The X-Files: Ulvetyd
Chapter Three-The Dance
MARGARET.
The next morning, Agent Mulder and Agent Scully dropped me off at school. They assured me that they would pick me up again when school was over. They had an appointment with the coroner to examine Julie's body at the morgue. They alerted the school that if anything happened to call them. Mulder gave the school his cell phone number.
I was dressed in jeans and a pink tee shirt. It was really nice of Agent Mulder to offer to buy me clothes. That was the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.
I entered the high school feeling happy…that is until I spied Franchesca.
"Look…it's the 'freak' of nature," Fran squealed to the rest of her squad.
They snorted and chuckled as I passed them.
"Shut up," I said to her.
"Ooh…it knows big words! Aww…did your daddy get drunk again last night?" Fran asked, mockingly.
Feeling anger and tears rising, I just ignored her and continued to class.
"Probably…he probably hit her too!" one of the girls named Lilly giggled.
I entered my Math class where my best friend Dave Anderson was sitting. He has short, thick, light brown hair and incredible blue eyes. He was dressed in tan pants and a white shirt.
"Margaret! Hi! What's wrong?" he asked immediately as I sat down beside him and crossed my arms over the desk and let my head drop into them.
"Fran," I muttered as I raised my head and looked at him.
"Oh. Mags, don't let that prissy, self-absorbed barnacle get on your nerves or under your skin," Dave said, softly putting a hand on my shoulder.
"I know! It's just hard!" I said, wiping my eyes.
"Listen, I'm here for you…okay? Try not to worry. Hey, what did your father do to you last night? I heard you're staying with FBI agents?"
I nodded.
"Yeah. Dad went off and one of the agents put him in his place. I'm staying with them yes,"
"About time someone did something! He was horrible," Dave said, shaking his head.
"Yeah. But I'm staying with the agents until they can contact my relatives," I replied.
"At least you're safe," he replied.
I nodded.
Mr. Richards began teaching the lesson.
After Math, Dave and I headed to lunch.
We were sitting at our usual table. He was sitting across from me.
"God…this food is like a BIOHAZARD," he replied, frowning as he pushed the food around on his plate.
I laughed.
"That's what I like to hear," he grinned. "Listen. You going to the dance on Friday?"
I looked at him.
"I haven't thought about it,"
"Well, if you do, I want to know if maybe you'd like to go with me," he said.
I broke out into a grin.
"Sure! I'd love to!"
Dave grinned too.
Just then, Fran and the rest of the squad sauntered over.
"Oh crap," I muttered.
"Hi Dave," Fran said, in a flirtatious tone.
Everyone knew Fran had a huge crush on Dave.
Dave narrowed his eyes and didn't reply.
"Are you going to the dance Friday?" Fran continued.
"Yes. I'm going with Margaret," he replied stiffly.
"Why waste your time going with 'that' when you could go with me?" Fran replied batting her eyes at Dave.
Dave angrily stood up and got into Fran's face.
"Because she has more class that all of you put together," Dave growled. "I'd rather go with her then someone like you."
Fran's eyes flashed as she turned around and took my lunch tray and dumped it on my lap.
"Well, it's you choice. You can go with garbage or the best money can buy," Fran grinned as she and her group of girls turned and walked away.
Dave sat back down as I peeled the lunch tray off of my clothes.
"Jesus, Fran's getting worse. What a bitch," Dave replied angrily glaring after Fran.
Then, he turned his eyes onto me.
"Are you okay?"
"Fine," I replied, forcing the hurt and tears not to show.
The front of my shirt was stained with meatloaf, mashed potatoes and pudding.
The bell rang signaling the end of lunch. Dave and I stood up. He stood in front of me and moved his face close to mine.
"Listen…you are not garbage. Okay? You're the best person. I don't want to start to hear you talking about yourself like that…got it?" Dave replied.
