Sorry it took so long, everyone! For some odd reason, fanfiction wasn't letting me update. Which is frustrating, let me tell you. I apologize for the quality of this chapter, I don't think it's entirely all that good and, like the first one, most of it is taken directly from the book with snarky little Emileigh having to tolerate the odd actions. Because, as seen in chapter one, she doesn't care for Scott.

Anyway, if anyone is still willing to read, here's the lovely chapter two. Chapter Three will have more notable differences I think. It's planned to anyway.

Review Replies:

Ringo Nik: Haha, her interactions with Ash will be fun to write, I think. Even if she finds him attractive, she'd be more annoyed with that than starstruck. And I hope to take it into a different direction than the original, it'll still have to have many of the same events, it is supposed to be the same plot. Emileigh's just an entirely different character than Meghan.

Evie: Here's the update! Sorry it took so long! Glad you like it.

Angel of Hell17: Awe, thanks, hopefully you'll still love it as it continues.

CHAPTER TWO

Jokes on Me

At dinner, I was fuming. Mostly because they refused to go back to the pound to get Beau. And I wasn't dropping the issue. But they were ignoring me to talk about trivial things like the newspaper and weather and all that nonsense while Ethan stared in silence, clutching the stuffed rabbit close to his chest.

I don't think they realized it. But it was pissing me off.

"Mom, we have to go back and get him! Just one slip up and you freak out? He's been loyal to us this whole time! Maybe he thought Ethan was in trouble!"

They continued to ignore me. It actually became painful to sit at the table without Beau digging around for crumbs and I left in a huff, slamming my door shut behind me. I threw myself at the bed and assaulted it before settling out.

But that only made me think of Beau. And how he'd come up and curl beside me, making sure I was safe and happy.

That was all he had ever done.

Protect us.

It wasn't right to take him to the pound. And now that he was gone, the house felt empty and I felt more alone than I had in this town for a while. I wanted to call Robbie and rant and rave and throw a fit but he didn't even have a homephone. So I'd have to settle with talking to him tomorrow and bemoaning my poor dog's absence.

There was a timid knock on the door and, before I could answer, Ethan peeked in.

I wiped away the rest of my tears and sat up, patting a place beside me. He crawled up into my lap instead, holding Floppy tightly. "What's wrong?" I asked gently although I could guess what his answer would be.

"Mommy and Daddy sent Beau away," he replied, a small hiccup shaking his body. I wrapped my arms around him protectively and sighed.

However, he seemed to be waiting for some kind of answer, so I said, "They think they have to. They think he hurt you." I paused. "Did he hurt you, Ethan?"

Ethan twisted in his spot to give me wide, teary eyes. "Beau didn't bite me." Ha, I was right. We need to go back right now and get him because, damn it, he was family, too. However, looking in Ethan's eyes took the triumph away… He had a look of understanding far too old for his young face. "Beau didn't hurt me. Beau was trying to save me from the man in the closet."

Goosebumps crawled up my arm.

Gently, I pried. "Why didn't you tell mom and dad?"

"They're grown ups," Ethan said, as if it was perfectly clear. "They won't believe me. They can't see the monsters—"

I heard my voice quiver, "Ethan, there aren't monster—"

"Yes, there are!" He scowled, raising his voice. "I've seen them. They talk to me. They say the king wants to see me." The feeling of dread curling in my stomach began to grow and I was almost pulled into believing him. But I had checked this morning. I had and there had been no one else in the closet.

I opened my mouth to explain this when he wiggled from my arms to point at the bandaged one.

He had a gleam in his eyes now, determined to tell his story. "The man in the closet grabbed me here. He was pulling me under the bed when Beau came in and scared him off." Then, he gave me a grave expression, as If he was about to tell me about a funeral of some kind. "Floppy says you can see them. If you try hard enough."

