They gripped her by the collar of her shirt, lifting her up and throwing her against the wall. She hit it with a crash and slumped to the ground, curled up in pain.

"You helped him, didn't you?" the man roared. "He was a traitor and you - his whore! Tell me! Who else did he betray us to?"

She coughed, spitting out blood. She kept shaking her head, repeating the same thing over and over.

"He's not a traitor. He would never betray us! Thomas would never betray us! He would never! You've got it wrong! You - "

Another vicious kick in the ribs and she gasped, feeling something crack inside. A grimy black and white photograph was shoved into her face. 

"Look," the man hissed. "See the face of your boyfriend, the betrayer."

She could see it, a young boy about fourteen, hands in his pocket, a wary look on his face. It was taken at a cafe, and he was sitting at the same table with another man. The other man had on gloves.

She shook her head. "Doesn't mean it was him. It could have been Damian - "

"Shut up!" A backhand slap. Heavy breathing as the man glared down at her. "Though it doesn't matter really."

He leaned in close and let loose a hiss. "Because your darling boyfriend - is dead."

*

So. Second day of school. Right-o.

So far so good. Nothing wrong. I think. 

In class I sat down next to Leila and discreetly as I could, asked, "Is my period here?"

And as casually as she could, Leila ran an eye over my derriere. "No," she whispered. "Why?"

"Okay," I said, still whispering. "Then am I having a wardrobe malfunction?"

She giggled, and yet again oh-so-casually ran her eyes over me. "No. Why?"

I placed the books I had scrambled out to buy yesterday on my table. "Because I've had people looking at me and whispering about me, plus a couple of girls even came up to ask if I could be their friend. Oh and two boys asked if they could sit with me at lunch today.  One even offered to buy me lunch.Two boys. That I have no idea who they are."

"Ah. So it has begun."

"What has begun?"

Leila hushed her voice low, and her eyes held mine intently. She started making exaggerated movements. "Imagine! A prince, a high noble, with blue blood running in his veins. The dream of every maiden in that land! A prince so perfect no words could do him honor! A prince rumored to wed with another kingdom's princess. Two souls, beautiful beyond compare, to join in holy matrimony. A match truly made in heaven!"

She paused, and her voice turned low and her eyes narrowed. "But then, the prince makes an outrageous decision! He abandons the princess! He abandons the fairest maiden in the land! For what? Nay, the question is, for who? And the answer is. . ." Here she gasped, loud and dramatic. "For a maiden of lowly birth, a serf! He would abandon the company of the royalty, to be with her. This girl of common blood!"

She ended her tale, gesturing with flourish. I raised an eyebrow. "So you're saying I'm of common blood?"

"In the eyes of Brandy, yes. Kaylan's action to sit with you is huge. First, he's always sat with Brandy for lunch. Ever since word got out he likes her he's been sitting with her every day during lunch. And now he ditches her! Not for any other popular girl, but for you! This new girl that no one has ever heard about! Obviously you've become the hot stuff of the school. Girls want to get close to you to find out how to get their own Kaylan, and boys want to get close to you so they'd become close to Kaylan, which means they'll become popular."

Of course hot demigod was in the Popular empire. And now he's single-handedly pulling me up there as well. 

"Don't worry though, the boys won't try to do anything to you. They won't risk Kaylan's wrath. And imagine, yesterday was only your first day here, and already he's done that. Can you imagine what would happen for the next few weeks?" She squealed. "Oh I can't wait!"

I can. I can really wait.

I flipped open a random page of my book with a little more force than necessary. "I don't get what he wants."

"Well according to Roxy - "

I held up a hand. "If that's the case he's in for a lot of disappointment."

"Awww, his heart is getting broken by two girls. Hayley! I thought you were better than that."

I shuddered. "Please. Please don't."

I scraped through my classes, avoided falling asleep in Biology and made it to lunch. I clung to Leila like a limpet, and kept my head low as I entered the cafeteria. We sat down at an empty table and began eating. I kept glancing around, and the burrito was wolfed down in five bites. 

I looked over at Leila and saw that she had barely touched her sandwich. "You weren't this slow when you abandoned me yesterday," I said drily.

Leila looked back innocently. "What? I was saying grace."

I tapped my foot and kept looking around. I didn't miss the few sharp glares being tossed my way from Brandy's clique. Of course queen bee herself wasn't throwing me dirty looks, she was far too busy flirting with the jock on her right. Ten minutes passed and I looked back at Leila.

She hadn't even eaten half of her sandwich. I narrowed my eyes. "Leila. . ."

"What?"

