Hey everybody! Thanks for reviewing! I got THE greatest idea, so here's chapter nine!

Irma: Well woo-hoo, now we both know we've got it coming to us.

You ain't seen nothing yet! Disclaimer, please?

Hay Lin: KaNdRaKaRgrl doesn't own us…however; she would like to own those new happy meal toys out at McDonald's now through December 15th!

I'd rather have all of them, but I just got Elyon a couple days ago! Okay, I'm done. On with the show!

Chapter 9

Rumors Rumors Are No Fun

"…and so the introduction of gladiators further illustrates the human need for at least one representation of some form of violent conflict in entertainment." Mr. Collins let the tone of his voice drop, and the class heaved a silent sigh of relief. "Which further goes to explain the reason behind…" The class groaned, and Mr. Collins grinned evilly. He loved letting the class think he was done with lectures, only to plunge right back into the sleep-inducing speeches that he wished one day someone would actually listen to for a change.

But apparently today would not be that day. Sure, the kids in front were trying to pay attention out of fear of a trip to Knickerbocker's (sp?) office, but the back of the classroom was too busy adding to the gossip pipelines that kept Sheffield Institute's social circles spinning. And who better to help keep the drama flowing fast than Hay Lin and Irma? So about three rows apart and with sheets of paper void of notes about Roman Empire, the girls decided to let Mr. Collins keep thinking he was talking to the wall and engaged the art of note-passing.

Hay Lin had become so engrossed with staring at her desk that she about jumped a foot in the air out of her seat when a crumpled ball of paper hit her in the side of the head. She just bent down, picked it up off the tiled floor, rolled her eyes at Irma's sad attempt to suppress an outburst of laughter, and unfolded the latest batch of secrets.

So did you hear about Connie Whyndam and Todd Lokari?

Hay Lin scribbled no and chucked the little paper ball back to Irma, pointedly aiming for head and missing by a mile. It arrived back in about five seconds, Irma's pen-wielding hand flying like the wind Hay Lin manipulated with a flick of her finger.

Well apparently Connie's parents were out of town for the week and Todd's had gone on vacation, and the power had gone out at his house. He had this major term paper due, so Connie said he could work on it at her place. He finished it at like one in the morning, so Connie said he could sleep in the guest room. Well, her parents her parent's flight came in early, and they hadn't woken up yet, so you can only imagine…

Before Hay Lin could read the rest of Heatherfield's latest teenage drama, she found her pen in her hand, and words scrawling themselves across the paper. She didn't even know what they said, and yet there they were, writing themselves a novel. All she was the ink, the ink that only held…a perfectly normal response. Hay Lin sighed contentedly, her worries vanishing. She continued her reply with her spirits soaring higher and higher until a shadow slid over her form, covering her tiny body as well as piece of paper it was hunched over. She looked up to see Mr. Collins looming over her, holding his hand out for the note she was scribbling on.

(Up in Candrcar)

Tibor looked up from the reflecting pool to face the Oracle, whose face was completely unreadable. "Is it not possible to prevent this? Why must it occur now? They are in a public place, and-

The Oracle looked up at his faithful aide with solemn eyes. "It is not going to happen now, Tibor. They are only biding their restlessness, building up every ounce of hate they can before they strike. It will not happen until they can be sure it will be the last thing to happen. I cannot prevent what will happen now, and what will happen soon. The girls must open their eyes to what is happening, before it is too late…and they take complete control…"

(Back on Earth)

"Well, how about we see what juicy secrets our biggest gossip hounds decided to dig up for us this week?" Mr. Collins said, snatching the note from Hay Lin's trembling fingers. He began to read the whole sordid story while Hay Lin shot a very apologetic look at Irma, who had her head in her hands. But it wasn't because of the fact that she'd been caught passing notes. No, Irma's head was beginning to throb viciously, all thoughts vanishing from her mind. And all of a sudden her vision went, the only thing she could was a vast white expanse of nothingness and…a silver tornado…growing bigger…coming right toward her…cruel laughter…an aura of maniacal satisfaction looming over her…a tidal wave…rippling towards nothing…and an explosion like no other the world had ever known…

Consciousness jerked her back to the real world, where Mr. Collins was just finishing up letting the world know of Hay Lin's half finished response. "That sounds like an ugly ending," he said in a mock high-pitched attempt at a girly voice. "But of course, you'd know all about stuff like that, wouldn't you?" Mr. Collins froze at what he had just read. For a minute Irma and Hay Lin's worlds completely stopped, and they were left staring only at each other.

And then the bell rang, time began again, and the rest of the students filed out the door.

RUMORSRUMORSARENOFUNRUMORSRUMORSARENOFUN RUMORSRUMORSARENOFUNRUMORSRUMORSARENOFUN RUMORSRUMORSARENOFUNRUMORSRUMORSARENOFUN

Irma was standing her ground, giving the person standing in front of her the best death glare she could possibly give.

"Sometimes…I really hate you," she whispered. She shook her head back and forth, and then looked up once again. "Sometimes…I wonder why you were chosen. I wonder what it would be like…if you weren't even here." She paused, whipping up a wave of water and commanding that it stand at attention behind her. "Sometimes," she said, her hands raised above her head. "I wish," she closed her eyes. "I knew who you were." And she let the floating water crash into her mirror, the clamor of the glass shattering the most comforting experience she'd had in days.

RUMORSRUMORSARENOFUNRUMORSRUMORSARENOFUN RUMORSRUMORSARENOFUNRUMORSRUMORSARENOFUN RUMORSRUMORSARENOFUNRUMORSRUMORSARENOFUN

Hay Lin punched in Irma's house phone number for the fifth time that afternoon, and after three long rings, the familiar click of speakerphone sounded in her ear, just in time to hear what sounded like a piece of glass clatter to the floor.

"Irma?"

"Hey Hay Lin," Irma said, and Hay Lin could hear her footsteps shuffling across the floor, gathering up what Hay Lin assumed to be glass. "What's up?"

"Listen, I'm…I'm sorry about what I wrote. I was totally joking, and I was about to write that when evil Mr. Collins came over…"

"No, its okay…you were totally right, anyway…ugly is something I would know all about…"

Hay Lin's stomach felt like it was twisting up into an angry knot, taut with guilt and worry. "Irma, you…you haven't really been yourself lately. Is something going on?"

Irma's mind was racing. I should tell her, she thought. She's my best friend. If I can't tell her, who can I spill my guts to? So Irma parted her lips to say exactly what had been going on, but something stopped her. She felt her breath catch up in her throat audibly, and for the next minute, no breath entered her lungs, no breath escaped them. And then water came shooting up her throat in a thrusting wave, splattering the floor, choking her, leaving her over and over again, warning her, commanding her, that no one should ever know…that her suffering must be silent…no matter what she thought of it.

"Irma? IRMA?" Hay Lin was getting anxious now. "IRMA! What is going on over there!"

"Help me." That was all Irma had time to say before another round of water came flying through her stubbornly sealed lips, and her finger traveled to the off button, pushing it down at the mercy of her own self.

Yay! Another cliffy! Lol yes I know I'm evil. Another chapter as soon as review numbers hit 44! R&R and ye shall receive!