Chapter 2
The Girl
Back at the academy, Dr. Bloor locked the front doors. He just had some parents to fill in some papers for their child's entry to Bloor's Academy. And wouldn't you know it, they were Lillian's bogus parents. Dr. Bloor rushed to the west wing to tell the rest of his family about what just happened. When he reached the dinning hall, Manfred with old Ezekiel were crossly waiting for him.
"What's the big deal, waking us up, eh? I was just in the middle of a good dream," complained Manfred.
"Sorry son, it's just Lillian's parents came to the academy to fill in some papers for her entry," explained Dr. Bloor.
"So," snarled Manfred.
"So, we have to get ready for the plan. The one that we have to convince Lillian to join our side and not Charlie Bone's," snapped Dr. Bloor. "We should let Lillian settle into the academy try not to give her any trouble and then when we think she's ready we'll take the plunge."
"Yes that's an excellent plan, now can we go back to sleep," Ezekiel said with haste.
"Yes, but remember you're the one who is suppose to convince Lillian to join our side like you did with Billy," Dr. Bloor reminded old Ezekiel.
"If I could convinced Billy Raven, I could convince Lillian," Ezekiel said with an evil laugh. "Manfred even though you hate new students, especially little kids, you have to be kind to Lillian, and you have escort her around for a while." No answer. Dr. Bloor and old Ezekiel look at Manfred to find him sound asleep.
"Where am I? How did I get here?" muttered Billy Raven. Billy Raven's snow-white white hair and ruby red eyes glistened in the moonlight as he walks down a dark corridor. Billy was wearing round spectacles that make his eyes look rather big for his head, and he was in his nightshirt. Billy noticed that the moon was half hidden behind big, black storm clouds. Rain was pouring down real hard, but Billy could still hear the clock tower outside the academy ringing to midnight. "This corridor seems to lead to Olivia's and Emma's dormitory," thought Billy. "Why am I here anyways-
At that moment Billy heard groaning, the kind of groan when you break something. Shivers went down his spine, and his skin crawled.
"Someone's hurt," whispered Billy. "I need to find the person". Billy was about to take a step forward when-
DING.
The clock rang one in the morning and Billy woke up with a start, he was sweating cold sweat, and he felt like he ran a marathon. It took him a while to realize that he had been dreaming about the groaning.
"Is Billy okay?" asked Rembrandt the rat.
"Yeah I'm okay," squeaked Billy. Billy could communicate with animals if the animal itself would let him. "I just had a dream."
"What did you dream?" questioned Rembrandt.
"I was walking through the corridor that lead to Emma's and Olivia's dormitory, then I started to hear groaning and I was about to take a step towards the groaning when I woke up," Billy said awkwardly.
"Strange," remarked Rembrandt.
"Yeah I know," Billy agreed.
"We get rest, yes?" suggested Rembrandt.
"Yes," Billy said, glad that Rembrandt wasn't asking any more questions. Billy pulled the covers over him and Rembrandt snuggled up on top of Billy. Without another word they fell into a deep sleep.
"Melody? Are you still in bed? Mom is going to kill you, if you don't get up and get dress."
Melody sat-up so unexpectedly that her older brother fell off her bed. Melody is an eight year-old girl who had snowy-white hair that had bits of red in her hair. She had beautiful gray eyes, and lips like an angel, she was wearing a white blouse that had yellow roses printed on it, and light blue jeans. Laughing, Melody leaned over her bed to see if her brother, Jesse, was ok. Jesse got up from the floor. He was a fourteen year-old boy, who had messy dirty-blond hair, and hazel eyes, almost all the girls at his school liked him. He was wearing a black baggy shirt and baggy blue jeans.
"Are you ok Jesse?" asked Melody.
"Never better," answered Jesse now leaning on Melody's bed. "Why do you always have to get up so unexpectedly?"
"I don't know, I guess I like seeing you get surprised," answered Melody.
"I bet you do," Jesse grunted. "Anyways, how come you're already dressed for school?"
"So I wouldn't waste time getting up and get dressed for my new school!" Melody said excitedly.
"It's been a week since Mom told you, you were going to another school and your still excited to go to this school you're going to," Jesse said with a chuckle.
"Yeah!" Melody giggled as she got out of bed. "Come on".
"Where are we going?" asked Jesse.
"Downstairs to eat some breakfast, silly," Melody said as she opened the door of her grand room that was full of paintings Melody made herself, and instruments Melody loves to play. "Are you coming or not?"
