Chapter 18: Another Fight

Note: I'm sorry for not updating for such a very long time. It was quite busy and I ran out of ideas. I hope you like this new chapter. I enjoyed writing it very much. Please review and correction of any mistakes are very much appreciated.  

I walk upstairs and find Lotte and the twins at a table in the atrium.
            “Any news?” Lotte asks.
            “Yep.” I sit down next to Fred and give him a kiss. “Good morning.”
            “Morning.”
            “So what’s the news?” George asks.
            “We think we know who the killer is. Or, what the killer is.”
            Their attention is now totally on me.
            “So, the killer is not human?” Fred asks.
            George asks “Aliens?” at the same moment.
             “Uhuh.”
            I look around to see if anyone’s listening. It’s still very quiet and there are only three other guys in the atrium, but they’re talking to each other and joking around.
            “Okay, so apparently there’s an alien race called the Vondrax, who can kill just by looking into their victim’s eyes.”
            “Whoa. Creepy.” Lotte says.
            “But then how do we know it’s them?” Fred asks.
            “Because, even though they can change into everything or everyone they want and leave no traces, their voice stays unnatural. Professor Sinistra heard weird, hissing voices before she found the body.”
            “Wait, they can change how they look?” Lotte understands the danger.
            “Yes.”
            “And they can kill just by looking in someone’s eyes?”
            I nod.
            “We’re so screwed.”
            “Are they still inside the school?” George asks.
            “That’s the thing, we don’t know.”
            “That’s not good. At all.” Fred says.
            “Tell me something.” I hang back in my chair. “The Doctor wants us all to wear sunglasses.”
            “Why so?” All three ask.
            “Weeping Angel effect.” I answer, knowing that says enough.
            “Okay, but isn’t it a bit weird?” Lotte asks.
            “That’s what we said. So we need to think of a better solution.”
            “A better solution for what?”
            Oh no. You’ve got to be kidding me.
            I turn around and look at Lindsey, Dudley and his two minions.
            “Okay, what do you want?” I asks them.
            “I want to know what you were talking about.” Lindsey says disparaged.
            “None of your business.”
            “Oh, is it a secret?”
            “We can keep a secret.” Dudley says. “You can tell us.”
            “Eh, no, sorry.”
            “Fine. You have a secret, I’ll find out what it is. But I bet you’re planning another murder.” Lindsey says.
            “Ha. Yeah, of course. We’re planning a murder in a place where everyone can hear us.”
            “You know, Lindsey, I liked you better yesterday.” Lotte says. “You know, when you had a breakdown in our room?”
            “Yeah, I agree. Until you started insulting us again.”
            Lindsey doesn’t look pleased by this. This might work in my favor.
            “Oh, I’m sorry. Am I talking about your weak moment in the presence of your little boyfriend?”
            Lindsey looks shocked, but a smile appears on Dudley’s face.
            “My boyfriend? Ha! I would never date such a pig like him.”
            Yep. This is definitely working in my favor.
            Dudley’s smile disappears as snow for the sun before Lindsey realizes what she just said.
            “I’m sorry, how did you just call me?”
            “Uh… I meant to say…”
            “You meant to say what?”
            “Yes, Lindsey, what did you mean to say?” I ask.
            I’m enjoying this way too much.
            “I meant to say I’d never date such a big… such a big…” Lindsey has no words to make this right and looks panicked. “Okay, fine, I meant what I said.”
            “You think I’m a pig?”
            “Ugh, yes.”
            “You used me!”
            “No, really.” Lindsey starts to sound annoyed again.
            “How could you? I mean, why?”
            “Because you were stalking me and the only way to get rid of that creepiness was to use you and let you think I was into you.”
            “How did you know Dudley had a crush on Lindsey?” Fred whispers in my ear.
            “I didn’t.” I whisper back.
            I’m not sure if I should feel sorry for Dudley for being used by Lindsey, or think he’s stupid for not noticing. No, wait. I’m sure I think he’s stupid. The idiot.
            Too bad Lindsey isn’t such a big idiot.
            “Okay, you know what, Dudley, I’m not sorry for what I’ve done, but this is not my fault. It’s hers!” She points at me.
            I’m afraid the fun is over.
            “I have nothing to do with your little problems.”
            “Oh, go on. Fake your innocence once again. Because that’s what you do. You do evil stuff and then pretend you have nothing to do with it.”
            “Really? How many times are you going to accuse me?”
            “Until you get into jail and everyone sees I was right.”
            I try my best to stay calm.
            “Jail? Neh, don’t think so. Sounds boring.” I say, more to calm myself a bit than trying to make the conversation less serious.
            “Okay, a nut-house then. I’m sure you’ll join your friends there after you get released from prison.”
            Stay calm. Stay. Calm.
             “Sounds like fun.” I say, repressing my anger.
            I should think of a better come-back.
            Got it.
            “At least I won’t end up on the streets.”
            Oh yes. That hit her. Hard.
            But she can hit hard too. Literally.
            My cheek feels warm. I never expected Lindsey to hit that hard.
            Impressive.
            “Don’t. Ever. Say that. Again.” She says before walking away.
            “You deserved that one.” Dudley says.
            “No, you deserve one if you don’t get away now.” Dudley stumbles back as
Fred stands up, but recovers quickly.
            Or at least, pretends to recover quickly.
            “Fine, but I’m on to you. All of you. I’m sure you’ll be in prison before the year ends.” He walks back slowly, but when Fred makes this one move like he’s going after him, Dudley doesn’t know how fast he needs to get out of here.
            “Thanks.” I tell Fred.

