This chapter is long overdue.

The warm sun rays begin to glimpse through the blinds directly onto my face. Ever since my parents woke me up, lectured me, then just left after my slight break down, I haven't been able to sleep. I've been sitting here on my floor making myself useful by gorilla gluing my gnomes back together.

I huff rubbing the drowsy haze from my green eyes angry at myself for thinking out loud. I've been trying not to think about what my parents are going to say about the boys across the street… they might actually go so far as to move. I shake my head, "nah that'd be crazy." Besides it's not like they can stop me from going to school with them. I decide it's not worth stressing over at the current moment. Although, I lift Cornelius up gently, letting the light flash across his ceramic face, he's the doctor of the family of gnomes I've acquired; smiling at my handy work with the glue, I set him down. Although I should be more concerned about who smashed by beloved gnome, the voice in my mind growls as I glare at the house across the street.

"I know it was you," I accuse in hushed tones, watching three boys scurry out the house and down the street. I feel downhearted when none of them look my way, very clever, "but not clever enough."

I jump up dashing to my closet finding a suitable outfit for the day. I throw on a jacket covering up my exposed skin and rush to my bathroom I scramble around, makeup brushes flying about burning myself on the curling iron. Getting ready for school or just mornings in general have always been a hassle for me, just like any normal person and especially days when I know it's gonna suck makes me dread getting on with it even more.

I leave my house without a word to my parents; they didn't seem to mind as I slip past them in the kitchen, "I don't need breakfast anyway." I whisper angrily to the cracked cement below my booted feet. The weather today is surprisingly chilly. Since I've only resided here for a few months, I'm not completely accustomed to weather fluxuations, me being from the far south states where the weather is pretty consistently warm. I've heard about how crazy the temperature can run up north but never like this. Late September and it's already getting cold. Isn't it supposed to stay warm for at least a few more weeks? I blow a breath out expecting to see a cloud in front of my face but there is nothing. I tuck my hands in my pockets after a cold breeze brushes against my exposed skin, I groan, I'm gonna hate this weather.

"At school… again." I mutter with sarcastic enthusiasm stepping up to my locker. I spin my combination in as quickly as possible, keeping an eye out for any one that may approach me. I'm definitely not in the mood to socialize, not with so much on my mind. Maybe I should leave, or call off? Mom probably won't go for that especially with my detention and car impounded. Parents usually aren't as relaxed and understanding when their child has been deemed a troublemaker recently. I sigh heavily pressing my forehead to the edge of my locker door, "Mm, I'm so exhausted." I moan tiredly.

Suddenly a rather boisterous voice brings me crashing down from my thoughts of escape when Trish comes bouncing up and pushing me away in what she calls 'playful teasing'. I hold back a growl that's building in my throat and shoot her a hard look of 'back the eff off'; she complies but doesn't completely turn away clearing her throat.

"So," She starts off timidly fully aware of my sour attitude, "How did it go telling your 'rents about the mess you got yourself into." I shoot her another glare making the short teen shut up on the spot but I feel my expression soften as her face turns a slight pink color and she nervously twiddles her thumbs near her chest as if her entire character transformed into some blushing, anxious child, not unlike the ones you see on those anime shows.

I give a reassuring pat on her shoulder, "Not as great as I had hoped, I made the mistake of leaving a note for them before I went to bed instead of waiting up. Not my best decision," I state as we head down the hall to my first period class.

"So are you grounded?"

"I'm not quite sure, they never said anything about being grounded but they want to talk after school; well after I get back home from detention," I correct myself. I glance at my friend through my peripheral vision noting her grip loosening against the books held to her chest. Her eyes meet mine and I flash smile, "We'll see wouldn't want to miss our trip to the mall this weekend right?" She gives me an excited 'yeah' and walks away.

My head drops feeling more exhausted than before, especially after putting up a cheerful façade to comfort a friend. The first bell rings notifying everyone that there are only a few more minutes to get to class when I take my seat at the usual table near the back alone. For a split second I find myself curious as to where my partner could be, considering he's made it a habit of reaching class before me, but shake him from my thoughts remembering I need to be a little more aloof today.

I stare at the clock counting the seconds till the late bell rings. 9, 8, 7, 6,- Malcolm bursts through the door and makes a b-line for our table practically throwing his books down and skidding across the floor in his seat just as the bell rings. I can't hold back the laughter building up watching him with entertained eyes as he scrambles to catch his breath, adjust his seat, and gather the mess of books and papers, all at once. He finally manages to collect himself and turns his attention to me.

