Manfred peered anxiously around a corner. He looked back and motioned for someone and sped down the hall with a girl by his side.
The girl had short black hair and dark brown eyes that could lure you into its depths. Charlie and Lysander watched from the other end of the hall as she hurried to keep up with Manfred, clutching the front of her dark purple dress.
Lysander pulled Charlie back as the two neared.
Charlie's head pumped and he thought, Oh man, there's no way to run without being heard. And there aren't any hiding places!
Lysander seemed to be thinking the same thing.
Luckily, Manfred and the girl stopped right before they turned the corner. Charlie and Lysander held their breath, hoping that Manfred and the girl would not hear their breathing, and slowly backed away.
"Manfred, you don't have to do this." the girl said pleadingly. Charlie sensed a hint of sadness in the girl's voice.
"My father can't control me. He can't decide everything for me." Manfred said firmly.
Lysander looked at Charlie. "He wasn't lying when he said he had a girl..." Lysander mouthed.
Charlie nodded. He couldn't believe it either, and normally he'd be laughing until the world ends but seeing the situation they were in at the moment he remained silent.
"You can't run away forever." the girl said flatly.
"Who said I'm running?" Manfred argued. "I'll just deny every single girl out there."
"Isn't your father supposed to pick for you?"
"I'm too stubborn to approve anyone but you." Manfred said softly.
Charlie felt like gagging. Out of anybody in the entire country, he didn't expect Manfred Bloor to be such a 'fluffy' person. Well, there was Grandma Bone and her sisters but other than them, no one else. Well, actually, he could name a few more like Dr. Bloor (how he was married in the first place he had no idea-wait, yes he did. The exact same reason why there was a ball now), old man Ezekiel, his whole line of family from the Yewbeam family-except Uncle Paton of course, he's the ultimate exception, and he supposed his great uncles Henry and James were fine as well.
The couple were silent for a long moment. Charlie and Lysander quietly shifted anxiously, waiting for what might happen. Then the four heard footsteps and panicky voices.
"Quick, they're coming!" Manfred hissed.
"Uh oh..." Lysander and Charlie exchanged 'Oh crap!' glances and bounded down the hall, not caring that Manfred might hear.
Lysander yanked open the first door they came to and pulled Charlie in, careful not to slam the door but also not slowly for fear that Manfred would see a door closing.
"Do you think Manfred saw or heard us?" Charlie asked Lysander, who was peering through the narrow door window.
"They were right around the corner, of course." Lysander sighed, shaking his head.
Charlie groaned. Lysander looked up sharply and Charlie cut his groan off short.
"Great, that's just great..." Charlie muttered under his breath. "Now they're going to find us and we'll be in big trouble."
"We will be if you don't be quiet for a minute and let me listen." Lysander whispered pointedly.
Charlie stood back, trying to not say anything or disturb Lysander's concentration. He crouched by the door and placed an ear to it. He was a statue, not moving, seemingly not breathing, not even his eyes flickered around; it was as if he made a statue of himself (with the skills he had he might as well make one). Then, Lysander showed surprise and then amusement.
"What, what?" Charlie asked excitedly when Lysander straightened up.
"Dr. Bloor caught them," Lysander said, brushing the dirt from his pants. "But he approved of Manfred's choice."
"He what?" Charlie's jaw dropped.
Lysander shot Charlie a 'Be quiet or I'll do something...something you don't wanna know' look.
"What did he do that for?" Charlie whispered.
Lysander cocked his head. "I guess he just does. There's no telling why. If he likes Manfred's choice then so be it."
The two stood there for a moment, waiting for a few minutes before they dared to peer out into the hallway. Luckily, there wasn't a single soul besides theirs wandering around the dreary dark corridor. "Let's go find the others," Charlie mused. "They'd want to hear this."
And like sly cats lurking in the shadows, they slipped out quietly from the classroom and quickly strode down the hall, sticking to the walls and using the veil of darkness the outside world provided for them. They would freeze and crouch down low whenever they hear voices, and once when they were as close to the wall and the floor as possible three people passed them without looking back.
Charlie felt somewhat smug when that happened, seeming like a super secret top spy infiltrating some headquarters and the whole world depended on him. And of course, Lysander, he couldn't forget him, but he couldn't help but feel like he and Lysander were invincible as long as they stayed hidden in the dark.
No, not dark. Charlie frowned. That sounds like I'm ebil. Shadows, that's it. Wait...why did I say ebil instead of evil? That's weird.
"I wonder if the ball is over since Dr. Bloor approved of Manfred's girlfriend." Charlie murmured, cutting his thoughts in half. As soon as the last word left his mouth he sent shivers down his back. "Wow..." he muttered to Lysander. "Saying 'Manfred's Girlfriend' is weird..." Another shudder crept down his back.
Lysander grinned. "I bet it i- wait..." He stopped and Charlie looked at him anxiously.
They both quickly scanned the corridor, and when no one was there, Lysander slowly peeked around the corner. He jumped and took a startled step back. Charlie's insides jumped too but he heard an alarmed 'whoa!' and the sudden whoosh of air made his heartbeat gradually return to its normal speed.
