Riptide Academy

Targeted Part Three

I made the mistake of glancing at Howards door again.

"She'll be okay. She's probably just cleaning her face and drying her nose." Principal Howards explained, her voice monotone.

The sliding door opened and Charli appeared. She had red and puffy eyes; a box of tissues in her hand and a stuffed teddy in the other. She caught my gaze.

"What? Don't judge. Mr. Cuddles is amazing!" she narrowed her eyes into somewhat of a glare.

"No. I think Mr. Cuddles is cute." I said.

Taking a quick, fleeting glance at Howards, I saw a look of concern and hesitation.

Was she waiting to see how I reacted to something?

Charli, now with her hair down, looked similar to Howards. They had the same coloured hair and similar facial features but it was their eyes that set them apart.

Howards swung around on her chair slightly to Charli, "Rose. Are you feeling better?"

Charli nodded.

"Then come and sit if you want, Char." Howards said tentatively.

Charli rolled her eyes than playfully stomped over to the storm grey beanbag beside Principal Howards door. I gave her a tilt of the head to signal my confusion, but she kept her eyes on Howards.

"So, Char, do you want to explain what happened?"

She shook her head, "No. But I do know I can trust Alex with beating the shit out of anyone that tries to harm any of us now."

"Language." Howards reminded her firmly, but her tone still sympathetic.

Charli just rolled her eyes. "Alright Howie."

My eyebrows raised further in an improvised confused/ questioning shrug.

"Alright. Get over here you." Howards said and Charli practically leapt from her bean bag to Howards chair.

She looked like a mother holding a two-year-old that was the size of an adult.

"Not. A. Word." Howards muttered sternly but loudly.

I raised my hands in a universal unarmed position, "I promise." I chuckled, "I don't think anyone will believe me."

Honestly, I didn't care. As long as Charli was okay, and she wasn't hurting Howards by crushing her lower half than it was fine. I'd had some......- frightening experiences like that.

But not as bad.

The two were having a whisper conversation, so, still hearing some words I zoned out and admired the bean bag where Charls had been sitting. It must have been a mental or anxiety relief for the students. But then again. She had to pull some of it out from behind the door and puff it up before sitting down- like it hadn't been used in a while.

"Alex. Alex? Alex!" Someone was calling my name.

"Alexandra!" My head whipped to the culprit.

"Now she's paying attention." Howdy laughed.

My expression sour for a second, "No. I heard you. The first time- and I don't like it when my friends call me or really anyone my full name cause its mainly a thing that only I let supper trustworthy people call me. Like my parents and my best friend Em." I explained.

"Definitely not the first time, you did not hear us. Too busy staring off into daydream land." Charli laughed.

Once again my face turned into a sour pout-jokingly- and they both erupted with laughter.

"What is with you guys- and teasing me!" I pouted without any real meaning behind the words.

That. Only caused them to laugh harder.

Their laughs. They were- no.

They are the exact same!

"Howie! My stomach hurts." Charli cried.

"Well, no Panadol but you can stop laughing."

A second later Mr. Cuddles was airborne. Flying over the desk. And for my face. With a split second decision I moved but not fast enough.

And with a muffled thud, Mr. Cuddles hit me in the head.

I raised my hands in exasperation. They. Only laughed harder.

"Poor Mr. Cuddles." I muttered after laughter had stopped.

A chorus of laughter began again.

Seriously? Am I just your personal comedian now?

"I think it's time you go back. People will be expecting you- and me at dinner. Unfortunately." Principal Howards pointed out.

Charli clung to Howards tighter and as her face was pressed into Howards shirt her words were muffled.

But I swear I heard something that suspiciously sounded like Au-t.

"I can go. If you want?" I spoke up.

The two had another whispered conversation before I was told to sit back down...

Charli disappeared behind Howard's door and Howdy swung in her chair to face me.

"I guess you love that chair soo much."

"How can you tell?" She mused, half serious, half-jokingly.

You always swing in it. I would too but way worse. "I laughed.

"Don't worry, she'll just be going the toilet and whipping away the tear streaks." Howards explained.

I lent down in my seat," Does she want Mr. Cuddle-"

"You don't have to cover for me anymore. Auntie Dem. I think she picked up on the similarities." A voice spoke.

Charli. 

She was in the doorway of Howards room wearing new clothes. I couldn't tell if they were hers or Howards.

"You want her to know?" Howards whispered.

Charli nodded.

"Alex, I know you've already met Demitry Howards as your Principal. But. I would like you to meet Demitry Howards. My.......-Aunt." Charli revealed.

"WHAT THE FUCK!" I shrieked.

"Wait. I see it now! I swear I knew you had someone else who played hockey who was also related to you."

"My...mother" Charli spat the word out as if it was rotten and poison, "Is her sister.".

I felt a chill travel down and up my spine.

"Charli is my Niece. But in no way is she favored more than any other student. And also, she worked hard to get here. Though, I do not agree with the way my sister treated her." Howards shivered.

Who else knows?" I asked.

"No one. Expect a few teachers and well-you now." Charli clarified

Wait............

"What if...what if the reason Marcus tried to attack you was because he knew and he wasn't happy-at all- that you were here because you held such power. Which he doesn't like, so when he found out that you were the principal's Niece he planned for revenge because he thought you were being favorited." I theorised.

"That could- no Marcus Ratdiskish defiantly knows we're related. His farther. He's a major investor for the school. Meaning he funds a lot of our stuff. I don't think we will be able to kick Marcus out. But like hell I'm gonna try." Howards growled loudly, slamming her hands down on her desk.