Chapter 3: School & Dances
As the sun starts to set apon the sky over the town of Blithe Hollow, and in the Babcock's house, a certain brown-spiked haired boy wakes up, more like stired, to the sound of a zombie moan from his alarm clock. Norman groans and slaps the clock, turning it off, and soon gets up, after five more minutes of sleep; but today was another new day, but with a new change: Coraline going to school with him! He's been dreaming about how it might go today- about how much time they'll talk during lunch, wondering if they'll both have the same classes in the school. After he got his cloths on, he walks down towards the bathroom, but hears some water turning off, and sees steam coming out of room; he knew it had to be Courtney in there, she's pretty much the only one who's in the bathroom every morning before school, ten minutes early before Norman wakes up. When entering the room, he was forced to listen in on what his sister was singing in the shower: "...All my life I've been good, but now..Whoa whoa whoa, I'm thinking: What The Hell..." Norman rolls his eyes as he starts to leave the room to get some breakfast, smelling some fresh pancakes being made by his mother's wonderful cooking.
When entering the kitchen and sitting down, his mother turns around from the stove, smiling warmly at her son as she places three pancakes onto a plate, placing it in front of him, "Good Morning, sweetie!" She exclaims with happiness, going back over towards the stove to make some more pancakes for everyone else, "And How are we on this fine day?" Norman shrugs as he starts to eat up his meal, just when his old man walks into the room, groaning.
Sandra turns and sees her husband sitting down at the table, and gives him his pancakes, along with a small peck on the cheek, "Morning, Perry, how are you today," He takes the newspaper and starts to read it again, "Not much...but I am gonna work extra now, for a bonus!" He exclaims with a proud tone in his voice. Sandra smiles and congrajulates him; Norman didn't really care, but tries so hard to get along with his father. He knew that his father's trying to be a better parent than what he's been in the far past- saving the town and proving he wasn't crazy is kinda earning him some respect for what he is from his father. Perry's also been feeling like he's been a little rough on his son, so keeps telling himself to watch what he says when talking to Norman, and try to be a better parent.
"Hey Norman," Perry says, putting his paper down. Norman looks up at him, after finishing anothr bite of his pancakes, "Yeah?" He asked him. The ghoul whisper's father rubs the back of his neck, like he's about to ask a girl out in a nervous way, "...How'd ya like to go and do something this weekend?" Norman couldn't believe what he was hearing: His father, the sencond from Courtney, who's been dissing his taking to the dead abbilaties, is asking him if he'll like to do a father and son activity, together, on this very weekend! It was such a happy thought for the boy, and was about to answer him, until a certain tall blond, wearing her usually outfit, comes downstairs.
Courtney just grabs a cereal bar, and an apple, before heading out towards the door. Sandra stops her, "Courtney...don't you want a pancake?" The girl turns and looks at her mother like she was just born, "Mom...I need to get to school earlier now, remember?" It took Sandra a moment to figure out what her daughter was talking about, before shaking her head in an apologizing way, "Oh, silly me! How can I forget? You and the other cheerleaders have practice before and after school now!" Courntey nods before heading out the door, but she stops, peeking her head into the room, looking at Norman, "Um...say, Norman, want me...to drive you to school?" Norman shakes his head, "Nah, thanks Courtney, but Coraline and I are walking." The teen only smirks and nods before leaving, her car could be heard as she drives away from the drive-way of their house.
Perry looks over at his son, "You sure you two don't need a ride? Because one of us can always take you two, honest." Norman shakes his head and puts his dirty plates away, before heading back upstairs to finish up getting ready, "No thanks, Dad." Is all he said, before disappearing towards the stairs and up.
Sandra looks over towards her husband, almost amazed, "Well, Perry...you seem to be trying hard this time around, huh?" He shrugs, "I just...I just wanna make up for the past, ya know? After all of that crap done last year, I've been thinking I owe him some nice time together," She nods and starts to eat her own food.
In Coraline's house, the same ruteain was going on- Coraline was asked if she'll like a ride towards her school, but she denys it, "No Mom and Dad, Norman's gonna walk with me." She kept on claiming. As Mel's typing onto her laptop, she winces, "You seem to be spending and talking about this Norman boy, huh?" Her daughter only shot her a "Don't even get that idea!" type of glare; even though it was true, Coraline still didn't feel like it was the right time to say anything about her feelings.
Charlie comes into the room, looking like he hasn't been sleeping in days! Mel looks over at him, almost lost for words, "Seriously, Charlie, go-to-sleep-earlier! You look like the walking dead!" Coraline almost dropped her spoon as she got some of her cereal on it.
The man only groaned, moaning and mubbling some things to himself. Mel rolls her eyes and looks up as Coraline puts her stuff away, grabbing her backpack.
