Secrets

chapter five: dart

the next day started out normal. i got up, put on my disguise, and billy drove me to school. after will found out the truth, we had been getting along a lot better. i had my training suit in my backpack, for today's visit. i had a lot of ideas for an updated version. it was currently grey, with my number in tiny print on the chest. i wanted it black with gold and white accents, because it did say i could design it any way i wanted once it lasted the test round.

will and i kept our friendship undetected, so the other party members wouldn't suspect anything. during science, dustin turned around and mouthed: 'av club lunch'. i wondered what that was about. i didn't pay attention in class. i fidgeted with my necklace and thought of my birthname. Avi.

*****

at lunch i hurried to the av room, and joined the rest of the party around a small table. i could smell it before i saw it. and it smelled worse than a clogged toilet at the taco bell that hadn't been cleaned in over a month. curse my stupid  cat nose. (a/n: meaning catlike sense of smell, her nose doesn't look like a cat's. just to be clear)

dustin opened the trap, and we all peered inside. i held my breath to prevent myself from gagging at the horrible smell. "his name is dart" dustin said proudly. i looked at him like he was insane. "you named that thing?" i asked. i couldn't believe what i was seeing. and that's saying a lot considering i'm literally half cat. 

"you guys wanna hold him?" dustin asked hopefully. he really loves this slimy blob. "c'mon just hold him!" dustin passed it to me. i hissed at it and passed it to lucas. will looked at me, as if telling me to be more careful about my catlike habits. "whats with the hiss?" mike asked me, a bit more aggressively than he should have. "noting, its just a weird habit" i say quickly. 

dart is quickly passed around the table, no one wanted to hold the slimy creature for long. it was like a grosser version of a frog. no, i take it back, it would be an insult to compare this slimy blob to frogs. i like frogs. once, i chased a frog. it was fun. i caught it, and it slapped me in the face. then i started thinking about california. i'm a weird cat. instead of hating water, i like it, alot. the ocean is fun. i miss the ocean.....

"MAX!" i snap out of my daydream. "did you hear anything that i just said?" dustin asked. "sorry" i mumble, "i was thinking about california." his face softened. "oh" he said under his breath. "back to dart.." i said, hoping to get the attention off of me. 

"right," dustin said quickly, continuing to explain what i had missed. "hold up" mike said, staring at me. if looks could kill, i would be six feet under. "what the hell is wrong with your teeth?" he spat. i took a quick glance at will. he looked worried. "what do you mean?" i asked quickly. "its like you have fangs!" he said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "its a genetic defect i was born with." i mumbled, which wasn't technically lying. i was born with it, but it wasn't a defect, depending on how you look at it. "oh. i didn't know. i'm sorry" he said, genuinely feeling bad. 

*****

the next day, lucas, dustin and i were on the steps discussing some random topic when mike and will came running up, shouting at us to go to the av room. i grabbed my skateboard and jumped up. "party members only" mike spat. "mike, let her come." will protested. "but she's not in the party!" mike argued. "she's seen too much already, we can't leave her in the dark this far in" will stated. mike looked at me, then back to the rest of the party. "fine" he said, storming off towards the av room. 

"aight whats the problem?" i asked as we gathered around the table. "i think dart is from the upside down" mike said. the others looked sick. "hold on, what's the upside down?" i asked. "see this is why i didn't want her coming" mike snapped. dustin glared at him then proceeded to tell me about how they found a girl named eleven. then he started explaining about the hawkins lab. "she knows, about the lab" will cut in. he froze, realizing his mistake. "what?" mike said, glaring at me. "its nothing" will said quickly.

"no. this is not noting. this is something we need to unwrap." mike said. "guys just stop. what about dart?" i said, trying to change the subject. "dont you dare try to change the subject" mike said, venom in his voice. "max if you know something just tell us!" dustin pleaded.

"fine! i'll show you. just do me a favor and dont look until i say. i dont like when people watch me" the boys turned and faced the wall. i took off my wig and colored contacts. then i pulled my tail out of my pants. i held the wig in my hand as i asked them to turn around.

the three boys gaped at me while will just smiled, happy that i had revealed my secret to the party. "holy shit" dustin gasped under his breath.

a/n: hoi! i'm trying to update more frequently, but i might be slow from time to time. once again i want to thank all of you for your support. it means a lot. i know i say that a lot but it really is true. feel free to comment, and give feedback on my story. if you have any ideas for this story i'd be happy to consider them! (also im sorry for any spelling and grammar mistakes) bai!!