AN: Thanks again for all the views and reviews!
BattleFrontline: Thanks for the approval! Kim/Ross isn't something I ship too much in all honesty, but my friend begged me to have it in this and I felt mean about saying no :P it'll be interesting to see if your ideas change on where you think this is going in the next few chapters... :)
The plot it going to accelerate a little bit so hold onto your hats! I think it's pretty clear later on who is who in the "chat" but if it's not, let me know and I'll see what I can do about it next time... Pretty sure it's obvious though :P Enjoy!
Echo was stunned as Kim told her what had happened during English as they sat under the oak tree again, Teep writing the answers whilst partially listening. He seemed less shocked for some reason at Rythian in hospital than Duncan's and Kim's behaviour, but Kim was too busy telling Echo about slapping Duncan for either one to notice.
"You climbed up on a chair to slap Duncan?" Echo giggled, unable to help herself as Kim laughed uncertainly.
"Well, yeah, I guess so. I was just so shocked he had hit Ross, he'll definitely have a bruise tomorrow..." Kim guessed sullenly as Echo nodded thoughtfully.
"Reckon Duncan will have a bruise too?" Echo asked quietly as Kim filtered through her head, thinking.
"I don't know... I hit him fairly hard, but I only caught him slightly on his jaw... It might just be sore for a few hours..." Kim trailed off, watching Teep write the answers. Echo smiled at her.
"Don't worry; I'm sure that everyone will be fine." Echo said certainly as Teep looked up at them, nodding in agreement. Kim reluctantly nodded.
"Thanks... I don't know if either of them will want to talk to me though..." Kim began as Teep shook his head, writing down on the pad of paper he had been using to write and reference page numbers.
They were in the wrong so they'll come to you. Also Rythian's fine - he texted me at the end of lunch today.
Kim and Echo looked at him, visibly surprised as Teep continued to write.
He just said he would be in school tomorrow and a chat would be set up tonight. That's it.
Teep smiled at them before giving them the universal "okay" sign, which they returned, laughing slightly.
"I understand that sign at least!" Kim joked as Echo nodded. She stood up, motioning towards the answers.
"Seeing as there's no Rythian today, we may as well just finish and head back early..." Echo stretched as she said this, trying to rid herself of the cramp in her legs. Kim nodded, glancing over at Teep as he got up and picked up the questions and answers, still finishing them off.
"I've got your bag, Teep!" Echo said happily as she picked up Teeps bag, Kim and Teep nodding at her before Kim started volunteering the last few answers. Echo hauled the two bags on her shoulder and walked off after them; as she passed by one of the buildings, she noticed Alex looking bored in a class and staring outside. She waved and he saw her, smiling and mock shooting himself. He instantly faced away from the window, seemingly replying to someone as Echo walked past. She followed Kim and Teep towards their class, hoping she hadn't got Alex into trouble. Whatever it was, it could wait until tomorrow; she couldn't wait for the chat to be set up and talk to Rythian; she may not have let it on in front of the others, but she was worried sick...
It was 22.49pm by the time Kim and Echo got a text to go online; they had debating on sharing an account, seeing as they'd be in the same room, but after arguing on what they should be called, their dad had walked in and told them off, giving them separate names to sign up with after a talk about online honesty and safety. Once he had left the room, Kim and Echo eagerly logged on, finding the group chat already online and active.
ENDERMAGE: This working Teep?
DINORAWR: Yeah, this is working, I've texted the others too. Just accept them when they request to join... So what was your op on?
ENDERMAGE: How did you know I was in hospital btw? Thanks the text anyhow.
DINORAWR: Kim told us, who heard it from Hat Films and Duncan. She might be a bit upset, so go easy on her okay?
ENDERMAGE: Why, what happened?
*NANOSOUNDS AND ECHOSOUNDS HAVE JOINED THIS SESSION*
ECHOSOUNDS: Hey, we're here! :)
NANOSOUNDS: You do realise we can read what you've said, right? :)
DINORAWR: Really? Oops. Sorry Kim...
NANOSOUNDS: It's alright Teep :) and I slapped Duncan after he punched Ross in the jaw because Hat Films didn't tell me you were in hospital and Duncan was annoyed Ross had told me :/
ENDERMAGE: Are you serious? You okay?
NANOSOUNDS: I'm great. Don't worry about me :) we were worried about you! You could have told us you were in hospital you know... :S
ECHOSOUNDS: I was worried.
