"Will you PLEASE be quiet!"
The effect was instant. The whole class fell silent, and no one even giggled when a rogue paper aeroplane hit the head teacher square on the nose.
"James! My office at break!" No one moved. James didn't protest, or even glance round comically at the people behind him. With the class finally settled, the head began to talk.
"Now children, this is Tabitha Bates; a new girl in your class. I'd like you to take very good care of her."
"Sounds like our new girl is a cat, with the silly name and us having to take care of her!" whispered James Perkins. James was the class clown, every girl's crush and a teacher's nightmare. Phillip (James' right hand man) sniggered at this, and decided to pass it round the class. However, James and Phillip had been seated in the front row for a reason, and the head's beady eyes saw Phillip passing on the message.
"Phillip Riley! Would you like to share the amazing comment James just made? We're all ears!"
"Well, miss. James said that Tabitha might be a cat because of her silly name and us ha-having to lo-look after her!" The last half was stuttered because he was desperately trying not to laugh. James groaned inwardly. Although the girls also thought Phillip 'cute', he had no brains and would never think to lie to cover his friends!
"So, James. Are you looking for a double detention? And school hasn't even started yet."
That's when Tabitha stepped out from behind the front desk. The class all gasped. Even James, wit and all, couldn't think of an insult for this girl.
The girls were all green with envy, the boys were leant over their desks to try and be nearer the shining beauty. James immediately regretted his last comment now that he could see her face. She had waist legnth golden-blonde hair that shone like a lit match, and sparkling blue eyes. There wasn't a single imperfection on her face, and James tore his eyes away to check her figure. Tabitha was as dainty and delicate as a doll, but her stature suggested hidden powers. She looked perfect! And his chances were all gone, just because of a silly, stupid comment!
Joan was one of the envious girls. Her auburn her and deep green eyes made her look stunning, and her slightly crooked teeth only added to her personality. She had a generous smile, but it was rarely seen.
"Oooh, Joan's getting jealous!" teased James from across the room.
"At least I'm not a stupid flirt who only wants to date every pretty girl who enters this classroom! Anyway, if she has an ounce of common sense, she wouldn't touch you with a meter ruler!" That was why Joan was unpopular. Her fiery temper and tendency to argue made everyone keep away. James turned a hideous shade of beetroot, then tried to invite Tabitha over to sit with him. Instead, Tabitha threw him an evil glare and placed herself next to Joan.
"Who's jealous now?" joked Joan, as James turned back to his admirers. Now everyone was puzzled with Tabitha - she had avoided hot-boy James to sit with Jealous Joan!
James groaned - what if all the other girls followed Tabitha and abandoned him? Then he had a marvellous, stunningly brilliant idea.
"Cool it Joan! Do you want to come to the cinema with me Friday night?"
Joan weighed up the odds. It was probably a trick, and he probably wouldn't turn up. On the other hand, he had just asked her out.
"Sure James! I'll see you there!" Joan agreed. After all, it would be a good date if he turned up, and would she really care if he didn't?
Now most of the girls were puzzled. Why had James asked Joan out? They had been practically enemies until 2 minutes ago. The girls who were'nt worrying about how to divert James' feelings were Tabitha and Joan; Joan's face was lit up, and she was nervously twiddling her hair. Her first date, and with the coolest, most popular boy in the school! Tabitha, however, was glowering at her desk. What was the point of being a cute girl if the boys you wanted never asked you out? She muttered under her breath and clutched the pendant around her neck, gripping it so hard her knuckles turned white. She went from pale to flushed to her usual tan. The amber gem in the centre of the pendant seemed to glow, then it returned to it's original colour. A moment ago her face had been covered in anger, but as she let the pendant go, it drained from her face. With no sign of anger left on her face, Tabitha looked as angelic as before.
"What's your name?" Tabitha asked Joan.
"It's Joan. Not very interesting at all, I like your name though."
