SC: Woot-woot, new chapter! Why was Jack so mad? What is the big secret about the hidden part of the graveyard? What was Sandy doing there covered in blood? Why am I narrating this out loud like an underpaid announcer for a cartoon? All these questions shall be answered (except that last one) soon! Now, onto the chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own The Nightmare Before Christmas or any of its characters. I only own my OCs.
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Chapter 6
Unanswered Questions
The next morning, the breakfast table was silent. The height of conversation was when Barrel asked Lock to pass the salt.
After the four of them left, I turned to Jack. "I don't think I've even seen them that quiet."
"Me neither."
"You really should apologize you know."
"I know," Jack sighed, "But I had a feeling that waking them up to apologize last night would have been a bad idea." He kissed my cheek. "Once they get home from school. I promise." He stood up. "I have some business to take care of, but I'll try to be back by dinner." Jack started to walk out, Zero following him. At the door, he stopped. "No, Zero. You stay here boy."
Zero floated back over to me, whimpering. I frowned as I laid my hand on his head. My suspicions had just jumped from 'somewhat paranoid' up to 'undoubtedly confirmed.'
One: Jack left Zero behind, something that I have never seen him do.
Two: Jack never went to meet with the Mayor or do anything related to being Pumpkin King willingly. Usually, he had to be dragged kicking and screaming (not literally, but you get my point).
As I scratched Zero behind the ears, my frowned deepened. It wasn't like Jack to keep secrets.
.o0o.
Concentrating was never Lock's strong suit. And the fact that his mind was occupied with Jack's outburst the night before was definitely not helping.
A quick, and really loud, 'smack' on his desk snapped him out of his trance. Looking up, he saw that Mr. Black, the Haunting teacher (a swamp monster), had just slammed a slimy fist down on his desk. "Welcome back Lock. Now, maybe you can answer my question. Who was the Pumpkin King before Jack Skellington?"
Lock's mind raced. Of course, the one thing he doesn't copy out of Shock and Aubrey's notes… wait… he knew this! "Luna T'mare."
Mr. Black blinked, surprised. "Er… yes, that's correct." Lock couldn't help letting a triumphant smirk creep onto his face. Aubrey and Shock hid smiles behind their hands as their teacher flustered.
Alexis Blunt, a werewolf, raised her hand. "Isn't Luna a girl's name?"
The teacher nodded. "Luna T'mare WAS female, but the title of Pumpkin King is given to the leader of Halloween Town whether they are male or female." He finished by looking at Aubrey pointedly. Aubrey put a hand in front of her face, embarrassed. "Now, if you'll all turn to page three ninety-seven in your books…"
.o0o.
"Does every teacher have to single me out whenever the subject of Pumpkin King is brought up?" Aubrey groaned, stabbing the spork she stole from Shock into her sandwich.
Barrel pulled the sucker out of his mouth. "Well, maybe it's 'cause you're the Pumpkin Prin-"
Aubrey brandished the spork at the younger boy like a weapon. "Barrel, if you finish that sentence, the spork is getting stabbed into you next." She threatened. He stuck the sucker back in his mouth
Shock sighed. "Well, at least it's something good to get acknowledged for."
Aubrey scoffed. "Feh. What d'you sound unhappy for? It's more fun getting noticed for the crap we pull. Right Lock?" Lock didn't answer. Aubrey turned toward her boyfriend. "Lock?"
The devil was staring down at the table, tapping his claws against the gray plastic.
Shock punched him in the forehead. "Hey!"
Lock put a hand over the spot the witch socked. "Ow! What?"
"Jeez, quite spacing out on us, will ya'?"
"Sorry." He muttered.
"Are you still thinking about last night?" Aubrey asked. Lock nodded with a sigh. "Don't bother. I don't think any of us could figure out why dad freaked."
Shock tapped her fingers on the tabletop, much like Lock had been earlier. "Well, maybe there was a reason that part of the graveyard was like that."
Lock looked over at her. "Shock, this is Halloween Town. What could've been bad enough to make Jack that mad?"
"Mayhaps a giant spider?" Aubrey asked under her breath.
Lock tugged her hair lightly. "Shut up."
Barrel shook his head. "I don't think that even Jack was THAT mad. Yeah he was pretty pissed, but since Lock's the one who killed it, and actually saved everyone, he went a little lighter on us."
"But not much." Aubrey reminded them. "I was there too, remember?"