ECHOSOUNDS: Well, we all were :)
DINORAWR: Agreed. So what were you in for?
ENDERMAGE: I told you Teep, before we went into English...about the scars?
DINORAWR: Oh.
NANOSOUNDS: What scars? You weren't attacked were you?
ENDERMAGE: No... Whatever happened on that night, the teacher wasn't the only one who ended up needing hospice care...
ECHOSOUNDS: So what do you remember/ what happened to you? This is a closed chat btw, so unless the creator (Rythian) adds someone, no one else can read this :) so you can definitely speak freely without risk of blackmail. :S
ENDERMAGE: I suppose... Alright then. I was working after school on a science project which I had entered without the school knowing. Only Mr Parv knew about it, hence why he was monitoring me; I wanted to practise before I handed in the actual thing.
ECHOSOUNDS: Who is Mr Parv? :/
NANOSOUNDS: The teacher in a coma. I did tell you that before...
DINORAWR: Continue, Rythian.
ENDERMAGE: I went to the toilet and came back a few minutes later to discover Mr Parv on his desk holding his head with a strong smell of alcohol in the room and my experiment bubbling over. I turned the gas off but it was too late; it exploded and suddenly everything around the room and Mr Parvs desk was on fire... I dragged him out but he was unconscious so I rang an ambulance and they said he had gone into a coma when they arrived. They took me to hospital too because of my face; I was having new stitches over the last few days and medication.
DINORAWR: So that's why you started covering your face...
ECHOSOUNDS: Will you take it off now you've had new stitches?
ENDERMAGE: No. It looks terrible. Plus they only had purple thread so it looks like I'm out of a horror film.
ECHOSOUNDS: Shame. I like the colour purple :P
ENDERMAGE: My scarf is purple. So I guess I also like it.
NANOSOUNDS: So how did your experiment explode? :S
ENDERMAGE: That is the confusing part; it shouldn't have exploded. I didn't have any explosive chemicals or substances in/ near it... And I definitely didn't have alcohol in the room before anyone says anything.
DINORAWR: You think someone else sabotaged it?
ENDERMAGE: Well, here comes the strange part; when I came back to school, there was a note in my locker, saying that they had evidence against me but so long as I kept my mouth shut they wouldn't release it. They also told me not to talk to my friends or my teachers or anyone, and that if they did I would end up in hospital like Mr Parv...
ECHOSOUNDS: ...Anything else?
ENDERMAGE: ... They said they'd hurt Teep and Zoey too and they'd blow up the Mushroom Fort. I don't doubt them after the explosion they caused in the science lab...
NANOSOUNDS: Oh god... Rythian...
DINORAWR: Me and Zoey?
ECHOSOUNDS: Wait, what's the mushroom fort? (o.O)
DINORAWR: It's a little treehouse in Zoey's back garden where Rythian and I used to hang out with her. Not many people know about it or what it's called, due to Zoey being a little paranoid people wouldn't like it. In all fairness, she'd probably snap if anything ever happened to it - I think me and Rythian are the only people ever to have been inside it.
NANOSOUNDS: ...so that obviously told you it was someone who knew you well? The fact they knew about Zoey?
ENDERMAGE: Well, it certainly looks like they would be a close friend. But then again, it might not be. It might be a double bluff or something.
ECHOSOUNDS: And you couldn't tell anyone because you didn't know who it was... That's just plain evil. (-.-)*
DINORAWR: Echo? I don't think the emojis are helping...
ECHOSOUNDS: Sorry :(
ECHOSOUNDS: *Sorry.
ENDERMAGE: No, don't worry Echo, it's kind of funny... :)
NANOSOUNDS: WOW. Did Rythian just use an emoji?!
ECHOSOUNDS: Yay! :D
ENDERMAGE: ... I am instantly regretting that decision...
DINORAWR: I would screenshot it for later use if we weren't having such a private and serious conversation... Right everyone?
ENDERMAGE: True, Teep. Sorry.
NANOSOUNDS: *ahem* so what do we do now?
ECHOSOUNDS: Well, someone must have written that note right? We could try asking people about... Um... Yeah that won't work :/
DINORAWR: I agree. But what we could do is compare handwriting...?
ENDERMAGE: That's a good idea Teep. But I'd have to bring the note in for you to look at, it's not at school anymore.
ECHOSOUNDS: I have science with you but we don't see each other all again until Friday for English...
NANOSOUNDS: It's too risky two days in a row Echo; everyone waits till Friday.
