappointed as we are that there isn't going to be another Junior World Cup."
Tabitha thought a moment, "But they would've already known it only occurs every 5 years. That means they'd have no reason to be disappointed when they 'found out'."
Jessie nodded, "You make a good point. Also, have the rest of you guys noticed the expressions after that spiel? Rory saw them, so did I." It was true; the teachers had a look of unease about their faces. It was hard for someone to notice if they weren't really studying their faces hard. The girls fell into a hush, thinking amongst themselves.
Taylor spoke up, ending the uncomfortable silence. "What do you think it is?"
Morgan murmured "I don't know, but for some reason I'm feeling frightened. especially since we have no idea what's coming."
The girls had hurried to reach the Great Hall on time, so that Mrs. Grue would not assign them a paper, as she had done for Taylor Abram earlier in the day. Rory and Morgan found Tabitha flipping through a book and scribbling down some notes. Rory snuck up behind Tabitha and grabbed her shoulders, making her jump in surprise. "Hey, doing homework at dinnertime? Now that's dedicated." Rory said teasingly as she sat down next to Tabitha.
"Well, I'd rather do it now then during my free time." Tabitha replied, eyes never leaving her texts.
Rory nudged her, "Come on, socialize!"
She shook her head, reaching for her glass.
Rory snatched it, and moved it away, "No socializing, no drink," she said with a smug little smirk.
Tabitha sighed and tucked her books under the bench. "Fine you win."
As promised, Rory returned the glass. Morgan whispered to Rory, "Are you gonna tell them?"
"I think I'll wait until everyone gets here. It's big news after all," Rory replied.
"What is?" Tabitha inquired.
"I'll tell everyone as soon as they get here," Rory answered.
Jessie had by now settled down with the others, and momentarily Madison and Hailey joined them. Once again Taylor was nowhere to be found. The girls snickered amongst themselves, wondering how late she would be this time.
From the front of the room, at the great table where the Headmistress and the Professors sat, there was a clinking of a glass. Rory frowned, "No more ceremonies," she murmured burying her head in her hands, pretending to be dramatic.
Headmistress Howe stood from her seat. "Hello girls, I hope that all of your classes have gone well for today. From what your Professors tell me, you are still as unique as ever." She smiled, "Now I will not delay you from your meals for long, I would just like to clarify things."
There as a murmur of confusion. What had the Headmistress meant by 'clarify'? Before Headmistress Howe could start to speak again there was the sound of skidding shoes on stone and rushed, breathless apologies. It was Taylor, late again. Headmistress Howe watched the girl as she embarrassingly hurried to her seat, then addressed the students again.
"There has been a rumor going around the school." At the words rumor, Rory frowned, this meant that what Professor Grenich had said about the Junior World Cup was in fact true. "There will be no recap of last years Junior World Cup. That is an event that occurs once every 5 years. I'm sorry to have disappointed some of you."
Headmistress Howe's eyes drifted to the table where last years players sat, a look of surprise and disappointment on their faces. "So if you are told about another Junior World Cup occurring this year, know that you all have heard the same information. It will not occur for another 5 years." She paused. "Alright girls, enjoy your meal." Headmistress Howe sat down watching the buzz of conversation going up. She looked to the other Professors, most of which who regarded her in return.
Rory's eyes had never left Headmistress Howe and the table up front. She noticed the glances that the faculty passed amongst each other, something was most definitely up. There was something that the staff was keeping from its students. Rory turned to the others, who had already begun to eat, looking disappointed, "There's something they aren't telling us you know."
Madison replied, "Nah, they're probably just as disappointed as we are that there isn't going to be another Junior World Cup."
Tabitha thought a moment, "But they would've already known it only occurs every 5 years. That means they'd have no reason to be disappointed when they 'found out'."
Jessie nodded, "You make a good point. Also, have the rest of you guys noticed the expressions after that spiel? Rory saw them, so did I." It was true; the teachers had a look of unease about their faces. It was hard for someone to notice if they weren't really studying their faces hard. The girls fell into a hush, thinking amongst themselves.
Taylor spoke up, ending the uncomfortable silence. "What do you think it is?"
Morgan murmured "I don't know, but for some reason I'm feeling frightened. especially since we have no idea what's coming."