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Chapter 3

We go to second period. Griffen catches onto a routine, quicker than anyone should be able to. Halfway through math, Griffen gets distracted. It wasn't his fault. Mr. Gordon is really old, really slow, really deaf, and really boring. And Stephanie is popular, beautiful, and evil. Let me explain.

Stephanie is the exact opposite of me. Almost. While I'm not ugly, and not goody-goody, I'm not popular. She and her friends, Natalie and Courtney, are pretty much the same. They have the same kind of clothes, the same diet, same personality, and same hobbies. One of which includes bullying me. I really hate them. They feel the same.

Anyway, so Griffen was distracted, like every other boy in the room, by Stephanie and her minions and I was trying to ignore both them and the teacher. "Alright kids. Get to studying for tomorrow's test." Then Mr. Gordon sat at his desk and started grading homework. I sigh and start to doodle.

"Hey, fish. What ya drawing?" A silky voice drawls.

"Stuff." Stephanie heard my brother call me 'stingray' in public once. So she and her friends call me fish. Her looks did not come with any brains whatsoever.

She leans in close to me. "So, who's the new guy?"

"Ask him yourself."

"You don't know his name?"

"I know his name, I just don't care."

She turns to Griffen. "What's your name?"

"What's yours?" He retorts. I snicker. She glares at me and then turns back to him. "I'm Stephanie. You can call me Steph." Courtney and Natalie come over. "This is Courtney," She giggles and waves. "And this is Natalie." She smiles and it looks like she's a clown. "Now it's your turn."

Griffen sighs. I actually feel bad for him for a second. "Griffen."

"Nice. Can I see your schedule?"

"I have the same as Ray."

"Who? Wait . . . you mean fish? I'm so sorry! But I have all her classes too. Don't worry."

"Yay." He rolls his eyes and I snicker again.

*****

On Tuesday, one week later, Griffen has been accepted into Stephanie's group of minions. It was bound to happen sometime, especially with a face like that. Oh well.

I step out of detention. I was caught beating up a guy for bullying a group of sixth graders. He got what he deserved. But the teachers didn't seem to think so. The bus is going to be awhile, so I walk around. I hear Griffen and Stephanie and sigh softly. So annoying. 

I stop. Stephanie sounds like she's crying. I shuffle closer. " . . . I don't know what you're talking about! I swear! P-please! You have to believe me!"

"Liar!" Griffen snarls. "Admit to it! I can arrest you and take you in myself!"

"W-what?! B-but I didn't do anything!"

"Urgh!" He punches the brick wall. His fist goes through up to his elbow. I hear clicking. Oh no. Only one person person wears heels like that. Mr. Barnes, the principal of Youswell High School. "What on earth is going on over here?!" He asks. Griffen whirls around and stabs Mr. Barnes in the arms with a needle. He yanks it out and stabs Stephanie too. They seem to fall asleep standing up. Five seconds later, they wake up, smiling. They walk away in different directions.

I don't see where Griffen goes, because I'm too busy running away. When I get home, I'm panting and shaking. I touch my neck and freeze. My necklace is gone! I whirl around and search the whole house. Nothing. I trace my steps all the way back to school. Still nothing. Back at home, I collapse. It's gone. The last part of my brother I'll ever have. Lost forever. Unless I get lucky. And I am not lucky.