My attention turned to the stuffed rabbit, blood rushing in my ears. Floppy told him a lot of things, Floppy was creepy. I didn't like Floppy. All my conspiracies piled up in my mind and I bit my lip.

Ethan didn't seem to notice my discomfort. "You can see through the mist and glamour, Floppy says so."

I opened my mouth, I'm not entire sure what I was about to say, but then mom's voice floated through the door, "Ethan? Are you in here?" She came and saw us together, offering us a tentative smile. I scowled back at her. "Ethan, honey, it's time to get ready for bed. It's been a long day."

Ethan leapt down, padding up behind her to clutch her hand. "Can I sleep with you and Daddy?"

"Oh, I guess so. But just for tonight."

I waited for their footsteps to fade before kicking the door shut and huddling up under the covers. Who was I supposed to believe? I knew Beau didn't bite him. I knew it. Beau wouldn't. But I wasn't sure if I could believe his story either.

I'm not sure I fell asleep, but I remember dreaming about Floppy. In this dream, he wasn't evil like in all the others. I dreamt I woke up and talked to him. He wanted to warn me… or maybe he was trying to help me. I remember he had been talking in the same grave tone as Ethan when he had been telling me I could see the monsters.

I think I promised him something.

But when I woke up, that was all I could remember. Even though I tried to remember what I had promised and what it had told me, I drew up blank. I should've known this was some kind of warning.

I WOKE UP TO THE sound of rain drumming against the roof. I could already tell this would be another wonderful birthday. I wondered if I could play sick so I wouldn't have to go to school. It would be a pain to make up the work but even worse to go back and face an angry jock.

I had a feeling he was going to try something today. He didn't seem like the patient type.

"Emileigh?" I ignored her, burrowing under the covers and resenting her. Beau was gone and I decided I wasn't getting up without him. Her tone turned matter of fact, "You're going to miss the bus and I'm not driving you to school."

Seems like she wasn't even going to try to make up with me. Well, good, I didn't want to feel guilty after dishing out my enraged speech to Robbie. I kicked off the covers and decided I didn't want to be pretty today and threw on some random clothing and let my hair be a crazy static mess.

I ran into her when I was storming through the kitchen and she offered, "I was thinking, after I pick you up today, we could go get your permit." She paused just as I got my hopes up. "Oh wait, you'll have to ride the bus back. But I'll take you as soon as you get here."

Of course.

However, it looked like she was trying harder than before and I reluctantly agreed, letting her give me a hug before trying to stuff my homework into my backpack. Ethan approached timidly and I looked up for a second before asking, "What's up, squirt?"

He beamed and stepped forward, holding out a card. It was colored in crayons with a smiley-faced sun over a little house with smoke curling from the roof. "Happy birthday, Emileigh! See how I remembered?"

Okay. I couldn't stay all resentful when he was looking at me like that. I hugged him fiercely before opening it and a cute drawing of our family smiled up at me—he had even drawn Beau. Seeing this forced me to swallow back another fit of tears and I gave him a smile.

"Do you like it?" He asked, suddenly worried.

"No." His face fell and I finished with, "I love it."

It was worth it to see his face light up again.

"In fact, I think it needs to go on the refrigerator so everyone can see it. Why don't you go do that while I finish packing?" He nodded cheerfully and scampered off, clutching it to his chest, and lifted my spirits in the process. Maybe today wasn't going to be the most awful thing ever.

"SO, YOUR MOM IS TAKING you to get your permit, today?" Robbie asked. Of course, he asked this just as we turned into the parking lot of the school. Oh well, still love him. "Good! Then you can start driving us to the movies and to your place—"

"Rob, honey, it's only a permit." He didn't seem to get what I meant. "I can't take anyone anywhere. It's just so I can legally practice driving." I didn't wait to see his reply and instead rushed out of the bus. It was a nice thought. Not having to use the bus one day. Might be another lifetime before it happened but a girl can dream.

