Unatomic Stacey
Chapter 10: A New Friend
(Next School Day at Lunch Time)
I sat in the lunchroom eating my lunch at the table filled with miscellaneous average teens. These teens weren't loners but either didn't have a friend at the moment or couldn't or wouldn't sit with that friend for a particular reason. At this table teens like us sat if we felt like it and talked if we wanted to.
"You missed school for days," Helen spoke to me.
"I was sick," I responded simply.
"You're always sick," Michelle said suddenly and sat beside me, "what?" she demanded when others at the table glared at her.
"You know you're not welcomed here," a male student said darkly, "leave."
"No," Michelle refused, "I can eat where I want," she declared.
"Not with us," Helen snapped, "you might run Unesco," she said, "but you don't rule here," she told Michelle.
"Is there a problem?" Penelope asked suddenly as she came to the table.
"You're sitting here?" Michelle asked in awe.
"Of course not!" Penelope spat angrily, "I'm just ensuring that you don't have to eat by yourself the entire semester like last year."
Michelle cringed and sank low at her table.
"I'm eating outside," Helen declared and immediately walked off and everyone else originally sitting at the table followed her except me.
"You'll sit with me?" Michelle asked.
"I'm eating," I responded coldly.
"That doesn't harbour your verbal skills if you swallow it," Penelope said.
"I'm leaving after I'm done," I added.
"Would you care if I died?" Michelle asked suddenly and I stopped eating.
Penelope took a step back looking uncomfortable.
I continued to eat and refused to even glace at Michelle. After I finished eating I got up to leave, but when I looked beside me I noticed that not only was Penelope gone but also that Michelle never touched her food.
I walked away briskly and left the lunchroom.
(After School)
I quickly headed towards home. My mother even though she was upset about my imprisonment was excited about me not being an Atomic anymore. She even went on a special crime spree to celebrate it. She wanted me to come but I had to go to school. Actually I wouldn't go even if I didn't have school. Robbing wasn't exactly my thing. In other words I personally didn't like it.
"Stacey," I heard a voice whisper behind me and I turned to see Michelle.
"What do you want?" I snapped.
"Can I walk with you a little?" Michelle asked in a small voice.
"Whatever," I said after a moment of silence, "just don't talk."
We had been walking for ten minutes when I suddenly heard her crying. I turned to curse her but stopped when I saw a small clear marble in her hand with a floating yellow mist inside. It would be meaningless to a regular human but to a witch that mist within that marble meant something. It meant that Michelle was a Dim. A witch born without any form of magical powers.
"I'm sorry," I said suddenly as I stared at the mist.
Michelle looked up at me with confused eyes.
"I'm a witch," I told her, "not a Dim," I added automatically when her eyes seemed to start searching for a marble, "I was born with powers."
"Oh," Michelle said and wiped her eyes, "I'm the only one in my family without powers," she told me.
"Must suck," I said.
"Yeah," Michelle agreed, "most witches, wizards and other magical beings scorn us (as in Dims)," she said softly, "my family tries to hide it but they scorn me too."
"I'm sorry," I repeated, "want to come to my house?" I asked.
"The mansion?" Michelle asked me.
"Yes Michelle the mansion," I said with a slight grin.
"Okay," Michelle said.
"Follow me," I said and we walked briskly until we came to an almost deserted part of the street.
I looked around and when I noticed no one was watching, I used my powers.
We appeared in the mansion and Michelle squealed excitedly.
"It's a wonder that you're not popular," Michelle declared.
"Maybe because I treat Penelope like the bitch she is," I stated and I noticed Michelle's face darken, "well she's not my friend!"
"She's mine," Michelle said defiantly.
"I don't know why," I said frankly.
"She's the only person whose stuck by me for years," Michelle told me, "despite her high popularity she still remained my friend," she added.
"Never thought Penelope as noble," I said and rolled her eyes.
"Well she is," Michelle stated.
"Well she's not in my book so let's agree to disagree," I said frankly.
"Fine," Michelle said unhappily.
"Do you want to see my dog?" I asked her, "he's very unusual looking when you see his real form," I added.
"Okay," Michelle said with a shrug.
"Retch!" I shouted, "get down here boy and meet a new friend of mine!"
"You named the dog Wretch?" Michelle asked me.
"No he's a family dog," I told her, "he's been around for centuries," I stated.
"We have a parrot that has been around for over a millennia," Michelle said proudly.
"My mother's siblings have most of the family animals," I told Michelle, "my Father's side doesn't communicate with us because we aren't close," I revealed, "my father was witch blooded but had his powers locked away by his father before my parents even met."
"That's horrible!" Michelle cried, "that's one of the few things in the magical world that's worse than being born a Dim," she added.
"I know," I responded, "Retch was my Father's dog and his name's pronounced without the w."