Later that day, professor McGonagall walks into my Dutch class. Just as I started hoping there wouldn’t be any more trouble today.
            “Miss van Leeuwen, can I see you in my office?”
            Chantal looks at me with a face that just screams “what the hell did you do?”
            I shrug, but I do have an idea what happened. I’m just not sure if I’m correct.
            I grab my bag and follow professor McGonagall to her office.
            “Take a seat.”
            I dump my bag next to one of the seats and sit down.
            “I have heard you’ve had another encounter with Miss Anderson and Mr. Dursley.”
            “That is correct.” I’ve got a feeling where this conversation is going.
            “Do you remember our last conversation?”
            The knot in my stomach gets bigger.
            “Yes, professor.”
            “Then you will understand that I have to expel you.”
            “Actually, no, I don’t understand, because you said I would get expelled if the next encounter got out of hand, and for as far as I can remember, the only thing that can be seen as ‘out of hand’ is that Lindsey slapped me.”
            Professor McGonagall frowns before answering. “Well, I’m afraid I’ve heard another version of the story.”
            I should’ve known. Lindsey and Dudley probably have gone to her and told a different story in which I’m the bad guy.
            “May I hear your version of the story, Miss van Leeuwen?”
            “Lindsey and Dudley came over to the table where I was talking with my friends and accused me of the murder on Claire.” I’m letting out the subject of the chat because I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to tell professor McGonagall we were discussing the murder. Not that it matters anyway. “We exchanged words, which might have gotten a bit far, and Lindsey slapped me in my face before running of.”
            “I see. Has it occurred to you that this accusation of murdering Miss Jenkins could be an act of grief?”
            “Yes. She came to our dorm yesterday with the same accusation and broke down.”
            “Understandable. Miss Anderson is in a state of shock. We have send her home for a week to calm down. Even though I find your story far more believable than the one I’ve been told, you too will be send home.”
            I open my mouth to complain, but professor McGonagall goes on.
            “This is to prevent another encounter with Mr. Dursley, or any other student who wants to accuse you, to get out of hand. You are allowed to come back Saturday, the fourth of February.”
            I don’t think that’s the real reason I’m being suspended.