"How's about I bring two tomorrow?" I asked Charlie Brown while starting to walk towards the patio door. "That way, we can both have Pringles."
"Sounds like a plan." said Charlie Brown.
"OK, see ya later!" I called out, before bumping into Odette.
"Excuse me." I said, then went on my way.
Odette caught up with me, calling. "Wait! You're Nathan, right?"
"Depends who's asking." I said.
"My name is Odette. I was here yesterday, hoping to find a job here at Bowditch, but I couldn't help but see you..."
I turned back to her, saying. "Look, if you're referring to what I was trying to do up on the Drama roof, I don't wanna hear or talk about it!"
"Well, if you tell me, maybe I can help." said Odette.
I sighed reluctantly. "If you really wanna know, I was...trying to escape from Bowditch."
"What? Why?" asked Odette.
I let out a huff. "Because...because it's not the same like it was in my old school."
"Where did you use to go?"
"I don't have to tell you anything else. So, just...leave me alone!"
Odette watched as I went into the office to change for my 5th period class, which was PE.
She went inside, too, where Brit said to her. "Well, apparently, he doesn't want to see you either."
"So sorry you had to go and never come back." Tiff said quickly as she pushed Odette towards the front door. "Don't you worry about the prince. We'll take good care of him. Bye!"
"But..." Odette began, only to be cut off by the closing door.
The Crust Cousins chortled sinisterly as they low-fived each other when they saw Daniel in front of them.
"Don't you think you were harsh on her?" he asked.
"Harsh, shmarsh." said Tiff. "She's not worth worrying about."
As she spoke, Daniel walked past her and Brit towards the door.
"Hey, don't you walk away from us!" Tiff called. "Get back here!"
Ignoring her, Daniel popped out of the office, finding Odette sitting in the front bench, where he joined her.
They both sat in silence, until finally Daniel said. "You know, I've seen this type before."
Odette turned to him, asking. "You have?"
"Yes." replied Daniel. "He's just like one of them, having been accustomed with the old school for so long and not willing to give the new a chance."
Odette turned with a sigh. "I wish there was something I could do to help."
Daniel thought about it, then, placed his hand on top of Odette's, saying. "Maybe, there is."
By the time 5th period ended, Amelia and Mr. Arrow had pulled up to Bowditch.
As Amelia stopped the car, Mr. Arrow cleared his throat, then said. "Amelia…that was entirely untrue, you know."
"What was?" asked Amelia.
"What you said to Nathan the other night." replied Mr. Arrow. "You weren't some prissy honor roll student. In fact, you were just like him at his age, always attempting to escape from Bowditch.
"I remember I use to talk some sense into you, but you wouldn't heed my words." he went on. "It was at that moment when I eventually realized you had quite an adventurous spirit. The principal, on the other hand, was another story. He was the one who was more serious with you than I am, up to the point of threatening you with expulsion if you don't stop with your mischievous ways."
"Was I really that reckless?" Amelia asked after hearing his story.
"I was going to say 'careless," said Mr. Arrow. "But, that, too."
From outside the car, they could hear Daniel's voice echoing from the speaker. "Will Ed, Edd and Eddy please report to Room 42?"
"Cover me." Amelia said to Mr. Arrow as she saw me exit the office. "I'm going out there."
She crept out of the car towards the back of Room 42, climbing up to the top windows, where she could hear Mrs. Edelschein say. "Your Highness, what are you doing here?"
"Sorry for coming in before the start of 6th period, Mrs. Edelschein." Daniel apologized as he walked up to the front of the room. "But I just need a few moments of your time."
"Oh, no!" Eddy groaned upon seeing me once he and the other Eds entered Room 42. "There is no way I'm staying in the same room with that...that..."
"Then, don't look at him." Double D said as they sat on the round table. "Just listen to what the Prince has to say."
"I'll listen, but he's probably gonna bore me." said Eddy.
Once we were all on our seats, Daniel began talking. "Now, as you're all aware, one of your fellow students, Nathan, has been having a hard time these first few days."
"First few?!" repeated Eddy. "It was way before..."
Before he could continue ranting, Double D slapped him in the back of his head.
"Ow!" moaned Eddy.
"But, thankfully," Daniel went on as he walked past our desks.. "I happen to find a solution that could resolve Nathan's problems...and the trapped situation he and those gentlemen are in."
"Is he referring to us?" asked Eddy.
"Well, who else could he be talking about?" Double D asked back.
"Class, I'd like you to meet…Odette." Daniel said, showing Odette inside the room. "She'll be Nathan's aide, helping him throughout the school year."
"Will she also help me get out of detention?" I asked.
Daniel raised an eyebrow with a reassuring smile.
"You don't have to worry about detention, Nathan." he said. "In fact, you're entirely off the hook."
"What about the Eds?" I asked.
"Yes, they're free from detention, too." Daniel replied, much to the Eds' relief. "But, on the condition that…if you look at the bottom of page 8 on your handbook, it says here, and I quote…"
He cleared his throat and read from his own handbook. "Students are not to play games of chance or gamble, nor are they to sell items or food on campus without permission."
Daniel faced the Eds, with a stern look on his face. "Follow those rules, or you'll end up in detention again…under my supervision, of course."
"Best do as he says, Eddy. It's right here in the book." Double D advised, showing Eddy the page of his own handbook.
"Ah, rules are for losers." Eddy said, getting up from his chair and heading out the door. "And we ain't losers. Right, Ed?"
"Sure ain't, Eddy." Ed agreed as he followed Eddy.
"Oh, he's so stubborn." Double D said to himself, then to the rest of us. "I'll see myself out as well. Thank you."
"And thank you, Prince Daniel, and Odette, for taking the time to help Nathan." said Mrs Edelschein.
"It was my absolute pleasure, Mrs. Edelschein." Daniel said, while bowing to her and the other students. "As you were."
"Bye, Prince Daniel!" the class called they waved goodbye to Daniel, who waved back while winking at me and Odette before heading out of Room 42.
Odette sighed dreamily as she watched him go.
"Uh, Odette?" called Mrs. Edelschein. "Would you care to sit down?"
"Hmm? Oh, of course." said Odette, who pulled up a chair next to my desk, sitting down beside me, flashing a smile.
I smiled back at her a bit.
"OK, now." began Mrs. Edelschein. "If we can finish the day without any more problems…"
As she spoke, neither she or the rest of us noticed Amelia climbing down from the wall.