Fragile Pathways

Chapter One

"Erin!" a voice bellowed from across the entrance hall, the moment the four stepped in. A tall, boy, around five feet and ten inches enveloped Erin in his arms. "I've been looking for you."

"I told you I was meeting the new girl," she huffed, rolling her eyes. "Speaking of, Teddy, I'd like you to me Aria-aw, shoot. Ariadne, right? I don't want to get it wrong."

"You didn't," she laughed, looking away from the boy and turning her eyes back to Erin.

"This is Theodore Hugo Zak. The child with three first names," Erin introduced.

"'Ello," Ariadne smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, too," the boy nodded. Ariadne's chest tightened. Theodore? Oh, how she missed him already...

"So!" One of the twins exclaimed, they each grabbed a hand of hers and pulled her towards two larger doors. "Let's just get you inside before you witness their 'hello'," Nick grinned, leaving Erin and Teddy alone.

"Nicholas! Hunter!"

"What now?" Nick groaned. He turned around to face a girl about an inch taller than Ariadne, but still considerably shorter than the two boys flanking her.

"Stop taking random girls prisoner," she chided, "not all of them love you."

"Yes, well, not everyone loves you either," Hunter said playfully. For some reason, Ariadne had a feeling he wasn't really playing.

"However, I don't take them prisoner."

"Nor do we."

"Are you feeling threatened, my dear, Ariad?" Nick asked, looking down on the girl.

"Not quite, no," she shook her head, not wanting to get involved with the unmistakable feud between the three. It was clear the boys didn't like this girl very much, but she didn't seem to notice.

"Oh, dear, you don't have to lie," she cackled. It may have been a laugh. It was hard to differ between with this girl.

"I don't believe she was lying, Dani," Hunter told her.

"Just because you're not a big boy and can't handle it doesn't mean new girl can't make her own decisions," 'Dani' mock-pouted.

"I'm fine, I'm not uncomfortable in anyway. I get along quite well with these two," Ariadne provided her. "May we take our seats?" she asked Hunter, looking up at him.

"Of course! If you'll excuse me, Dani, we'll just be on our way."

The girl frowned, but turned away anyways, heading off in the opposite direction.

"If you don't mind my asking," Ariadne began, "who was that?"

"Danihell."

"Or Danielle."

"We just prefer Danihell. She's a cheerleader. She used to be our friend."

"But then she became a cheerleader."

"It went to her head."

"Her head is six times the size it was four years ago."

"Neither of us are fond of her," Nick shook his head.

"She's too thick to see it's not sarcasm and the fact that we avoid her."

"But she's done some pretty nasty things we just don't want to be involved in."

"Oh," she nodded. They stood now in a row of seats, the auditorium stretching from wall to wall. There were three sections, one on the left, center, and right. Up above was a balcony, but at the moment it was empty.