And then Scott came over. I was immediately on guard and gave him a distrusting look, looking back to watch for Robbie. "Hey." I ignored him. "Um… What was your name again?"

I cast aside any logical reason for nervousness and decided it was probably because Robbie could be scary when he wanted to. "I'm not telling you again." I adjusted my teacher tone. "I already know you don't like me, there's no need for you to throw my name around."

He frowned. "Look, I feel bad for the way I treated you yesterday. It was uncalled for. I'm sorry."

I continued to eye him guardedly but replied, "Emileigh."

He grinned, "Emileigh."

"Yes. Emileigh Chase." I rose an eyebrow and noticed Robbie walking off, so I grabbed him. At this time, Scott looked over at his friends before looking back at me and cast Robbie a look.

Robbie gave him one right back.

He was such a jealous person.

"Hey, I haven't been able to stop thinking about what all I said. I was a real jerk and I'd like to make it up to you. Do…" He paused, and I shared a look with Robbie. Unsure of whether or not to believe Scott's change of heart. "Do you want to eat lunch with me?"

"As nice as that would be," I replied impassively, slipping an arm around Robbie. Who, to my annoyance, slipped an arm right back. Sometimes. "I'm eating with Robbie. But thank you for the offer."

He looked puzzled.

Robbie decided to clear it up, "That was a no." Obviously I had said the right thing because he seemed almost giddy. "But she might talk to you later if you're nice."

I jabbed him in the side and he let go. Scott looked put out before grinning, "Well, I guess I'll see you around. Hey, real quick, say cheese!"

Before I had time to react, he had grabbed me and brought me to his side as one of his friends leapt forward and took a picture with his phone. He let go and, still grinning, left with his friends.

Robbie looked mad.

With a sigh, I poked his arm. "Don't worry about it. Whatever just happened was absolutely ridiculous and I don't even know what to think of it. We have to g—Well. I have to get to class, Mr. Slacker."

He cast a look over his shoulder and said something about checking up on someone and, rolling my eyes, I headed to class alone.

WHEN THE LUNCH BELL RANG, I decided maybe turning down Scott's attempt at an apology was a bad idea. But it had seemed completely false to me so I wasn't entirely sure what to do in this situation.

I was packing my stuff when I felt the eyes on my back and whirled around.

But it was just Robbie.

"Do you always have to creep up behind me? Because one of these days I'm going to haul off and rabbit punch you or something." He didn't look the least bit fazed, just amused. "I'm serious."

However, I was smiling at him, dang it, so it ruined the effect. "And here I was thinking we had a date today."

I smacked his arm and was about to make some other comment when I noticed his expression change. "Hey, is something bothering you?"

His slightly off expression turned serious. "This is bad, I can feel it. Jockstrap is up to something-he and his buddies were hanging around the yearbook department for a long time after he talked to you. I don't like it."

And now, neither did I.

"Did you hear anything they said?" He shook his head. "Dang. Okay, well, let's just go on in. If they do anything, hey, it can't be that bad. Besides that, you're my cover, right?"

He smirked, "Of course."

"Then we're good."

I was almost out the door when he grabbed my wrist. Blinking, I turned back to face him. "And I'll always cover you, kay?" I blinked. "Just remember that for me."

That startled a laugh out of me, "Stop acting like the world's caving in. It's my birthday. I've been a good kid, I don't think anything too bad will happen to me. And you've always been there." And when I thought about it, he really had. Sometimes he'd been there too much. Like when I first started my period and freaked out. Because then he freaked out.

It had been a mess. And it was to never be repeated again.

The cafeteria was its normal self. No groups seemed disturbed as they had their gangs and friends. Robbie took his place beside me and though he seemed to be fine, he was tense. Scott caught my eye and gave me a smile, before pressing a button on his iPhone.

I blinked, confused. And then a phone nearby rang. I started to get that sinking feeling one finds themselves experiencing when something bad was happening and they hadn't acknowledged it consciously yet.

