Serena, May and Gina sat together in the school courtyard.
Gina was absorbed into her biology book. Ms McGuck announced another impromptu class quiz worth 5% of their final grade. Some would say 5% was nothing but Gina wouldn't test her luck.
"Look," Serena said. Gina lifted her head and an iPhone almost slammed into her face. A model in baggy black pants with many zippers was on the screen.
"What do you think? Would it look good with the cropped turtleneck?" Serena said before swiping the phone to another photo and then shoving it into Gina's face.
"Can it wait?" Gina said, "I have a biology exam that I'm woefully unprepared for."
"You mean one of Ms McGuck's sporadic pop quizzes? It's only 5%, relax." Serena scoffed, looking back at her phone.
Gina sighed. Of course, Serena could say such a radical statement with ease. She was spared from having Ms McGuck as a Biology teacher and she was an ace student. How she had time for studying, work and partying, Gina had no clue.
"Uh-oh. You-know-who is approaching at two o'clock," May said.
"Who?" Gina said.
Gina and Serena followed May's gaze.
Jessica was heading in their direction.
Gina raised her book, concealing the bottom half of her face. She wouldn't get much studying done, but it was better to pretend than get caught up in what was to come.
"Hey, girls!" Jessica greeted them.
May buried her head into her own set of notes. Serena was glued to her phone. Gina raised her book higher.
But Jessica sat beside her. Gina thought to give a glance of acknowledgement for politeness's sake and return to pretend studying. But Gina's glance turned into a long stare.
Jessica's visage was guant. She was overdressed for the season, in a large puffy white coat reaching her knees with a scarf and gloves.
"Is Ms. Mc Guck having one of her impromptu pop quizzes?" Jessica asked.
"Oh, um, yeah," Gina said, snapped out of her thoughts.
"Darn it! I totally forgot!" Jessica said. "I was so preoccupied with Mark, you wouldn't believe what he said!"
"Nope. Nuh-uh." Serena said as she got out of her seat.
"Serena!" May said under her breath.
"What?" Serena addressed May, "I don't want any part in their weird reality TV, Trueman show love triangle."
Jessica asked, "What do you mean by a love triangle?"
Gina sank into her seat.
Serena started, "Look I'm not trying to get involved in something that doesn't concern me but-"
"Oh no," - Gina thought.
"As the saying goes, it takes two to tango but sometimes, you want to try different moves that might require a third party."
Jessica scrunched her eyebrows in confusion.
"But, with an emphasis on 'but', there is an obvious difference between a little group dance and dancing separately with two guys unaware of each other."
Jessica breathed out through her nose. She was debating in her head, whether to chew out Serena and devolve the conversation into a catfight or filter her mouth to sustain diplomacy.
"I am not cheating on Mark." She said through gritted teeth.
"I'm not accusing you of anything!" Serena said, "Just saying, as a friend who's friends with your boyfriend -" Serena paused. Gina knew, whatever she was about to say was going to stir the pot, "It's time to be honest. With Mark and yourself."
Jessica laughed.
A strong breeze blew past the girls, flipping the pages of Gina's book and scattering the notes on the table to the ground.
Jessica spoke, "For someone who wants to stay impartial and "not step on toes", it sure does look like you have already chosen a side."
"I've known Mark longer," Serena started "and I will admit, there might be a bias there but it hasn't been your first rodeo."
Jessica looked confused. But Serena just eyed Gina. Jessica followed her gaze.
Gina had been brought into the stand against her will.
"Come on girls, let's just chill out for a second." May interjected. Knowing Serena, a physical fight would brew if she didn't step up.
"You understand as well don't you Gina?" Serena said, "What Jessica is like."
"Hold on a second, why is Gina name-dropped all of a sudden!?" Jessica declared. She probed Gina for answers. Gina shrugged, too scared to incite further rage.
"Tell her Gina." Serena said, "Tell her how she abandoned you. How she ignored you for almost two years and if it wasn't for Mark, you would've spent Junior year of middle school friendless and all alone."
"ENOUGH!" Gina slammed her book on the bench. "Serena, you don't have any right to say that!"
"Don't put words into Gina's mouth!" Jessica said, "If Gina had a problem she'd tell me. Right, Gina?"
Gina said nothing.
"Gina?" Jessica said.
Serena folded her arms, "I rest my case."
Jessica waited, imploring Gina to say something back. But Jessica wouldn't get any support from Gina.
Out of nowhere, the faint breeze became violent gusts of wind. Gina fell off the bench, hair getting in her eyes and mouth. May screamed as the table flipped over, notes gone with the wind.
Then it was as if it had never happened. The other students in the courtyard looked at the girls as though they were crazy, or a catfight had started. Nobody was aware of the storm.
"What the heck just happened?" Serena yelled.
Jessica prevailed against the brief weather shake-up. Her bangs hid her expression.
"Whatever.." Jessica muttered to herself, and exhausted she hauled her bag and left.
"Jess-" Gina reached out but stopped herself. She wouldn't know what to say regardless.