"Tancred...Billy..." Lysander sighed with relief. "You had me scared."
"You? Scared?" Tancred whispered incredulously. "You had me scared. For a second I thought Billy and I were busted."
Billy looked wide eyed, even though the suspense was over-for now- and Charlie ruffled his white hair and said, "Don't worry, we aren't being followed or anything." He grinned. "Guess what we found out."
Tancred raised a curious eyebrow at him. "Well? Spit it out already."
"We found Manfred." said Charlie.
"And his girlfriend." added Lysander.
Tancred and Billy stared at them. Then Billy had to bite his tongue to contain his laughter but Tancred was dangerously close to letting it out. His hair crackled with lightning and a grin played on his face. "He actually has one?" Tancred exclaimed. "Wow, I never thought Manfred would ever have one..."
"You're not going to believe what else," Charlie said in a hushed voice, glancing around.
"There's more?" Billy said in disbelief."
"Yeah, and this is just as shocking." Lysander looked at Tancred. "And speaking of shocking, try to lower the lightning level, okay? Don't want anyone to get zapped."
Tancred flushed but he said hastily, "Okay, I will. Just tell us!"
"Dr. Bloor approved of the two." said Lysander, smiling.
Charlie sighed. "How come you get to tell them the most interesting news? First his g-g-g...I can't say it. And now this?"
Lysander shrugged apologetically. "Fine, you can tell the others."
"No need," a voice said smugly.
The four spun around in alarm and another blast of wind nearly caused them to lose their balance. Olivia, Emma, Fidelio, and Gabriel came out from the very same corner Charlie and Lysander had turned around. Olivia looked red and the edges of her mouth were up, forming a broad grin, and her eyes were scrunched up as if she had been laughing for hours.
Emma was red too but Charlie didn't know if she was laughing or if a special someone made her redden. Fidelio looked amused and Gabriel had his hand over his mouth, clamping it shut but his eyes said it all.
"Okay, next time there's something big, I'm telling." Charlie sighed, but he smiled.
"So now that we know, let's get back to the ball and see what's gonna happen." said Tancred eagerly.
Charlie frowned. "But..." He faltered, lost for words.
"But what Bone?" Tancred looked exasperated. "Who knows what's going on in there right now as I speak. Every second we waste talking we lose a second of finding out what's going on."
"Tancred has a point," Olivia said loudly. She grinned and threw her hair back. "And besides, I want to see what Manfred's girlfriend looks like."
Charlie stared at her. "You can say that?"
Olivia looked haughtily at him. "Of course. Why? Can't you Charlie Bone?"
Defeated, he shook his head.
"You're a weird one..." muttered Fidelio. "Actually, that's kinda true. I'm the only normal one."
"Aw, well don't worry Fido," Olivia said cheerfully. "We'll pretend your endowment is playing awesomely. Now come on, let's get to the ballroom. Onward?"
"Onward," they repeated. Olivia flounced down the hall, not even bothering to hide within the darkened side of the hallway. She even skipped!
"Livy!" Emma whispered urgently. "You're making too loud of a noise."
Olivia stopped and glanced back with a grin. "I can't help it," she whispered back. "It's just so exciting! I mean I always thought that Zelda Dob-whatever would end up with him but an actual girl? No, that's mean." Olivia murmured to herself. "Someone other than Zelda ending up with Manfred...that's just wow. My mind is blown and my day-well, night-is made."
"So how are we going to get back to the room without being seen this time?" asked Billy. "We can't ride in the food carts this time and even if we do sneak to the doors we can't go inside."
For some reason, everyone glanced at Olivia. She looked ahead aimlessly, concentrating on her thoughts. Her faced brightened. "My illusions can probably make you all look like you're guests."
Charlie frowned. "What do you mean?"
Olivia rolled her eyes. "It means that people who look at you will see my illusion but you're inside it."
"That's a great idea." said Emma. "But will it work?"
Olivia glanced at her. Charlie looked at Emma and gasped when a taller girl with brown locks took her place. "It works!" Olivia said cheerfully.
"Shhh," Lysander looked around anxiously. "Then make us look like guests so we can get in."
"Wait, hold on..." Tancred crossed his arms. "You're making us all look like girls? Literally?"
Olivia nodded, her grin growing wider and wider every passing second.
Tancred shook his head. "No, no way! I am NOT going to-" He disappeared and in his place was a sloppy looking girl, her hair was a tangled gray and her skin was wrinkly and blotchy. The make-up looked like one of a clown's. Charlie snorted and clapped his hands around his mouth.
"Olivia!" Tancred's illusion hissed.
Olivia laughed. "I'll make you look better if you..." she whispered a few words into his illusion's ear.
Tancred's illusion looked horrified and Charlie thought he saw the illusion's eyes flicker briefly to Emma. He wondered if Emma noticed.
"No, I'm not going to do that!" Tancred said, stunned. "Forget it. I'm going as an old hag."
Olivia sighed. "I kinda saw that coming." she murmured. "Oh well, you'll have to do it eventually. Just let some time pass by." She turned on her heels and clapped her hands together. "Who's next?"