The other half

Ch 1 – crush

'CHARLIE!'

'Yes grandma bone?'

'YOU'RE GOING TO BE LATE FOR BLOOR'S! FINISH EATING AND GRAB YOUR THING AND GO TO DOOR TO WAIT FOR THE BUS…ON SECOND THOUGHT, JUST GET UP NOW! THERES SUFFICIENT NUTRITION AT BLOOR'S!'

'Sigh…yes grandma bone'

'STOP SHOUTIN' I'M WRITIN'!' yelled uncle Paton

'O don't listen to that old coot Charlie.' Said Maisie. 'When you're finished you can---

DING DONG

'Don't worry Maisie, I'll get it…I've suddenly lost my appetite.'

It was Fidelio at the door.

'C'MON CHARLIE! The bus is here! Plus I've got some things to tell you.'

'Ok Fido'

'YOU KNOW I DON'T LIKE THAT NAME!'

'Just let me get my things. BYE MOM! BYE MAISIE!'

'Don't forget to wear your cloak dear' said his mom.

'AND IF ANY OF THOSE WEIRDOS BOTHER YOU, JUST GIVE EM' A GOOD THUMPIN'!

'O Maisie' said his mother. 'Remember to be good dear'

'Yes mom. Bye mom'

In a flash Charlie was out the door and on the bus, where he sat down next to Fido, as Olivia called him, near the middle of the bus. As Charlie sat down he said, 'so what was this big news?'

'Sigh'

As Charlie looked he could see Fidelio was looking out the window at the drama bus that Olivia was on.

'Ha ha… you gonna tell me or do I have to hurt you?'

' Huh? What? O yeah the news! THE DANCE!'

'THE WHAT?'

'O I forgot you haven't been here that long. See last year the dance was cancelled. Why? No one knows, but everyone was unhappy. This year the dance is on. In February sometime, Bloor's hosts a giant valentines ball, with cake and a feast and the whole 9 yards. Actually I quite enjoyed that movie. The effects were---'

'Fidelio…the dance?'

'Right, the dance. And of course, you'll need someone to slow dance with, if you know what I mean. It's kind of strange. Valentines is virtually the only holiday Bloor's celebrates. You think they'd have a more morbid holiday, like triple homework day, or detentions for everyone day.'

'Hmm. A dance huh? I've been wanting to ask e—I mean a special someone to lunch. But she's always with her friends.'

'Well I know who I'm taking. Sigh…Olivia vertigo…'

'OLIVIA!'

'SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!'

'Olivia? Really? I didn't know you felt that way about her…'

'I didn't…until she put in the orange hair dye that one Tuesday. Sigh… I'm a sucker for orange Charlie.'

'Your hopeless Fidelio…'

What about you Mr. Bachelor? Who you takin?'

'I ain't telling you!'

Meanwhile, Emma and her twin Rebeka are waiting for the art bus.

'Sigh…' said Emma, 'he's so dreamy, with his long hair and cool clothes…'

'O stop your blubbering Emma! I'm furious! I was supposed to get lost in the ruin. I was supposed to be rescued by hot Tancred! WHO WON'T EVEN GO WITH ME TO THE DANCE! ARGH! I swear I'll get rid of that Charlie. And spying on him for Ezekiel will allow me to get closer to him.'

'Were you saying something Beka?'

'O NO, NO…nothing at all…

The story continues…