Disclaimer: If you still need to ask that's really sad.

Chapter 14:

Last Encounter

Vivian sat at the kitchen table and stared out the window at the rain that was pounding on the house in heavy sheets. The branches on the trees bobbed up and down as the rain combed through the leaves. The weather matched her attitude; hopeless for sun and sad. Vivian was not in the mood to clean her locker and couldn't understand why Gabriel wouldn't do it for her. He had been so willing to help her pack yesterday but at the first mention of school Gabriel had switched the subject like grease lightening.

Now, as Vivian plopped another grape into her mouth, she tried to devise a plan that could get her in and out of the school in record time without being seen.

"Oh Vivian, it's not a big deal. You're only getting your books," said the unhelpful Esme, checking her hair in the reflection in the window. Vivian didn't reply.

"Oh, sweetie," said Esme turning away from the window only to start playing with Vivian's hair, "the Four are going to be with you anyways. What could go wrong?" But as soon as the words escaped her mouth she regretted it.

"Do me a favor and don't answer that," she said nervously. Vivian grunted and quickly finished the last of her grapes.

"Can you believe we're leaving tomorrow?" Once again Vivian didn't reply, "I can't. Won't it be so exciting?" Silence. "Don't worry we'll have tons of fun, it'll be great." Vivian couldn't help but smirk at Esme's mono-convo.

"Look at that, they're here. Are you ready to go Vivian?"

"No," was the pessimistic reply. Vivian got up from the table, picked up her bag and walked to the front door leaving the umbrella that she had intentionally left out while packing.

"Hey Viv!" said Willem, walking into the house, and shaking himself off like a dog.

"Hi," she said with sarcasm.

"Aren't you in a lovey dovey mood!" stated Finn, wrapping his arms around her in a bear hug, saturating her.

"C'mon lets go. I don't need to spend all day in that hell hall," said Vivian pulling her hood over her head. She walked out the door into the torrential down pour.

"Hey Vivi," said Greg who had waited outside and was now walking with her. Vivian ignored him and walked faster.

"I'm doing great, thanks for asking," he said sarcastically.

"Anytime," was the short reply.

After walking silently through the rain, which was a rarity, the five of them had made it to their, now, former school. When they walked into the building no one was in the hallway so Vivian figured there were classes going on. So she quickly went to her locker and extracted all of her personal belongings and placed them in her bag. Then she removed all of her text books and carried them down the hallway to the office where they were to be returned. When she got there the rest of the Four were there and were all waiting for the secretary to take their books.

By the time that she actually took their books the bell rang signaling the end of the period. Vivian groaned at the thought of being recognized and made fun of and quickly pulled her hood up to cover her face. A second later, kids spilled out of the classrooms like water spilling out of a glass. Vivian clutched both sides of the hood with her hands, pulling it as far down on her face as she possibly could, but it didn't help much. The Four were laughing and talking so loud it was hard not to draw attention to her.

Then, Vivian gave a breath of relief, seeing the comfort of an exit sign over a door. Her pace quickened and her eyes became glued to the doors. As she pushed on the door that would lead her to freedom, she tripped. Vivian silently cursed as her possessions spilled from her bag just as the kids did from the classrooms. Hurriedly, she threw the pens that had slipped out back in and then reached for a CD that Aiden had given her; music from some band that they probably saw in concert.

Then, as her index finger curled around the edge of the plastic that encased the CD, a long ungainly hand extended down to her. She couldn't see you offered their help to her because she had pulled her hood down to far, but it didn't matter because Vivian planned to ignore whoever it was. As Vivian brought the CD to her waiting bag she could no longer ignore her "helper".

"You like them? Get outta town!" Exclaimed a male voice. Vivian froze, and then slowly regained her clean-up, forcing herself not to look up or reply. He didn't recognize her yet and she wanted to keep it that way; but how could she if that person loomed over her, staring her down?

For a second, Vivian sat on the cold linoleum floor thinking of a way to make her escape. She turned around on the floor so she faced the door and stood up with her back towards him.

"Wait!" the person re-extended their hand and touched Vivian's arm, "that band is playing this Saturday, do you want to go?"

"No, I don't like them, it's my friends CD," Vivian tried to disguise her voice but it was useless; she was a good as a cow trying to oink. Suddenly the hand that had rested on Vivian's shoulder dropped.

"Vivian..."

She pushed hard on the door and ran away from the school into the rain. The Four were still in the school, but what did she give about them? They could take care of themselves.

When Vivian got home she slammed the door and ran to her room not bothering to take off her soaking shoes. She fell asleep after that knowing that everything would be better tomorrow. Tomorrow they would leave for Canada.

Dun, dun, dun!! I feel like the director dude in the Soprano's! I don't watch the show and many ppl on here probably don't either, but I heard that in the last episode you never found out what happened; it was up to you to decided, which I personally think sucks. But that's what I did, you don't know who the person was that Vivian was "talking" to, but I bet that everyone knows who it is. Hehe! Reviews are very much appreciated! Lots of people who have put me on their favorite or alert list have not reviewed my story! So if you haven't and I'm on one of those lists then PLEASE REVIEW! As all my other faithful reviewers- thank you very much!! And please –everyone- review!!

Katt

Oh and guess what!! I'm going to BOSTON tomorrow!! Whoop! Whoop!!