We Are One Now - A Goosebumps Fanfiction

Chapter Three

Shelly Madison could not catch a break. Her spine was not broken, however, she sprained her ankle. Badly. It was purple. Purple is her favorite color, but this is the exception. She would be limping for the rest of the day.

Shelly was sitting at a desk and looking at her ankle. It was wrapped up with bandages. Slappy was sitting across from her. He was on Papa's desk and let his legs dangle over. His glassy eyes were locked on her, watching her every move. He could not get enough of her. And he just met her.

Stine was not in the classroom because he had to make a trip to the bathroom. So Slappy and Shelly were all alone. Together.

This was Slappy's chance. Without Papa monitoring him, the puppet could do whatever he wanted to her. The possibilities were endless! Everything about her was breathtaking. Even her name. Shelly. They were destined to be one.

"To be one," Slappy whispered. "We need to be one. I cannot and will not allow her out of my sight. Shelly will be mine." He snickered. "And I know how to seal the deal."

Thump!

Shelly looked up from her ankle and realized that the puppet was not perched on the desk. He was lying on his side with his arms and legs twisted. Shelly did not question this, for she figured that Slappy was not placed well on Stine's desk, and struggled to stand. Slappy did not desire to cause her any more pain than she already had, but it was the only way that she would read the words.

The new girl limped over to him and picked him up. She saw the card sticking out from his jacket pocket. That is what Slappy was counting on. Once she read the words, they would be together forever.

Shelly pulled out the card and examined it. "What the heck are these words?" She looked at him. "Why was this in your pocket? You holding out on me?"

As much as Slappy wanted to speak, he did not want to freak her out.

She looked back at the card. "Maybe it is some kind of code. 'Karru Marri Odonna Loma Molonu...'" She was on the last word when another student entered the room.

Slappy hissed, for he recognized the student. "Zach."

Zach was holding his bag in one hand and knocked on the door with the other. "Hello? Mr. Stine?"

"Huh?" Shelly said as she spun around.

"Ah!" Zach screamed. "How the heck did you escape the book?!" Then he remembered what Stine told him. "That is right. Stine let you out to give you a chance to change."

The puppet's wooden eyebrows narrowed. "Oh, I will change. Change your underwear."

Shelly scanned the classroom, and then glanced at Zach as if he had escaped from an asylum. "Are you talking to me?"

"No." He took Slappy by the neck and the card. "I meant the dum...er, doll. Mr. Stine said that his doll was locked in its book. I mean, case. Guess that he decided to bring him today."

A smile spread across her face. "I get it. Mr. Stine brought...what is the doll's name?"

"Slappy."

"Slappy? What a unique name."

"It is settled," Slappy whispered. "She is my bride."

"Is he named that because he slaps people?" Shelly asked.

"You could say that," Zach answered.

Slappy raised a wooden hand - and slapped the back of Zach's head. Zach cried out and dropped the card and the puppet. Slappy landed on the floor again and grabbed the card and put it back in his jacket pocket. He was unhappy that Zach interfered with his plans for the second time.

His eyes moved to look at Shelly. She would be his. Even if he had to destroy the world.

Shelly pressed her hands to her cheeks. "Goodness. Are you alright?"

Zach was massaging the spot with his fingertips. "I will survive. I am so clumsy."

"You should be more careful. I do not need you to end up like...like..."

"Like who?"

"I am back, Shelly," Stine announced. He walked in the classroom and was surprised. "Zach. You are early."

"Morning, Mr. Stine," Zach greeted. "I decided to come to school early to chat with Hannah for a bit." He reached into his backpack and pulled out two textbooks. "I just stopped by to drop off my stuff for English class."

Stine pushed up his glasses. "Well, it is good that you will not be late to my class."

"I have never been late to your class."

"And I hope that it stays that way, Zach."

"Who is Hannah?" Shelly chimed in.

"Hannah is my daughter. I should take you to her right now. The two of you would get along."

She sighed and picked up Slappy. "I wish that I was somebody's daughter."

Stine's heart was hurt when he heard her say that. The poor dear had been through a rough patch. It is bad enough that she lost her parents. She lost her entire family. She did not have a living relative who could take care of her. That is how she and her baby sister ended up at the orphanage.

After Shelly and Zach introduced each other, Stine said, "I bet that you are excited for the assembly, Shelly."

"'Assembly'?" Zach repeated the word.

"The assembly taking place after the second period. The school partnered with the orphanage to raise awareness for orphans and children and teenagers in need."

Shelly's smile had returned. "Like me!"

The writer took Slappy and laid him on the desk. "You know what you are doing, Shelly? I heard from the other teachers that it is a talent show."

"I am going to sing, and my sister, Tamara, will be playing the drums."

"Awe! I am sure that you guys will do fantastic."

"Can I ask you something, Mr. Stine?"

"Absolutely."

"Will you perform with Slappy at the talent show?"