Jessica stormed off, not daring to look back at her so-called friends. She made a beeline to the girls' bathroom, not apologising as she pushed past students. She entered one of the stalls and locked it shut.
Leaning onto the door, she slid to her knees. The ringing and her coughing fit deafened the mumbling of the girls in the bathroom
Jessica hovered over the toilet seat expecting herself to hurl out morning breakfast. The ringing didn't stop. Each guttural cough burned her throat.
She made a good impression of the monsters in Gorm - she thought, trying to alleviate her torment.
The ringing eventually faded and incessant knocking filled her ears.
"…d…hello?..hello? Do you need help?"
"I-I'm fine," Jessica said weakly, her coughing fit easing.
"Are you sure? That sounds like a really nasty cough."
"Yeah. Don't worry, I just need a breather. I might shut myself up for the rest of the day." Jessica joked.
The bathroom quieted after the girls left. Jessica noticed something red on her hands.
Blood.
Mark found Jessica at the library. She preoccupied a desk by herself, studying.
Mark hid behind a bookcase. May filled him in on what conspired in the morning.
He promised May he'd talk to Jessica just to get May from hyperventilating but now, he was having doubts. Both of them agreed to take a break from one another. But he was worried about Jessica.
Swallowing his doubts, he went up to Jessica and took a seat beside her. Jessica jumped when she noticed him.
"I just want to talk." He reassured her.
"I don't," Jessica said.
Mark got a good look at Jessica, and his stomach sank. As May described, Jessica was a pale imitation of her bright, vibrant self.
"Unless you're here to take back your ultimatum, I've got a butt load of homework to attend to," Jessica said and dived into her work.
"You've already decided?"
Jessica stopped writing. "No."
Mark sighed. "I still stand by what I said but, I care about you." There was no lie, Though it hurts to see Jessica like this, He was adamant about not having Toby in the picture. "I'm sorry about Serena. I should've known she'd go off like that."
"Fine. I accept your apology; now won't you leave me alone?"
Jessica's phone buzzed.
"There's another thing I want to ask -" Jessica cut Mark off with a sulky expression. The 'I'm so done with you' stare she gives to Toby. Mark couldn't say that it didn't strike a nerve.
"Will you be coming to my party?" he finally let out.
"Really? After everything, you have the gale the sit there and say 'will you be coming to my party?'" Jessica raised her voice, still scratchy though doing what Mark found an insulting impersonation of him. She made him sound like those douchey jerky jocks from the comedy movies.
The librarian shushed Jessica.
"Can we pretend that everything's okay for one day? Just for one day," Mark said.
"And you believe the others would want me there?" Jessica bemused, quieter heading the librarian's warning. At least she was paying full attention to him now.
"I'll talk to Serena and them. You don't have to stay for the whole party!"
Jessica grimaced and clutched her head. She got up from her seat.
"Jess?"
"Let me sit on it. I need to go to the restroom." Jessica said and left in a hurry. Her phone buzzed again.
Mark caught a glimpse of a text message.
It was from Toby.
He looked to where Jessica ran off, then to the phone, then back to Jessica.
Mark gave in to his impulse and snatched the phone, quickly scanning the chat conversation.
Toby: I know you're sick but Nick wants all of us by the house. Kagami Strategy meeting.
Jessica: Idk. Might pass. Still feeling under the weather.
Toby: K. Want me to head over again?
Jessica: Nah. I'm good.
A strategy meeting about Kagami was expected of Nick. But what spun the gears in Mark's head -
What did Toby mean by "head over again"?
The heated emotions from the weekend flooded back. To think, he was beginning to regret instigating their argument.
He placed Jessica's phone down.
Jessica returned, somehow looking worse. But Mark was too busy quelling his anger to sympathise.
"Sorry, but I need to go." Jessica packed her stuff. "I'll sleep on it. K?"
"Yeah, sure…" Mark replied absentmindedly.
"A meeting huh?"
Mark didn't have a plan, going to the Tripp's house. He's never stepped foot there nor has he wanted to until today. He cringed at the thought of knocking the door and either Mr or Ms Tripp greeting him, thinking he's a friend.
Friends with Toby.
That was enough reason to turn back and forget the whole idea.
He arrived at the Tripp's place. He slowly walked up the front porch - his ankle was busted but he could still walk okay. But dancing was another story and thinking about dancing made him angry.
But nowadays Mark was frustrated often about the trajectory of his relationship. Where did it all go wrong?
He lamented the incident at the mall, remembering how Jessica cradled Toby and their awkward silence on the way to the hospital. And the time at the Echo club. Everything was going so well until Toby showed up.
Mark rang the doorbell.
Lucas answered.
"Thank God." Mark thought.
"Mark?" Lucas said bewildered, "Jessica isn't here – Woah, hey -!"
Mark pushed past Lucas and strode to the living area.
Toby lounged on the sofa, comic book in hand. Nick was scribbling on the whiteboard in front of the TV. Once Nick noticed Mark, he hastily flipped the whiteboard.
