The Magpie Effect - The Magpie Chronicles Book 1 (#Wattys2015)

Chapter 11.2

"You did what?" Debbie gaped at me. "Why didn't you tell her the truth?"

I shrugged my shoulders and kept my eyes focussed on the diagram I had before me. We were meant to be labelling the various aspects of an oxbow lake formation. So far, I'd just pencilled in my name and the date at the top.

"Listen, Saffy, if you don't tell her, then I will."

"No, you won't. She already hates me; I don't want an angry mob of peroxides knocking on my door wielding cans of fiery hairspray and straighteners to burn my skin off."

"Ok, but-"

"No, Debbie," I said, doing my best to sound firm. "Just leave it for now, alright?"

Her mouth dropped open. "So you're just going to let her get away with what she did? It was an act of pure evil, Saffy!"

"I know, but I'm pretty sure she'll get what's coming to her," I said. To my right, Mona let out a little giggle.

"Damn right she will!" she announced, giving her hair a determined flick.

I tried to remain composed - Mona had been hovering over my shoulder the whole lesson, listening in on as I filled Debbie in on what had happened in the past twenty-four hours. She was under the impression that I'd spent my voluntary day off at the park, not participating in some deranged version of MTV: Ghost Cribs at The Ritz.

Debbie frowned. "What do you mean-"

At that, Mr Carmody swept over from another table to inspect our diagrams. He leaned across the desk, his eyes fleeting across our papers and his forehead furrowed when he noticed the complete lack of notes.

"Having trouble here, girls?"

"Not really," Debbie said, smiling sweetly upwards. It was an odd concoction, all of that eyeliner and such a practised, pageant-winning smile. "We were just discussing the best way to go about labelling the diagram."

Mr Carmody laughed. "I'm sure that's exactly what you were talking about. We're going to reconvene in just ten minutes, so get those labels down. Oh, and Saffy-"

I glanced up, pencil poised confoundedly at the corner of my mouth.

"A word after class, please?"

I nodded, and Mr Carmody departed. When I looked over at Debbie, her eyes had practically become a pair of question marks bulging out of their sockets.

"Before you ask, I have no idea," I shrugged, but I was lying. I knew exactly what this was about, and I knew exactly how to respond.

*

"I've reconsidered, Saffy, and I'd like to withdraw my previous refusal to allow you to switch groups for the upcoming field trip next week."

I was standing in front of Mr Carmody's desk. He was sitting on its edge, his arms crossed over each other. Behind us the classroom was empty, apart from Mona, who sat in Carmen's seat with a particularly impish grin on her face.

"What made you change your mind?" I asked. I couldn't help it; I wanted to tease him. I knew exactly what had triggered his change of heart. It had been plastered across the lockers only a day ago, bold and brazen as an advertisement for some dietary supplement.

Mr Carmen shrugged, somewhat coyly. "I just couldn't help thinking about what you said, about it affecting your work. This is an important year, I bet you're sick of hearing it-"

Just a little, I thought to myself.

"- and it would be unfair of me to knowingly deal you a card that could knowingly endanger your grades. Therefore, I'm ready to allow you to choose another group for you to join, if that's what you wish."

"Lies!" Mona cried. The air around me shifted. She was on her feet. It was like feeling movement through water. "He knows that Carmen was behind the photograph. The whole school knows it, even your incompetent headmistress!"

My heart began to hammer in my chest. Mr Carmody surveyed me astutely, completely oblivious to Mona's screeching accusations.

"Thanks, Mr Carmody," I began, "but I actually think I'll be alright."

Mr Carmody winced, as though he thought he'd misheard. "What? Are you sure? I thought-"

"I'm a big girl, Mr Carmody," I said, "I can handle myself. I'll be fine, but thank you."

His eyes burst into a flurry of mystified activity, batting open and closed as he struggled to understand my decision. "But, Saffy, the photograph-"

I could feel my cheeks heat up, the blood flowering underneath my skin like a flowering bruise. Mr Carmody was admitting to having seen the photograph. I felt violated, embarrassed - and, for once, outraged. I could feel the blood boiling in my veins as the fury set in.

"I have no idea who took that photograph, sir," I said, my voice resolute. "But I'd prefer it if you didn't bring it up again."

Mr Carmody's mouth dropped open. Behind us, Mona whooped her support. "Saffy, I wasn't implying- I just wanted to offer you-"

"I appreciate the gesture, but I'm going to have to say no. I can look after myself, Mr Carmody," I said, and then I gave him a sugary smile. "Better grades for good teamwork, right?"

I turned on my heels and made to stalk out of the room. Mr Carmody stared after me, dumbfounded, and Mona's triumphant victory-call filled the air. It amazed me that Mr Carmody couldn't hear her. Sometimes I convinced myself that this was all just some big prank that involved the whole world pretending they couldn't see or hear Mona when they actually could.

I mean, with lungs like that, I thought to myself, it was impossible not to.

"That's right!" Mona boomed. "We don't need your help because we're going to get our own back. I'll hi-five to that, and you-" she paused, whirling around to jab a single pointed finger in Mr Carmody's face. He sat there as I glanced over my shoulder, gazing speechlessly into the distance.

"I will hi-five you in the face," Mona finished, and then she cackled like a demented old hag as I joined the flow of life in the corridor.

***********

What do you think of this unionship between Saffy and Mona? It's beginning to get quite serious now! Please don't forget to vote and comment and let me know what you think!