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CHAPTER SEVEN Spies In Disguise
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ALTHOUGH CECELIA'S PARENTS insisted that she stay home from school the next day, Cecelia argued her way into going. It wasn't that she was particularly interested in attending—though she did want to be at today's Academic Decathlon meeting, given that it was the last one before Nationals—it was just she'd go crazy if she was stuck at home all day being doted on. Especially since she was still harbouring that tiniest bit of anger at everyone for not being there for her last night.
Of course, the conditions for going to school were that Cecelia had to stick with Alex at all times. Even though he was planning on staying afterwards for chess club, she would have to remain, as well, sitting in the corner and doing nothing while he moved pawns. The rules were infuriating, especially since Alex still wasn't talking to her. Right off the bat, it was clear it was going to be an awkward day.
Cecelia itched at the Band-Aid on her head. Thanks to Jules, who scraped his knees, cracked open his head, and cut his fingers at the drop of a hat, it was Scooby-Doo themed. To avoid the inevitable harassment she'd get for it, she left her hair down and let it cover the abrasion. Unfortunately, though, it wasn't as easy to cover up everything else.
Her swollen eye had finally creaked open, but it was still watery and purple. A bruise sat on the apple of her right cheekbone, stubbornly refusing to fully disappear under a mountain of concealer. Plus, her nose was bloated and speckled with red, which was unfortunate, given how self-conscious she'd already been of it in the first place.
In order to attract the fewest stares possible, Cecelia's strategy was to blend, blend, blend. Her hair was the first step; the second was to dress in a way to melt into the background. This morning tossed on a huge gray cable-knit sweater, black sweatpants, and the dullest pair of sneakers she had in her arsenal. She'd inevitably get questions regardless, but maybe most people would walk right by her if she looked like this.
Before leaving with a disgruntled Alex, Cecelia folded the dress Christine had lent her and placed it in her backpack. Then, for good measure, she threw her Phantom costume into the bottom. Given the confrontation she'd had with Spider-Man last night and the apparent disappearance of one of the company's weapons, she wouldn't be surprised if she was called away again.
This time, she'd go without arguing.
Typically, Cecelia and Alex spent the subway ride to school locked in conversation, but they ignored each other today. Cecelia settled her headphones over her ears and cranked up her Mornings—Deal with it! playlist, and Alex played some game on his phone. He'd at least had the courtesy to ask if she was okay when he found out about what had transpired last night, but after Cecelia assured him that at least all of her bones were intact, he'd gone right back to treating her as if she was invisible. He was probably waiting for her to apologize, which was ridiculous. She wasn't going to apologize to him. Not after what had just happened to her.
