Have fun with this chapter. This may seem weird but roll with what happens. 😈

                   I Miss Half the Chapter
I still hear ringing in my ears. Apparently the wall was harder than I thought it was. I stagger to my next class, math. I don't really know or care who teacher is. It's hard enough to process math itself. We get assigned to work with partners to correct our summer packets. I didn't do mine.

Farley is my partner. She did her summer packet, or at least it looks like it. In reality she's just a really good faker. Like me. Bored with nothing else to do, I reluctantly start making conversation with the blonde.

"So, what part of Stilts are you from?" She looks up at me, glaring at first, almost making me look away. Then she sighs.

"I just moved here from the," she looks around and whispers to me so quietly I barely hear her, "Lakeland township." I barely stifle a gasp. Norta's leader has a huge rivalry the Lakeland leader. If anyone knew, she would be lying on the ground dead in minutes. The Sliver kids enjoy torture and they despise any Lakeland kids. Every compiteion between the two of us ends in blood. And while my fellow Stilt classmates won't attack, they would certainly send her to the leader of our town and she would be killed. It might seem harsh but it is apparently legal to kill "spies". "I live on the outskirts. I've met one of your brothers. Shade, is it?" I suddenly can't breathe. She's met Shade. How?!

"Wha-how? My brother? That-that's not possible." I stutter. "Where?" She tosses her ponytail over her shoulder casually.

"Here and there," She says airily. I stand up to sharpen my pencil, and suddenly I hit the floor. Some stilts kids yell for the teacher.

"Mr. B, Mare hit the floor." The teacher tiredly stands up and comes to check on me, and checks my head. He sighs.

"Who will take Miss Barrow to the Nurse?" The two Calore boys raise their hands in unison. No one else does. The teacher rolls his eyes and mutters something about young love and why are there always love triangles.

"Mr. Maven Calore, please take Miss Barrow to the Nurse. Mr. Tiberias Calore, continue your work. Thank you." The more buff boy scowls, while Maven, the boy I had been working on the project with in geography class, extends a hand to help me up. I begrudgingly except it and basically get hauled up. When I stand I stumble and end up having to lean on the boy's shoulder the entire way. This is humiliating! When we finally get to the nurse, I shove him off and collapse onto the bed in the nurse's office. The nurse wanders in with Mr. Jacos as they rapidly converse in sign language. They suddenly drop it when they see us. Or more likely, Maven. The two family's despise each other. Mr. Jacos glares and Maven and asks him to leave, barely concealing his hatred. While Mr. Jacos and Maven start to argue the nurse comes over to help me.

She quickly summons Mr. Jacos, to be her translator, because no one except him understands sign language. Maven sits in the chair quietly, glaring at Mr. Jacos all the while. "What happened?" She signs while Mr. Jacos translates. I answer quickly.

"I got shoved into a wall and hit my head." She can read lips easily and she and Mr. Jacos quickly respond, "How long ago?"

"Before first period." She gasps and Mr. Jacos turns pale. Before I can say anything else, he automatically turns to Maven, assuming he's a part of this.

"Did you see this happen?" He asks, worried and angry. Maven replies smoothly, with nochanlce.

"I saw her hit the wall but I didn't see who shoved her."

"Was there any other damage done to her head?" This time, Maven hesitates. He saw what else happened this morning. But he doesn't know if he should share it.

"No," he says, firmly with no outward sign of emotion or worry. "Nothing that I saw." Julian glares at him, suspicious. Then he sends him back to class with a wave of his hand. After he leaves I tap the nurse on the shoulder she turns around.

"Actually, someone smacked my head," I say, "during first period." Mr. Jacos frowns.

"And who is your teacher?" He and Ms. Skonos, our nurse, sign and say at the same time. I react similar to Maven, accusing a teacher, especially one as influential as her, could end very badly. They see my hesitation and quickly reassure me.

"If you don't want us to tell," they respond, "we won't. What happens here, will stay here." I sigh. As long as they don't tell anyone...

"Dr. Calore, was my teacher and she was the one who smacked me." They nodd gravely and sadly look to each other. Then, Ms. Skonos gets me ice and places it on the rather large bruise. As far as I'm concerned I definitely don't have a concussion. But it made me really lightheaded. They shut the lights off and let me rest. While they leave me be I have time to think. And sleep. So I mostly sleep. They let me out and tell me to go to my last period class. Unluckily, since the teacher isn't here today, Mr. Merandus is subbing.

"And what your curcluim is... Ah Miss Barrow so glad you could join us." I slowly move to the back of the class only to find the only seat left back there is next to Evangeline. Not as bad as up front is though. As Meranduses study the mind, they can tell if you are lying, cheating, or doing anything. They can manipulate you into doing whatever they want if you're not careful. When class ends, I walk outside and stop at my locker. I don't do any clubs. They are completely pointless in my opinion. When I begin to head home, I am stopped by Dr. Calore.

"Miss. Barrow, if you would come inside my classroom for a moment." I sigh, knowing it isn't a question and head inside. I look around. Man it is creepy in here. "Please sit." I sit. "Now as you may know Miss Barrow, my son is Maven. He likes you and of course that is utter nonsense. Someone like you isn't worth him. However, someone else might be." I don't like were this is going, but I know for once that this is definitely a time to keep my mouth shut. "Since I care about him, you are henceforth removed from the custody of your parents tomorrow. My family will be watching you." I stare at her in shock. What is she doing this for? "Now, Miss Barrow I have an experiment I must try. Please focus on the clock's minute hand, as I move it back and forth." I do as she says, not sensing danger of any kind. What could this do to me? "Good, now you are getting very sleepy." Suddenly I felt quite sleepy. Then her words become the only thing that matters. "Now, I want you to obey my every word, no matter were you may be. This worked on my son, it should work on you."

"Yes, mistress," I say in a dazed voice.

"Now, you must also obey my sons every order. And as of tomorrow, you are boyfriend and girlfriend, understood?"

"Yes, mistress."

"Good, now forget about this until you hear my voice again." I suddenly blink, surprised. Then I walk out the door. Why did Dr. Calore want me?