Elemental

2. A STRANGE VISITOR

"Victoria!" Madam Minch's voice roared. "Get your sorry arse down here this instant!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Tori yelled back. She grinned widely as she practically flew down the stairs, knowing that her prank had been discovered.

"Yeah?" She barged into the steamy kitchen, quite out of breath, wearing an expression of undefiable innocence.
"This!" Madam exclaimed, pointing at her salt tin.
"It's a salt tin," Tori said stupidly.
"I know that!" Madam snapped. "What's in it?"

"Umm, well, it says salt on the label so I'm going to take a wild guess on this one and say that there's salt inside," Tori replied, riling madam Minch up even more, so much that her face slowly started turning a putrid shade of purple. This resulted into madam Minch looking like an oddly coloured bullfrog. Tori could almost sense what was going to happen next.

"STUPID, AM I? PUTTING SUGAR IN THE SALT TIN AMUSES YOU, DOES IT? I GIVE YOU ONE JOB, ONE MINUTE JOB! YOU'VE DONE IT NOW, YOU! DOES YOUR BRAIN GRASP NOTHING?! YES, TRICK MINCH, SHE'S THE DUMB ONE, IT'S FUNNY, HAHAHA, SHE'S…" Madam exploded like a pregnant rain cloud while Tori shook with silent laughter, unable to suppress herself any longer.

Before madam could continue, Fea, the help interrupted her. "Uh, excuse me, Madam Minch," she cleared her throat timidly, as though afraid that madam would explode on her as well for interrupting her deafening monologue, "there's someone here to see you."
"Who?" Madam shot daggers at Fea who fumbled her thumbs nervously.
"Uh, I...I don't know, says she only wants to talk to you." Before madam could say anything else, Fea bolted out to the hall.
Madam narrowed her angry eyes at Tori. "Go to your room. Don't think this is over yet, you." And she stalked out, muttering darkly under her breath and wiping sweat off her brow, to tend to the visitor.

Still doubling over with laughter, Tori trudged up to her room, clutching her stomach in hysterics. She'd made a point of tasting the stew madam was making before she came up. To say that her plan had worked successfully was an understatement. Madam had emptied what seemed to be half the tin of what she thought to be salt into the stew and it was now as sweet as a chocolate pudding.

She sat on the edge of her bed, still grinning and snorting to herself. Jane opened the door and walked in.
"Hi," she greeted sounding tired.
"Hello you." Tori replied, dropping on to her back and staring at the ceiling.
"What was all the commotion about?" She loosened her uniform's tie, looking at Tori disapprovingly.
"You heard that?" Tori looked at her, one eyebrow raised.
"Of course, madam's yelling can be heard from a mile away."

"Well then," Tori replied, turning back to stare aimlessly at the ceiling, "you probably already know."
"I have my guesses," Jane answered acidly. "Why do you annoy madam so? She's old. She doesn't deserve this."
"I don't. I just…bring out the best worst in her." This was why Tori and Jane didn't have the best of relationships. Tori was wild and impulsive and quick tempered and mouthy while Jane was calm and collected, helpful and respectful. "I mean, it's not like I've burned the house down. Yet." She winked at Jane who scoffed.

"Which reminds me," she looked accusingly at Tori. "How do you do that?"
"Do what?" Tori answered, not really paying attention to the conversation anymore.
"Set fire to things." Jane replied, regarding Tori with a frightened air. "I saw what you did to Mr. Jerkin's tie. I was in that class, you know."
Tori perked up and hoisted herself up on her elbows, and looked at Jane blankly. "Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you."

"So you don't know?"
"I didn't say that."
"You meant it."
"Geez, didn't know you could read minds. I'll add it onto the stack of all the other talents you have." Tori replied sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
"Don't pour your anger out on me just because you feel unaccomplished. It's not my fault you're weird."
"Shut up." Tori's good mood was slowly disappearing.
"You know what the kids at school think about you? They call you mental, retarded."
"I don't remember asking you."
"Well I'm telling you anyway."
"I thought I told you to shut up."
"Make me, you freak!" Jane hissed.