New and Improved
Chapter 4: CATFIGHT!
"What's the matter with you? Of course it's me," said Samantha.
"I—I'm sorry," said Odd, lowering his eyes. "I'm just so surprised to see you, that's all."
"So, get over it. I'm here okay?"
"Yes, but why?"
"To see you, that's why."
"Samantha, is that really why you're here?"
Samantha opened her mouth to say something, but she closed it before saying anything. The expression on her face turned sad and she looked at the ground. "Odd, it's just—it's just …" she let out a long sigh. "I got in trouble at school and I had nowhere to run. My parents will kill me if they find out." She started to cry. Odd put Kiwi down and Kiwi ran off towards the dorm. Odd put a hand on Samantha's shoulder and tried his best to comfort her.
"Come on, cheer up. It couldn't have been that bad. What happened?"
Samantha looked up. "You don't wanna know."
"Try me."
"No really, you don't wanna know."
"OK, fine then. But why did you come here of all places?"
Samantha smiled. "Because I needed to go someplace where I knew somebody honestly cared about me. You're the only person I can trust. You care about me, don't you?"
Odd bit his lip. Sissi came to mind. "Of course I care about you, it's just—"
"Oh, Odd, I knew I could trust you." Samantha wrapped her arms around Odd's neck and kissed him. Odd opened his eyes wide in surprise, while blushing at the same time. Odd hesitated to push her away, as Samantha was a great kisser, even better than Sissi. Then, the sound of an angry yell echoed across the grounds. Odd knew that yell anywhere. Oh, crap, he thought, Sissi. Odd shoved Samantha away and turned very red as Sissi stomped into view. Sissi walked right up to Odd and gave him a good, hard slap across the face. The force of the blow caused Odd to stagger backwards a few steps. He rubbed his cheek, and smiled nervously as Sissi eyed him angrily. "Odd! What is the meaning of this?" yelled Sissi, pointing a scolding finger in Odd's face.
"Sissi, it's not what you think."
"Oh, I think it is. You've got some explaining to do, Odd Della Robbia!" Sissi was mad, very mad. She had used Odd's full name.
"Odd," said Samantha, extremely puzzled, "who is this?"
Odd removed his hand from his cheek. One could almost make out the outline of Sissi's hand in the red mark on his face. "Uh…this is Sissi," Odd paused and took a deep breath. "She's my … girlfriend."
"What? I thought I was your girlfriend." Samantha turned her gaze to Sissi. Both girls glared at each other with hatred.
"What are you talking about?" snapped Sissi, "Odd's MINE!" She stepped up and gave Samantha a hard shove. Samantha fell backwards onto her behind.
"Why, you little …" Samantha leapt up and tackled Sissi to the ground. The two of them rolled over each other on the ground, and Odd just stood there, afraid to do something, as they might both turn on him. The two girls continued to roll around, grunting as they continued to punch and slap one another. Samantha managed to gain the upper hand, pinning Sissi on the ground. She put both hands on Sissi's neck, attempting to choke her. This was too much for Odd, though he'd always dreamed of girls fighting over him. "Girls, stop, PLEASE!" Samantha released her grip on Sissi.
"Get off of me!" yelled Sissi, pushing Samantha away. Sissi coughed and the two girls stood to their feet, glaring at Odd. He gulped and continued talking.
"Girls, please. This is stupid. There's no reason to kill each other over me." The two girls looked at each other and smiled. There was something about their smiles that made Odd sweat bullets.
"You're right, Odd," said Samantha. "We shouldn't be killing each other. We should be killing … you." Samantha cracked her knuckles and took a couple steps towards Odd. Odd backed away as Sissi followed Samantha's lead. They've gone crazy! What am I going to do? Odd turned and ran in the direction of the classrooms, hoping he'd run into one of the faculty. "HELP! HELP ME!"
----
Meanwhile, Mrs. Hertz's class was just getting started. She called out Odd's name for attendance. When he didn't answer, she looked up. Odd was indeed not in his seat. "Jeremie, Ulrich," she said. "You don't happen to know where Odd is, do you?"
Before Jeremie or Ulrich could answer, the sound of Odd's cries for help came through the open window into the classroom. Everyone turned and looked in that direction. Herve and Nicholas saw him first.
"Look! Odd's being chased by Sissi and some other girl! He looks scared."
"What," asked a surprised Mrs. Hertz. She stepped up to the window. "Oh, my goodness! Jim, where is Jim? JIM!"
Jim just happened to be walking down that hallway when he heard Mrs. Hertz calling for him. He turned around and ran towards her classroom. "What is it?"
"It's Odd," said Aelita worried. "It looks like he's in trouble." Jim looked out the window.
"Omigosh!" he cried. He ran out of the classroom and towards the courtyard.
----
Odd had made a mistake. He'd trapped himself in a corner. As Sissi and Samantha advanced towards him, slid leaned against the wall and slid down into a sitting position on the ground. He was prepared to take the worst.
"Hey, stop!" cried a voice. It was Jim. Odd had never been happier to hear that voice. Samantha and Sissi seemed to snap out of whatever it had been driving them, and Jim stepped between them and Odd. "What's going on here?" Samantha and Sissi both looked down, embarrassed, having realized what had happened. "Well?" Jim eyed the two girls with a displeased eye. Odd spoke up.
"It's my fault, Jim. They're both angry at me."
Jim raised an eyebrow, curious. "Angry with you? About what?"
"If you don't mind, I'd rather keep that between the three of us, Jim." Jim chuckled.
"All right. Whatever it is, I'd advise you to work it out. I don't you all to kill each other." Sissi and Samantha blushed, smiling nervously. Jim laughed and turned around. His eye caught Samantha. "Who are you? I don't recognize you. You a new student here?"
"I—" Samantha started to say something but Sissi interrupted.
"Yes, she's a friend, Jim of mine Jim. Her name's Samantha. She started school yesterday." Samantha gave Sissi a look that seemed to say, "What-are-you-doing?" Sissi smiled slightly, and then looked back at Jim.
Jim raised both his eyebrows and looked over at Odd, who was standing now. "Well, Odd," he said, "you really know how to make a good impression with new students." Jim chuckled, eying Samantha curiously. She looked down, avoiding eye contact. "You three had better get off to class. Run along now." Sissi and Samantha ran off towards Mrs. Hertz's class. "Odd," said Jim, "why aren't you headed to class?"
"I wanted to tell you the truth Jim."
"Oh?"
"She's an old girlfriend of mine from another school. She and Sissi were fighting over me. Then they got mad and came after me"
Jim burst out laughing. "HA HA HA! You don't say?"
"It's true. Samantha got in trouble at her old school. She's scared of her parents, so she came here because she trusts me. Please don't say anything to Mr. Delmas. I'm going to try and convince her to go home myself."
"If you say so. Let me know if you need anything, ok?"
"Thank you, Jim. You're such a good friend." Jim smiled.
"Odd," shouted Sissi from across the way, "come on!" Odd walked of her direction. He looked over his shoulder at Jim. Jim gave him a two-fingered salute. Odd smiled, saluting back. Then he turned and jogged towards Sissi. Kids these days, thought Jim, I don't think I'll ever fully understand them. Jim watched the three kids until they entered the classroom. He smiled and walked off towards the garden shed, continuing his rounds of the facility.
