Chapter Two

Chapter 2

I didn’t remember the exact time I started to sleep last night but when the shrill sound of my alarm went off and I bumped my head on the door, I knew that I stayed there with the intention of keeping watch. Some watch I am. I rubbed the dull ache and the back of my head as feeling returned to my body. It aches all over and my butt was very sore, not to mention how freezing it was up here my room. Did I leave my window open again? I never learn do I?

I had made up my mind before I dozed off yesterday to skip school this morning. I didn’t want to be left in the open without any protection and since Mom loved to work from home do much, I can call in sick and stay at home with her. Besides it was Friday, going to school today was pretty useless.Those two weren’t going to try anything as long as I was with an older person right?. I didn’t quite believe myself.

I suddenly jerked back from my thoughts when I heard my mother shout something at Cole and My brother shouted something back at her. How long have they been at it? Apparently it has been going on for longer than I knew of. I really should stop zoning out all the time. It didn’t take me more than ten minutes to brush my teeth, run a quick shower and find something to wear, when I came down the stairs and into the kitchen, Mom was holding a broomstick and Cole, a can of spray insecticide.

“Nice of you to join us,” my mother called out, hitting something on the floor with the broomstick. I went around the island to check out the cause of all the commotion.

“Cockroaches!” I screamed running quickly back the way I came till I was at the entrance of the kitchen. “How did they get in here? What are they doing here?” I asked brushing off imaginary roaches from my hair and arms.

“I saw that they were homeless when I went to bring in the mail so I brought them in for breakfast, can’t you see?” Cole snapped not taking his eyes off the task of spraying the roaches to their deaths.

“Sarcasm doesn’t even suit you,” I snapped back, rolling my eyes at him. He made a mock interpretation of my comment the way only little brothers can. How immature.

“I think we would have to call an exterminator, this roaches are a lot.” My mother said dropping the broomstick in desperation.Darn it. I didn’t even get to play sick and now she wasn’t going to let me stay all by myself at home. Stupid cockroaches.

“Where are we going to leave Taffy?” I asked trying to salvage the situation by using my  Husky as a back up plan. Speaking of which, I haven’t seen her all morning. As of on cue the overweight ball of pure white of fur came barging in through the back door with a stick between her teeth. She jumped on me licking my face all over her stick, long forgotten.

“You left her by herself all morning?!” I shrieked in horror checking her paws and body for any wounds.

“I’m sorry we didn’t have our hand full with roaches this morning your highness,” Cole said in mock apology. I was about to give him a snarky reply of my own when my mother interrupted.

“Break it off you two and go get ready for school. I will bring Taffy along with me to the office, Diana, You have to drop your brother off at school.”

“Mom!” Cole and I both whined simultaneously.

“Hurry up now, you’re already late for school.” My mother snapped in her don’t–argue–with–your–mother tone. I knew from experience that that was the end of my banter. She picked up her phone to call an exterminator and I started making my breakfast of peanut butter sandwich carefully watching out for stray cockroaches while my brother went upstairs to grab our book bags. I was already done with my quick breakfast by the time he came back down the stairs. I picked up my car keys and started moving to the door.

“Bye mom, I love you,” We both cakes out.

“Bye, Love you too” she calls right back but we were already out in the front.

“You are going to have to sit at the back.” I said to Cole as we walked toward the car, trying very hard to sound stern.

“You know as much as I do that I am never going to do that.” He replied in a bored tone picking at his nails for emphasis. I groaned loudly, resisting the urge to stamp my feet like a toddler. The thirteen year old menace was never going to let me live it down if I lost guard.

•••••

It was already eight o’clock by the time I drove into the parking lot at school. My only consolation was the facet that I didn’t have any class first periods on fridays but my home room teacher was still going to scold me for putting a stain on my impeccable class attendance record.

The Universe seemed to have been pleased with me this morning because of my early morning encounter with the cockroaches, and my brother, everything seemed to be working out well in my favor. The home room teacher was not in class yet and there were three empty seats at the back of the class just for me. Not only did I get my favorite spot, there was no one with in a three feet radius to annoy me. How much better could my day get?