I felt tears forming. I loved Dave…more than a best friend. I smiled as I felt the tears starting to cloud my eyes. Ignoring the stains on the front of my clothes, he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close into a tight hug. I hugged him back and pressed my face into his shoulder as I sobbed uncontrollably.
"Hey…no crying okay? Fran will get hers…trust me," Dave said quietly as we pulled apart.
I wiped my eyes with the back of my hands.
"I know…thanks," I said, smiling.
Dave leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek.
"Come on…let's get to English class okay?"
I grinned and walked with him.
Agent Mulder and Agent Scully picked me up after school. Immediately when they saw my clothes, they asked me what had happened.
"Ugh. Fran dumped my lunch on me," I replied, as I slid onto the back seat and closed the door.
Agent Mulder was peering at me in the rear view mirror.
"I can't believe how cruel kids can be today," he replied, not taking his eyes off of me.
I felt the heat rising in my cheeks and kept my eyes on the back of the seat.
"I know. Hey, did you find out about what caused that truck to stop?" I asked, raising my eyes to meet Agent Scully's.
"Yeah. There was a full tank of gas in the truck," Agent Scully said, shaking her head. "It's very baffling and confusing."
"Just like what happened to Julie," Agent Mulder added. "We still have no clue as to what happened. My guess is that she probably did lose her balance and fell."
"What about what the other students said? She said she felt like she was being pushed?" I asked, tilting my head.
"Maybe it felt like that to her before she lost her balance," Agent Scully offered.
"Listen, there's a dance on Friday…would you two like to chaperone? You could keep an eye on things and maybe talk to some more of the students," I asked.
Agent Mulder and Agent Scully looked at each other.
"Sure? Why not?" Agent Mulder asked, shrugging.
"Great. The dance starts at seven and ends at eleven," I grinned.
I was secretly glad Agent Mulder was going to come. Plus, if Fran started, maybe she'd get scared seeing two FBI agents there.
"I gather you need a dress? And do you have a date?" Agent Scully asked, grinning as Agent Mulder pulled away from the school.
"Yes and yes," I grinned back. "My best friend Dave Anderson."
Agent Mulder winked.
I had no idea that I should not have gone.
FRIDAY.
K. R. HENDRIS HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM.
SEVEN O'CLOCK PM.
Once again, Agent Mulder bought me a lovely light blue dress. It had spaghetti shoulder straps. I had left my hair down and it fluffed around my shoulders in gentle curls. I had applied light blue eye shadow on and clear lipgloss.
Agent Mulder and Agent Scully were standing near the refreshment table. Dave was dressed in a suit and tie. His eyes widened when he saw me.
"Wow…you look great!" he cried.
I grinned. "Thanks,"
"Shall we dance?" Dave asked, holding his arm out.
"Absolutely," I said, linking arms with him.
He led me out to the dance floor. It was a slow song.
He took my right hand in his left and my left hand was on his right shoulder. His left hand was on my hip. We slowly rotated in the spot.
AGENT SCULLY.
Margaret looked absolutely lovely. She was a very pretty girl. She was having a blast dancing with her best friend. Mulder and I were waiting by the refreshment table. I felt Mulder lean into me. I turned and looked at him.
"Want to dance?" he asked.
I grinned.
"Sorry Mulder. Not tonight,"
"Mind if I ask Margaret? You won't get jealous?" he grinned.
"Trust me…I won't. Plus, I think Margaret has a crush on you. I think she'd be happy if you asked her,"
Mulder blushed. That was the first time I ever saw him blush like that.
Once the slow song was over, I kept my eyes on Margaret. A girl was approaching her.
"That must be Franchesca DiOlvert," I said.
Mulder and I became alert and kept our eyes on Margaret and the other girl.
Margaret looked like she was starting to get upset.
AGENT MULDER.
I began walking over to where Margaret and Franchesca were standing. Margaret looked like she was getting upset. I stood behind Margaret and kept my eyes on Franchesca.
I could hear everything she was saying.
