Back To The Beginning

Chapter 5

Lizzie's POV: A few more people muttered good mornings to me, and it took a great amount of effort not to respond in kind. What am I supposed to be doing? Hope doesn't have any friends, class doesn't start til tomorrow morning, and I can't paint to save my life. Just think, Lizzie. Obviously, the spell sent us back before that weasel showed up, and since it's Kaleb's first day, that would make it...

October third. 

I scowled at the thought and the poor witch I happened to be looking at went white as a sheet and dashed off.

Dammit. 

Why the hell did the spell have to spend us back here? 

Hearing someone shriek, I looked up to catch myself staring at Alyssa Chang in horror. "Look at what you done", she seethed, gesturing toward the coffee on her outfit.

"Oh my God. I'm so sorry", Hope apologized, causing me to cringe as she attempted to wipe the coffee off of Alyssa with her sleeve.

"Get off me, you freak", she exclaimed, causing Hope to step back.

"I'm so sorry, Alyssa-"

"Yeah, I bet you are", she scoffed, causing me to narrow my eyes as I stormed across the room. Grabbing Hope's hand, I dragged her off to the side of the hallway, trying to ignore the whispers and stares. 

"What the hell do you think you're doing", I hissed.

"It was an accident. I was just trying to help", she explained.

"Well, stop trying", I whispered. "You're making me look bad", I told her.

"I'm sorry", she sighed.

"Stop saying sorry. Lizzie Saltzman does not apologize", I reminded, causing her to nod to herself.

"Right. You're right. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for saying sorry", she said, before making a face. "Sorry", she mumbled, as I pinched the bridge of my nose in annoyance. 

"Okay, you need to start wearing my clothes and acting like me", I told her.

"I am wearing your clothes", she threw back. 

"That's Josie's skirt", I pointed out, raising my eyebrow as I watched her face flush.

"She handed it to me", she defended, before sighing in defeat. "Fine. Whatever", she huffed.

"No. Not whatever", I told her pointedly. "If we want to pull this off, then we have to do this right", I said, causing her to sigh. "Otherwise, people are going to start to think...", I trailed off, pressing my lips into a thin line. "Just...act natural. Okay", I pleaded.

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Hope's POV: Noticing the vulnerable expression on her face, I nodded wordlessly before her shoulders relaxed. "Saltzman", I heard Penelope shout, causing us to turn around to spot her and Josie walking toward us.

"You've got this", Lizzie whispered, causing me to nod myself before clearing my throat.

"What do you want, she-devil", I asked, crossing my arms over my chest in my best Lizzie impression. 

"She-devil? That's new", Penelope noted in amusement. "Did I piss you off recently, Blondie", she questioned, causing Lizzie to purse her lips. Besides Josie's disapproving gaze and Penelope's amusement, neither of them seemed to bat an eye, so I must be doing something right. Which was a depressing thought on multiple levels. "Hope, it's great to see you come out of hibernation", she greeted, causing Lizzie to give her a false smile before she turned her attention back to me. "You probably already heard, but the Mystic freaks are throwing some party tonight in town", she told me.

"We were wondering if you would like to go with us", Josie finished, causing me to wince at the thought of attending a high school party. 

"Um, actually-"

"This is Lizzie we're talking about", Penelope snorted. "When has she ever refused going to a party", she chuckled, causing Lizzie to hum thoughtfully.

"Aren't you going to invite me", Lizzie spoke up, causing Josie to frown to herself.

"You're joking, right", Penelope asked. "I thought you would want to be in your dorm, listening to Eric Carmen on replay", she asked, causing me to narrow my eyes at the comment.

"Listen here, you bitch-"

"You know, Penelope's right for a change", I cut in quickly, hearing the growl in Lizzie's tone. "Josie, could you help me find the perfect outfit for tonight", I asked, trying to drawl their attention away from Lizzie. 

Without waiting for an answer, I grabbed her hand before pulling her down the hallway toward the twins' dorm as Penelope rolled her eyes halfheartedly. "We have a major problem", I heard someone say, causing me to pause as one of Lizzie's friends stopped in front of us. What was her name again? "Because of Wane", she said, sending a glare at the boy next to her. "We won't have any music for the Halloween party", she huffed, causing me to furrow my eyebrows in confusion. Halloween? I thought Kaleb came at the beginning of October? Shouldn't Halloween still be weeks away?

"It's Wade. And it's not my fault", he corrected. "The speakers aren't working", he explained, causing me to raise an eyebrow.

"Any idea why", I asked him.

"Not yet", he admitted. 

"Then why the hell are you still standing here", I demanded, causing him to jump before hurrying away.

"You didn't have to be so mean to him", Josie frowned, causing me to swallow back the apology before rolling my eyes and swiftly entering the dorm, slamming the door in Josie's face.

Leaning back against the door, I released a breath I didn't know I was holding as I rubbed my temples. God, being mean is so exhausting. How does Lizzie do this all day? I already felt worn-out, grumpy, and guilty after only one conversations worth of meanness. 

I just hope that Lizzie's okay.