"Of course I am, I-no Dip Stick don't, uf," Jesse was pinned to the ground by Dip Stick the Dalmatian who was licking Jesse everywhere. "Get off me, Dip Stick".
"Come on Dip Stick, there's a hot meal waiting for you downstairs," Melody said in a gentle voice. Immediately Dip Stick got off Jesse and ran downstairs. "That always works, you know".
"One of these days, I'm going show that dog whose boss," Jesse said gruffly as he got up from the floor again. "Now come on, we have to have something in our stomachs before we go to school."
Melody and Jesse walked downstairs to the kitchen to find their family already there. Mr. Serpent was busily looking through some papers at the top of a grand table that he didn't notice two of his children come in. Mr. Serpent was a busy man; he had dark-brown hair, hazel eyes, a rough face and a beard. Mrs. Serpent also didn't notice Melody and Jesse come in, since she was to busy making breakfast for her family. Mrs. Serpent had blond hair, dark-green eyes, and a kind and gentle face. Dip Stick didn't notice them either since he was too busy wolfing down his food. The only people that notice them but acted like they didn't were Jessica, Shawn, and Dawn, Jesse's and Melody's sister and brothers. Jessica, the eldest of the Serpent children, had wavy brown hair, hazel eyes. Jessica had a kind face but sometimes she could be heartless. Shawn and Dawn were twins, and were three years older than Melody. They had bright blond hair, dark-green eyes, and sly smirks.
"Good morning," Jesse and Melody said cheerfully.
"Oh, good morning children," Mr. Serpent said with a weary smile. "I didn't see you come in. No matter, sit down and have some breakfast". Jesse and Melody sat next to each other at the grand table, and soon enough their mother brought their breakfast. Everyone ate their breakfast silently; the only sound came from the twins who were whispering and smirking and kept glancing at Melody.
"Jesse, I don't like the way Shawn and Dawn are whispering and smirking," Melody whispered urgently.
"You and me both Melody, but whatever you do, just ignore them," Jesse whispered back.
"That goes double for you," Melody whispered to Jesse. Shawn and Dawn stopped whispering unexpectedly. They eyed Melody and Jesse for a long time with evil smirks on their faces.
"Shawn what do you think the kids at Melody's new school would say when they see her?" Dawn said loudly.
"I don't know Dawn, what would they say?" Shawn also said loudly.
"They'll say that she's a able-to-hear-voices-from-portraits-and-pictures, able-to-sense-trouble, dreams-dreams'-that-sometimes-come-true, (Jessica and Dip Stick looked up interested in the conversation) white-("Now that's enough," shouted Mr. Serpent) haired-with-bits-of-red-in-her-hair (Jesse stood up and yelled," Shut-up")freak," Dawn finished.
"You've gone too far this time, you snot," shouted Jesse as he jumped on the table and pounced on Dawn. Jesse and Dawn wrestled each other on the floor, while Shawn and Jessica cheered them on. Dip Stick was barking, and Mr. and Mrs. Serpent tried to separate the two boys but the boys were too strong for them.
Bang!
Everyone stop what he or she was doing and looked up to find where the source of the noise came from, even Jesse and Dawn stopped fighting to see what was the turmoil. The noise came from Melody, and all around Melody were pots and pans. While everyone was doing what they were doing, Melody had collected as many pots and pans she can from the cupboard. She put them in a bag, then through the bag up in the air. During this process the pots and pans escaped the bag and made a great deal of noise in the kitchen when they hit the ground.
"Now that I got your attention, I would like to tell you all that the kids at my school won't say that I'm a freak-
"Why wouldn't they say that you're a freak; you can hear voices from portraits and pictures, you can sense danger, your dreams come true most of the time, and you have white hair with bits of red in it," Jessica said wisely.
"Because… I won't look at any portraits nor pictures, I'll keep my cool even if I do have bad feelings, I won't tell anyone about my dreams, and I'll dye my hair brown with the temporary hair dye. Everyday, I'll dye my hair for school, and everyday I'll wash it off when I come back from school," Melody explained.
"That's brilliant Melody!" exclaimed Jesse. "So Melody, you come back home at 3:45 PM, right?"
"I don't know? Mom?" Melody looked at her mother for information.
"Actually dear, you stay at the school. You don't come back except for the weekends," Mrs. Serpent answered nervously after a pause.
"What?!" Jesse and Melody yelled.
"You see Melody, dear, the school you're going to isn't a school…it's an academy," explained Mr. Serpent. "I know I know, why did we do this to you, but I promise you'll make good friends, you'll learn things that will be fascinating, trust me, I know, I use to go the academy. Do you understand." Melody nodded to show her dad that she did.
