I was waiting outside the counselor's office when a younger looking girl showed up.
She had straight blonde hair with a bow in it, blue eyes, and a harmless look to her.
She smoothed her skirt when she sat down in the spot next to me.
She had the biggest grin I've ever seen plastered on her face.
"This is my first time here." She announced.
I nodded.
"I was just thinking, hey, why don't I stop living in my brother's shadow for once, and do something bad." She continued. Then she started laughing. "I superglued my teacher's drawer's closed! It was calling me. The superglue sat there on the desk just saying, glue them closed. So I did." She giggled again.
I smiled.
"My name's Lacey, what's yours?"
"Alice." I replied.
"You don't talk much do you?" She asked.
"No." I replied.
Max walked into the waiting room.
"Maxie!" Lacey yelled out.
"Oh gosh." He mumbled.
"That's my half-brother Max." She explained.
He rolled his eyes.
"I thought sixth graders went to a different counselor." He said, clearly annoyed that she was there.
She stuck her tongue out at him.
He looked away, then sat down next to me.
He picked up my hand.
"How'd you do that?" He asked, referring to a cut I had on my palm.
"Uh, Mikey and I were sword fighting, he accidentally hit me on the hand."
"You were sword fighting?"
"They were plastic." I answered.
He nodded.
He proceeded to inspect my cut, for whatever reason.
"Ooooooooo. So it's that Alice." Lacey said.
I gave her a confused look.
"He was talking about you in his sleep, and making kissy faces." She said with a giggle.
"I was not!" Max protested.
"Were too. I have a video." She smugly answered.
Then she pulled out a phone and started to get on it.
Max reached over and plucked the phone out of her hands.
"Ha!" Lacey yelled.
"What?" Max asked.
"I don't have a video and I didn't see you do that, but your so concerned about it soooo, it must be true!"
"Whatever." He looked at the phone, "I think that I'll keep this for a while."
"No! Please no!" She yelled.
Then, she made puppy dog eyes and a lip quiver.
He tossed the phone back on her lap and leaned back in his chair.
Lacey picked up her phone then glared at Max.
The counselor walked out of her office.
"Max." She said. "I see you're back...again."
"Just keeping Alice company." He replied, smiling.
She seemed surprised by his answer, then quickly hid her reaction.
She turned to me.
"Alice, you can come in."
I followed her into a slightly dimmed room with two chairs facing a desk.
"Sit, please." She said.
I sat.
She sat in the chair behind the desk.
"So how are you coping with the death of your father?" She asked.
"Um, obviously I'm sad, but I'm not depressed...anymore." I replied.
"Yes, why not?" She asked.
"Because, I made a new friend who has helped me because they understand what I'm going through."
"And who's that?" She asked.
I was slightly annoyed.
"Max." I replied.
She looked startled.
"That thug who is constantly getting into trouble?" She asked.
"Well, yeah I guess." I replied.
She shook her head.
"People like him, will just ruin your personality, change you from an innocent to a criminal. People like you shouldn't hang out with people like him." She said.
"People like him? You know, he's actually a nice guy, but no one has taken the time to figure it out. So, I will continue to be friends with him, and you can't do a thing about it."
Then I stood up, and left.
Did I just do that? I thought.
I shook my head. No, it doesn't matter. You have worse things to worry about. I thought, suddenly remembering Rufus' threat.
I closed the door behind me, and walked back down the hall toward the study hall room.
On the way there, I saw Autumn and Vanessa walking down the hall together.
"Alice!" They said in unison.
Autumn rushed over and hugged me, with Vanessa at her heals.
"You should have came and talked to me. I'm so so sorry." Autumn whispered in my ear.
After the pulled away Vanessa added,
"Gosh, I haven't talked to you in a while stranger." She smiled at me.
"Yeah, I know." I replied.
"Peter is looking for you." Vanessa said. "You remember him right? I know you guys haven't talked since the car accident."
"Car accident! What car accident? And who's Peter?" Autumn asked.
I rolled my eyes.
"Thanks, Vanessa." I sarcastically said. "Peter was one of my good friends at the beginning of the year. And earlier this year I was hit by a car, but I'm fine now."
"What!" Autumn yelled, causing everyone in the crowded hallway to look at her. "Who's the crappy jerk who hit my best friend, WITH A CAR!"
"Wasn't it Jerome Shadow?" Vanessa asked, and I glared at her.
I face palmed, and Autumn continued.
"Note to self, kill this Jerome Shadow guy." She said Jerome's name with a look of disgust on her face.
Vanessa pulled me away.
"I just wanted to warn you. Peter has...changed since the last time you've seen him." She whispered.
"Changed? Changed how?" I asked, growing worried.
"Well, he's been spending an awful amount of time with Jenna, and her P.P. Squad as you like to call them." She started.
Ah, the P.P. Squad. I thought. I haven't heard from them in a LONG time.
"And let's just say it hasn't made that great of an outcome on him." She added.
Oh no, that can't be good.
Big, strong hands grabbed my shoulders and spun me around.
A guy with large muscles and brown, buzzed cut hair stood before me.
But, he had a familiar face.
"Peter?" I asked, filled with shock.
Not only had he been working out, but he obviously had a growth spurt. He went from my height to taller than a head taller than me.
He said nothing, he just comfortingly pulled me into a hug. My head was on his rock-hard chest, and I was unable to believe that this was the Peter I had known.
The hallway started to empty, telling us we had to get to class.
"I'm sorry this happened. And I'm sorry for my past actions." He said, his voice an octave lower than it had been. "Talk to me at lunch." He finished.
And just like that I was no longer in his warm embrace. And I watched him walk away. Everyone that was still in the hall immediately moved out of his way as he approached them.
"Come on." Vanessa urged, tugging on my arm.
I suddenly snapped back into reality and walked with her to study hall.
Do I really want to talk to Peter? I asked myself. Of course I do. What's the worst that could happen? Jenna and her P.P. Squad try to recruit you again? She may be an extreme witch, but Peter wouldn't let her do anything to me, right?
With that it was settled, and I had bigger fish to fry anyway.
Demon fish.