I ignored the now blossoming snickering but found myself shrinking closer to Robbie as more phones rang around us.

I had a feeling they were whispering and giggly about me.

A hand smacked my butt and I cried out, whirling around to see Dan Ottoman from band giving me a leer. "Hey, hot cheeks! Never took you for a player, girl." Player of what exactly? I moved even closer to Robbie. "Come down to the band sometime, I've got a flute you can play."

I had the feeling this was some kind of sick innuendo. "I'd be more inclined to agree if I knew what the hell you were talking about." He snickered and showed his phone. At first, I was going to chew him out... Then I saw the message.

"How is Emileigh Chase like a cold beer?" Scrolled agross in bright yellow letters. Then it vanished and a picture popped up.

Me. Me and Scott in the parking lot. Only, instead of me being fully clothed like I was pretty sure I had been, it looked like they had not only photoshopped Robbie out, but also my clothing. The body they had used, however, was insanely thin and featureless and kind of ruined the effect for me.

Then the words bothered me again. "She's smooth and goes down easy!"

At first, I gaped. And then, with a snarl, I turned and marched over to Scott's table, ignoring the surrounding people. "Real impressive, really. You should get some kind of award for that little text. One problem."

I paused and watched the smirk waver.

"I have breasts. Though you probably don't know what those are. Wonder who that girl is." Of course, this was all my wounded pride had as a comeback and I marched out of the cafeteria, dragging Robbie behind me. "We aren't eating today, Rob. I lost my appetit-" I stopped after we had made it a few feet down the halls. "You know... I think I'll go to the nurse's. It's about time your habits got to me... Think you could get my work?"

He had on a faintly dark expression but nodded, walking with me until I reached the door. I shooed him away, adopted my best sick face (not that it was hard with how I was feeling), and peeked in. The look she gave me told she wasn't fooling around. "Well now, Ms. Chase, what are you doing here?"

"I have a stomachache." I complained. "Can I lie down for a minute or two?"

Her eyes softened a little. "Of course, Ms. Chase. There are some cots in the back. I'll bring you something to help you feel better."

Eh. I had expected a tougher challenge to that. Nodding, I stepped in and noticed that there didn't seem to be any other kids in. It was a bit comforting... I didn't want to catch an actual illness. Just as I finished getting comfortable, the nurse returned with a steaming Dixie cup.

"Take this, you'll feel better." I eyed it, unsure. I wasn't actually sick so what if it did something? A side effect? However, she gave me a smile and left and I decided to go ahead and drink it. It was incredible. Richer than chocolate but with a slightly bitter tinge to it. In fact, it was good enough that I just gulped it down.

Moments after, I decided maybe a quick doze wouldn't be too bad and fell asleep, forgetting to put the empty cup down.

I AWOKE TO LOW VOICES.

The tones weren't reassuring. They reminded me of when mom and Luke were talking about me after I did something 'troubling.'

Joy.

I tried to move but, oh look, I couldn't. In fact, my eyes felt like they were being pushed down-it wasn't very comfortable. I turned my head and noticed two shadows. At least it was only two. If it had been a crowd, I might've had to start a riot, immobile or not.

"Don't do anything reckless," it was the nurse, I was finally able to tell. Hmm. That drink she gave me was good, although obviously did something. Maybe it was supposed to make a person go to sleep? Then maybe I could have more before I sleep tonight. "Remember, your duty is to watch the girl. You must not to anything that will draw attention."

Stalker?

What?

"Me?" Hmm. Maybe not stalker. The voice was familiar. Very familiar. Very, very, very fa-Dang it, why couldn't I draw a name? "Draw attention to myself? Would I do such a thing?"

Whoever it was, I could tell the answer was 'yes.'

The nurse also seemed to agree that it was worthy of sarcasm and snorted. "If the entire cheerleading squad turn into mice, Robin, I will be very upset with you. Mortal adolescents are blind and cruel."

