The Serpent Queen

Chapter Fourty

Dad woke Sweet Pea and I up for school the next day and he didn't question why Sweet Pea was there so I assumed that meant he had heard the news. It took me a while to get out of bed and get ready as I had quite a bad hangover from the night before but Sweet Pea and I were soon on our way in.

When we did finally arrive, most people were talking about the school production of 'Carrie'. Fangs and Toni were apparently part of it as well and they begged me to join but it wasn't really my idea of fun. I didn't even want to go and watch it in all honesty but I would go for their sake.

Weirdly, the majority of our lessons had been put on hold whilst people were rehearsing the play so Sweet Pea, Kicks, and I spent a lot of our time throughout the next week in the student lounge or an empty classroom doing our own work to try and stay on top of things. Yes, it may have been seen as nerdy but we aren't the most academic of people so we needed to constantly go over things in order for it to make sense and stick in our brains.

It was in one of those empty classrooms that Fangs found me and confessed a big secret.

'Crystal, I'm seeing Midge Klump' he confessed.

'You're seeing a Northsider?!' I whisper shouted at him.

'I know Crystal, okay. But she's different, she doesn't judge'

'Well her 'boyfriend' is a Bulldog, and he most definitely will judge you!'

'I'm sorry Crystal, please don't tell anyone!' he begged me 'I cant help it, I just really like her'

'Fine. I won't tell, but you need to be damn careful that no one, especially the Northsiders, find out about this' I warned him.

'Thank you Crystal, I knew I could count on you'

.

That night, Kicks and I made our way to the school auditorium to meet Sweet Pea who had arrived before us so we could watch the performance. I had been told that under no circumstances was I allowed to heckle Alice Cooper when she was onstage so I was currently pouting. It didn't last long as the show soon started and I watched it intensely, proud of Toni and Fangs' part in it.

'Here Crystal, I got you ice cream' Kicks said at half time, handing me a small tub.

'Ahhh! Thanks kid' I said happily, scooping it into my mouth.

The show started up again and I was still focused on my ice cream until I heard Alices scream echoing around the hall. I looked up in the stage and had to hold back my own scream.

Midge Klump had been killed and put on display for us all to see by someone claiming to be the Black Hood. 'I am back from the dead, all those who escaped me before will die B.H.' was written in what looked like blood and I could feel myself begin to shake.

'Crystal, come on, we need to get you out of here' Sweet Pea said urgently.

He took hold of my arm and dragged me through the room and the crowds of people also trying to leave until we made it safely outside. He pulled me to the side away from the crowds and knelt in front of me as I sat on the floor.

'Breathe Crystal, it's okay, we're okay' he reassured me.

'I'm sorry' I apologised, 'I don't know why it's hit me so hard. This kinda thing doesn't usually affect me'

'It's fine Crystal. You haven't been yourself the last few weeks' he reassured me.

Once I had calmed down, we found Kicks and Fangs and I was so happy to see that they were safe, Toni had rung me to say she had gone home with Cheryl so I knew she was safe as well. I gave Fangs an extra tight hug, knowing he was probably devastated.