"Oh, Coraline!" Mel calls. Coraline pears through the corner, looking at her sheepishly, "Yeah, Mom?" Mel saves her progress on her laptop and gets up and hands Coraline some money, "...On your way back home, would you please get some more milk please?" The blue-haired girl only nods in responce, before walking towards the door, after a knock was heared.
Coraline opens the door, revealing Norman, looking the same, cute way that he was towards her, "Hey, Coraline! You're hair's looking very blue today," He commented. This makes the girl smirk, commenting back at his comment about her, "Yeah? Well...your hair's looking extra freakishly spiky today, you ghost whisper." They both laugh, like they were on a date or something.
"Ready to go?" Norman had finally asked, catching his breath from the hard laughing that he'd done. Coraline nods in responce, before walking out with Norman, "Bye Mom! Bye Dad!" She calls out, before closing the door from behind.
The walk to school was pretty nice, and Coraline was able to hear more about the ghost that Norman sees everytime he walks to school. Coraline really wanted to just hold Norman's hand again, or even just give him one peck on the cheek; but he couldn't, they've just met yesterday, and it'll just make things a little akward. SHe didn't care if her parents knew, even though she feels the earg to smack them around a little, but still...she'll just have to go along with it.
When they arrive at the school, everyone looks and sees Norman...with Coraline. This sight starts whispers into each other's ears, even shouting things like, "Hey, Norman! When did you get a girlfriend?" and "Congrats, Norman! She's good-looking!" Norman was blushing the whole time as they enter the school, so was Coraline- but her blush was more of a flatterd one, than an embarassed one.
"Wow, this places looks...cool..." Coraline claims as they walk through the halls, and Norman only nods in responce, "Yep! So...do you have your locker number," She was about to answer him, until she goes towards a locker, and opening it. Norman looks at her in a very surprised, and very happy look, "Wow! Your locker's next to mine!" He exclaims, opening his.
They both laugh at the ironic moment, then heads to first hour class, science.
Coraline enters the science room, almost amazed at the decloration on animals and space materials. Norman could tell that she was starting to like the school a little more than what she only saw yesterday; the boy goes over towards his desk, and sits down. Norman's seat was in the far back, but didn't really care, the science/chemistry tables were pretty nice, and you see what's on the board better. A teacher walks into the room: She was a tall and thin woman, with jet-black hair and green eyes. With a delightful grin, she calls Coraline over towards her desk as everyone else in the class comes in and takes a seat.
Once everyone was all settled at their lab tables, the tall woman standed up, "Class," She begins in an American-Canadian accsent, "We have a new student here, as you can see. Would you like to introduce yourself to the class, Caraline?" Coraline shot her a glade that said she was mad at her, then sighs and looks at her new class, nervous she'll do or say something that'll make these people see her in a very strange way. She then spots Norman, and his beautiful blue eyes; this calms her down a little and starts to look at everyone as she spoke,
"Yeah, um...hi...oh, and it's Coraline, with an 'o', not and 'a', okay? Got it," They all give confused looks, but all nod; Norman didn't need to worry about that, he's been around with her all day yesterday, so he already knew how to say her name and all of that. Coraline spoke again, "I'm an explorer, and...um...I hope I can make some new friends in here."
"Already did..." Both she and Norman thought.
The teacher smiles and pats her shoulder, "Thank you, Caraline, for that wonderful introduction! How about you sit with Norman and Neil over there," She points towards the back, where an emty seat is inbetween Norman and Neil. Coraline smiles, but glares at the teacher again, "Still...it's Coraline," She starts walking over towards the desk.
"Oh, and call me Misses Walt, Caraline!" Misses Walt tells her as she goes over to the back of the lab, sitting in between the two boys.
Norman could see the anger in her eyes, and he gives her a gentley back rub, feeling sorry for her, "Sorry everyone keeps calling you 'Caraline'." Coraline smiles and tells him it's no biggie.
It was finally lunch, fourth hour, and so far, Coraline had the same classes as Norman: Science first hour, math second, and history third. They both were so happy to be seeing each other in so many classes so far! Norman and Coraline found Neil at a circle table in one corner of the lunch room, and they sat down with him, "Hey Neil!" Norman exclaims in a friendly tone of voice. Neil smiles that friendly, warm smile that he always gave Norman last year andnd the other years, trying to become his friend, "Hi Norman! Hey Coraline!" Coraline smiles brightly, "THANK YOU! You and Norman, along with me and Norman's family, are the only ones who can get my name right! Other than Wybie, of course," Norman looks up from his pizza slice, "'Wybie'?" He asked, she nods.