Well, thanks, miss. Glad to see you call us 'mortals' and 'adolescents' and not even just teenagers in a contemptuous tone. Taking sarcasm a little too far was possible.

"You know that. You mustn't take revenge, no matter how you feel for the girl. Especially now. There are more worrying things on the move." And now I was confused again. I was about to just give up and blame it on the drink. Maybe it was a freaky drug and I was hallucinating or having kooky dreams.

The shadows were starting to have more shape, now that my eyes could focus. There was one unnaturally small shadow-why hadn't I noticed that before?-and the other one was a pretty okay height. But looked like it had something coming out of the head.

That was it.

I was drugged.

End of story.

The taller shadow sighed and sat down. "I've heard the same." Oh look, he'd mellowed. Haha, drugs. Nice try. Still know you're there. "Dark rumors are stirring. The Courts are restless." Courts? Like... Judges and juries and all that? Haha, too many discussions over the law in history it seemed. "Seems like something is out there that has both of them scared."

Only two? Boo. How boring for a drug-induced hallucination. Now I knew for sure I didn't want to do drugs. If this was all they had... Then they definitely weren't worth it.

"Which is why you must continue to be both her shield and her guardian."

Okay, the mental image of some man turning into a shield and a girl charging in with him on her arm as he complained about having to protect her with his own sword was kind of funny, but I could think up those things on my own.

"I'm surprised you haven't given her the mistwine yet. She is sixteen today. The veil is beginning to lift." Oooh. Ominous foreshadowing. I probably won't be out of it long enough to see the conclusion of the story. Sounded interesting though.

Speaking of veils, I wished I could move mine and see who the familiar voice was. It was bothering me that I couldn't figure it out. "I know, I know. I'm getting to it." There was a pause, some ruffling, and his shadow bent over some. "I'll take care of that later this afternoon. How is she?"

Hmm. I will pretend that she is me and I will reply with 'Just peachy, now screw off.'

But alas.

My mouth did not open and these words did not come out.

Instead, the nurse said, "Resting. Poor thing, she was traumatized." No. I was pretty sure I hadn't acted that way in the least. Sick? Yes. But. That was also acting. Although my stomach had been hurting from the whole 'oh my God, people are such retards.' "I gave her a mild sleeping potion. It should knock her out until she goes home."

Except, hahaha, I'm up right now. Jokes on you! Seems you're getting a lot wrong today.

Familiar voice chuckled. It was a familiar chuckle, too.

Damn it.

Who was it?

"The last kid who drank one of your 'mild' sleep potions didn't wake up for two weeks." Whoa. Strong stuff. Maybe I should go to sleep so as to not waste the potion. "You're one to talk about being inconspicuous."

I wanted to think something snarky, but I was starting to lose focus. I was pretty sure I heard something about fathers and daughters and fines but I wasn't entirely sure because...

It seems it was still nap time.

"EMILEIGH!"

Someone was shaking me awake. With a sqawk, I tried to open my eyes but they were crusted with nasty stuff so I had to rub at them furiously until I could move my eyes without feeling like they were covered in sand. Once they were taken care of, I gave him a confused glare.

For a second there, I thought he looked worried. But then he was grinning and being a douche. "Wakey, wakey, sleeping beauty." I smacked his arm but this did nothing but bring out a chuckle. "Lucky you, school is out. It's time to go home."

"Yeah, well, lucky you, I'm too disoriented to sock you." I did my best to look menacing.

He just snorted and pulled me to my feet. "Here." He handed my my backpack and then one-upped me. "Lucky you," oh that stupid little smirk was tauting me, "I got notes for all the classes you missed after lunch."

Oh. Oh yay.

"I forgive you for being a douche." I replied, giving him a quick hug. "My douche in shining armor! Whatever will I do without you?"

He chuckled, "Probably die. But you might make it to rock bottom and hang out there a couple days first." Pfft. Ruining the moment. I crossed my arms and then remember lunch and, well damn, I had to call mom.

