With a very sour look on my face, I parked my car in the school parking lot. Having found a place, I turned off the ignition and put my head on the steering wheel with a sigh, contemplating the horror I just listened to, and now had to go through. Of course, dad had to be uber modern and not keep a password, but me as his goddamn safe key. And the fact that my school concealed some stuff was of no help. I knew I would now knock on tiles or pull books in the library, thinking it might work as a secret lever. I also tried banging my head on the steering wheel a few times, which just increased my existing headache. Don't try it people.

I wasn't finished with my tragic contemplation when I heard a knock on my window. I turned to look out and saw...

Well, since I happen to be quite a chivalrous person, I won't say it rudely, but I saw a certain part of female anatomy that was barely concealed and should not be on full display.

Jessica Walkers, a brown haired and hazel-eyed girl, over whom the entire male population drooled,  was leaning towards me with her claws... I mean, paws... pardon, hands, yes, hands on the edge of my window. I stared at her hands and then slowly pried them off. No one, and I mean, no one , touches my cars like that.

However, I realised that Jessica was dressed up way out of character, so I did a double take at her appearance.

"The fuck is wrong with your appearance?"

Jessica just pouted and said, "Don't you like what you see?"

I was gaping at her unashamedly. So I decided I would get out of the car and ask her what's the matter.

I opened the door of my car and stepped out after moving Jessica aside. Jessica started to strut closer to me. I had to jump back from the sheer shock.

"What the hell?! Can you please tell me why are you dressed up in an almost...swimwear?"

Jessica rolled her eyes. "You are such a blockhead. Don't you remember we are all auditioning for the portrayals of cliches? I had been assigned the role of a mean girl? Hello? Earth to Joshua. Where are you today?"

Then I remembered what she was talking about. The annual play.

"That's cool but I am getting sort of uncomfortable. Can you please stand at a distance? That perfume is awfully pungent."

"Hey! I'm the one who has to suffer though it. I'm trying to get into the character properly mister." With that, Jessica's eyes light up and she starts to strut closer towards me. I groaned in annoyance. She was such a pain in the ass at times.

I prayed to the heavens to send some help.

.........

Nothing.

She is still here.

Apparently God is busy, or is enjoying the scene from up there.

With a fake wide grin, which she probably thought was enough to make me fall for her pseudo charm, Jessica placed an arm on my shoulder, inching closer. She reeked of a very strong and suffocating perfume, which somehow reminded me of ammonia gas, and wore clothes two sizes short.

Jessica whispered into my ear. "Good morning, baby."

I near about gagged. "This is a horrible, horrible nightmare."

"Huh. I'm getting good at my role. Now let me practice idiot."

She said again, "How are you baby?"

"Baby? Your knowledge in biology is quite outdated. Otherwise you should have known that babies aren't six feet and three inches tall," I replied in annoyance.

She just giggled. Giggled. Ladies and gentlemen, that's Jessica Walkers for you, the mean girl version. She was pretty good at this.

She bit her lip and tried again. "Then why don't we meet up at my house tonight and you update my knowledge?"

"You know there are a lot of boys who would be far better for role play than me?"

"Oh would you just shut up? I need some confidence here to pull it off with anyone else?"

"Don't ask me to shut up. I've been told enough already since morning."

Jessica looked at me seriously. "You know what, I'll say it again but you really need to talk to your parents again and try once again."

I rubbed at my temple with the one hand that Jessica did not have in her death grip. "I really don't wish to talk about this right now."

Jessica looked at me in understanding. "It's okay. Take your time, but do talk to them."

Then she switched her mode. "Now allow me to distract you with my Oscar winning acting."

I rolled my eyes but was glad that she tried to change the subject.

Jessica continued with her dialogue. "So what say, would you educate me in biology?"

"Why? Isn't the rest of the male population educational enough for you? I am sure that with your experience, you would have become a biology professor by now."

"Why the hell are you so mean to me?!" Jessica glared at me and then crossed her arms and pouted. She thought it was cute. I wanted to puke.

"Dang, you are awfully good at this. Awful, but good."

Jessica smacked my arm. "Give this poor girl a break would you? It as it is weird acting this out."

Suddenly someone from the football team, Chris I think, waved at her. Chris was the captain of the football team. Athletic build, good looks and other stuff. She (Jessica, mind you, not Chris) immediately brightened, tugged at her already low neckline of her dress to the depths of the Pacific, and swaying her hips went over to him. She was slaying this role.

Anyways, I was mentally down on my knees thanking Chris for taking away that friendly witch from me since the role play was getting weird. As much as paranormal things are cool (ha, ha, cool, got it? Because they dead? Nevermind...) , I like staying away from witches. Not that I have met one before...

Taking up my bag, I locked the car and walked towards the school's main office.

True to my own words, now I was scanning the hallway for some hidden lever or a loose tile, that could lead me to the place where this 'thing' was hidden. This was so frustrating. Had there been a password, I would've easily used my computer skills and put up firewalls, viruses for intruders and other destructive stuff. But, obviously, this couldn't be done, because, one: I am not a computer program where you can put a firewall, and two, last time I checked, there is no way to put a firewall on human, or a virus for that matter, well maybe the latter thing, but it would probably do me more damage than to my enemies. But then I could just infect them with them with the same virus by giving them a big ol' group hug, that is, if they didn't kill me first.