"Here's Miss Melody's suitcase and cape, Mrs. Serpent," said Betsy the servant.
"Thank-you Betsy," thanked Mrs. Serpent. "Betsy, do you mind getting my brown temporary hair dye?"
"Not at all. I'll go get it," Betsy said, and with a smile she was off.
"Do I have to wear the cape?" asked Melody.
"Yes you do. Now listen very closely Melody, there will be a young man waiting for you at the entrance of the academy to escort you around, his name is Manfred Bloor. You are to listen to him and follow him until you know your way around, or have made a friend, okay," Mr. Serpent said.
"Okay," answered Melody as she put on the silver-blue cape.
"Here's the brown temporary hair dye, Mrs. Serpent," Betsy said handing the dye to Mrs. Serpent a few minutes later.
"Great! Now you just have to put on the dye, and then I'll take you to the academy," Mr. Serpent said. It took a while, but Melody managed to dye her hair brown, and she actually looked like a normal girl.
"Now that you finished we must be on our way, give me the hair dye so I can put it in your suitcase," Mr. Serpent said as he grabbed Melody's hair dye and put in her suitcase. Then he grabbed the suitcase, and went outside towards his white, SUV. Melody hugged her family except for the twins, but Jesse was the one she held the most. They said good-bye to each other as Melody went outside with her father. Mr. Serpent put the suitcase in the trunk and gestured Melody to get in the car. Before Melody knew it, her father said," We're here. Now, the blue cape means that you're in the music compartment, green is for art, and purple is for drama. The young man is in drama so he'll be wearing a purple cape" Mr. Serpent got out of the car and got Melody's suitcase out of the trunk, and gave it to her.
"Have a good day and try to make friends, dear," said Mr. Serpent with a smile. Melody smiled back and face Bloor's Academy.
Bloor's Academy wasn't like the other academies Melody has seen, Bloor's Academy was more like a castle than an academy. The academy was dark and it had a few gargoyles at the front which kind of freaked Melody out. Melody noticed kids wearing blue, green, and purple capes. Melody walked towards the doors of the academy where she noticed a young man wearing a purple cape. She cautiously approached him. Feeling a bit nervous Melody said a bit croakily," Y-you must be Manfred?" Manfred looked down at Melody and he actually smiled a real smile at Melody (Manfred never smiled at a little kid).
"Yes I'm Manfred, and you must be Melody?" Manfred said gently.
"Yes," answered Melody now feeling calm. While Manfred explained a few things about the academy to Melody, Charlie, Gabriel, and Fidelio got out of one of the blue buses. The three boys only took a few steps towards the academy when Emma and Olivia came running towards them, and the two girls looked real surprised.
"What's wrong?" said Gabriel eagerly.
"You boys won't believe what we just saw!" shrieked Olivia.
"You saw Lillian!" the three boys said hopefully.
"We wish, but no. We saw Manfred talking and actually smiling," Emma said.
"He was talking to a pretty little girl," Olivia said.
"The little girl has beautiful brown hair, beautiful gray eyes, lips like an angle, a beautiful face, a beautiful blue cape, and a beautiful shirt," said Emma thoughtfully.
"She sounds beautiful," said a voice behind them. The five friends turned around to see Tancred and Lysander in their green capes standing in front of them grinning.
"We saw the girl too. I'm amazed she can make Manfred smile," Lysander said raising his right eyebrow.
"You know what I think?" Gabriel asked. Everyone shook their heads. "I think we should keep an eye on the girl".
"Why should we do that?" Fidelio protested.
"Don't you find it weird that a simple little girl could make Manfred, a jerk, smile, and why would Manfred be talking to a little girl?" Gabriel protested back.
"I guess, it is a bit odd," admitted Fidelio.
"Gabriel has a point. I think we should keep an eye on that girl, so we can know if she's on their side," Charlie said with encouragement.
"Isn't it obvious. She is on their side," Lysander said ruthlessly.
"Yes, that could be true, but what if she isn't?" Tancred said.
"I think one of us should talk to her," Gabriel recommended. Everyone looked at each other then they looked at Gabriel. "Oh no, not me," Gabriel said.
"It was your idea to talk to her so you're going to talk to her," Fidelio said. "I bet she'll talk to you."
"Alright I'll do it," Gabriel said after a long moment of silence.
Meanwhile, Manfred has just finished explaining things to Lillian.
"Got everything?" asked Manfred still smiling kindly.