"Mom has to pick me up. There's no way I'm riding the bus."

"Look, Emileigh," I met his eyes and he continued, "it's not that big of a deal. It'll blow over."

"Yes. It'll blow over. It'll blow over faster if I slink out of everyone's life and vanish off the face of the planet for a good month or so." I sunk back onto the cot. "I mean, I shouldn't really even give a crap what people think, but to have a whole herd of snickering imbeciles reminding me of it... I'm just glad you were there. It would've been worse for me if you hadn't."

I drew my knees up to my chest, being entirely unladylike, and then ducked my head down. I was an Emileigh turtle, the rarest kind.

Stupid tears sprung into my eyes but I wasn't going to cry. I refused. "It's my birthday." I grumbled. "I knew it wasn't going to be the best sweet sixteen in the world, but this is a little too much even for me."

Robbie sighed and, after I heard a thump, pulled me into another hug. This one lasted a lot longer and was much more comforting. I clung to his shirt and pressed my ear to his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

Had he run to the clinic to wake me up?

Sounded like he'd been in a race, dear lord.

His voice distracted me before I could tease him. "Come on." He dragged me up with him and I let go, sliding back to stretch a bit and rub at my eyes. Moist, but I hadn't let any tears escape. "You can do this. And I promise, no one will care about what happened today. By tomorrow, everyone will have forgotten about it."

See, those words were comforting and I was glad the trickster was showing his compassion, but honestly, it didn't work like that. It would at least be the talk of the month, if not more. And definitely would stay unless something else bad happened to someone else and I wasn't bitter enough to curse others all the way yet.

"Besides, don't you have a driver's permit to get?"

Oh dang. He knew me so well.

Curse him for being my best friend!

I left the nurse's office with him and he held my hand. Literally. It was comforting though, so I didn't really mind. It wasn't awkward with him because, well, there was no way it had the same implications. It was just him protecting me... like he usually was.

Hmm. Mr. Tricker King Robbie Goodfell was getting soft. I was kind of glad though. It let me know that, yes, he was actually my friend and not just preying on me by gaining my trust and then turning on me and making me the butt of some very cruel joke. I'd had nightmares about that before, actually.

We started to head near a group of girls. "Just stick close." He didn't have to tell me that. I did, however, to show him I listened, leaned closer. Angie and a few of her posse were standing around the lockers being their usual selves. My steps slowed and Robbie squeezed my hand, "It's okay. Don't let go of me, and don't say anything to anyone. They won't even notice we're here."

I waited for them to say something to me. But they honestly didn't seem to know I was there. Angie, though, was talking about me. "And then she, like, clung to that Robbie kid. And I was, like, ohmygawd, she's such a whore. But what can you expect from an inbred hillbilly?" Then her voice got all quiet like there were other people in the hall.

Maybe she did know we were here and she was being cruel?

"I heard her mom has, like, an unnatural obsession with pigs... If you know what I mean." They all laughed. They all laughed. I wanted to ring their little necks. I wanted to rant and rage and defend my mother because, despite sometimes annoying the crap out of me, she was my mom and no one could talk about her like that.

Robbie didn't let me snap. He tightened his grip and pulled me away. But he muttered something as he walked and, at first, I thought it was to comfort me. But then the air rippled, reminding me of thunder only without the sound. Just that feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Behind us, Angie began to scream.

I know I had just been wishing her ill but the sounds of actual screaming were much different than those fantasized and I no longer wanted anything to happen to her.

I tried to turn back. To see what had her screaming. To reassure myself she was just being a drama queen. But Robbie yanked and pulled me through the crowd, not letting me look, weaving us through the other students. They were all looking back.

I whirled my head around, letting Robbie drag me away, and for a second, I saw Angie covering her nose with her hand, eyes wide... And her screams were sounding more and more like the squeals of a pig.