*************

I entered into the principal's office. Mr. Peterson, a round man, with a round balding patch on his round skull and round glasses perched on his nose (which sadly, was not round) was sitting in his chair behind a computer, typing away furiously. As I entered, a small chime made him look up.

"Ah, there you are Mr. Evans, " Mr. Peterson said. "I presume you have been informed about a certain ordeal by your parents?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Ordeal? ! I won't call it an ordeal. It's a freaking disaster!"

"Yes, I understand-"

"No you don't! " I exclaimed. "You cannot possibly understand how this feels."

"Maybe. But will you first have a seat? This is something serious and I would prefer if we sorted this out with a cool head."

I grumbled something under my breath and took a seat. I asked, "Okay, first tell me what is hidden here?"

Mr. Peterson fidgeted in his seat and replied, "I am afraid I cannot tell you that."

This had gone too far...

But he must have seen the ticked off expression on my face when he hurriedly explained. "Before you explode, let me tell you that it is a confidential thing. That is the reason I cannot tell you. In fact, the truth is, even I don't know what is in there. All I know it is some sort of technology, which is still in its first stage, and something you would not like to deal with."

I blinked. "You don't know? But dad said-"

"Yes. I know he told me to tell you, and I just did that. Now the only matter of concern is your safety, and...well, yes, that's it."

He was not meeting my eye. This was an indication that there was something more to this.

"And?" I pressed.

He sighed and said, " We are under a threat."

"Yeah , I know."

"No, I was not talking about you. I meant the school as a whole."

There was silence.

Utter silence.

Utterly still, pin drop silence, except for a thud which was caused by some random kid's collision with an opening door, or probably because he was thrown against the wall for bumping into someone with anger issues. Hopefully the former, but most likely the latter.

It is not even first April yet.

"Are you kidding me? !"

He sighed again.

"Joshua, I know this is difficult for you, but-"

"But what? First I am under threat, then the entire school is under threat. What, have you opened the freaking SHIELD headquarters underground? !"

"- we have to go through this!" He almost shouted.

He wasn't wrong. But so wasn't I. Any chance of a normal life were slowly dwindling away. Suddenly I remembered one detail.

"Where is my assassin?" I asked. Despite the churning emotions and rage, my voice came out steady.

"There."

I turned around to look where Mr. Peterson was pointing and saw a person standing there.

Now, a normal response to this would be- "Oh, so this is my assassin. What's your name?" But of course, I was being abnormal today.

"Why the hell are you dressed like someone from Assassin's Creed?!" I exclaimed.

The person just rolled his eyes at me.

So my outburst would have made it pretty evident what he was wearing- a black hoodie, black slacks and a black mask. All I could see was his face above the nose, that is, the eyes and the eyebroooooooows... damn, he had nice shapely brows, something you rarely see on men, but anyways.

"And are you going to prance around with me dressed in that?!"

The person just closed his slowly in exasperation, probably counting to ten.

"And why aren't you speaking? What are you? An Avox? "

Now the person just glared at me.

Finally deciding that I will only be talking to eyes, I turned to Mr. Peterson, who was struggling to keep a straight face.

At least someone is getting a kick out of this...

I asked him, " Does he have a mute mode?"

Mr. Peterson replied. "No, but the name has to be kept a secret. You can't know it before we introduce the student. You should remain oblivious lest you should speak the name out loud and create doubts."

"Yeah, yeah, go ahead. I'm all up for Sherlock today."

There was a snigger behind me.

Ah so the vocal cords do exist.

Mr. Peterson said," It is for keeping things inconspicuous. "

I eyed the figure behind me. Inconspicuous...

I smiled and said, " Of course. Joshua Evans enters with a person straight out of Assassin's Creed. No biggie. This person dressed like this is not an assassin, it is just a fashion statement. Sure, inconspicuous. "

"Don't worry, " Mr. Peterson assured me. "This is not the usual attire. There will be a transfer student in your class, that is , the assassin, and the seats will be accordingly rearranged. And since this is the only transfer student, don't try looking for anyone else."

I turned back towards the assassin, who was watching the entire banter with emerald eyes. I was watching him. He was watching me.

Finally I asked, " You coming?"

Mr. Peterson chimed in. " Yes. A transfer student coming hand-in-hand with Joshua Evans. Sure, inconspicuous. " He mimicked my earlier statement.

I just rolled my eyes and went out. I wonder if someone appointed him as the Principal while sleep talking...

*******************

Yo! People. Here is a reeeeally long chapter for you all. Now let's all don our hoodies and pointy killer goodies to get into the assassin feels :)

Vote if you like,
Comment if you wish,
Don't be rude with remarks,
Or you'll face an assault from a flying dish.

*evil laughs* * then coughs badly*

I wonder how people can laugh evilly without getting a sore and scratchy throat afterwards...

Until the next time,

May the force be with you.
- (putting on a mask and hoodie and assassin goodies) natasha.