ECHOSOUNDS: Fine :(
ENDERMAGE: I'd better go; I'll be in school tomorrow but apart from Science with Echo, I will be ignoring you all. No offence.
DINORAWR: None taken, don't worry. We understand how bad it is now.
NANOSOUNDS: Yeah... Sorry to divert the topic slightly before you go Rythian, but does anyone have any advice on how I should deal with Ross and Duncan? I'm slightly upset by it all... :(
ECHOSOUNDS: Just look really sad; you can sit next to me and Rythian tomorrow in form and just look sad and refuse to talk to anyone for the day until they apologise. It works, trust me :P
ENDERMAGE: I don't think sitting next to me is a good idea...
ECHOSOUNDS: She's not sitting next to YOU, she's sitting next to ME, who happens to sit next to you. It'll be fine, I'll insist loudly on you sitting next to me until they apologise when we walk in. They'll do it extra quickly if they realise that you'd rather sit near Rythian than them, which will encourage the others to force them to apologise.
DINORAWR: ... Whilst Echo's plan is overly dramatic, it is a good plan for you Kim and I can't think of anything better... Sorry to say but I approve... Wish I was in your form sometimes...
ECHOSOUNDS: Hey! :(
ENDERMAGE: Can I ask something random too? Why do you and Echo have similar names?
NANOSOUNDS: Our dad forced us to have them.
DINORAWR: "Our"? I thought you were cousins?
Kim and Echo looked up at each other from across the room, Kim looking at Echo in panic. Echo stood up and turned on the light, having noted how dark the room had got. When she turned around, Kim wasn't looking at her.
"I am so sorry Echo, it just slipped... I'll fix this, don't worry!" Kim said firmly as she began typing again, missing the look of sadness Echo gave her as she picked up her laptop again, reading what Kim had said.
NANOSOUNDS: Oops, sorry! Slip of the key haha! Meant "my" dad. Obviously.
DINORAWR: How do you slip from "our" to "my" ? Or vice versa.
ECHOSOUNDS: Its okay Kim. I can tell them.
Kim looked up in amazement as she looked at Echo across the room, who was smiling slightly whilst she typed.
ECHOSOUNDS: My mum and dad split up when I was born; she died recently. Turns out my mum was also Kim's mum... We're actually twins. So we have the same dad too. Hence "our". And hence why I am "staying" over at Kim's house... I'm actually living here. I didn't want people to know... Sorry.
DINORAWR: Oh... Wow. Sorry for pushing it; you didn't have to tell us... But thank you. And I'm sorry what you're going through.
ENDERMAGE: ... I don't know what to say.
NANOSOUNDS: We're both still dealing with it... It was kinda weird.
ECHOSOUNDS: *Is :P
ENDERMAGE: Are you alright? Is that why you two were upset the other day?
NANOSOUNDS: Yeah... But it doesn't matter. That's why are names are so similar anyhow! Same surname technically :)
ECHOSOUNDS: What I want to know... Why your name Teep? :P
DINORAWR: I've had an account on here for ages, don't even start on me. I really like dinosaurs.
NANOSOUNDS: But it doesn't say dinosaur, it's dinorawwwwwwwr! :P
DINORAWR: I swear I will leave this conversation...
ECHOSOUNDS: Sorry Teep! What about yours Rythian?
ENDERMAGE: I am a magician.
ECHOSOUNDS: Seriously?! :O
DINORAWR: He's only partially joking, he does amazing card tricks and stuff.
NANOSOUNDS: Yeah, he raised a load of money for charity a few terms back with it :)
ENDERMAGE: And I've had a whole three months of doing work in advance and plenty of free time to practise. Once this is all over I will show you some time.
ECHOSOUNDS: Show me in science tomorrow? O:)
ENDERMAGE: Maybe, if I remember my cards and there is a point where no one is looking...
ECHOSOUNDS: YAY! :D
NANOSOUNDS: I know this seems really inappropriate to say considering everything that's happened to you Rythian, but I am being serious here: don't let Echo explode anything.
ENDERMAGE: Why? Are you bad at science Echo?
NANOSOUNDS: The opposite; I'd say you've picked the best person to replace Duncan, but she deliberately explodes stuff or messes around when she's bored. :S
ECHOSOUNDS: But I won't be bored, because Rythian is going to bring his cards and magic in... right Rythian? O:)
ENDERMAGE: ...
DINORAWR: Rythian? I'd seriously consider bringing in those cards...