He smiles at me, his face turning a pale pink but the lighthearted mood is broken when a picture of my destroyed gnomes flashes before my eyes. I frown and turn my head away to look out the window.

"Uh, did you get anywhere with the project?" He asks timidly. I can feel his unease as I stare out the window giving him a small nod.

"Yeah sorta. Though, like I said before, I don't think we should put too much effort into this project." I finally turn my gaze toward him taking note of his blank stare and rigid demeanor.

"Why's that?"

I huff, resting my head against my hand, "Don't you see how flaky Mr. Fitz is? He's just punishing us… I'm sure it'll blow over and we can go back to regular boring class soon enough."

The boy before me drops his head a forlorn look in his eyes, it pains me and I realize my words must have come out more offensive than I intended. I tap his hand with my pencil regaining Malcolm's interest, narrowing my eyes and smirking I mutter, "But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to prove the old man wrong." After this he seems to perk up scribbling down notes as I drift away momentarily. Your problems and issues can wait till later you need to focus; in case you're wrong and this project doesn't go away and you do get a bad grade. I shake my head of that thought. But what about getting revenge and then that stupid detention and the car, don't forget that dinner you promised to go to Friday! But Mom and Dad will probably ban you from having any contact with the boys ever again. Well if they wrecked your gnomes what's so bad about that? A lot! They are so very entertaining. "Gaahh!" I howl out loud tired of all the stress put on me. I rest my head down onto the stack of books in front of me letting out an exhausted sigh. One thing at a time Melanie; start by getting through this class without making a scene.

I give Malcolm a side glance, he's still writing stuff down, every once and while glancing in my direction. Very guilty behavior. Or maybe he's still just nervous around you… I sigh resting my cheek in my hand staring at the boy next to me.

"So do anything interesting after school, Malcolm?" Oh that comes out sultrier than I aim watching him physically drop his pencil and shallow hard. He lets out a breathy chuckle scrambling to readjust the supplies before him.

"Nah, not really, just usual home stuff."

I eye him carefully; both of us giving each other full attention. "Really you didn't tell your parents about the incident?" I push further but instead of receiving a stuttered confession or defensive argument like I am accustomed to; he looks me dead in the eyes and shakes his head then turns away. I'm slightly taken aback by this since Malcolm has never been one to look me eye to eye.

I clear my throat, and shuffle through my notes finding something to occupy my time. So maybe he isn't guilty. "Tesla." I whisper softly in his direction.

"What?" He asks clear as day giving me his full attention. I mutter the word again, "Tesla gun." I hear his chair shift closer to me and I visibly stiffen. What is wrong with me? I can't help feeling a bit put off after all my logic tells me one of them, either Reese or Malcolm broke my gnomes, that and it seems that recent events have driven me into switching our roles within this partnership. Malcolm is now the confident and I'm the shy timid one. It makes me want to gag.

I straighten my posture, pull my hair over my shoulder out of my way and clear my throat once more. "Okay, so take what I said a few minutes ago and add a twist, let's make a tesla cannon." I smile suddenly feeling super excited by my brilliance.

Malcolm narrows his pretty blue eyes at me in what I can guess to be contemplation or skepticism so I continue my explanation. "See it from my point of view. A telsa gun is scientific or at least effective; it benefits humanity if there were to be an apocalypse and if this project is a waste of time, we have a cannon to cause some damage to Mr. Fitz's car as payback." I smile innocently while leaning back in my chair casually throwing my arms behind my head. I'm not very good at being aloof anyway.

The boy next to me shrugs nodding his head and lets a small chuckle slip past his lips, "Yeah that sounds like a not terrible plan." I nudge his arm playfully.

"Really no remark about your grades or fear of getting in trouble?" I question. He shakes his head in response and I am completely thrilled by his cooperation considering I wasn't even sold on my own idea and Malcolm is notorious for being anal about his grades and projects. I clap my hands loudly making the curly haired boy jump. I giggle lightly starting to doodle designs on our machine while Malcolm, resident boy genius, works on the scienc-y tech part.

He shoots me a side glance and I hear him softly chuckle and mutter, "You know that last bit about getting payback sounded almost as mischievous as Reese." I freeze and think for a moment.

"Careful Malcolm, talk like that and I might have to punish you." I whisper close to his ear as I tap my bag and watch him tense and turn red in the face, hopefully remembering the duct tape.

