High School Mayhem

~~~~105~~~~

Chapter 105: Burn
~Zane~

I walk into Zerenity's room. "Hey, Zerenity, there's--" I stop in my tracks as I notice her staring intensely at a math book. "Oh, come on, please don't tell me that you're studying again."

"Only a bit, I can't give up on my hardwork. Don't worry I'll still socialize." She assures and scribbles something into a notebook. "...This book has a typo."

"Forget about the typo. I thought you weren't going to study as hard." I fold my arms and raise an eyebrow at her.

"I'm not studying as hard because I'm talking to people now. Didn't you notice the door was unlocked?"

"When was the last time you ate?" I question.

She stares at me wide-eyed. "Oh snap. I got so caught up in studying and making sure that I was answering any phone and text that came my way, I ended forgetting to eat."

"That's what I thought." I roll my eyes. "Stop studying."

"No. I'm going to go eat, I promise." She declares but she continues scribbling things down.

"Zerenity!"

"What?!"

"Stop!"

"I am! Just let me finish this sentence!"

"Who cares about your sentence?!"

"I do!"

"Well--" I'm cut off by a light knock at the door.

We turn toward the door to see Vylad and Gene. "Zerenity was taking forever so I let him in," Vylad says.

"Oh! I didn't know you were here!" Zerenity excites standing up then rushing over to Gene. "Let's go." So she stops studying for Gene but not for food? Unless... her and Gene are going to go get food... which one did she get up for then? It better had been for food.

Once they leave I grab all of Zerenity's studying things. "What are you doing?" Vylad wonders.

"Burning all of this." I answer honestly as I try to leave to find a match.

"Woah!" Vylad blocks the doorway. "Why are you burning all of it? You know how hard she worked."

"That's why I'm burning it, then she won't be able to work hard anymore."

He smirks. "Aw... you care about our little sister."

"What?! No, I don't! I'm just tired of her staying in her room all day, that's my thing." I huff.

"You know you care." He snickers. "This is just like when we were younger and I tripped over a rock and broke my ankle. You decided to go back outside and set the rock on fire."

"... ... ...I just like burning things. I don't care about any of you." I huff.

"...Sure..." He laughs. "Come on, give me a hug." He holds his arms out. 

"No!" Just as I start to run, he grabs me and hugs me causing me to scream. "Get off of me!" I struggle in his grasp.

"You know you secretly love hugs." He decides.

"NOOO!!" 

He pulls away from the hug laughing. and grabs some more of Zerenity's studying stuff. "Instead of burning it, we'll just hide it or put it somewhere up high where she can't reach it."

I groan. "Fine..." I was really looking forward to seeing it go up in flames.

~*~

Vylad and I quietly wait in Zerenity's closet once she gets home. There's barely any room for us, let alone one of us, because she has so much stuff. Without seeing us, luckily, she walks into her room. "G'Day Charlotte." She squats next to her giant teddy bear in the corner of her room. "Oh my Irene! You are looking smoking today!" She smiles then stands up. Vylad and exchange glances.

She walks back over to her desk where her study things were. She begins looking everywhere, on the floor, in the drawers, on her bed. "Charlotte, have you seen the books I was studying with? You weren't paying attention? Oh." She sighs. "Mom!"

"Yes, Zippy?!" Mom calls back.

"Have you seen my studying books?!" She wonders.

"Sorry! I haven't!"

"Okay! Thanks!" She sighs. "Where is it? My entire study life or in those journals! I need the books for school! I have college names and information in there! I need it! What am I supposed to do?!" She freaks out then turns to her teddy bear again. "Oh! You're right! Be right back, Charlotte, I'm going to go ask my brothers if they've seen it." She leaves the room.

We didn't really think this through, maybe she'll just assume Vylad and I left or something. When she comes back in she looks at Charlotte again. "I don't think they're here. That's weird, Zane never goes anywhere. Like, ever. EVER! Where could they be? Vylad is probably at fencing class or the library or a friend's house or work. Zane? He's not in any type of classes... he doesn't like people so he's most likely not in a public place... he also doesn't have a job. Did he disappear off the face of the Earth?!" Vylad holds in a laugh and I hit his arm. "Where could they be Charlotte?"

Suddenly, 'Charlotte's' eyes meet mine. Vylad and I's eyes widen. Zerenity turns in the direction of the closet. "Did you say the closet? Why would they be in there?" She begins walking closer. I feel like this is a scene from a horror movie. We try to cover ourselves with hanging clothes but she opens the door before we can cover ourselves completely. "What are you two doing?!"

"Um... secondhand shopping?" Vylad suggests. "Uh... what do you think? Is this a good look for me?" Vylad holds up a random shirt and turns to me.

"What? Oh, yeah, totally. It definitely brings out your eyes." I nod.

"It so does not!" Zerenity huffs. "He's more of a neutral tone than a vibrant tone! What are you guys really doing here?" She asks then turns to 'Charlotte'. "What? But I thought you said you weren't paying attention to my study books, how do you know they took it?"

Vylad and I's eyes widen once again as we stare at the teddy bear. Suddenly, the teddy bear stands up and walks over to us. Vylad and I fall backward as we try to get away from the possessed toy. "I saw it." The teddy says in a really high pitched, girly voice.

Vylad and I start screaming as the bear reaches for us and pulls us out of the closet. "What?! How could you guys!?" Zerenity gasps. "Where is it, Charlotte?"

"In the tall cabinet in the kitchen." The bear squeaks.

"What?! I could never reach that!" Zerenity whines.

"I'll get it." They begin walking toward the kitchen and Vylad and I slowly follow them still not believing our eyes. As we pass by the living room, Mom screams and Dad jumps and stare at it wide-eyed.

Charlotte grabs the books with her paws somehow. She hands the books to Zerenity. "Yay! Thanks!" She cheers. "Zane, Vylad, what do you have to say for yourselves?" Zerenity folds her arms, the bear looks at her and does the same.

"N- Y-- The-- We-- Bear??" Both of us stammer as we stare at the teddy bear again.

"The name's Charlotte!" The high pitched, squeaky voice booms. Vylad and I jump again and Zerenity bursts out laughing.

"You guys should see your faces!" Zerenity laughs. We look at her like she's insane and the bear takes it's head off to reveal Gene.

"Wow, I can not believe I just did that but it was a little hilarious." Gene shakes his head using his normal voice.

"Gene?!" Vylad and I shout.

"We never even left the house, we heard your plans as we were in the kitchen eating snacks. Then when we were in the basement watching a movie, we saw this bear suit and came up with the perfect plan." She laughs.

"I nearly had a heart attack!" I exclaim.

"How do you think I would have felt if all of my hard work turned up missing?" She counters.

"Tch. Whatever." I roll my eyes.

I should have burned them.