Annabeth

chapter four

I ring the doorbell to Val's humongous house. That is Reason #1 Girl nights are always at her house. Mrs. Carter answers the doors "Hi sweetie, the girls are in the hot tub. Come on in."

Reason #2: hot tub.

I put my stuff in Val's room and strip into my bathing suit. I go over to the indoor hot tub and jump in and sigh. That feels so good.

"You look tired Day." Lori observed.

"No dip Sherlock." I reply.

"Sheesh. Don't be so snappy."

"Sorry guys. Ok just in a lot of stress right now."

"It's okay." Val answered quickly.

We have lots of fun. Annabeth was kind of acting weird but, otherwise everything seemed fine. Just when we were about to sleep she suggested to play Veronica. We all looked at her. "What is that?" I asked.

"It's an old Spanish game."

"Cool, lets play."

"...like the American bloody Mary."

"Oh..." we all wavered not knowing if we should play.

"Why not? It's not like anything is going to happen to us?" Lori perked up.

Finally we all agreed and we started playing. Annabeth explained the legend of Veronica. She was just a girl playing a game called El Juego de la Tijares y el Libro but she didn't follow the ritual rules and her life ended fatally. The scissors she was using, came to life and stabbed her in the neck. They found her body in a pool of her own blood.

We gathered what we needed: a bible, some scissors, and a piece of red ribbon.

We set it up the way Annabeth told us and we did exactly what she said, secretly wondering if they could end up like Veronica in the story.

"How do you know this game anyway?" Lori asked.

"Because it was a scary story told in Spanish speaking countries. I am part Spanish."

"Oh."

"It's not real is it?"

"No not at all."

But I swear I felt the room get colder.

We tie the ribbon in the holes of the scissors and place it on a page of the bible. We close the book, leaving the handles facing us and walk into the bathroom. Annabeth lights two candles.

"Okay, now to start. Two of us have to put our index finger in the handles' holes and all of us have to chant 'Veronica' nine times."

"Okay." Val says.

"Guys, I have a bad feeling about this." Amanda said.

"It's okay. Nothing bad is going to happen."

I make out the faint doubtful expression on Amanda's face in the dark.

"Veronica.

Veronica.

Veronica.

Veronica.

Veronica!

Veronica!

Veronica!

Veronica!

Veronica!"

Nothing happened for five seconds. I wish it stayed like that.

Everything happened so fast I could barely comprehend anything. Val let out a shrill scream. Something whizzed past my face. Lori gasped. I pushed my hands near the wall, searching for the light switch. I finally found it and clicked it on. Suddenly I heard metal clanking on the floor. I saw bloodied scissors on the floor next to...

Oh no!

Amanda, on the floor, clutching her eyes, her hands, tinged red.

"Oh my gosh!" I shriek. I run over to her and take out my phone and quickly dialed 911.

"Annabeth you said nothing would happen that this was fake!" Lori accused.

"I-it w-was. I-I-I don't know what happened."

She narrows her eyes. She leans in and helps me carry Amanda down to the door.

~*~

"Is she going to be okay?" I ask.

"Of course. It looks like the scissors didn't puncture her eyes too badly that she would be blind. How did this happen?"

"We don't know." Val said sadly.

The doctor nodded her head and went back on Amanda's hospital room.

"They'll think we are crazy if we tell the truth." Val said.

I nodded.

Then I heard the clicking of Lori's heels and turned around to face her and Annabeth.

"What happened. Did you figure out what went wrong in the game?"

Annabeth nodded grimly. "I have a hunch."

"Well. Tell us!" Val said impatiently.

"I think she may have done the ritual wrong."

After seeing the confused look on our faces, she continued.

"Legend said that Veronica only becomes mad when the person does the ritual wrong and makes fun of it. Just like she once did..."

"...so what you're saying is that Amanda made fun of it? Annabeth she was the only one of us that thought it would actually work! She was scared!" I cried.

"She was the one with me who was holding the scissors. I think she may have taken her finger out of it in fear. But that caused her to upset it."

"How do you know?" Lori snapped.

"I said it was a hunch."

Lori scowls.

~*~

School the next day is the same.

Only that it is not.

Everyone suddenly loves Annabeth. Maybe it's because we, the popular girls, let her in our friend group, or maybe it's just because she is gorgeous.

She's already been asked out by five guys including Amanda's boyfriend who recently broken up with her.

And Val also seems upset because one of her two choices for the Haloween dance seems more interested in the new chick. Can you guess who?

It's okay though. Team Vuke forever!

I am in English again and we have gone over our class book and notes, our teacher, surprisingly, let's us work on our projects. I sit next to Luke surprising him because he's listening to music. "Ready?" I ask.

He nods.

We try to work quickly so I can give him some pointers to win over Val. Then, I quiz him.

"What are Val's favorite flowers?"

"Orchids." He answers.

"What does she like in a guy?"

"Looks, attitude, and green eyes."

"Which ones do you have?"I smirk.

"All of them."

"What did you say?"

"All of them."

"I can't hear you."

"ALL OF THEM!"

Everyone turns to stare at us. I laugh awkwardly and cough for them to move on.

"Luke." I say, capturing his attention again. "You need to be classy."

"Got it."

"You already are because that snapchat of you asking her out. That was so adorable." I drawl. He flushes, his cheeks ringing red. "Awww, your so smitten. You are perfect for Val."

"Uh, thanks?"

I laugh.

If he had a teensy bit of confidence, he would be perfect. But then again, The Freak was confident too.

And that didn't turn out so well.