Toby was the last to notice their uninvited guest. He jumped out of the sofa, "Dude what the- why are you in my house?!"
Lucas joined the boys and Nick gave him a look asking Lucas to explain why he let Mark in.
Lucas shrugged his shoulders. "What? He barged in without saying anything."
"I would ask what the hell is up with that board but I'm not here for that." Mark started, then pointed a finger at Toby. "Admit it. You're in love with Jessica!"
Mark stood there, finger pointed. He held his breath and waited for somebody to say something. His focus was only on Toby, fishing a reaction out of him. Something! A blush, to spout utter denial, any hint even a little to prove Mark's suspicions.
Toby snorted into a laughing fit. He fell to the floor laughing so loud the entire neighbourhood might've heard him.
Nick clutched the whiteboard handles for dear life to keep himself standing. Even Lucas was laughing.
"H-Hey! It's not funny! I'm being serious here!" Mark fumed, his cheeks glowing red.
"He thinks I have a crush on Jessica. HAH!" Toby tried to get back up but collapsed to the floor again.
"Sorry." Nick apologised between giggles. "It's just too funny to believe."
Mark was as red as a tomato. The laughing didn't seem to end any time soon.
"W-well…argh screw this!" Mark stormed off. He could still hear them laughing as he made it down the steps of the front door. Whatever dislike Mark had of Toby boiled into animosity. To think Jessica may still have a crush on this guy.
"Aarggh!" Mark kicked a patch of grass along the sidewalk. And here he thought he'd get some answers.
If there was a competition for having one of the most annoying, mind-numbing, headaches imaginable Jessica would win first place. The painkillers weren't effective.
She snuggled into her bed, scrolling through her Instagram looking at fashion pics. Sleep was out of the picture. She couldn't deal with the nightmares again. She considered calling Mr. Ono until someone knocked on her door.
"Jessica sweetie, Toby's here to see you." Her mother called from the other end.
Jessica got up, the movement itself made her dizzy.
Toby flung open the door, allowing himself in. "Jess, you won't believe what happened today!" he gleamed.
"Did Lucas fall for another one of your pranks again?" Jessica asked nonchalant.
"I wish. Mark came over."
Her ears may be clogged but what?
"And guess what he did? He came marching in the living room and accused you of cheating on him with me." Toby broke down in a laughing fit.
However, Jessica wasn't laughing.
"Jess?" Toby questioned.
"That day Nick went to Volcano Mountain, me and Mark got into an argument. He gave an ultimatum. It was either him or the guys."
Toby stopped laughing. "That guy, I swear I outta -"
"That's why I think I should tell him about the Gorm. About everything."
"Are you nuts? Keeping the Gorm a secret is like rule numero uno! He was this close to finding out if it wasn't for Nick's dumb whiteboard!"
"I know but I can't choose between him and you all! What's the harm in telling him?"
"1. Him knowing puts him in danger. 2. He isn't a lord of nature which means he has no powers which means he's dead meat if the lava gormiti get to him. 3. The lava gormiti infiltrated earth, hid under our noses, and brainwashed Kagami into joining them. For all we know more lava gormiti are hiding here in Venture Falls. It's too dangerous." Toby listed off.
"Isn't it more dangerous for him not to know? Kagami's aware he's my boyfriend. She might've spilled all our business to the lava gormiti. They might try to get to Mark to get to us!"
"He shouldn't get involved. Mr. Ono would agree too. You know what happened with Paula?"
'But she was a snot nosed invasive brat'Jessica wanted to say.
"I think it's best if you break up with him."
"What?"
"He doesn't trust you Jessica and he's getting too close to learning about the Gorm. And him making you choose between us, your friends and him? He isn't right for you Jess."
"THAT'S BECAUSE I'VE BEEN LYING TO HIM!"
Sparks fly from Jessica's hands and the lightbulb on her desk shattered.
"I'm sorry." Jessica unclenched her fists. She hugged herself. Toby tried to extend a hand but Jessica flinched away. "I think you should leave."
Toby was about to retaliate but he kept his mouth shut. "Call if you need me."
Once Toby was gone, Jessica collapsed to her knees. Her hand shook Blood dripped from her palm.
Kagami walked outside the lava nation in the dead of the night. The swindling streams of lava illuminated the darkness.
Fireblaze stood on top the edge of a bluff. "You've decided to take up my offer. What changed your mind?"
"Just shut up and show me Vestalt's lab," Kagami said courtly. It was foolish trusting Fireblaze but Kagami needed to confirm things with her eyes. She had to know for herself was Vestalt really planning on expropriating the orb from her. Kagami couldn't proceed with her mission unless she saw first-hand Vestalt's experiments.
A/N: This is it folks. We're reaching the conclusion of part 2 (and it only took 84 years)
Things are gonna get crazy from here on out this spooky season.
The next 3(?) chapters are kinda long so I might spilt them somewhat to get them out faster.
If things go according to plan (when have they ever?)
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Re: alpha Phenomenon part 2 concludes...
holding for dramatic pause
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October 31st
(or maybe not. please don't get your hopes up)