"Can't talk in the hall, I go through the door under the trumpets, go where everyone else is going and I'll end up at the assembly, and after the assembly I follow you around," Melody said in the order Manfred had said.
"Excellent, now what I think you should do is find is a friend from the same department as you, as quickly as possible," Manfred said. "It's not that I don't like you, but it's just I'm in drama and your in music and that could be a problem".
"I understand," Melody answered.
"You do?" Manfred said hesitantly."Yes. You have your classes and I have mine. Besides you are in a higher year than me," Melody said comfortably.
"Your father was right, you are understanding and smart girl for your age," Manfred said cheerfully.
"Why, thank-you," Melody said bashfully.
"Well, I must be on my way," Manfred said, and with that he was gone.
Melody sighed and looked around; all the kids were all in blue, green, or purple capes. Melody knew none were at her age.
"There must be at least one person who's at my age,"Melody muttered. Then there was a small squeak. A little gray mouse poked his small nose out of the pocket on Melody's blue cape. Melody smiled at the little mouse.
"It's a good thing I put you in my blue cape's pocket when no one was looking or I'd have been lonely, huh Renegade," Melody muttered to the mouse. As Melody muttered to Renegade someone caught her eye, a boy in a blue cape whose hair wasn't properly combed. Without thinking, without meaning to, Melody yelled to the boy," Hey, Charlie!"
Charlie and his friends were climbing the stone steps to the entrance of Bloor's Academy when they heard Melody's call. It took Charlie by surprise that a little girl that he never met know his name. Melody and Charlie met eyes for a few moments, and then Melody gave a quick smile and went inside the academy.
"You know her Charlie?" Fidelio asked.
"No. How did she know my name?" Charlie questioned back.
"I don't know, but I do know that, that was the girl Manfred was talking to," Emma answered.
"Manfred must've told the girl our names," grunted Tancred.
"He could have told her that. Yeah, I guess," Charlie, said a bit puzzled. "The girl looks nice though, I mean she smiled at me."
With Charlie still confused, the seven friends entered the academy and as soon as they did, everything was silent. The lot departed when they came to three doors; there was a sign above each door. Charlie, Fidelio, and Gabriel went through the door with the trumpets above it. Emma, Tancred, and Lysander went through the one with the paintbrushes and Olivia went through the one with the masks. They were all going to the assembly.
Billy had wanted to tell Charlie about his dream, but he started to believe that it was just an ordinary dream. So he didn't tell Charlie even when he was next to him in the assembly. After the assembly everyone started to go to their classes. Billy was about to leave the assembly when someone collided into him. Billy dropped his books and his glasses fell off his face; Billy's books and glasses skidded across the floor while he slammed onto the floor. Billy felt pain on his arms and his head. Billy was trying to get up when someone said in a gentle voice, "I'm really, really sorry, here, let me help you."
Billy felt a small hand wrap around his arm, then the small hand heaved him up. For a few moments Billy was a bit dazed from his fall then he went on all fours on the floor to look for his glasses. After a few moments of looking for his glasses, Billy saw a blurry figure hold something in front of him. He took the thing and realized that they were his glasses. Quickly, he put on his glasses and looked at the person who gave him his glasses. He was shocked to see a girl around his age in front of him; the girl had shimmering brown hair, stunning gray eyes, and lips like an angle. Billy felt his stomach do a summersault, and all the pain he was feeling a few minutes ago was gone.
"Are you okay?" the girl asked.
"Yeah. I-I'm okay," Billy said breathlessly. The girl started to pick the books that Billy had dropped and it seemed that she dropped her books too. Billy helped her pick the books up. Soon the girl and Billy had picked everything up before everyone had left, and as soon as they got their stuff they left. Billy was just heading to his class, thinking why he felt so strange when he saw the girl, when the very same girl came up to him.
"I think I have your stuff and you have mine," the girl said in her gentle voice. Billy looked down at the books he had and noticed that they weren't his. Billy felt embarrassed for having someone else's stuff.
"I guess I do have your stuff, sorry," Billy said felling red around the cheeks.
"Why are you sorry, I have your stuff. Do you want to switch or do you want to keep my stuff, and I'll keep yours," the girl said with a gentle smile.
"Switch," Billy mumbled. Billy and the girl switched their stuff, and as soon as they did the girl left. "Hey wait, I never really got to thank you for giving me back my glasses."
The girl stopped and waited for Billy to catch up.
"Thank you for giving me my glasses back," Billy said bashfully.