Third period study hall; I sit patiently watching the clock tick away, each minute feeling longer than the next. I still have about 30 more minutes left and nothing to do. I don't want to work on the science project without Malcolm, not that I'm incapable, I just find it easier to get my brain juices flowing when he's around, but then he opens his mouth and I end up laughing, it's a vicious cycle. I rest my head in my arms and pick at my nails.

I don't think me and Reese would have that kind of relationship. Is that even the right word to use in terms of Malcolm? We're partners in a science project and neighbors; are we even friends? I certainly hope so, he's funny, in a nervous twitchy cute way. But then that does leave Reese… what would he be? A shiver rolls down my spine when I think about the spiky haired boy with a hot temper. A breathy chuckle escapes me at the thought of him and I being friends, not likely. Suddenly the door to the study room swings open and speak of the devil himself Reese is being hauled in by the collar of his shirt by Principal Block. The boy struggles dragging his feet, a scowl across his face as he's pushed into a solitary desk in the farthest corner of the room.

I stare in awe as he slumps down into the chair without a word or retort to the bald principle just a few rows away from me. Well this is interesting. My green eyes narrow at the boy who has yet to turn around and notice me. Maybe if I stare long enough he'll feel my eyes on him. Then again he isn't very aware of what's going on around him. I scoff, Yeah if he did then he would have at least had a clue I was the one who threw the apple at him yesterday right away.

I'm pulled from my thoughts when something stings my forehead. I look down to see a rubber band covered in blue ink. I rub where it hit and notice the tip of my finger has a blue ink on it. I glare over to Reese who quickly spins around facing the wall again and I growl under my breath.

Licking my finger I rub the spot on my forehead till I'm pretty confident the mark is gone. In my peripheral vision I can see Reese glancing at me with curious eyes but I don't give him the satisfaction of my attention. Instead I pick up the rubber band rolling it in my hand and snapping it against my wrist. I hear a small huff of frustration coming from the spiky haired boy's direction and I can't fight a playful smirk as I snap the rubber band in half, then again, and again till it's nothing more than a few bits of useless rubber. Reese growls and I finally look directly at him giving me an angry stare. I hold in a giggle but manage a small wave and a wide smile seeming to only make the boy more irritated as he adjusts in his seat probably uncomfortable by the fact that I'm here and messing with him indirectly. Reese points a finger at me then traces his neck with his index finger; I feign heartbreak at his hurtful pantomiming then turn away.

I pull out a piece of paper and start scribbling a little note, You're so cruel Reese I thought we had a special bond, where is the love? I crumpled up the paper, keeping a watchful eye on the study hall overseer I threw it at the back of Reese's head. He spins around to find the paper picking it up then looking at me with a questioning look. I gesture for him to read it. Can he read? I shake my head I sure hope so otherwise what good is he? I occupy myself by playing with the pieces of rubber band still on my desk till the wad of paper glides across my desk. I hurriedly snatch it up in excitement.

To say Reese's handwriting is atrocious would be an understatement, it looks like a 5 year old's chicken scratch or maybe an actual chicken stepped in some ink then had a stroke on the paper. I can only make out a few words here and there. No. your abhorsing. Is the nus gonna at 'uos. I frown at the note what the heck is abhorsing? Does he mean abhorring, or annoying? A smirk creeps it's way to my face in realization of course it's annoying. There is some more writing but I can't make it out something about me being something and them whatever. I think for a moment about what to write back. Reese thinks I'm annoying but I really like him well I like messing with him. I inhale sharply a lighthearted joke sparking in my mind.

Don't be silly Reese you love me. You're just too shy and scared to admit it. I tossed it back and waited a few minutes until receiving the note again.

I reely hate you and youl no whut pain relly is. I sighed at Reese's terrible grammar and spelling considering tutoring him but rejecting that idea completely. There is a list of things I could do with Reese but tutoring is not even on my top 10. His words do have me curious though, 'you'll know what pain is' I scoff at the paper in my hand. What could he possibly do to me? He doesn't know any of my secrets I haven't let anything slip to Malcolm so he can't get me there. It doesn't matter, I decide brushing his words away as an empty threat and continue our little chat.

Well I don't care what you think because I like you and that's not gonna change you can either live with it or suffer the consequences. I lifted my head to see that the bell was about to ring. I'll see you later bad boy. I tossed the note back to Reese just as the bell rang then got out of the class room as fast as possible not even verifying he got the note.

To be continued

Also if you aren't aware already there is a poll going on over who Melanie should end up with.