"You actually came? I can't believe it…this dance is for 'un-garbage' people. You really should go back to the box where you crawled out of," Franchesca said smirking.
Finally, I stepped up beside Margaret.
"You really need to take humanity lessons," I said, raising an eyebrow at Franchesca.
Franchesca's eyes moved on to me.
"Who are you?" she asked.
I looked at Margaret. Her eyes were teary as she looked back at me. I put a hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"Her father. Lay off Margaret. She hasn't done anything to any of you. You all need good smacks up the back of your heads because you all have attitudes," I replied.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Margaret's best friend fight breaking into a grin.
Franchesca didn't reply and she was silent.
"Now, might I suggest apologizing?" I said, eyeing Fran and the rest of the girls.
Fran looked at the rest of the girls before returning her eyes onto Margaret.
"Fine. I'm sorry," she replied.
I could tell the apology was forced.
"That's better," I replied.
Fran and the other girl's began walking away. I turned to Margaret's best friend.
"Would you mind if I danced with her?"
"Sure," he grinned.
He went and stood by Scully.
Margaret and I began dancing. It was a slow dance again.
"Thanks. That was really sweet of you," Margaret said, softly.
"She had no right to talk to you like that…that was totally uncalled for," I replied, sighing.
"Yeah, but at least she met my 'dad'," Margaret grinned.
I grinned back.
"How about I let you and your best friend dance now?" I asked.
Margaret nodded and grinned.
I stepped away and her best friend Dave took over.
Suddenly, about five minutes later, I heard Margaret scream. Scully and I became alert and watched as the small crowd crowded around Margaret and Dave. Scully and I rushed over. The rest of the students had formed a wide circle around Dave and Margaret.
Margaret was looking terrified. As Scully and I got closer, we saw a large, thin, pointed piper hovering in the air by itself right in front of Dave's chest. Margaret was breathing heavily. I could literally see the fear in her eyes.
Fran was staring intently at the pipe. Then, the pipe flew into Dave's chest.
Margaret screamed again.
MARGARET.
The pipe flew into Dave's chest. A red stain began forming on the front of his shirt and spread. Dave dropped to his knees before collapsing the entire way.
Agent Mulder and Agent Scully rushed over. Agent Scully called 911 and Agent Mulder crouched down beside Dave and felt his throat.
"He's okay," Agent Mulder said, looking up at me.
I nodded, but I was still shaking violently.
Agent Scully came over to me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
"What happened?" Agent Mulder demanded, looking around at the crowd.
"It just shot over at Dave as if an invisible person was holding it," a boy said.
I was too stunned to speak.
"Where?" Agent Scully asked.
"From that direction," the boy said, pointing toward a small section of the gym that was being renovated. Bits of pipes, wood and construction equipment were stacked.
Agent Scully went over and began investigating the site.
I was still stunned and shaking violently.
Dave was coughing up blood. A thick ribbon of blood was flowing from the corner of his mouth. Agent Mulder was still on the phone talking to 911.
About 2 minutes later, he hung up and looked up at me again.
"The ambulance is on its way. Don't worry. He'll be fine," Agent Mulder said, reassuringly.
Agent Scully came back over and crouched down beside Dave. She looked him over.
"It looks like the pipe just missed his heart. Agent Mulder's right. I think he'll be okay," Agent Scully said, also looking up at me.
There was a ringing in my ear.
"Did anyone see anything unusual?" Agent Mulder asked as he got up and stood beside me.
No reply.
"You can tell me. I will believe you," Agent Mulder continued, scanning the crowd.
Finally, a girl spoke up.
"I saw something weird," she said, nervously clearing her throat.
"What's your name and what did you see?"
"Emily Kentro. I saw Fran glaring at a pipe. Then it rose by itself," Emily replied, nervously glancing at Fran.
I saw Fran narrow her eyes at Emily.
Agent Mulder looked at Fran.
"Did you have anything to do with the pipe?"
Fran smirked.
"Why, yes I did,"