I must have relaxed too quickly because just as I settled, Ms Thomas walked into the classroom with two other people closely behind her. The Universe would never be extra nice to me it seems. The Universe is such a Bish. I think I would have to call the police. What am I going to tell them though, two strange people are following me around? What if it were just a coincidence? It was a small town after all. What about at the game last night? They are obviously students now. And last night at my house? I must have been saying things. Hell I even sound stupid even to myself.

“Diana?” Ms Thomas called for me from the front of the class. I looked up and my eyes locked with Theodore’s. He smirked really darkly and Selena waved at me with a smile. Oh God! kill me already. “Sit beside Diana at the back. She’ll put you through the school work you have to catch up on.” I groaned internally. Who exactly did I offend in my past life?

The pair came to sit on the empty seat beside and behind me. For some reason, they didn’t quite frighten me the way they did last night. Maybe those sensory receptors had burned out during my encounter with the roaches earlier.

“Hi Diana,” Theodore said from behind me, “we are going to have so much fun, the two of us.”

“Don’t mind Teddy.” Selena giggled in a child like voice. “He just doesn’t like running very much.” Creepy.

I ignored them, taking my book out the bag. If I pretend that they didn’t exist maybe they will leave me alone.

I continued my little game of ignore the creeps until lunch break. Although I can’t say I won because I was very much aware of the two of them around me and every tiny movement they made produced a reaction in me. It was very uncomfortable to say the least and I’ve never wished to hear the bell so much like I did today.

I packed up my books and went to my locker. I never bring lunch to school which means I was always forced to eat the crappy food that the school provided. I shut my locker to see Theodore and Selena around me. To be honest I had expected it. It was bound to happen sooner or later. The trick is to try and get them to leave me alone.

“What do you guys want? You have been following me around for days!” I snapped giving them my best glare.

“She speaks! And a fiesty one too!” Theodore said on mock surprise. Selena cut him a look and turn to look at me

“Look we’re sorry if we freaked you out”—

“You think?”

—“but I promise there’s a logical explanation.”

“I’d be surprised if there isn’t.

“Alright Smartmouth, we don’t exactly have time to deal with your attitude,” Theodore cut in obviously frustrated by me.

“Then by all means please leave. I don’t want to have to deal with you either.”

“Diana, we need to talk to you. About your father.” This time it was from Selena. My train of thought was cut short.

“My father? What about him?”

“Do you know who he is?”

“Why do you want to know about my father?”

“Just answer the damn question!” Theodore groaned wrapping his hands into a fist.

“No he died in a car crash when after my little brother was born.”

“Do you have a picture? Or even a drawing, anything other than a name.”

“Our old house was actually destroyed in a fire so I don’t have any of those. Why are you asking me these questions?”

“The thing is,” Selena began, “actually,”—

“You’re a witch.” Theodore finished.

“Theodore!”

“What? She would have found out eventually.”

I looked at them like they’ve grown two heads. I can’t even believe that I was scared of them even a little. As it all turned out, they were just freaks walking on the street. In that moment, I realized the hallway was empty. No wonder people didn’t burst out laughing from how outrageous they sounded.

“It’s nice to meet you, bye.”

“Wait,” Selena called out. “It’s the truth.”

“Sweetheart, I still have trouble believing the world is round and now you want to tell me that I’m a witch?” I shook my head in disbelief. “Come on. You guys can do better than me.”

“I know how this sounds.” She continued, reaching for my hands. I jerked back.

“Do you? Hmm? And how exactly does it sound? What does this whole debacle have to do with my father?”

“Your mother is not a witch obviously and your brother doesn’t have any magic yet although he might soon enough. Which means you are the offspring of a wizard.” With the tone Theodore used, I could’ve believed that he wasn’t completely crazy. But I already know what crazy looked like in person and these two people in front of me should be locked in a psych ward for enternity.

“If you would excuse me I need to go.” I did turning around for the second time.

“You can’t, all your books are on the floor.”

“What crazy talks are yo spewing now, there’s nothing,”— he made swift movements with his hands and my locker opened. All my books came pouring out. I stretched my hand in front of me pushing him away till he landed on his butt. He is so rude. I didn’t realize immediately that Theodore didn’t touch the locker or the books. Neither did I realize that I didn’t touch him.

“Oh shit.” The books I managed to gather fell to flow.

“Oh shit is right.” Theodore forced out, looking as startled as I felt.