~ I updated early! Enjoy! ~
September
Hamilton and Sinead grinned as they finished the last tablet. They set it down with the others before sitting down at the table Sinead had placed in the rooms for breaks. After a few minutes of content silence, Hamilton stood up.
"I'll be right back." She nodded as he left and reclined in her chair, enjoying the peaceful silence. She looked up when Hamilton reentered to see him with two cups in his hands. She watched, puzzled, as he set them down, but her puzzlement turned to laughter when she saw ice cream placed within.
"Thanks Hamilton. Couldn't wait to celebrate?" she teased as he took his place across from her. He smiled and shrugged, his mouth full of food.
"Of course not. We worked our butts off on those. Why shouldn't we celebrate?" She laughed again as they clinked their cups together before returning to devour their treat.
Dan could hardly contain his laughter as he watched Natalie hand Ian the earrings. He was so oblivious! Why would Natalie help him with Amy? Natalie made eye contact with Dan over Ian's shoulder, her eyes alight with mischief. Ian, of course, was too busy examining the earrings to notice.
"You're sure Amy will like these?" he questioned for the umpteenth time.
"Of course. Who wouldn't love those?" Natalie replied. The earrings were like silver raindrops with emeralds inlayed in the middle. Dan had to admit, Natalie had done a fabulous job with the designing.
"Thanks Natalie," he said, finally accepting the gift. Natalie walked past him and turned the corner to join Dan. They managed to make it Natalie's room before breaking into peals of laughter.
"And our evil plan begins! Muahahaha!" Dan cackled once they calmed down a bit. Of course, that sent Natalie back into laughter.
Jonah's eyes widened as he sat down in Ms. Flores class. The bright red words 'turn in your homework' on the board sentenced him to doom. He had forgotten his homework in his room! He could see it in his mind's eye, sitting on his desk. He had to make a decision. He could admit to the strictest teacher that he didn't have his homework, or he could try to run back to his room and risk getting back late. She hadn't arrived yet.
"Cover for me. I forgot my homework," he hissed to Hamilton before he dashed out of the room, not waiting for the younger boy's reply. He ran through the hallways in a complicated pattern. It was sketched in his brain from traveling through it many times in the past weeks. He eventually skidded in front of his room.
Jonah fumbled with the knob in his haste, willing it to open. He finally flung the door open and grabbed his homework. He slammed the door behind his and flew back the way he came. A few meters from the door he slowed down into a walk. He was only three minutes late. He slowed his breathing and confidently approached the room, sure that Hamilton covered for him. As he entered the room he noticed everyone staring him, including Ms. Flores. He walked up to their teacher and handed her the homework.
"Here's the homework. Sorry I'm late," Jonah said suavely.
"That's fine. Thank you." His eyes widened in shock. Did she just thank him? He managed a nodded before heading to his seat. "And Jonah?"
"Yeah?" he replied, turning around.
"You look remarkably well for someone who broke their spine after getting their head stuck in a fish bowl." Jonah glared at Hamilton as Hamilton shrugged.
"Well, it's a long story…"
"One we'd be delighted to hear."
"Well, um, I recently got a goldfish…"
"And it's fine to make fun of the other branches, as long as it's not my branch?" Amy shouted at Ian furiously.
"Love, that's not what I meant…" Ian pleaded.
"And you expect me to laugh at their expense?" she demanded, hands on her hips.
"Love, you're taking this the wrong way…" Ian protested, wishing his training had covered what to do with angry girlfriends.
"You're supposed to be an honorary Madrigal! And a boyfriend to the future leader of the Madrigals!"
"Love, please, I can explain…"
"Then please do!"
"Am I allowed to speak without interruptions?" he asked meaningfully.
"Sorry," she mumbled, her temper calming, but still simmering.
"I meant that as an introduction to give you this." He pulled out a blue velvet box and handed it to her. She opened it and found a pair of silver and emerald earrings. She gasped.
"Oh Ian, it's beautiful!" she cried throwing her arms around him. "Thank you so much!" He wrapped his arms around her waist as she rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry for over reacting," she apologized, her voice muffled from her shoulder.
"I forgive you."
"Come. On!" Amy groaned as she and Nora struggled to push an obstinate Natalie towards Tomas class.
"I don't play volleyball!" Natalie complained, latching onto a branch. Nora let go and reach to break off the branch, and Amy started pulling Natalie towards the court again.
