Here's chapter 4 of What If?! ^_^ I hope you guys like it! ^_^

Disclaimer: Only own the OC's, plot and story line. Everything else belongs to their respective owners.

Chapter 4

"Good morning class," Principal Hawthorne addressed Maddie's class that morning.

"Good morning Principal Hawthorne!" The class chanted back as was standard for addressing all their superiors when they said good morning, good afternoon, etc…

"I've come to tell you saddening news," Principal Hawthorne told the class, and all the kids looked at their female principal curiously. The same thought was running through their heads- What was wrong?

"Ms. Rosaline has been in an automobile accident and won't be back for the rest of the school year," Principal Hawthorne told the kids, and the kids in the class were sad- Ms. Rosaline was one of the nicest teachers in the school! What were they going to do without Ms. Rosaline?

"So, let me introduce you to your substitute for the rest of the year," Principal Hawthorne said, opening the classroom door, letting the kids' substitute in the classroom. "Mr. Leonidas Rook."

The man was tall, with black hair and black eyes that seemed to scrutinize every student, before locking with Maddie's sapphires. She froze when their eyes met, not knowing quite why. That man- he, he seemed familiar somehow, but how? How did she know him- from where?

When the man spoke, Maddie felt faint.

"You will call me Mr. Rook." The substitute said coldly, the kids nodding. "No Mr. R or Rookie or any other crud nicknames, it is Mr. Rook. Got it?"

It was the man that had tried broke into her house!

All color raced from her face, and Maddie fainted right then and there, at her desk.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"She's waking up!"

"Keep it down Jordan, we don't want to be kicked out."

"Ugh," Maddie groaned, propping herself up, clutching her head as a head. "What happened?" Blinking her eyes, she took in her surroundings- she was in the school infirmary. "And why am I in the infirmary?"

"You fainted," Zak supplied, helping Maddie sit up on the infirmary bed she had been lying on.

"I did?" She murmured, closing her eyes and scrunching u her nose as a headache hit her full force. "Yuck, it feels like my head was run over by a ten ton hippopotamus."

"Your head slammed onto the floor after you fainted." Jordan said. "Apparently when you fainted you just fell out of your chair. We could hear the girl that sits next to you, Cathy, from all the way down in Ms. Hetzels' room she was so loud. Why did you faint anyways? You're not the type to faint without a reason." Maddie closed her eyes even further, trying to will the headache away. When that didn't work, Zak seemed to magically produce a Tylenol and a cup of water out of thin air.

"Thanks," Maddie accepted the Tylenol and water from Zak, taking the medicine that would relieve her of her splitting headache. After she took it, Jordan asked his question again.

"Well?" Jordan asked, and Maddie scanned her mind, trying to figure out why she fainted in the first place. Then, it hit her full force like a train coming to a crash stop.

"The substitute!" She gasped, and Zak and Jordan snickered.

"I don't blame you Maddie," Jordan snickered. "With that kind of face, who wouldn't faint? I bet he has the scariest face on Halloween- without a mask." Maddie shook her head as the boys laugh.

"No, I mean the substitute," Maddie interrupted, "The substitute was the one that broke into my house Friday!" The boys stopped their laughing and stared at her, like asking if she was crazy.

"Are you sure Maddie?" Zak asked. "Are you sure that fall didn't give you a concussion? Should I get the nurse?" Zak went to get up off the side of her infirmary bed to go get the nurse, but Maddie grabbed his arm.

"I'm sure," She hissed. "His voice- that's how I could tell." The boys exchanged looks and looked at Maddie worriedly.

"Are you sure?" Jordan asked, and Maddie resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

"Yes, I'm sure." Maddie replied. "He talked to me Friday night- saying that I knew what he was looking for. Whatever he is here for, I have a bad feeling it's about us three." Jordan sighed.

"Maddie, aren't you being just a little theatrical about this?" He asked the redhead, emphasizing the word 'little'. Maddie shook her head.

"No, I'm not!" Maddie protested. "Look, he came to my house- he probably wanted that weird blue and pink plant in the greenhouse. What we need to find out is why." Jordan looked at Maddie like she was crazy.

"Are you serious?" He asked, and Maddie nodded. Then, with a smile, he smirked. "Well, you're not leaving me out."

"Same here," Zak agreed, putting his hand in, Maddie and Jordan putting their hands on his. "All for one, one for all, right?" The kids nodded.

"But what are we going to do?" Jordan asked. "I mean, we don't even know for sure if Mr. Rook really did break into Maddie's house- not that I doubt you Maddie," He added after receiving a glare from said redhead. "And, we're all grounded for one month! That means we're going to be stuck at the school when our parents are gone for trips. And I'm pretty sure that Mr. Rook isn't going to wait until we're ungrounded to make his next attempt." Maddie smirked.

"Maybe, maybe not." Maddie replied. "He didn't know where the plant was last time- and as long as he doesn't know, he won't be able to make any successful attempts until I'm off grounding- he'll need somebody to actually show him where the plant is. And, as I'm grounded, I can't go in the green house until I'm off grounding. So, there's milestone number one, blocking him. Milestone number two would be you Jordan." Jordan looked surprised.

"Me?" He gaped. "How?" Maddie laughed.

"Because," Zak said, catching on, "Your parents have snakes. I think I know where Maddie is going with all of this." Jordan looked confusedly back and forth between Zak and Maddie.

"What?" He asked, and the two looked at him with grim expressions.

"I think Maddie's implying," Zak said grimly. "That the things that Argost talks about on Weird World are true."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Wow, we're actually moving into the plot, and it's only the fourth chapter! *clutches heart* So, yeah, wow... Van Rook as a teacher... Maddie fainting... Yeah... Dots... XP Did you guys like the chapter?

Please Read and Review and tell me what you think?

~~Paw-Chan Signing Out~~