3.3
Part 3
Taylor went from focused to borderline panicked in about half a second flat.
"I-I mean not that I'd ever tell anyone!" I added in quickly. "Eh... you're not secretly Rune right?"
...did I seriously just say that?
"No!" she added quickly all but shouting.
"Quiet!" I hissed pointing at the door. Before gulping, "Maybe..." My mind rushed for some smart action to take.
Combat 101, if combatants might be aware of your position on the field. Relocate to a new position.
"Let's move som-"
The door opened.
And out stepped one Madison Clements.
I looked at her.
She looked at me, then at Taylor.
I looked at Taylor, who was looking at me having just looked at her, only to turn her eyes back on the new factor.
"Am I interrupting anything?" the new arrival questioned with a cherubic look to her face.
A few month ago I would have been fooled. Hell a month ago I had been fooled. Madison Clements was a cute girl. Popular, well off, and clever. She was also one of the girls I had personally labelled 'the three heads of Cerberus'. A title I'd laid on them to symbolise both the oddly firm camaraderie they seemed to have for one another, and well, their status as massive, hellish bitches for those who caught their ire or interest.
I didn't really have any big horror story of betrayal most foul regarding them. The only thing she had done to me was ask a favor. Store her friend's Gym bag for a few periods since I tended to keep everything in my book bag and not really use my locker much.
It had seemed simple. Everyone knew Madison was friends with Sophia Hess, so what was the problem?
The problem ended up being that while the bag had been handed to me by Sophia, it hadn't belonged to her.
And now Sophia was the track star, while Tiffany Armstrong had missed her shot at the regionals.
Madison had been grateful, but not that grateful. Some fluttered eyelashes, a 'Thank you so much,' and a giggle that suddenly sounded all too malicious.
Once again Ms. Clements seemed confident and friendly in her question. An almost innocent look of curiosity on her face.
Never again.
Taylor seemed torn between panic and shrinking back.
My jaw tensed and oddly through rage I found tranquility, "Nothing at all Madison."
She didn't stumble, her face didn't flinch or shift. If anything it froze for a good half second, as her eyes darted from mine, to the way my lips turned upwards without somehow coming anywhere near approaching a smile, to Taylor then back to meeting my tightly bound glare.
"That's.... good," she said carefully, "Try not to be late!" she added still in that friendly tone.
Then she started towards the girls room at a very measured pace.
I muttered a word unsuitable for polite company.
Then my eyes went wide, as I looked at Taylor again pointing at my eyes questioningly.
She shook her head, her own eyes wide in surprise.
I let out a breath of relief.
"We should go," Taylor chimed in.
"Yeah," I agreed letting her set the direction.