And Now For Something Completely Different

They’re… siblings? Like… blood-related? What? Thinking about it now, it kinda makes sense. They share really similar features. Blonde hair, blue eyes, ludicrous levels of attractiveness. It seems a little obvious in hindsight.

Now, however, I’m faced with something I don’t even want to consider. Did he actually receive his own sister as a target? Even family members aren’t off the table? Seriously?

My mom flashes through my mind for a moment and I involuntarily shiver.

Alright, time to stop thinking about that.

So… how could this turn of events benefit me? I think I have less competition now, but I’m not even sure if she was ever actually his target. Do I really even have a shot at her with a player in such close proximity?

My head hurts. I have a lot of questions, no decent in-roads, and the information I’ve just received has actually made things harder. If he was just another player and he’d already gotten at her, then that would be too bad. I could see how likely it is that I’d be able to steal her away, or just spend the next 2 weeks enjoying my 2 lovely partners. Now, however, I need to figure out a lot more about Tadeas.

A chime rings, signaling the end of the lunch period and the beginning of classes.

I stand up, “Thanks, Val.”

“Always glad to help!”

I turn to leave, but her voice stops me after a few steps. She’s dropped her bubbly tone, and her posture has changed from broad-shouldered and confident, to slightly hunched, and a little antsy. A return to the Val of the past, as happens on rare occasions.

“Actually… Sam? Have you noticed anything… strange happening?”

“Like?”

She pauses for a moment, “Like… I don’t know, lots of things.”

“... other than the chemical attack and Cassie taking Wiccan shit way too far? No, not really.” There’ve been a few things other than that, but I’m not about to share those.

She blinks, straightens her back, and says, “Well, that’s like, good for you, I guess. I’ve gotta get to class, but I’ll see you later, mkay?”

“Sure thing. Later, Val.”

I make to walk away but am once again interrupted, “Oh oh oh, actually, one more thing. We should, like, hang out sometime! I haven’t seen you outside of school in years!”

“We can plan something later.”

“Right. Bye for real this time Sam.”

I throw a peace sign and begin my short walk to class. I need to learn more about Tadeas and get in with Sofia, but how?

I only really have one reasonable lead, and she’s currently one bad day away from castrating me.

Well, whatever. History favors the bold.

I probably won’t be able to find Octavia today, so I’m content to go home and take it easy after my first day back. I don’t really have much of a plan, nor do I think I’ll be able to come up with anything too mindblowing. I think I’ll just go talk to Octavia during lunch tomorrow and see if anything comes of it.

I need to sit through a few classes. I have a hard enough time paying attention in class even when I’m not distracted, so I barely learn anything.

Finally, classes end, and I walk towards my locker, which is located at the rear of the Language Arts building. Normally, I’ll just carry my stuff around with me, but my textbooks were getting pretty heavy, so I left them here today. I swing open my locker and begin to gather my things.

I feel a light force on my back, like someone lightly tugging at my shirt.

I turn around, to see nothing behind me. Huh? I could’ve sworn that I felt something. I’m about to turn back to my locker, when I feel that same force tugging on the front of my shirt, at my midriff.

I look downwards, and suddenly, I see her. Minnie is standing uncomfortably close to me, looking up into my eyes. She looks like she’s on the verge of bursting into tears. She always looks like that, actually, but especially so right now. Her whole body is shaking with fear from merely being this close to me, and her legs are quivering, barely able to hold her weight.

“Uh, hey?”

Hearing me say something pulls her out of whatever terror-stricken trance she was in. There’s a moment where I think she’s going to bolt, but instead, she moves her hands from my midriff to the collar of my shirt. She tries to push me back against the lockers, much like Spikes did a few weeks ago.

I don’t really know what’s going on here, but I think I’m being bullied?

She’s not really strong enough to move me, but I feel kinda bad, so I let her push me against the lockers.

I’m in the same position as I was when Spikes gut-punched me, but it’s decidedly less intimidating when you’re being held by someone who has to stand on their tip-toes to get even remotely close to eye-level, and even less so when she’s on the verge of tears.

She holds me in place for a few moments, readying herself. Finally, in the most pitiable, cracked, wavering, terrified manner I can imagine, she yells, “W-w-what did you do!!??”

“Hm?”

“Taylor! You made her disappear!”

I most certainly did not. Actually, who’s Taylor?

“Who?”

“N-no… not you too.” Finally, her tears spill over, and she begins to sob. “You’re the only one left! It had to be you!”

“... I don’t think I’m really understanding.”

“Taylor! Tall, spiky green hair! Gone! You did it!” she’s getting decreasingly verbose as she descends deeper into sobbing uncontrollably. She’s still doing her best to grapple me, but calling it a grapple at this point would be wrong. Instead, it’s now closer to clinging to me while she sobs into my shirt.

So… Spikes’ name is Taylor? Good to know I guess.

“The one who gut-punched me? Her?”

Suddenly, Minnie looks up. Her tear-stricken features look shocked for a moment before she gives a fervent nod. “Yes! Her! You remember?”

“I don’t know if I could forget, no matter how much I want to.”

Her demeanor changes in a moment. Her teary face is suddenly jubilant, and the sudden switch is intense.

“I’m… I’m not crazy! You remember! Taylor exists!”

“... yeah?”

“And… you… weren’t the one who made her disappear?”

“... I don’t think so.”

What the hell is going on here?