Harvey has a sudden surge of bravery.
NINETEEN – PROPMASTER
In any other circumstances, Harvey would have revelled in being part of the Eddy Hair Show. True, he was only part of the audience, and if he did ever end up, on stage, in front of Eddy Hair himself, and in front of the camera broadcasting live to the nation, he would probably simultaneously freeze on the spot and melt in a pool of his own sweat.
However, as he adjusted the torch in his sweaty palm, Harvey hoped to high heaven that Eddy Hair's Show, and most importantly, Great School Quiz, would not air live tonight. The episode featuring their school, cancelled, would save their lives, Dinah's mind and stop everyone else from becoming a mindless drone.
"Fuses, fuses…" He muttered under his breath. The plan had been drilled into them all by Lloyd over a hundred times, and his brain rattled with the sound of his older brother's bossy voice. He had to get his part of the plan right! He'd already messed up, by being caught spying on Assembly, he had to redeem himself in SPLAT's eyes…
"Hey, look! It's like looking in a mirror!"
The jibe itself was weak; after all, he had been subjected to much crueller insults in the past. So being compared to a giant panda, or a guy in a panda costume, did little to affect him.
Harvey trailed after the rest of his down-trodden group, tugging at the split seam of his blazer sleeve. It had been pulled apart, and that realisation caused him to shudder in fear. That could have been him… could have been all of them… and in the end, only Dinah would remain standing… powerless to resist the Headmaster…
"Move it, Hunter! We don't have time for dawdling! After all," The wicked smile seared itself into the back of his head. "We wouldn't want to miss the Great School Quiz, would we?"
He whimpered, pivoting on the spot. He wavered in his balance, hopping on one foot, seemingly replicating an odd dance move.
The wicked smile tightened slightly, as Jeff sharpened his tone, aware of the rival school's pupils witnessing this embarrassing display. "Knock it off, Hunter! Stop delaying things!... Don't you want to see your school win?"
He inhaled sharply. 'NO! No, I don't want that!'
"So if you do, be good and go and sit down! Right now!"
Despite the harshness, Harvey faintly detected the traces of the flat monotone within those words, and he shook his head fiercely. He couldn't let this happen!
Hindsight is a wonderful concept, as reflecting on the events, Harvey did regret his actions. However, a small part of him relished gleefully at gaining the upper hand over his tormenter, and when he lay down in his bed that night, his own bed, in his own house, Harvey fought to smother the giggles.
Because, he had rushed towards Jeff, barrelling down the six steps between them, arms sweeping wide to shove off anyone in the way. Those same arms then swept forwards, fingers outstretched, closing in on the disgusting green and white material with an iron grip.
Jeff was too shocked to even flinch, his own hands and jaw completely slack. He stumbled backwards, only barely stopping himself from falling flat on his back, eyes widening to their full extent.
"I-I-I-"
There sat a large chest on the side of the stage, an open chest, and before Jeff could even blink, the back of his knees buckled against the sharp wooden edge and he was collapsing down into the chest, the strong grip loosening as he became blanketed by various colourful materials. As he looked up, Jeff only saw a brief smirk of satisfaction and those very same hands pulling the lid of the chest down.
Harvey's smirk disappeared slightly upon hearing a dreaded set of footsteps. Fumbling hands snapping the lock into place, ignoring the onslaught of furious bangs beneath him, Harvey quickly rolled his shoulders back, then faced the Headmaster.
Daring to meet the man's concealed gaze, Harvey chuckled nervously. "Didn't you always say, Sir, t-that some children should only be seen and not heard?... A-And how some should never be seen or heard?... Well… I did what you asked."
