Spooky

Chapter 3

«Author's Note: This chapter should've been out days ago, but I logged on a day or so ago to discover that somehow 2,000 words of this had been deleted! A lovely discovery. So I'm sorry if from around 1,000 words on, it gets really crappy; I'm doing my best to remember what I wrote, but it's not easy.
Before you ask, no, I don't know what the hell happened to it. I wish I did, but it just disappeared at some point.
If this happens again though I'm 100% gonna fight Wattpad my dudes, you better believe it. I am PISSED.»

-Shadow's POV-
Hours later.

I stretch, yawning lazily, as my French professor drones on and on about what this year's curriculum will cover. It hardly matters to me, because I always do well every year—I've been a straight-A student all my life. Coursework comes easily to me, and I'm practically fluent in French by now, so this year will be a breeze, just like all the others. Thankfully, I haven't seen Scourge at all today, but on the other hand it seems I don't have any classes with Rouge. Not yet, at least, but there's only one class left in the schedule... Truth be told, I'm a bit worried about the prospect of having every class with people I don't know. The only other guy I know is Silver, and he's only in my English class. This year might be really boring for me... I tilt my head to one side, looking over at the clock on the wall. Two minutes until this class ends. Thank God. The hedgehog sitting to my left, one with grey fur in a slightly darker tone than Silver's, is doing the same; he sports a leather jacket like Scourge's, but it lacks sleeves. He has a matching pair of fingerless gloves with silver studs on the knuckles, too, and I find myself admiring his aesthetic. Before I realize I'm staring, he turns back around, then grins lopsidedly at me. His long silver spines are brushed down over his eyes, but his fur is light enough that I can see his eyes through them. "Psst," he whispers in a conspiratorial tone, "what a drag, amirite?"

"You're telling me," I hiss back lazily, rolling my eyes. "Madame Carnège takes forever to explain this crap."

He snickers. "Yeah, I know. Too bad she didn't retire last year after all." With a sigh, the hedgehog leans towards me a bit, looking curious. "Say, don't I know you from somewhere?"

"I don't think we've had classes together in the past," I murmur back, puzzled. How could this kid know me?

"Nah, of course not," he flaps a hand at me. "I transferred here this year, but I think I've seen you around town before. Probably bumped into you at the mall or something." He scratches his chin as he turns his whole body to face me. "You look like you shop in the same places I do. Name's Steel, by the way!"

"Nice to meet you, Steel," I reply, and he extends a hand to me. I take it politely, shaking his hand, and say, "I'm Shadow." Just as the words leave my mouth, the class bell rings harshly; both Steel and I wince, pain crackling through my head.

"Well," he says, pulling his hand back as he stands up, "I guess I'll see ya around." He picks up his backpack, slinging it over his shoulder, as I grab my satchel.

"Yeah, see ya," I answer a bit lazily, stiffly getting up whilst he makes his way out the door. Hefting my bag onto my back, I trot out of the room, pulling a piece of paper from my hoodie's pocket; it's my schedule, and despite the fact that I've only owned it for 7 hours, it's already tattered and terrible-looking. Sighing despondently, I squint at the tiny print, trying to discern my next class as I stiffly walk down the hall. People automatically scoot out of my way, some throwing disgusted looks at me, others snickering and doing other such weird and irrelevant things. I've never really understood why people act this rudely to me, since I haven't done anything to them, but honestly, I've stopped caring about it by now. "Chemistry?" I mutter to myself, crinkling my nose. "Hmm. Well, I can't very well skip my first day in class, so I guess I'll go..."