Just a short chapter I came up with for this week. A little continuation of last chapter. Remember when Jez said Uncle Bracken would ground her if she came home late..? Yeah. (*sigh* teachers just love to ruin our weekends….)
Disclaimer: Night World belongs to the wonderful L.J Smith…
"You can't do this!" Jez shouted hysterically, "You CAN'T!"
"I certainly can," said Uncle Bracken calmly, "I told you I would if you don't come back before twelve." He scowled. "And how long have you been out? You came home next morning, Jez Redfern."
"But it's not fair!" Jez protested, "The stars weren't working…how was I supposed to know what time it was? I'm a kid!"
"Which is exactly why you should be grounded for not coming home on time." Uncle Bracken reasoned.
"What am I supposed to do at home? Jez said, desperate. "I'll get bored to death before sunset." She complained.
"There's plenty to do at home, Jez." Uncle Bracken said patiently. They were in Uncle Bracken's mini library. He walked in front of one of the bookshelves, running his finger along the books on one of the shelves. The books were old—like the ones you'd find in an old library, with the old fashioned gold and silver trimmings on the binding of the books and all that.
"Like what?"
Uncle Bracken chose a book and took it out. "You can read." He suggested.
"Uncle Bracken." Jez shouted, enough to get his attention off the book he'd been holding. "Are you serious? " Her silvery blue eyes flashed furiously, "You can't do this!" She repeated, stomping her foot against the floor.
Uncle Bracken sighed. "What do you want to do then, Jez?"
"I have to go—"
"You're not going anywhere today." Uncle Bracken said sternly, cutting her off. "Do you understand?" His eyes, like Jez's, were neither silver nor blue. But he was staring at her, willing her to understand. "End of discussion. One more complaint and you're grounded for the whole week. " He said.
"So be it." Jez muttered grudgingly, crossing her arms in front of her chest. She sat on a chair next to where she was standing, pulling her knees up against her chest. She set her chin on her knees, and stared at Uncle Bracken grumpily, feeling rage and frustration inside her. Uncle Bracken, who seemed totally oblivious to it all, was now flipping through the pages of a very old looking book.
"Uncle Bracken?"
"What is it now?" He looked up from his book, irritated.
"Uncle Bracken, I promised Morgead I'll meet him at the woods today." Jez said pleadingly. "And I can't break my promise right, Uncle Bracken?"
"You can explain to him tomorrow. I'm sure Morgead will understand. " He said reassuringly, "But today, you're not going anywhere."
"He might burn down a building without me!"
"I'm sure Morgead can take care of himself, Jez."
Jez thought about Morgead and his empty apartment, and his mother who never cared about him.
"He can't."
"Not today, Jez."
Jez groaned. "But Uncle Bracken—"
"No, Jez, You Are Not Going Anywhere Today." Uncle Bracken emphasized, turning his attention to his book again.
"But—" Jez protested.
"No buts."
Jez let out long sigh. "Fine." She said as she stalked out of the room. She was already working out a plan as she walked into her room. If pleading with Uncle Bracken doesn't work, she'll have to find her own way out. No way is she ever going to be late on a promise she made with Morgead.
The window. She thought. She'd sneak out through the windows. A two story jump may not be that bad…She'd have to do it quietly, though. Quiet enough Uncle Bracken wouldn't suspect anything. She hoped he was still reading…
And then a stone went flying through the window, landing approximately a few feet beside Jez. Fortunately, the window was open, or else that stone would've shattered the glass of the window.
Carefully, she walked up to the window and peered outside.
And she saw Morgead standing there, leaning against a tree, looking impatient. His black hair was messy and tousled as always.
"Morgead!" She shouted in surprise, completely forgetting to stay quiet.
Morgead's head snapped up as he heard Jez calling his name. "What are you doing?" He asked accusingly.
"What are you doing?" Jez asked in the same tune.
"You're late." He said, scowling.
Jez was already climbing out from the window frame. Like a cat, she jumped off, her red flaming hair streaming behind her. Within a second she landed lightly beside Morgead, who was staring at her with his gem-green eyes, frowning unhappily.
"You were throwing stones at my window." Jez said sourly, "I thought they only did that in movies." She glanced back up at her window. "No, wait, you were throwing stones through my window."
He shrugged. "You didn't close your window. What do you want me to do? Shout?"
"You know you could've hit me with one of those stones?"
His eyes flashed. "Did I?"
"No you didn't, idiot."
"Oh." He said, rather disappointedly. "Is there any reason why you're at home?"
"I was…" Jez staggered. "I was grounded."
"Grounded?" Morgead echoed with a baffled expression. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means we should probably get out of here before Uncle Bracken finds me missing." Jez said, suddenly remembering. "Let's go!"
"Go where?" Morgead said stubbornly. "I'm not going anywhere if you don't explain why you were late."
Jez was exasperated. "Then I'm not going to explain to you until we get out of here."
"No." Morgead said, his green eyes blazing. He was clearly mad at her. "You owe me an explanation for ditching me—"
Like it was her fault. "I didn't ditch you—"
"Yes you did! You broke your promise—"
"I told you I was grounded!"
"Well what does that mean?"
"I'll tell you when we get out of here first!" Jez shouted angrily, "Just listen, Morgy—"
"Look, Jezebel—"
"Just shut up! We'll never get anywhere like this!"
"You don't tell me things—" He said, getting Extremely Excited.
"I didn't abandon you, Morgead! I didn't make it because Uncle Bracken wouldn't let me out because I didn't go home on time last time! That's what grounded means! Are you happy now?" She shouted at last.
Morgead was taken aback. "Yes I am. You could've just told me earlier."
"You wouldn't listen to me."
"I was listening to you all the time—"
"You were shouting all the time."
"Stop cutting me off!"
"Fine," Jez said furiously, and she started walking away.
"Where are you going?" Morgead said, blocking her way.
"Away from Uncle Bracken." She said, walking past him.
"I can see that." He blocked in front of her again. " Where?"
"Away!"
"Away where?"
"Get out of my way!"
"Have you been eating stones lately?—"
None of them was aware that Uncle Bracken was watching them from his window, shaking his head.
"I knew this would never work out…" He mumbled, leaving the red headed girl and the boy with emerald green eyes arguing with each other.
So, queridas. :p I know it's short. A review would still be nice?