The Missing Piece [Discontinued]

Chapter Ten

            “This is all your fault,” Skittles whispered to Bird as they sat down at the small table with platefuls of spaghetti set out on it.

            “My fault? How is this my fault?” Bird whispered back, watching Nina sit down across from them.

            “I don’t know, but I do know that this sure isn’t my fault!” Skittles replied, then dug into her serving. Bird politely took his fork and swirled the pasta onto it, eating it cleanly, while Skittles shoveled it in, slurping it all up.

            “See, at least someone knows how to eat properly!” Nina exclaimed, smiling at Bird.

            “Yeah, yeah. I want this to be over with as soon as possible,” grumbled Skittles. Nina shot her a glare.

            “Now Faith…” Nina began, “let’s be nice…”

            “Um, Skittles, I really liked your presentation in Language Arts,” Bird said, not knowing what else to say. Nina glanced at Skittles.

            “I didn’t know you did a presentation in school. Why didn’t you tell me? I could have helped you!”

            “Mom, seriously, when have you ever helped me with homework? How can you? You’re always out!” Skittles snapped, forgetting that Bird was still there. Nina averted her eyes from Skittles’ and grew quiet.

            “It was really good, though,” Bird said, trying to make a non-awkward conversation.

            “Yeah, but it sure was cheesy,” Skittles replied, slurping up some more pasta. “The whole finding-weird-notes thing? Yeah, really cheesy.”

            “I don’t think so,” Bird said, picking his words carefully, “finding notes like that would be… cool.”

            “Yeah, keep on wishing!” Bird looked down at his pasta. How could he ever tell Skittles that he and Joy had been getting mysterious notes, and that she was involved?

            “So your presentation was a play?” Nina asked, getting back in the conversation. Skittles nodded, with a noodle hanging out of her mouth, and whipped tomato sauce all over.

            “Oops,” she said, but continued to eat her pasta quickly. “I’m done. Can I go now?”

            “Wait till Adian is done, too, Skittles. Be polite,” Nina commanded.

            “I’m done, um… Nina. I should really get home now,” Bird squeaked. Nina looked a bit disappointed to hear this.

            “Oh, so soon? Alright. I’ve kept you long enough. Do you need a ride?” Nina asked.

            “No, I should be fine, but thank you.” With that, Bird got up from the table and towards the door.

            “Thanks, Skittles, for having me,” Bird said politely. Skittles nodded in reply, and Bird left, closing the door quietly behind him.

He couldn’t imagine things going any more awkward.

*****

            “Joy, how are we going to tell Skittles about the notes?” Bird asked Joy the next day at school during the ten-minute break before homeroom.

            “I don’t know… I don’t think we should until we find the last part,” Joy replied, chewing on her nails.

            “I think we should tell her now, because if she does find the note, she might think it’s pointless or something, and throw it out,” reasoned Bird. Joy nodded.

            “You’re right. Let’s tell her now.” The two walked together over to where they saw Skittles struggling to pull her backpack out of her locker.

            “This stupid thing is stuck!” she exclaimed, yanking on her backpack’s straps.

            “Skittles, there’s something we need to tell you,” Joy said nervously. Suddenly, Skittles’ backpack came loose and jerked out of locker, sending her papers flying.

            “Aw man!” Skittles groaned, reaching down to pick up the papers. Joy looked in Skittles’ locker, taking in all the piles of junk she had in there.

            “Geez, look at this mess!”

            “Hey, get off my back. You aren’t my mother,” Skittles snapped, bent over and still collecting all her strewn supplies.

            “What is this?” Joy asked, grabbing a piece of paper stuck in the locker door.

“What are you doing? Get away from my stuff!” Skittles exclaimed, and lunged for the paper. Joy turned her back on Skittles, stopping her from grabbing it. Bird joined Joy, reading over her shoulder. They both gasped when as they read the paper.

No—the note.

The note that was ripped on one side. The note that would connect with the others. The note that would reveal their mission. The note with the swirly handwriting.

The note.

The Missing Piece.