I folded my arms. "You can stop the act. If I even so much as see him I'll be dashing out of here, so if you're waiting for him to arrive you can do it yourself."

She pouted. She picked up her sandwich and took a larger bite. Her eyes went to over my shoulder and then her eyes widened.

"Hayley. . ."

I didn't need to be told twice. I jumped up and took off lickety-split out of the doors. Down the hallways and taking random turns. Anything to stop myself getting mired deeper into all that high school politics. 

I took a left and down a corridor, and at the same time a guy ran up behind me. He kept pace with me very easily, and for a second or two we were just running beside each other, as if we did this every day.

He kept his eyes to the front but a grin was on his lips as he spoke. He didn't even sound the slightest bit strained, even though there was already sweat beading at his forehead. His hair was dark wavy and went bounce bounce bounce as he ran.

"So where's the prince?"

"Excuse me?"

"Aren't you Cinderella running from the prince?" He gave me a sideways once-over. " 'Cause you certainly look like a beautiful princess to me."

And then he winked.

My reaction was instantaneous. We had just made a left into a corridor, and I grabbed his shirt and slammed him hard against the row of lockers, before darting for cover into a nearby classroom. His eyes nearly bulged out of his sockets in shock as he caught his breath, staring at me.

My body was tensed, my heartbeat had accelerated and I was peeking out into the corridor, waiting.

But something was wrong. There were no bullets strafing the walls. No concealed men jumping out with weapons drawn.

"Christ, what was that for?" he asked, indignant. 

I looked up with a wary glare, my breaths coming short and fast. What did he mean? Why did he wink if it wasn't to kill me?

He made to move forward and say something more, but a glance behind produced a startled yelp and he started running.

I could hear heavy footsteps pounding near. My hands went to the knife tucked beneath the wings of my bra, right under where the two hooks met and clasped together. I don't know who you are, but make one wrong move and you're dead buddy. . .

"Emrys Parker! Get your ass back here - " An abrupt stop, as the pursuer saw me.

It was a middle-aged man with a beer belly, huffing and puffing from exertion. He was drenched from top to toe in some kind of a substance that definitely did not look like plain ol' water. His balding hair was plastered to his sides.

I knew this guy. He was one of the teachers here and I'd saw him yesterday, teaching a class.

My hand came back down from the knife and I breathed easy.

Pointing a finger at me he said, "Young lady, you are in so much trouble! And when I catch your friend - "

"He's not my friend. And whatever he did to you I had no part in it."

He rolled his eyes. "Oh please. You think I believe that? Why else would you be running if you hadn't had a part in all - all this?" He gestured down on himself.

I started to protest but he would have none of it. He was just entering the classroom when suddenly the sprinklers overhead went on. He gasped, looking up. At the same time Mr Parker popped his head through the other door of the classroom and gestured. "Well come on!"

I scrambled up and followed him. "How did you do that?" I asked, pointing upwards. 

He grinned and a spark of fire appeared in his fingers. "Magic."

We continued running and behind we could hear the teacher giving chase. "He thinks we're accomplices you know," I said.

"Oops. My bad." He didn't sound the least bit apologetic.

I wondered what the punishment would be if we got caught. In Blackcroft it had been either getting beaten up or locked in the basement. I wonder what it was like here.

This maybe?

Nah, it can't be that bad. Then maybe.....this?

No wait. Don't tell me. . . it's this.

"What exactly did you do?" I asked. 

"Well really I was only trying to be nice. It looked like such a hot day, so I thought some lemonade might help him. And really it was only a wee little accident, it's not like I made him trip on purpose. . . and how was I supposed to know that that was a brand new Armani suit? I did try to explain but he wouldn't listen. . ." 

We made a right and came to some stairs. He took it, and the steps seemed to slow him a little. I quickly overtook him and smirked to myself. It was just so fun beating a guy at something.

The teacher continued yelling from below. "Man he really doesn't give up does he?" I grumbled.

Silence below me. And I had a feeling "silence" was not in my newfound jogging buddy's vocabulary. I looked, wondering if the stairs had finally gotten the better of him.

And saw him staring, with oh-so-focused attention, at my derriere jiggling in front of him.

Men. 

We reached the next floor then, and as he came up I gave him a  vicious kick in the shins. He yelled, hopping up and down on one foot.

"Oops," I mimicked, all innocence. "My bad."

Without looking I continued running down the hall. He grumbled under his breath but caught up soon enough. I didn't know the school layout well so I had no choice but to follow him, wondering where he was leading us.

I found out soon enough. My footsteps slowed. "The gym showers?"

