Chapter 23 -Continuation Lance frowned as he saw Toby stare off into space for the second time that morning. He whispered as much to Benjie. The other boy frowned too. He'd seen Toby space out like that since the day after the prom. Lance had told him about the walk in the forest and the incident with Toby and the book. He was suspicious and started to wonder if the book was influencing the boy's odd behavior. Benjie casually sidled up to Toby and tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey Toby." The boy visibly startled. Lance frowned and stationed himself on the boy's other side. "What's wrong with you?" he questioned curiously. Toby looked between the two and laughed. He laughed until tears streamed down his face. The other two boys frowned harder. Toby's merriment seemed to never end until the boy kept gasping, shoulders heaving but no sound of laughter leaving his hunched body. Was he crying? Slowly the boy rose, his face flushed and walked away without another word. Benjie and Lance stood staring at his retreating back wondering what had just happened. Penelope was engrossed in the conversation with Rya and Melody when she noticed Toby's abrupt departure from the group. Slightly taken aback, she watched the boy's retreating form until the other girls distracted her. "Penny?" Melody asked worry etched on her face. They both followed her line of sight to Toby as he walked away. Rya sighed. "You can talk to him you know. Ask what's wrong?" But the girl in question still focused on the boy. "Penny?" Melody called but Penny's eyes were distant and cloudy. The girls looked at her suddenly scared at the change. "Hey Pen. You okay?" The girl shook her head, her eyes clearing and refocused. "What?" She asked harshly. "Come on. Let's go." The girls watched in wonder as Penny took off toward the cafeteria, not noticing her muttering in Latin, 'I caused this.' The group had dwindled down to five. Pat watched the entire incident passively. What was up with everyone this morning? Sure they weren't all the same as they were before the prom but still they were a unit. They had to be. Jeff sidled up to her side. "What's going on Patty?" He huffed. "Everyone is all separated. You can see the schism. What happened?" Pat sighed. "First of all. Pat not Patty. Second I really don't know and third why do you care?" Jeff chuckled. "Just because I'm a lone wolf doesn't mean I like to be alone. I like you guys. And no. Tell anyone I said this and I'll carve out Benji's tongue and feed it to a dog." He smiled and excused himself from the group citing that talking to her would make him a sap and left. 'And then there were five.' She thought wryly. She walked closer to Benjamin and his brother. "Nice of you to drop in to the conversation, inferno." Benjamin said without looking at her. Surprised, she looked at him closely. "How did you...?" Benjamin laughed. "A magician never reveals his secrets." Lance rolled his eyes. Could he be more obvious? But the way Pat giggled maybe he was on to something? Joshua walked into the administration building and walked to the desk and requested to speak with the principal. The woman at the desk was almost taken aback by his directness but due to his charm, he soothed her ruffled emotions. With a smile she directed him to the office. Miss Gale sat at the desk, her eyes sharp and calculating. Sitting back she watched the boy carefully. "Yes young man. What is it that you want?" She asked coolly. He smirked. He liked the woman already. "My boss has eight wards here. They were recently in a bit of a messy situation. Since they are teenagers he asked that I keep an eye on them. Will you be willing to go along with this deception?" The woman frowned deeply. "Why do you have to monitor them?" The young man readily replied. "Tobias has had nightmares after the incident. He doesn't sleep. His fellow wards do not associate with him. I'm just here to know why so my Boss can act accordingly." Miss Gale looked at him closely. "If what you say is true, you would not mind if I called your Boss to confirm?" "By all means." Joshua said. "Shall I give you his personal number?" As Miss Gale chattered, her accented voice level, Joshua looked around the room. Picture littered the walls and her desk. He was so heavily scrutinising one particular photo that he almost didn't hear the woman clearing her throat to get his attention. "I trust your inspection of my office has turned up positive results Mr Day." Miss Gale said shortly. "Your boss has confirmed your story. Though I find it somewhat unethical, I commend the man on his involvement in these children's lives. God knows how many others might be saved if their parents were that invested." She looked at a particular picture on her desk, unshed tears in her eyes. "I will draw up the paperwork in a moment but let me be the first Mr Day to welcome you to this institution. I trust you'll find your stay, matters not the duration, to your liking. You are dismissed." Inclining his head a bit, he thanked the woman and left the room. 'School here I come,' he thought.