"Yep! He was a very good friend of mine! Before I moved here, we were the best of friends in school; he was so nice, but annoying sometimes." Norman nods and starts to eat his lunch, almost choking when Neil says, "Don't worry, Coraline, I'm sure Norman's not the jelous type."
Norman's choking and hagging was bring attention from everyone in the whole room. Scared about loosing him, Coraline starts to pat his back very hard, and stands from behind him, wrapping her arms around his stomach, and preforms CPR. Eventually, Norman's starts to breath again, and everyone, including some ghost that was in the room, are quickly going over towards him, asking if he's O.K. and stuff like that. After Norman made sure everyone who'd ask him that question was sure he was alright, he sits down, then hugs Coraline, "Thank you so much, Coraline!" She smiles and hugs back. When the hug was broken, Norman turns and glares at Neil, "Neil..." He says bitter sweet. Neil looked nervous, and was about to say something, when the princeipal came into the room, holding some papers and a microphone, "Remember: The anual 'Fall Dance' for Blithe Hollow Middle School is tongiht! Please attend to raise money for our school; that it all!"
Once he leaves, Norman forgot about Neil and what he almost caused on him; instead he focuses on the dance- he didn't have a date yet, and the only girl who he likes that way is Coraline. Sure, some girls have been trying to date him last year, after the 'Witch's Curse', but some of those girls Norman only liked as a friend, or he just was never intressed in getting a girlfriend yet.
Norman gulps and looks over at Coraline, who's just finishing up her strawberry milk, "...C-C-Coraline..." She looks at the spiked-haired boy, "Yes?" He sighs nervously, ears almsot getting hot, "Would you like to come to the dance with me tonight? AS FRIENDS, of course!" He asked, trying not to make it seem like he's asking her out, even though he is, in some way. Coraline giggles softly, "I'll love to go out with you tonight, at the dance. Thank's Norman! You're really being such a great friend!" She gets up and leaves to put her tray away.
As much as Norman didn't want Coraline to know about his crush on her, he'll have to think of some way to give her a little hint about it. Neil's been asking some girls if they'll like to go to the dance with him, but most of them pretty much say "No", and stuff like that.
Thoughts were going through Norman's head right now: He needed some advice on trying to make a good impression on her; and that help needs to be a trustworthy girl. His mother? No, he doesn't think it'll be good. As much as he hatted this one...he'll have to talk with his sister after school...Courtney.
Norman, Neil, and Coraline all walks home after school, and Norman enters his house, so quiet. He goes for the frigde in the kitchen and grabs a glass of green punch. After he drinks it down, he starts looking around the house, still, no one was home, "Where is everybody? They're usually home when I get here." As if on cue, Grandma Babcock's ghost appers on the couch in the living room, smiling warmly at her grandson.
"Hello, Norman, looking for everyone?" He nods, and she explains to him that his parents went off to the store, and his sisiter's upstairs in her room.
He thanks her, and starts to head on upstairs, even though it seemed like a bad idea to ask Courtney for some girl tips, she's a teen, and understands a lot about dating tips and everything. Thanks to all of that nonsence "Teen Girl Magazine" reading that she's been doing ever since she turned thirteen, she'll be able to help him...he hopes.
As Norman gets upstairs, he sees his sister's bedroom door cracked open, so heads on over towards there. He pears through the cracked door, seeing his sister listening to her mp3 while doing some homework and chatting with frends on "WorldBook".
Courtney sees her brother entering her room, and puts her mp3 away, giving him a look of question, "What are you doing in here, Norman?" He sits down on her bed in front of her, almost too nervous to speak about it, "Well, I, um...you see...my school's dance is tonight...and I've kinda...asked Coraline to come with me, and she said 'Yes'. I need advice!"
A smirk forms on her pink lip and starts talking, "So...you've finally did it, huh? I knew you couldn't wait to make your move, guess my friends owe me some dough." Norman's eyes shot wide open in shock and anger, "WHAT? CORTNEY!" She smiles sheepishly, "Sorry, sorry...but I had too. So c'mon now, tell me about Coraline,"
Norman starts going into each detale about Coraline: About her stories that he's been told of, about her blue hair, her eyes, and her sence of humor. Courntey was understanding what he's trying to do her- he's trying to ask her out on a real date.
"Okay okay, here's what you need to do..." All of the sudden, Courntey's explaining to him that if he really thinks she's cute and all, he should try and get a slow dance with her, maybe even give her a complament every now and then. She also explains to her brother that if she really agreed to go to the dance with him tonight, then she thinks he's cute as well.
Norman never really thought about it that way before, and thanks her as he leaves the room.
Entering his own room, he sighs happily and starts to get his homework doen before it was time to pick Coraline up for the dance.