"Huh. Tabitha. Yeah, I hate my name; I'm always called names like 'Cat Girl' or 'Darling Kittycat'."
Joan didn't know what to say. Name calling was nothing compared to what she had been through.
"Hey Joan! Come and watch this!" James called her over from across the room. Joan gave Tabitha an encouraging smile before standing up and grinning at James.
"Don't worry - you'll soon make a friend in the class" Joan told Tabitha, before going over to James.
As Joan listened to James' animated tales, Tabitha glanced around the room. She immediately sorted the pupils into groups - geeks, the 'popular' kids, the actual popular kids, and the weird loners.
"Still some time before first lesson! Last one out is a lonely loser!" James yelled, ensuring there would be at least 15 minutes of havoc before school.
Tabitha was the last one outside, but did not join any of the crowds milling around. Instead, she sat in a corner on her own. She clasped her pendant and shut her eyes. Muttering under her breath, her pendant flashing in the sun, she looked like a witch. A beautiful, powerful witch who had a job to do. Unlike inside, where she had gone pale and clammy whilst doing this, she looked red and flustered. She seemed to be shining, Joan thought as she glanced over, although it must have been a trick of the light. People didn't shine! When she looked over again, a few minutes later, a circle of golden light seemed to be radiating from her. Joan shook her head hard. People didn't shine, radiate light or do anything else stupid like that. As the (surely imaginary) golden beam passed through her, she gasped. It felt like her blood had turned to ice, and her bones to stone. She shivered. It had to be her imagination, as no one else had shivered, or even acted like there was anything unusual happening.
This was incorrect. Phillip had noticed, and shivered, and then was terribly frightened. He knew of Tabitha before she became a student here. He knew her when he was 4 years old. She probably didn't remember him, but he knew her all the same. And she wasn't really called Tabitha Bates; her full name was Mallie Diruos Obitus. And her track record in schools wasn't very good. Expelled from every one she went to. Bad behaviour, apparently. But he knew she was searching, and he knew he had to protect what she wanted.
Tabitha was slumped against the wall. She had used all her energy in that one go! If only her sisters were here to help her. And why was it so hard working in other places? If only one of the others was made to work out here, but no, she was the only one who ever left. They were busy, of course they were, but without the information, they would never succeed!
Throughout the day, Joan was buzzing. At both break and lunch, James had taken her to the far end of the playground, or 'The Pent' as it was also called. This was a terrible misnomer, as it was obviously the shape of a quadrilateral. Joan discovered a sense of mischeif she never knew she had before - she had put some itching powder on Miss Stacey's spare skirt, whilst excused from PE, and a wad of chewed chewing gum in a trail outside the staff room. The latter was done alone, as James was in his detention. As it was Wednesday, with 3 minutes until school finished, she still had 2 days, 3 minutes and 29 - no! - 28 seconds until her date. She went back to doodling (it was Tabitha with a few cat-like additions!).
The bell rang 3 minutes and 28 seconds later. Everyone rushed to the door, to escape boredom and enter freedom! James and Tabitha were the only ones left in the classroom. Tabitha was still packing away, and James was waiting for her. Although he was going out with Joan, he still fancied Tabitha. He crawled round on the floor by his desk, pretending to search for a lost pen. Tabitha picked up her satchel and left the classroom, with James tailing her.
When they were out in the street, Tabitha took a complicated route to the park. Alleys, back gardens, and even dashing across the main A road through the town! When they finally arrived, she began searching. She brushed her fingers against the hedges surrounding the green, open space. There was a moment when she paused, as if unsure, but then carried on. About 3 quarters of the way around the park, Tabitha stopped and pushed her hand in further. James was a little behind, and only saw her pushing into the hedge and disappearing. He followed her - no doubt she just wanted a quick way to cut through the park and get home.
He felt an invisible force yank him forward, as he fell into the dark space. He was being crushed, like walls pushing into him, but there were no walls, only blackness.