"Natalie, it doesn't have to be this hard! Just try!" Amy panted. "Please!" To Amy's surprise and relief, Natalie went limp before straightening up.
"Fine," she snapped. "But if I hate it, watch what you eat tomorrow!" Amy grinned and turned to Nora as Natalie stomped toward the group.
"That's the Natalie we know and love," she laughed as they followed the irate girl. They had learned the basic skills in volleyball in class yesterday, but this was the first time playing it on a court and for some reason, Natalie didn't want to try.
The teams had already been split. Amy, Reagan, Hamilton, Dan, Ted and Ian were on one team, and Nora, Madison, Natalie, Jonah, Ned and Sinead on the other. They spread out with Hamilton captain on one team and Nora on the other.
The captains sorted their teams and flipped a coin for serve. Amy's team won the serve. As she shifted back and forth on the balls of her feet, she felt a rush of adrenaline go through her as she waited for the beginning of the game. The game continued after Hamilton's first initial serve. Amy was setting along with Reagan, and she began to find the quick flicking movements of her wrist easier every time.
The game continued at an easy pace, though Natalie was still visibly nervous. Soon Nora was next to her, directing the younger girls movements and demonstrating them. Amy was relieved to see Natalie start smiling after a dig or good set.
Even though it was a friendly game, as everyone improved, it became more competitive. The Holts were slamming the ball to the floor while more nimble players flew over the court to save the ball from hitting the ground. At the end of the match with a victory to Amy's team, they were all drenched in sweat and hurried to the mansion to take a quick shower before the next class. On the way, Amy joined Natalie.
"So Natalie, what did you think? Should I be ready for poison in my cereal tomorrow?" Natalie pondered the question before shaking her head.
"You'll live. Though," she said straightening, "your brother might not. I swear, he was aiming those spikes right at me!" Amy laughed as they made their way inside.
"Daniel Arthur Cahill! I'm going to kill you!" Sinead shouted as he ran around with her tools. It was third time that night, and she was starting to get annoyed. Amy and Nora sat talking about Madrigal business as Sinead chased Dan around. Everyone else was talking quietly in the middle of the room. The group was content, as it was September 30th, the last day of the month. Even though everyone knew they had homework, they just relaxed to celebrate the last day of the month.
"Oww!" Dan groaned as a hammer fell out from the tool box and fell on his foot. Sinead quickly swooped and grabbed the box from his grip and the hammer off the floor.
"You completely deserved that," she retorted, heading back to her spot. All of a sudden, Reagan fell backwards and blocked her path. She narrowly avoided tripping over the girl.
"Sorry!" Reagan apologized over her shoulder after she got up. She grabbed a pillow like her sister was holding and hit her with it. Madison swung the pillow again, and as Reagan ducked to the side and around, Sinead was smacked with the pillow instead. Unlike her sister, Madison didn't bother to apologize and turned around to strike again.
Sinead stealthily grabbed a pillow and smacked Madison with it. "Pillow fight!" Dan shouted gleefully, grabbing his own pillow. Soon, the room was filled with yelling teens, whirling pillows and loose feathers. The fight only ended when the pillows were all destroyed. Most people fell back into their seats, besides Amy.
"Guys? It's nine fifteen. I'm heading up to bed. See you all tomorrow!" Amy said, dropping the empty cloth clutched in her hand. Slowly people trickled up the stairs, until Sinead and Hamilton were left. They were both trying to clear their space of feathers, but gave up after they found how small the feathers were. Sinead stood up first, closely followed by Hamilton. She smiled at him and he grinned back.
"Night Hamilton," she said, giving a small wave. He waved back before heading toward his staircase.
"Night Sinead." She watched as he retreated before heading to her bed. She fell asleep thinking about a certain Tomas.
~ So does that work for everyone? I hope you enjoyed this chapter. This was one of my favorite chapters to write. I checked this over three times, so I'm hoping there aren't mistakes, but if you notice them tell me! Happy Easter everyone! I already got a tummy ache from my candy, but that hasn't stopped me from eating it! :) Anyway, please review. It makes me happy! Thanks to amianfan102, Agent louise, addicted2reading9 and BookwormGirl16 for offering to help me beta! If I haven't contacted you already, I should today. Thanks everyone! ~