"Your welcome Bi-er…um. I hope you don't mind me asking, but what's your name?" the girl said a bit nervously.
"Oh, I'm Billy Raven, and you are?" Billy asked.
"I'm Melody, Melody Serpent," the girl said with a smile. "Um, do you know where Mr. Pilgrim's class is? You see I'm new here, and well, as you can see, I don't know my way around."
"Yes I do. If you like I could take you there," Billy suggested.
"That'll be great, but won't you be late for your class?" Melody said a bit worriedly.
"I'll get there in time," Billy said. "Come on." Melody followed Billy to Mr. Pilgrim's class. While they walked, Melody and Billy talked about things like when were their birthday or how old they were, both which were the same answer.
"Are you endowed?" Billy asked suddenly. Melody looked at Billy.
"What do you mean?" Melody asked.
"Do you have any magical powers like me?" Billy said looking down at his feet. "You see…I-I can talk to animals."
"So that's what I am," Melody said half to herself.
"So you are endowed?" Billy asked.
"Yes, I guess I am endowed," Melody hesitated.
"That makes four of us. What can you do?" Billy said curiously. Melody looked at Billy, not knowing if she should trust him.
"It's okay, you don't have to tell me," Billy said knowing what Melody was thinking.
"I'll only tell you if you promise not to tell anyone about my endowedment, not even your friends," Melody said.
"I promise," Billy promised. Melody looked around her to make sure no one is paying any attention to them.
"I can hear voices of people in pictures, paintings, and portraits," Melody whispered.
"Charlie can do that, too," Billy muttered.
"Charlie," Melody said.
"He's a friend of mine," Billy said.
"I see. Anyways, I can also dream of someone or something that exist in the real world and have the ability to sense danger," Melody said as she looked at Billy, who was staring at her.
"You have three endowedments?" Billy gasped.
"Actually it's only two. Is that bad?" Melody muttered.
"No, I knew someone that had two endowedments. Usually people who are endowed only have one endowedment," Billy explained.
"Oh," Melody said amazed that she was a bit more special than the other endowed kids.
"Well here we are. All you have to do is go all the way to the top of the tower, and you'll find Mr. Pilgrim's class," Billy said standing in front a door. Melody thanked Billy, who looked a bit nervous for some reason.
"What's wrong Billy?" Melody asked.
"I was hoping…if we-if we could be friends-
"We all ready are," Melody interrupted Billy. Billy looked at Melody who was smiling her pretty smile; Billy smiled back before saying bye and running off to his class. For a few moments Melody watched Billy then she turned to the door feeling a bit nervous. Melody opened the door and peeked inside; she saw a long spiral staircase. Melody had shut the door behind her before climbing the spiral staircase.
Three minutes later, Melody was in front of a door, Melody cautiously opens the door. When she looked inside the room, she only saw a few bookcases against the wall and a grand piano in the heart of the room. Melody went inside the room wondering where her new teacher was and where were her new classmates. Melody went towards the piano; she touched the smooth bench and the keys. She sat down on the bench looking at the keys of the piano, wondering if she should play it. Melody's hand slowly pressed one of the keys, then she pressed another, then another, before she knew it, she was playing one of her desired songs she had made.
Gabriel Silk was almost to the door of Mr. Pilgrim's class when he heard the music Melody was playing. Not knowing it was Melody playing, Gabriel thought it was Mr. Pilgrim playing. He thought it was the most beautiful and peaceful song he ever heard. Gabriel ran the rest of the steps to the door, and when he got to the door he quietly and slowly opened the door. When he saw that it was a girl playing the piano. Cautiously and silently, Gabriel walked up to Melody, who was to busy focusing on her music that she didn't notice Gabriel. Gabriel was now next to Melody, watching her play, and then he noticed that her eyes were closed. Gabriel was impressed that the girl could play without looking at the keys. Suddenly the music stopped, Gabriel looked at Melody who was looking at him. Gabriel soon realized that she only stopped because she was startled to see him standing next to her.
"Please keep going," Gabriel urged. For a few moments Melody stared at Gabriel then she smiled at him, as she did, she started to play again. Melody looked away from Gabriel and closed her eyes and played her music. After a few minutes the music ended, and Melody looked down at the keys.
"You play pretty good," Gabriel tributes.
"Thank-you," Melody said, her gray eyes gleamed.
"I'm Gabriel," Gabriel introduced himself sticking his hand for a handshake.
"I'm Melody," Melody said cheerfully grabbing Gabriel's hand and shook it.
"I never thought that I would actually have a classmate to talk to and stuff," Gabriel said a bit shyly.