This is one of my favorite Fan Fics. Omfg. You're amazing. I've been reading this for 2 hours. And ohgodjesus I'm fangirling. Dbsjdbsjsbxbxnsvsbx
Chapter 24 Melody and Rya stood talking to a few girls when they saw a young man pass. He walked past them, a look of confusion on his handsome face. Penny walked over shortly after. "New guy I see. Oh please let him be in our class." Rya rolled her eyes as Melody giggled. Dramatic Penny was an improvement from Melancholic Penny. Penny was chattering on and on about the change in classes and subjects when suddenly a gentle but firm voice intruded. "Excuse me? I'm new here. Can you tell me where the Science Lab is? The people in administration said I should wait there to talk to the head of department and...I'm rambling aren't I?" The boy stuttered out a small laugh. "I'm so nervous. My name is Eric." Penny smiled at the young man. " Penny." She said as she extended her hand. "This is Rya and Melody." Eric clasped each of their hands in turn, his hand lingering on Rya's. The girl noticed and frowned mentally. Why was it always the new ones? Seemingly breaking out of his trance he redirected his attention to Penny. "Can you show me where? I'm a mess this morning." Penny smiled. "I was the same but after a while, you'll get used to it. Come on. Let's get you to Mr. Grant." Penny excused herself from the conversation and walked away with Eric. The boy shyly waved as he walked after Penny, a puppy dog look on his face. Rya felt a hint of jealousy. "Did you see the way he was looking at her as they left? Can you say smitten?" Melody said, laughing. "Ry? You okay?" Rya smiled back, the feeling fake and foreign. "Seems Toby will have some competition." She said, the words sounding hollow to her own ears. Penny listened as the boy...no...Eric, talked about everything he deemed fit for conversational material. She listened and replied when there was need but all in all her mind was off somewhere else. If she were honest with herself, which she brutally was, she'd admit it was Toby clouding her mind. "Here we are." she said gesturing grandly at the office. "Mr G is cool but you have to understand one thing: he's really grim looking so no matter what you say he will look ticked at you." She saw the boy gulp. Perfect. Knocking twice, she opened the door. "Mr G? Are you in here?" She heard a rustling sound and an unfamiliar voice came from the far left of the dark room. "He isn't here right now, but if you come back around ten, he should be." The unknown speaker came closer. "I'm the new aide he's hired to help him." The voice came closer. "My name is Gregory Stans." The man was standing in the light of the door way now and looked upon them closely. "I'll tell him to look out for you though." He looked at Penny with a smile on his face and then at Eric, the smile faltering a bit. "Who should I say asked for him?" he inquired. "Eric and Penny." Eric piped up, sounding slightly challenging. "Great. I'll be sure to tell him." He said, still focusing on Penny. "Let's go." Eric said grasping Penny's hand. Eying the scene playing out in front of him, Gregory watched as the boy dragged Penny away, all the while Penny looking at their connected hands with a startled expression on her face. With a hasty goodbye, they leave. The man smirks. School was going to be very interesting indeed. Toby walked out of the bathroom feeling distant. The listlessness he felt was driving crazy. He'd washed his face and breathed slowly to calm down. He'd looked in the mirror and seen his haunted reflection. He'd have smashed the mirror so he wouldn't have to but didn't. Couldn't. Wouldn't. Maybe if he talked to Penny...? But would she want to talk to him? He walked to the corridors and sighed. Maybe they'd help clear his mind? He walked, evaluating his current situation. He didn't even know where to start. And those moments he felt the fear burbling up, enough to choke him, it made him panic. He walked lost in thought when he heard voices. "Look Eric. I understand that guy freaked you out but dragging me away like that just doesn't help. He freaks me out too but still. That behavior was uncalled for." Toby crept closer. "I'm sorry Penny but that guy is dangerous. I'm not worried for myself but you...you have to be. He's just...something isn't right with him." Toby's eyes widened. Penny? Who was this guy? Who was he to tell Penny what to do? Who was the guy they were talking about? He heard Penny laugh. "Alright then. I'm not sure how to respond to that but believe me, I can handle myself, Eric." Toby smirked at her independence. Always so aloof and headstrong. He liked that about her. "Eric" started talking again. "He's scary you know. That Gregory guy. He's not much older than us though but still. The way he stares, freaks me out." Penny laughed again. "Enough about Gregory Stans. Let's get back. Assembly is about to begin." Toby looked from his hiding spot and saw the young woman ushering "Eric" away. A cold pit settled in his stomach. Penny never allowed contact...unless... Unless she was close to someone...