Little Miss Mute (EDITING)

✿Chapter 08✿

Did you know? pop corn was invented by the Aztec Indians

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The phone call came after dinner. My mother had to scream up the stairs at me because I had my headphones on. Even though my project wasn't due until the end of the month, I was already starting with it.

When I came downstairs to pick up the phone, my mom was already so mad at me for making her scream that she wouldn't tell me who it was. I picked up the receiver and went, "Hello?"

There was a pause, and then Felix's voice came on. "Hello? Pouty? Is that you? I hope you still remember our deal. Do you know what I went through because of you!" He sounded horrified. "Cats... So many cats..."

I looked over my shoulder. Marco was practicing scales on the piano, my mother was concentrated working on her computer, Angus was out with his friends, and Lara was sitting at the dinning room table, brooding over a project that had been due last week.

"Uh," I said. "Look. I can't really talk right now."

"I realize that." Felix said. "And don't worry, nobody recognized me--I had a friend ask for you. Your mom thinks it's just a female friend from school."

"Right." I wrinkled my eyebrows and thought how much of a player Felix was. Surely that 'female friend' was the girl from this afternoon. This thought made me slightly annoyed. Since the beginning of high school he had unrestrainedly chased after girls. If only he'd stopped being a moron he wouldn't need favors from anyone in the first place, and wouldn't need to sneak around time. His reputation was that of a bad boy, and to my parents he was nothing but a juvie.

"Hey, M. I've been meaning to tell you something." Felix said, sounding of all things serious. "Have you seen anything...out of the ordinary when you're with me?"

"Out of the ordinary? Besides the zit in your cheek?" I wanted to know.

"Look who's talking! Don't think I didnt see that whitehead under your bangs. Hmp!" Then added in a solemn voice. "What I meant was that if you've seen anyone following us or something..."

"What?" My heart skipped. "Why?"

There was hesitation on the other line. "Never mind. It's stupid. "

I pondered with this for a minute. "I don't think so... the truth is I think-"

Wait. What's the point on worrying him any further. It's not like I had seen anything too.

"What?"

"I think it must be a stalker." I said in my best impersonation of an English detective. "With all the hoaring around and the trail of broken hearts you leave behind, I believe is not a complete impossibility my dear Watson."

"...."

"Hello? Are you still there... female friend?" The call waiting went off. I said, "Oh, hang on a sec. I've got another call." I hit the hook and went, "McMillan residence."

"Maya?" A boy's voice, unrecognizable to me.

"Yes...."

"Oh, hi. It's Brad. So. What's going on?"

I looked at my mother, she was scowling at the charts she was working on. "Um," I said. "Nothing much. Can you hold on a second, Brad? I've got someone on the other line."

"Sure," Brad said.

I switched back to Felix. "Uh, hi," I said, careful not to say his name. "I gotta go. My mother has a very important caller on the other line. A supervisor. Nurse supervisor," I know I probably shouldn't lie and was going to hell and all--if there was such a place--but I couldn't very well tell Felix the truth, that I was ditching him to talk with some guy, a HOT one too, at that.