"Oh," Michelle realized, "where is he?" she asked.
"Hello," a voice said and Michelle jumped and then looked up to see a green Chihuahua floating over her head, "don't let this look deceive you," he warned with his English accent, "my real form is quite horrible," he added and floated to Michelle's feet.
"Pet him," I said, "he won't bite go ahead," I said and laughed.
Michelle smiled nervously and bent to pet Retch.
"Mmmm that's nice," Retch said approvingly as Michelle pet him, "could you scratch behind my ears a little?" he asked, "yes right there, you're real good at petting, soft hands."
"Thank you," Michelle said with a smile, "I'm planning on being an Animal Counsellor and a Vet," she told him.
"Well I'm certain you'll do a good job," Retch declared, "Don't mind me saying but you're nicer that Stacey's told me," he said and all I could do was smile at Michelle and shrug.
"Well we used to be enemies," Michelle said after looking at me and then returned her attention to Retch, "you're a wonderful dog Retch," she said and hugged him, "most magical animals in my family sense that I'm a Dim and peck or bite me,' she said sadly.
"That's awful!" I cried.
"Most of those animals had horrible masters!" Retch said angrily, "there's nothing worse than a master teaching his animals how to discriminate unfairly and wickedly towards people, magical or not," he declared, "I should know," he said darkly, "I wasn't always the kind loving dog you see here now once," he said, 'that's thanks to Stacey's deceased Father," he revealed to Michelle.
"What about your mother?" Michelle asked happily and I instinctively knew that she was asking if I had any other pets, "she's a nice lady and I'm certain she'd have pets of her own," she said and Retch immediately snorted.
"Retch!" I reprimanded him.
"Sorry," Retch apologized.
"My mother's not a big animal fan," I told Michelle, "I can barely keep Retch," I added.
"Ouch," Michelle said, "can I see the rest of your mansion?" she asked.
"Sure," I said brightly and Michelle smiled and followed me as she carried a satisfied Retch in her arms, "so I guess we're friends now," I said slowly.
"I guess so," Michelle said, "do you really have friends outside school?" she asked almost desperately.
"Yes and you'll meet them soon," I told her, "in fact I'm inviting you to my birthday party which will be soon," I announced.
Michelle squealed happily.
"Penelope too?" Michelle asked and I gawked at her, "please, she's my friend," she begged.
"She's going to want to bring Trinity, June and Reed," I said darkly referring to three of Penelope's closest popular friends and posse.
"I know," Michelle admitted and by her tone I could TELL that she didn't like them either, "but I'll try to keep them in check," she offered.
"Fat chance, but okay she can come," I decided, "and bring her poodles," I added in reference to Trinity, June and Reed.
"Thank You!" Michelle cried happily.
"Your Welcome," I told her and despite feeling annoyed about inviting Penelope I felt very happy.
I've made a new friend.
End Chapter 10
Prominence Flare: Yes ch9 was a twist. Well I wanted the teammates lives to be VERY different from what anyone would assume. Yes Stacey's out but there's more to come. Let's just say there's a lot of deceit going on. Thanks for reviewing. Sorry for the late update but I have a lot of fics to focus on and this temporarily hit the back burner. Ch10 is just a tiny break from the whole Atomic situation but next chapter will jump into more surprises with Admiral Degill in it too.
Barry I. Grauman: Trust me, I haven't painted myself into a corner Barry. I've just decided to expand the landscape. Stacey's no longer a Guardian, yes. But she's still a good person, with witch powers to boot. Yes her crew finally admits they need her and their true feelings towards Atomic Tiffany. Urania as her own part to play so just keep reading. Stacey will do something. Don't you worry. And there are some surprises about and for Tiffany too; just you wait. Will Stacey become a guardian again? Read and See. Yeah the ban really pissed me off but it is BETTER than being kicked out. Actually that didn't inspire that chapter but I was truly not in my happiest mood at the time. The chapter just happened to coincide with my mood. Stacey and I are alike in a few ways but mostly we're totally different. And no I didn't intentionally do those similarities; they were just there when I created her and as the story progressed. Your Welcome and thanks for reviewing and I plan to update faster.
MikariStar: Yes she did volunteer. Let's just say Admiral Degill seen a bit of Atomic Tiffany's real self BEFORE Stacey heard the pledge. Admiral Degill unfortunately can't do that much about Atomic Tiffany because of her position, her home planet and the love she's getting from most of the board. But he'll get help believe me. Keep read if you want to know more. Glad you enjoyed reading more about Glenissa's and Bart's past. Glenissa's past hadn't actually come to me until chapter 9. Bart's past was mostly figured out by me from the beginning of the story along with his secret. Bart's secret will be revealed eventually. Thanks for reviewing and I'll try to update as soon as possible.