"What do you mean?" Melody asked.
"What I mean is that, you and I are the only students that are in Mr. Pilgrim's class, who I have no idea where he is," Gabriel explained. He looked at Melody who was looking at the keys.
"This is my chance to get some information out of her," Gabriel thought.
"So I saw you hanging out with Manfred Bloor before school started," Gabriel said.
"Yeah he was escorting me around," Melody said without looking up.
"Do you like Manfred, as a friend?" Gabriel asked.
"I don't like Manfred in any way. There's something in his eyes I really don't like," Melody said frowning. "But I do like Billy. He's my friend."
"You guys are at the same age," Gabriel said. "Hey wait a minute. You're that girl that called out to my friend Charlie. Do you know him?"
"Yeah, we have met before. I don't blame him for forgetting about me, I mean it's been three years since we last saw each other," Melody lied.
"Actually I know him from a dream I dreamed three day ago," Melody thought.
"Wow, three years ago," Gabriel said. Just that moment a man came inside the room. When the man saw Melody and Gabriel he was a bit startled.
"Hello Mr. Pilgrim," Gabriel greeted the man who seemed to be Mr. Pilgrim. Mr. Pilgrim merely ignored Gabriel and walked up to Melody. For a long time Melody and Mr. Pilgrim stared at each other. Melody had screwed up her face as though she was trying to remember something. Mr. Pilgrim was wearing the same expression on his face, too.
"I know him from somewhere," Melody thought.
"Who are you?" Mr. Pilgrim finally asked.
"I'm Melody Serpent, sir," answered Melody getting up from the bench.
"I'm Mr. Pilgrim," Mr. Pilgrim said. "Sit down and play a song on the piano for me." Melody obeyed. She played another song that she made and it was as beautiful and as peaceful like the other song she had played. After her song, Gabriel played a song, a bit jealous that his song wasn't as great as Melody's. Soon it was the end of the first period. Melody said bye to Mr. Pilgrim and was off before Gabriel was out of his seat. After Gabriel said bye he went after Melody; he soon enough caught up with Melody.
"You made Mr. Pilgrim speak," Gabriel said excitedly.
"What's wrong about that?" Melody asked.
"Nothing, it's just that he rarely talks, and when he talks he usually says a sentence and that's it. You made him say his name and two sentences," Gabriel said almost in a shout.
"Oh," Melody muttered. "Um…what do we do now?"
"Well, we have to go to the playing field for break," Gabriel said. "I could take you there, if you like."
"That'll be great," Melody said and smiled at Gabriel. "Oh, by the way, I think you play pretty good on the piano."
"Thanks," Gabriel said and he smiled at Melody. "Don't you know your way around?"
"My two week break was just so amazing I guess I forgot all about school," Melody lied.
"I see," Gabriel said.
It took them ten minutes to get to the doors of the playing field. Before they went out on the playing field they were in a coatroom. Gabriel took off his blue cape and hung it on a hook.
"You always have to take off your cape and hang it before you go out on the playing field," Gabriel explained. "Besides taking it off before you go to sleep, these are the only times of the day you take your cape off. Or did you remember that?"
"Of course I did, but I appreciate you for your help," Melody said. Melody took her cape and hung hers besides Gabriel's. After Melody hung her cape, she and Gabriel went out on the playing field. They've just walked a few feet when someone called Gabriel.
"Gabe!" shouted Olivia who was with Charlie, Emma, and Fidelio. "Come here!"
"I have to go, do you want to come with me?" Gabriel asked.
"No thanks, I have to find Billy," Melody said.
"All right. I'll see you around," Gabriel said a bit awkwardly. Gabriel ran across the field towards Olivia, only looking back once to see Melody running towards Billy who was waving at her. When Gabriel caught up with Olivia and the others, they all asked Gabriel the same question, "Is she on their side."
"I don't know but she seems to be a nice girl. She says that she hates Manfred, her friend is Billy, and she said that she met you, three years ago, Charlie," Gabriel reported.
"I don't remember meeting her, though three years is a long time," Charlie said thoughtfully.
"What's her name?" asked Fidelio.
"Melody, and boy does she deserve that name! She plays the piano real good," Gabriel said.
"And you said that she hates Manfred?" Olivia snorted.
"Yeah, she said that there was something in his eye she didn't like," Gabriel said.
"Do you know if she's endowed?" asked Emma.
"No. I meant to ask her, but something stopped me," Gabriel said glumly. "Anyways, we would've known by now. This isn't her first week at Bloor's Academy."
