Fandom High

Many secrets and not so many answers...

Madison POV (CONT)

Jennifer shakes nervously. "No." she whispers, shaking. "No."

"Just go." One of her friends says, backing away as if she has a disease. Jennifer leaves the cafeteria. Her footsteps echo as she shuffles away, her tears and sniffles muffled by the hands that are over her face. The door slams behind her. The slam of the door slams something in my brain. That could be me or Emma. We like more than one fandom, so... we're multi fandoms. Jennifer's exit triggers chatter from every table and all the kids in line.

Mandy looks guilty. "This is my fault. I mentioned two hundred- I mean, I mentioned page numbers. Now Jennifer's going to be expelled." I know Mandy well, she didn't mean any harm. I guess harmless people can do the most harm sometimes.

"You didn't mean it." Emma reassures, even if she barely knows Mandy. "I shouldn't have freaked out."

"Well if we're blaming some shank it should be me. I'm the shuckface that made it a big deal by talking all that klunk to Jasmine." I tell them.

"I should've- I should've done something!" Bri says, "stopped you or something."

"There's no point guys." Mandy mutters. "Blame won't help. It's not our fault that she's a multifandom."

"Maybe we aren't feeling guilty," I hint cautiously, "maybe we feel connected to her somehow."

"Yeah, like... special somehow? I love Oran berries and Hp too." Mandy says, gesturing to a Hp laptop to make what she said seem less like a clue and more like a reference. We've practised being vague and I know for a fact that Harry Potter and Pokémon are much loved by Mandy. She's a multifandom. I figured that out ages ago.

Bri grins. "Maybe not Hp, but mazes- are spelt with an M!" I sigh. She's not good at this. Emma just looks confused.

"later." I nod, glancing around. Even "code" to remind each other of our multifandom status is risky when the office is obviously watching. Who knows how they watch us, but they do. The announcement proves it.

I take my plate of burgers and muffins from Trisha and head back to the Maze runner table.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Emma POV

"So, what was Bri even talking about? Mazes are spelt with an m?" I ask once Madison sits down. "And why was Mandy raving about computer brands? Also what the heck are 'Oran' Berries?"

"Geez Emma, slim it. That's a lot of questions. I'll tell you later."

"Why later?"

"Because I can't tell you here!" She whispers.

"Well you better tell me soon, because it's pretty annoying, okay?" I reply angrily. I hate when nobody answers my questions, it leaves me wondering and thinking the worst could happen.

"Just-ju-I just can't okay. Just not here, okay? It'll make sense later." She turns back to her food, obviously finished with talking to me.

But all of a sudden I understand what she means. Mandy and Bri? They were talking code. HP? not the computer, but Harry Potter. M is for Mazes? Bri, which I would never expect to be a multifandom, was also a maze runner fan. I wish I could've slapped myself earlier for not realising that and getting mad at Madison. The thing that happened back in gym class wasn't something she wanted to keep from me, but something that she couldnt've talked about in there.

With new realisation, I eat the rest of my meal in peace without bothering Madison again.

-Time Skip-