Hours have passed, and it was now 6:00pm, the time the dance starts. Norman was just getting out of the shower and throwing some cloths on for the Fall Dance. Sandra was over-reacting about how priud she is that Norman's going to a school dance for the very first time...and with a girl! She, along with everyone else, had a feeling these two will end up togther. While Norman's done getting his cloths on, Grandma Babcock floats up from the floor, smiling proudly at him, "My...arn't you just so good-looking, Norman. Ya look a lot like your grandfather when he was young," This makes Nomran smile and thanks her, "I know, thanks Grandma. But I don't know how I'm gonna tell Coraline how I feel...should I tonight, or...wait...?"
Grandma Babcock knew that he's really liking this girl a lot, and didn't blame him for love; she and her husband have had the same problem when they were young- both would not know how to confess they like each other that way. Norman's grandfather's rarly mentioned in the house now these days- he died in war, and Grandma would never mention him again, but only to herself and Perry, when she was alive, of course.
"Well...you still look nice, Norman; and if this girl wants to be your girlfirend, always remember to watch out for signs. But for now...just be pationt and just stay as friends." Norman smiles and thanks his grandma, and he heads downstairs.
Once he gets into the kitchen, his mother squeels with delight, "Oh my god, you look so handsome!" He blushes a little at his mother's satement, "Mom...please...you're embarassing me, rememeber?"
"That's my job," She claims, kissing his cheek. Courtney walks into the room, grining at her brother, "Like, OMG, you look so...'dressy', don't you think?" He shot her a sheepish glare, "Yeah...but the dress code does requier everyone to dress like this,"
The dress code for the dance was a nice shirt/dress and dress pants/skirts, and dress shoes. Norman didn't really think dressing up was aprodiot for a Fall Dance- but since this is for a funraised, he'll just have to deal with it for a few hours.
Norman and Coraline walked to the school at about 6:30 and arrived at 7:20; Norman thought Coraline looked nice: Dark blue dress, black shoes, and she had a tiny bit of make-up on, barley noticeable. As they enter the gym, Norman soon remembers what his sister had told him, "...Give her a complamemt every now and then..." He gulps nervously and smiles shyley at her, "You look beautiful tonight, Coraline." After syaing that, he looks scared- scared that he might've just spilled out his crush on her and ruined their friendship. But what he hears back fromher was something he did not expect, "Why thank you, Norman! You look very nice too!"
They walk further towards the dance floor,and some of Norman's ghost friends have seen him with Coraline, making them all talk about how he's got a girlfriend now.
Neil arrived not to long after Norman and Coraline arrived, so meets them at a table, "Hey guys, what's up?" He'd asked, and Coraline shrugs, "Not much..."
Just then, music played, the lights dimmed even more, and a slow song played, "If you want to share a slow dance with a certain someone, now's the time." The princeable says through his microphone.
Norman gulps nervously, and the ghost floating above them kept on telling him to ask Coraline to dance with him! He gets up and reaches his hand out towards hers, "Wanna dance?" She smiles and takes his hand, "Sure! I'll love too,"
Every ghost in the room cheers Norman on, and he looks back at them with a glare that tells them to knoc it off; although, it looked more like a "Shut-Up and stuff it!" kinda look.
The two makes it in the middle of the whole dancing, and Coraline puts her hands on Norman's shoulder, as he places his on her waist. Not too long, they were slow dancing...slowly. Neil watches from the table and gives Norman a thumbs-up for this moment; Coraline just smiles at Norman the whole time they've danced, and Norman smiles back at her. Only a few more mintes of them not talking, Coraline breaks their lovely siolence, "So...this is...um.." Norman beats her to it, "Fun," He claims, and she nods, "Yeah...fun." As they dances, they sword, they felt like they were getting even more closer to each other, but didn't really care, as long as they wern't doing anything too school inapropeate, like kissing or so.
Once the slow dance was over, Norman made another complament to Coraline, "You also dance lovely..." Again, didn't stop to think! Now she's gonna know for sure!
Her face had light-up with a smile and thanks him. This whole night was probably not too bad after all.
As Norman and Coraline walk home, they smile as each other when they reached their houses, "I had a great time, Norman, and thank you for that wonderful slow dance. You know...you're such a great dancer," He blushes and then finally answers her, "Aw, thanks a lot, Coraline; I'm glade you've had such a wonderful time here! I'll see you tomorrow- Friday, remeber? So that means we can spend some time after school, okay?" She nods and starts heading towards her door.
Before opening it, she quickly runs back to Norman and thanks him, along with a embrassing hug. He smiles warmly with a blush and hugs her back.
This night was pretty nice, but little did they know...some bad stuff was un-winding...
Mmm...wonder what the bad stuff could be?
Until next time...c ya! XD