"We'll have to ask Billy some questions," Charlie insisted.
"Why?" everyone asked.
"Think about it, Billy is Melody's friend, and who would know Melody better than any of us? Billy would, of course," Charlie said. "Gabriel, Fidelio, we'll ask Billy about Melody when we're in our dormitory, okay."
"Okay," Gabriel and Fidelio agreed. They all watched Melody and Billy laugh and talk.
"Charlie Bone and his loser friends, spying on other kids like always," a voice too familiar sneered. Manfred Bloor and his sidekick Asa Pike were right behind them.
"We aren't spying on anyone Manfred," Charlie grunted.
"Then how come you're staring at Billy Raven and at the little girl who's with him?" Asa spat.
"We were wondering who the little girl was," Olivia said coolly. "You don't mind telling us who she is do you, Manfred."
"Actually I do mind. Who said it was your job to know everyone?" Manfred asked.
"No one," Olivia said.
"Then you should start minding your own business Vertigo, or you'll get detention," Manfred warned. With one last smirk from Asa, the two seniors walked off.
"Maybe getting detention isn't such a bad idea," Olivia whispered as soon as Manfred and Asa were out of sight. "I mean, if I get detention and if we can make Melody get detention, I'd be able to ask her questions and stuff."
"You know, that isn't such a bad idea," Fidelio admitted.
"Are you sure you want to get detention and try to get Melody into trouble Olivia?" Emma asked worriedly. "What if we can't get Melody into trouble and you only get yourself into trouble."
"Em has point," Gabriel said.
"It's a sacrifice I'm willing to take," Olivia said so dramatically that everyone laughed.
"Well good luck, Liv," Charlie said.
"Thanks, but I don't need luck," Olivia said as she looked at Melody.
"It's nice to know someone that likes rats," Melody said to Billy. "So where is your friend, Rembrandt?"
"He's with Cook in the blue cafeteria," Billy answered.
"Who's Cook?" Melody asked.
"Cook is a real nice lady, she's the one who makes breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with other employees," Billy explained. "Blessed, the dog, lives with her. I talk to Blessed a lot during the weekends when everyone goes home-
"Wait a minute, you stay here during the weekends?" Melody interrupted.
"Yes I do. You see I'm an orphan and well, I have no one to look after me during the weekends, so I have to stay here," Billy finished.
"Can't you stay at a friend's house over the weekends?" Melody asked.
"Yes, but I have to get permission from the head master," Billy said.
"Oh, okay I guess that's okay," Melody said relieved.
"Squeak," squeaked Renegade from Melody's pocket.
"What was that?" Billy asked.
"Renegade did that," Melody hesitated. "Renegade is my friend, and he's a mouse. I brought him here so I wouldn't be so lonely if I didn't make a friend on my first day or first week."
Melody took the little gray mouse out of her pocket and showed him to Billy. Renegade stood up on his hind legs sniffing around with his nose up in the air. Then he got on all fours and looked at Billy, then squeaked at Melody. Billy blushed for some reason, then he squeaked like a mouse and did a few humming noises. Renegade squeaked back at him once. Melody, who was watching them intently, sneezed that it startled Renegade and Billy.
"Sorry, but if you don't mind me asking, what were you two talking about? Oh, and do be truthful," Melody pleaded.
"The first time he squeaked he was saying that…um…that if I was your- boyfriend," Billy mumbled as he reddened.
"He's not my boyfriend," Melody told Renegade as she herself reddened. "We're just friends."
"That's what I told him but he didn't believe me," Billy said as he looked around. Billy then froze as he saw Manfred and Asa walking towards them. "Melody, quick, put Renegade in your pocket. Manfred's coming towards us, and we aren't suppose to bring pets to Bloors Academy."
Melody quickly stuffed Renegade in her pocket apologizing to him. Then she looked as casual as possible and told Billy to do the same. Manfred and Asa walked up to them; they were both smiling.
"I can see you've made a friend, and you've made a good choice, too," Manfred said looking at Melody then to Billy. "Has Billy helped you get your way around?"
"Yes, he has," Melody said calmly.
"Excellent. Oh, Melody, I would like you to meet my friend Asa Pike. Asa this is Melody Serpent," Manfred introduced.
"It's nice to meet you," Asa said as his hand popped out to be shaken.
"Like wise," Melody said as she shook Asa's hand.
"What do you think about Bloor's Academy?" Asa asked.
"So far I think it's an okay academy," Melody said.