He shot me a grin. "That's right. Our soccer team always practices during lunch, and then they'll get all sweaty and stinky and need a shower. So I'll just walk in casually and take my place among them. Find myself a nice cubicle and some hot water. Teacher never looks in. Works every time."

I folded my arms. "One problem. This is the guys' showers."

He shrugged. "Your problem, not mine." A twinkle of mischief entered his eyes. "Of course I'm always open to the idea of sharing a cubicle. . ."

I gave him another kick in the shins.

"Oww! Christ, stop that!"

"You got me into this trouble. You're getting me out."

He muttered several choice words under his breath. I waited. And then we heard the heavy footsteps thumping up the stairs.

Wheezy breaths. "I'm gonna. . . get you kids. . . if that's the last thing I do!"

His brown eyes went wide with alarm. "Whoa. Okay. This way!"

He led me off down another corridor. We were in another block of classrooms, and since it was lunch no one was around. It was all deserted.

"Here." He went inside a classroom and made for the metal cupboard at the corner. Opening it I saw that there was one lonely broom, one lonely dustpan - and that was it.

"We're going to hide?"

"Well we can't run forever." He already had one leg inside the cupboard. "Hurry up and get in!"

Confined space with a boy? Not my cup of tea.

Still, sighing heavily, I got in. He swung the door shut.

It was pretty dark in there. I could see him sitting opposite me but his outline was all I could make out.

"So." There was smugness in his voice. "Nice tattoo."

Crap. My hand scrabbled for the back of my shirt at once, tugging it down over the waistband of my jeans. My fingers touched the small of my back protectively.

Outwardly I only said, "Do you want to get kicked in the balls this time? Because the close distance is getting very tempting."

"Ooh. Feisty." I had a vague feeling that he was extending his hand. "Since we're going to be here for awhile why don't we introduce ourselves? Hi! The name is Emrys Parker, magician and prankster extraordinaire."

"The name is Hayley Banner, new girl and the one you got in trouble."

There was a snap of his fingers. "So you're Kaylan Hood's new girlfriend!"

Wait what? "Um no. I am nobody's girlfriend."

"Oh don't worry darlin', the whole school knows Kaylan's got a stake on you." There was a melancholic sigh. "You know, before Kaylan came I was Pambrooke's leading ladies man."

I snorted in disbelief. 

"Believe me, I was. But it seems as if girls nowadays prefer moody guys that give them the silent treatment instead of guys with impeccable fashion sense and charm."

"Charm?"

"Oh and ridiculous good looks of course. Along with a suave and debonair personality."

"And I suppose you think you have all that?"

"I know I have all that." Pause. "What's the deal with the tattoo?"

"What's the deal with you winking?" I retorted. Just thinking about that moment made me snap taut with tension again.

"What do you mean?" he asked, bewildered. "What's wrong with winking? I wink at everyone. It's part of my charm. A wink is a sign of my good humour and good spirits." His voice became sly. "It's also part of an age-old ritual known as flirting."

I didn't have the heart to tell him that in Blackcroft, a wink meant target locked, shoot at will. It was the kill signal. 

My heart slowed a little and I felt relieved. I felt like laughing too - how could I have ever thought that this guy opposite me was a Blackcroft? 

We had standards.

"So? The tattoo? What does it stand for?"

"Wouldn't you like to know."

"Ooh. Fiesty and mysterious. Good mate for the alpha Kaylan."

"What, am I a werewolf now?"

"You might be. You definitely have the claws. A princess-werewolf. Are you hairy too?"

I lashed a leg out and made contact. He swore and winced. 

"Did I get you in the balls?" I asked.

"No. But close enough."

"Ah damn."

Silence. He finally decided not to risk the well-being of his manhood and clamped up. After about a few minutes of sitting in the dark he whispered, "I think the coast is clear now."

Carefully he pushed open the metal door a little. One eye peeked out, before he swung the door open even further. 

"Ha! Again, victory has come to Emrys - " A shadow fell over us crouched in the cupboard, and we looked up to see the angry and triumphant face of one middle-aged teacher, soaked to the bone.

Emrys inhaled sharply. "Biscuits."

*.*. *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*. 

This chapter is dedicated to SamBookLove, for all the votes and comments she gave for "Mischief On Earth", the very first fanfiction I wrote. I suppose it would have been more apt to dedicate that book's chapters to her hahaha but hey! Better late than never! Anyway I hope this makes it up to you ;) Especially the chapter title and what it means in German :p the included song is really called that would you believe?

Until next time! Vote, share and comment!