"How can we not?" Shock asked. "Lock threw the axe just before it tried to eat you and Sally."
Aubrey glared at her. "Yeah. Thanks for reminding me."
Shock grinned. "No pro-" The bell cut her off and she growled at it. "Oh shut up."
Barrel sighed and tossed the bare stick that his sucker had been on in the trash. "Let's go; I've already been late twice today."
.o0o.
"You know, I think this is the first time I've actually WANTED detention." Lock muttered as we walked out the door.
"No kidding." Shock and Barrel responded.
I shook my head. "I swear, it's still really creepy when you do that."
"Do what?" All three asked, grinning.
"That!"
Lock smiled and kissed my cheek. "Ah, you'll get used to it. In about three hundred years." I rolled my eyes shoved him off of me.
"I don't think I'm patient enough to wait that long." I stopped at the gate of Skellington Manor. "I'm going to go over to Dr. Finklestein's and check on Sandy, okay?"
They nodded and continued up the walk as I turned and headed toward the lab. I opened the door, wincing as it squeaked loudly. "Hey gramps, you here?" Stupid question, he was almost always in his lab.
I didn't get a response. "Gramps?"
A familiar figure walked to the top of the stairs. "Aubrey?"
My eyes widened and I flew up the stairs (not literally; the stairway's too small for my wings. And they were still shrunk anyway) and hugged them tightly. "Sandy! Oh my god, you're awake! Are you alright?"
She nodded, seemingly unfazed by my sudden bombardment of hugging-ness. (a/n: I know… not an actual word… go away)"Yeah, I'm okay, but I really shouldn't be standing according to that lady…"
I let go of her and stepped back. "Oh, you mean Jewel? Then you should probably lie back down, you don't need her to get mad at you." I pulled her back into the room she had been in (mom's old room, coincidentally) and sat down on her bed with her.
There was a somewhat awkward silence between us for a minute. "So…" Sandy started. "What happened?"
"Huh?" Not my most intelligent answer ever.
"Well, I'm guessing that you're dead now, right?"
I blinked. "Oh, yeah." I lifted up my shirt and showed her the hole.
She peered through it and whistled. "Lovely. You get shot or something?"
"Staked on a tree branch."
"Ouch."
"Can't be much worse than swallowing glass." I realized what I'd said and murmured an apology.
Sandy waved it off. "Nah, I deserved that. I shouldn't have left you there by yourself."
"Damn straight you shouldn't of. My new roomie was n-u-t-s nuts with a capital 'N'. She talked to plastic trees."
Sandy laughed. "No!"
"Yes! The girl was a certified loon!" I said, making the 'crazy' sign with my finger. Then I got serious. "How long have you been here Sandy? I mean, I know since you died, but where've you been? I looked everywhere for you! And how'd you end up in the graveyard?"
Sandy blinked. "What d'you mean?"
I stared at her. "Sandy… it's been over a year since you died."
"It has?" I blinked. How could she not know that? "I don't know… I don't remember anything before waking up in here…"
Stunned, I asked, "Are you serious? Nothing at all?"
She shrugged. "Mmm… nope. Nada."
I frowned. This couldn't be good.
Sandy smiled at me. "But who cares, right? I'm here now, aren't I?"
The corners of my mouth turned up into a smile. "Yeah."
She hugged me for a minute, then let go and sat back, a sly grin creeping onto her face. "So… how's it going with Lock?"
My face was probably bright red right now. "SANDY!"
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SC: Gah… so short… I'M SO SORRY! PLEASE FORGIVE ME! (gets down on hands and knees and begs)
Ja ne
SC
PS: I got really bored, so I made up LSB and Aubrey's (I'm really scared I'll be mauled if I write LSBA or something…) schedules. Have fun!
Lock
1History of Halloween
2Homeroom
3Basic Magic and Potions
4Haunting
5Fire Casting (Lock had no choice about this; Jack signed him up for it)
6Gym
7Geometry
Aubrey
1History of Halloween
2Homeroom
3Art
4Haunting
5Geometry
6Gym
7Advanced Magic
Shock
1History of Halloween
2Homeroom
3Geometry
4Haunting
5Advanced Potions (witches only)
6Gym
7Advanced Magic
Barrel
1Study of Magic
2Homeroom
3Art
4Basic Spell Casting
5Underworld History
6Study of Death
7Athletics