"Well, I hope one day you'll to think of it great," Manfred said. "Well I better go now, I'll check on you later." Manfred and Asa walked off towards the other seniors, and as soon as Manfred and Asa were out of sight Billy sighed a sigh of relief.
"You know, I never saw Manfred nor Asa smile like that," Billy said.
"Are you sure?" Melody said.
"No. Sorry, what I meant to say is that I never saw Manfred and Asa smile at all," Billy said. The horn sounded for the end of the break, and children filed through the garden doors. When Billy and Melody went through the doors Billy gave her some instructions then they said bye to each other.
Later that afternoon, Billy and Melody met in a corridor and Billy led Melody to the blue cafeteria for lunch. When they entered the blue cafeteria, Melody immediately noticed that the cafeteria was blue. There were small round blue tables inside the cafeteria and a line of hungry children waiting to be fed.
"Hi Cook," Billy greeted a joyful looking plump lady who was serving the food when it was their turn to get some food.
"Hello Billy. Did you have a nice two week break?" Cook asked.
"Yes I did," Billy said.
"So you're Cook," Melody said.
"Yes, I'm Cook, and who are you," Cook said gently.
"I'm Melody Serpent, ma'am," Melody said politely.
"I'm guessing you're a new friend of Billy's?" Cook asked as Melody nodded. "Well it was nice to meet you." Melody smiled and followed Billy to a table.
For a while they ate in silence, then they started chat when Renegade squeaked. Melody snuck some food to Renegade when no one was watching and she kept glancing at a table where Charlie and his friends were sitting at. This Billy noticed.
"Why do you keep glancing at Charlie and his friends? Do you know them or something?" Billy asked.
"Actually I was only glancing at Charlie, and yes I do know him," Melody muttered. "Remember when I told you that I can dream of people and things that exist in the real world? Well three days ago I had a dream about Charlie. He told me a lot of things that were amazing."
"Like what?" Billy asked curiously, his fork half way to his mouth.
"Like his friends and adventures here at Bloor's Academy. His first adventure was that he helped a girl; named Emma, wake up from her hypnotism. His second adventure was that he helped his great-great uncle get home to his brother, after he travelled in time. His third adventure is that he was trying to help Ollie. Ollie was turned invisible by a blue boa, which you convinced, to turn Ollie visible again. Charlie also was trying to stop his great-great-great aunt, Yolanda, from doing her evil deeds. Oh, and he's trying to find his father, Lyell, who's been lost for about nine years," Melody finished with a big sigh.
"You know that much about Charlie?" Billy said, astonished by what he just heard. "How did you know that I convinced the blue boa to make Ollie visible?"
"Charlie told me," Melody said.
"You knew, the whole time, who I was?" Billy asked.
"Yes. If you didn't noticed, when I was saying your welcome when we first met, I almost said your name," Melody said taking a sip from her juice.
"Come to think of it, you did almost say my name," Billy said. "You said-
"Your welcome Bi-er…um," Melody repeated what she said a few hours ago.
"Yeah, just like that. You know, you're good at drama. What else are you good at? Music or art or none?" Billy asked.
"Well I have to be good at music or then I wouldn't be in the blue cafeteria," Melody said. "And Jesse said I was pretty good at art."
"Who's Jesse?" asked Billy.
"He's my eldest brother," Melody answered. "I've got a picture of him. You want to see?"
"Sure," Billy said as Melody reached into her jeans pocket. Melody pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper. She unfolded the piece of paper and handed it to Billy, who was a bit confused. As soon as Billy saw what was on the piece of paper his eyes grew big out of amazement. "You drew this?!"
"Yup, what do you think?" Melody said with pride.
"I think it's amazing, I mean, it looks so real!" Billy gasped. "Can you draw animals?"
"You bet I can!" Melody said. "Don't tell me, you want me to draw you a picture of Blessed?"
"Please," Billy begged.
"Anything for a friend," Melody said.
"You're the best Melody!" Billy said blushing a bit. Melody smiled at Billy, and then took another sip from her juice.
A few tables away Charlie was staring at Melody. He was sure that the little girl had said his father's name.
"What's wrong Charlie?" asked Fidelio.
"I'm sure that the little girl had just said my father's name," Charlie said.
"Her name is Melody and are you sure she said that?" Gabriel asked.
"I don't know, maybe it was just my imagination," Charlie said frowning.
"Don't worry Charlie we'll soon know all about her before bedtime," Fidelio said with a grin. This made Charlie feel a little better but not a lot better.
Yay! My second chapter! Please oh please review. I know. This chapter was pretty long. Sorry.
