I'm Not Wicked

Part Twenty Four

Eleanor and Gabriela stood near the edge of the boat, talking back and forth. Dorian was close by, adding to the conversation every once in a while.

"Nice hat," a voice said mockingly.

Eleanor turned her head quickly, fully prepared to defend her headwear.

"Maize," Dorian greeted, stopping Eleanor's words.

Gabriela looked offended at the sight of them, "What do you want?"

"I'm sorry, can we not come over to talk to an old friend?" Lizzy asked, putting a hand to her chest.

"Isn't is clear to you dimwits that she doesn't want to talk to you?" Eleanor prodded defensively.

"Oh, I didn't think you would show; there being so much water involved." Maize mocked, moving a bit closer to Eleanor.

The green girl didn't flinch, straightening her already stiff poster.

"If you three just came over here to be mean, then you can go." Gabriela pointed out, not exactly sure why the three approached them in the first place.

"I just love your shoes!" Izzy butted in, also moving closer to Eleanor, "Did your aunt pick them out for you? Oh... that's right, ding-dong, as they say!"

Eleanor moved forward as though to punch her, but not before Gabriela grabbed her arm to stop her.

"Oh, hey, is it true you lashed out on Madam Morrible the other day?" Lizzy asked, pointing at her casually as though is was a totally normal question.

"What, no!" Eleanor said with a scoff.

"Wait, what are you talking about?" Gabriela asked, confusion and concern in her voice.

"You haven't heard about that? The whole school has been talking about it," Maize mussed, turning to Eleanor as she spoke, "Although, I guess people are usually whispering about you anyway, so you probably didn't notice a difference."

"I knew it from the start." Lizzy informed them, looking at her emerald green nails, "We all saw what happened with Chad Charming."

They're trying to get Eleanor to lash out, Gabriela thought, realization coming to her a bit too late.

Maize noticed Eleanor's aggravated face, a satisfied smirk tugging at her lips, "What are you gonna do? Send your flying monkeys after us?"

Gabriela looked to Maize, then to Eleanor; her hands were clinched into tight fists, her eyes filled with anger. The blonde grabbed her arm, but something inside her was urging her to look into the shadows. She wasn't sure why but did it despite herself.

When she peered into the distance the whole situation was clear; Madam Morrible.

She was watching from the shadows and had probably put Maize, Lizzy, and Izzy up to this. But why? Why would they agree to such a thing? Why did Madam Morrible want Eleanor to lash out?

Gabriela started to come back to reality when she felt Eleanor back up, now leaning against the back of the boat.

The blonde looked up in confusion, stumbling near the edge. Maize was holding a cup of water; as she pushed it forward the momentum made water slosh out, Eleanor backing away.

"Do you three not have anything better to do than bothering us?" Eleanor asked, still snarky, even in a bad situation.

"Look, she's green with envy!" Izzy commented with a laugh, pointing at Eleanor in a childish manner.

Eleanor grabbed Izzy's wrist, pulling her closer to twist her arm. A flash of fear crossed Izzy's eyes; Eleanor watched her expression flip like a switch. She seemed to suddenly realize what she did, as though she had just snapped out of a trance, and quickly let go of the girl.

Lizzy pulled Izzy against her chest in a tight hug, like an older sibling comforting her baby sister after a nightmare.

"Don't you have anything better to do then causing problems?" Lizzy asked defensively.

"Hey, just leave her alone." Dorian said softly, stepping slightly in between them.

Eleanor looked over at him with a confused and almost offended expression.

"You're on her side now?" Maize questioned him, making Dorian falter.

"There're no sides, Maize!" Gabriela half yelled with a tired tone in her voice.

Maize sighed, and Eleanor was caught off guard when she saw hurt in her eyes, "Yes, there are," she stated, gesturing to her friends it was time to leave, "and you chose hers."