Hi everyone. I know it's been a while since I updated but I've been busy with summer school. I hope you like this fourth chapter. Read and Review!
Deception
The next day at school, there was a noticeable change in the atmosphere. Hardly anyone paid attention in class because almost all the boys were too interested in Marie to concentrate and all the girls were busy giving the new girl angry looks.
"Somehow, I don't think anyone from this school stole our beyblades," Ray whispered to Max.
"I'm starting to think the same thing," he whispered back.
"Turn around and pay attention!" the teacher yelled.
The whole class jumped and did as they were told.
Hilary took this opportunity to talk to Marie. "Marie, there's something I want to ask you when class is over. Come sit with us at lunchtime, okay?" she said, giving Marie a smile.
"Of course!" Marie said cheerfully.
"Great," Hilary responded.
I hope my feelings about you are wrong Marie, but I have to know for sure
At lunchtime, Marie came over and sat next to Hilary.
"So Hilary, what was it you wanted to ask me?" Marie asked.
"Well, this may sound presumptuous , but since you're in the group now, I was wondering if we could come over to your house after school, so we could meet your dad and hang out over there in the future," Hilary said.
"Well…okay, if you let me visit your house sometime too," Marie said.
"Sure."
Later that day, the group followed Marie to her house, which, Hilary estimated was about ten blocks from the Granger dojo.
Okay, I know now that she could definitely get to the dojo and steal everyone's beyblades and still have more than enough time to get back here and stash them somewhere. Hilary thought.
Everyone went inside and found themselves in the living room. There was a TV, a couch, a couple chairs, a fireplace, some pictures of the family on the walls, and a door in the back of the room. Ahead, they could see the kitchen.
"Dad I'm home!" Marie called.
A man came in from an unseen passage by the kitchen. He had light brown hair and brown eyes and looked to be in his early forties.
"Who are your friends?" her dad asked.
"The Bladebreakers. Can you believe it dad? They're the world champions and I'm in their group!" she said excitedly.
"That's wonderful sweetheart."
"So Marie, are you going to give us a tour of the house?" Hilary asked.
"Alright. This, as you can see, is the living room and you can see the kitchen in the next room."
She led them into the kitchen. It had all the essentials such as cabinets, refrigerator, dining table, stove, dishwasher, and microwave. Going back into the living room, Marie went into the door at the back of the room and opened it to reveal the bathroom. It had a walk-in shower/bath at the back, a sink, a medicine cabinet above the sink, towel racks opposite the sink, and a toilet beside the sink.
Marie went back toward the kitchen and turned the corner to reveal a hallway.
"This is where my room, the guest room, and my dad's room are. My room and the guest room are on the left; my dad's room is on the right. Also, if you go down the hall and turn left, you'll find the laundry room," she said.
Marie turned back to the group and her demeanor suddenly changed from cheerful to serious.
"Listen everyone, I don't want to seem rude, but I would appreciate it if you didn't go into my room without my permission."
"Alright, sure," Max said.
Though her expression didn't show it, Hilary found this information interesting. So, she's hiding something in her room. I'll have to be careful because she's probably going to be watching me after our little exchange.
"Lunch will be ready in about half an hour, so just make yourselves at home till then," Marie said and headed off toward the kitchen.
The group decided to plop down on the couch and watch TV. After about fifteen minutes, Hilary decided she would make her move. She walked out of the room confident that none of the guys would notice her. She slowly opened the first door on the left and found a tribute to Hello Kitty.
You've got to be kidding me. I was over Hello Kitty when I was nine. I'm going to assume that this is Marie's room.
She carefully stepped inside and slowly closed the door to the point where the hallway was no longer visible but not to the point where it would click closed. Looking around, she found what she assumed was Marie's backpack.
It's too obvious…but I suppose it couldn't hurt to look.
Hilary went over to the backpack and unzipped the top. She discovered books and notebook paper but no beyblades or anything that could be considered evidence that she stole them. There was a smaller flap in the front of the backpack and Hilary looked there, again finding nothing.
I guess I was wrong.
Hilary zipped the backpack back up. She stood up and was getting ready to leave when, out of the corner of her eye, she saw another zipped flap in the back.
Alright, one last look and if I don't find anything, I'm out of here
She opened up the flap and pulled a long serrated blue string out.
"Dragoon's launch cord…" she whispered. Her eyes narrowed dangerously.
That's enough evidence for me.
As she was putting the cord back, the door opened revealing a shocked and angry Marie.
"Hilary, what are you doing?" Marie yelled, glaring at the brunette.
Hilary stood up and glared right back with an even greater ferocity. "I've got a better question! What are you doing with this?" she asked, displaying the launch cord.
Marie was taken aback for a moment, but the anger quickly returned.
"I specifically told you NOT to go into my room without my permission!"
"Yeah, and now I know why! What the hell is Dragoon's launch cord doing in your backpack?"
"That's not Dragoon's launch cord! It's the one to my beyblade."
"Do you think I'm stupid? Your launch cord is black, just like your beyblade!"
Marie said nothing more. She kept eye contact but tears began to build up behind her eyes. Breaking the gaze, she hung her head.
"I can't believe that you would violate my privacy like that…" she said, her voice shaking.
Hilary stared at Marie, incredulous. "Violate your privacy? You stole the most dear things of the people who are supposed to be your friends and you're complaining about your privacy?"
"What's going on in here?" Kai asked.
"Hilary snuck in here and went through my backpack!" Marie said accusingly.
The boys looked at Hilary shocked.
"Hilary…why would you do that? We gave our word that we wouldn't go into her room," Kenny said.
"Before you jump to conclusions, you might want to take a look at what I found." She showed the launch cord. All the boys gasped and turned their attention to Marie.
"Marie, what are you doing with Dragoon's launch cord?" Tyson asked, sporting an expression that was a mixture of confusion, hurt and anger.
Marie couldn't speak and looked away from Tyson.
Hilary was tempted to speak up and answer the question herself, but held her tongue.
"I…wanted to study your bit-beasts. I don't have one of my own and I wanted to know what effect it has on the beyblade itself," Marie said.
You lying bitch! Hilary thought.
Tyson looked at her skeptically.
"Then why did you sneak in the dojo and steal them? Why not just ask to use them?" he asked.
"I was afraid you'd say no. I'm so sorry for what I did," she said and began sobbing.
His expression almost immediately softened. "It's okay. But next time, just ask us if you want a favor. You're forgiven."
All the other boys (even Kai) nodded in agreement. Hilary almost fell over from shock.
Marie wiped her eyes and smiled at the Bladebreakers and then turned to Hilary. "I forgive you for going through my things. You were only looking out for your friends. Do you forgive me?" she asked hopefully.
Hilary wanted to strangle Marie, screaming obscenities at her while doing so, but for the sake of her façade, she held her temper. The glare never left however.
"No." she said simply. Before any of them could respond, she spoke again. "Not yet. You've broken our trust in the biggest way possible and I can't bring myself to forgive you just yet."
"Well…I guess I understand. I hope I can earn your forgiveness," Marie said, giving her a smile.
Hilary didn't respond; she simply nodded.
"Come on everyone, let's go and eat," Kai said.
Everyone went toward the kitchen, but Hilary's angry expression never faltered.
Sorry Marie, but now that I know you can't be trusted, forgiveness is something you can never receive from me.