I was confused.

I was in an oblivion.

I was basically like Mewtwo.

But most of all, I was terribly embarrassed. I was sure I would wake up in the infirmary, and be the laughing stock of the entire school. All my chivalry would be chucked out of the window just by one incident. And to top that, Evelyn would consider me rude as well as a wimp. Oh, the possibilities...

I slowly pried my eyes open for the second time that day and took in my surroundings. The first thing I registered was my head on my school desk, and facing the window.

What the-?

I turned my head to the dark side, nah, kidding, and froze. I was facing Evelyn. Ah yes, seating arrangement.

Evelyn was looking straight ahead. She side-eyed me and her eyes flicked back to the front. "So the sleeping beauty is finally rising and shining."

Her comment was enough to convince me of the impending doom that I just described.

"Did everyone notice that?" I asked with trepidation.

Evelyn's lips formed a thin line and she nodded. "Yup, they did."

Shit.

"Everyone knows?"

Another nod.

Double shit.

"They laughed?"

A pitiful look in my direction.

Bucketful of shit.

"P-pictures?" By now my throat had dried up, I had trouble breathing, and everything was dazed.

"Unfortunately, yes."

Truckload of shit.

My face had gone as pale as a scared ghost.

Someone clapped me on the back.

"Hey, you alright and alive?"

That's Jones.

I slowly lifted my head to face Jones, to see his face etched with worry.

"Yeah dude, you should not work too hard on your assignments," Jack said.

I blinked. "Assignments? Wh-"

Jack cut me off. "Yeah, assignment. Evelyn here told us that you told her that you were working on some really big assignment for the college. You got so tired that you dozed off. Though I don't blame you. Williams is pretty boring."

I blinked again. "Wh-"

This time I was cut off by a sharp kick in my shin and Evelyn's voice. "Yup, before I could ask what assignment it was he was in his dreamland."

Before I could open my mouth and blow the ruse set up by Evelyn like a paper in hurricane, Evelyn spoke again. "But I think he muttered something along the lines of computer."

Now I was feeling quite a mix of emotions. Profound relief, ridicule, gratefulness and disorientation.

Relief, for my dignity was intact.

Ridicule, for I played right into Evelyn's hands.

Thankfulness, towards Evelyn, for putting up a believable charade.

Disorientation, well, duh, I just woke up.

Jack and Jones returned to their work after sending a flying kiss and a small wave. They were least bothered by girls, their aspirations kept them busy. That is what I liked about them the most.

I turned towards Evelyn. "You lied."

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Yes, and you were going to blow it up."

"I am not talking about that one."

She raised a brow. "Then?"

"The earlier. People seeing me."

"Oh." A smile lifted the corner of her lips. "Well, that was to prove how very gullible you are, and that too for irrelevant stuff."

"Oh. But I am not that gullible- wait," a cold realisation settled in. "Mr. Williams! Is he gone?"

"Duh."

"Thank God. But then, how long was I out?"

Evelyn replied. "For four periods straight, including Williams. The bell for break will ring anytime now."

True to her words, the bell rang after a minute.

"But why did no one take me to the infirmary? What if I had died?"

"Fun fact, people stop breathing and their heart stops beating when they are dead, doofus."

"Gee thanks Chandler."

We picked our books and went out if5 the classroom.

"So, you are my assassin," I said.

"Yes. And stop being so damn obvious."

We walked to our lockers, which very conveniently, were right beside each other...not.

Instead, when I kept my books inside, my hand did not stop. My arms were almost completely inside. I bent down to peek through my locker.

What the-?

I saw that the last wall that should have been there was not there. Instead, I saw Evelyn's face at the other end.

"What the hell is this?!" I asked.

Evelyn looked around the locker tunnel and said, "Even I have to admit, this is pretty stupid."

"Ridiculous. But let's add this to my list of mysteries and move on."

We kept our books and went to the cafeteria.

*****

"Um...so we will...er...sit together?" I said, scratching my head.

Evelyn brought her tray of food, sat down at the table and said, "Yup. I am a new student and you are my partner. So you are helping me catch up with what all has happened in school, and also briefing me about how stuff works here and blah, blah, blah."

"Okay, so first of all, who are after my life?"

"There is this gang that calls themselves 'The Berserkers', and I don't think any other name would have been more apt. They literally kill anything that screams power and money and loot it for themselves."

Evelyn suddenly took a big bite of her burger and said, "This is nice. Not like what I heard."

Confused, I was about to ask what is she saying when I saw a long-nailed hand on my table. I glanced up, groaned, and hit my head on the table.

Guess who?

Yes, Jessica.

"Evelyn?" Jessica said in a sweet voice.

Without bothering to look up from her food, Evelyn replied, "Yes?"

Jessica stood with her hands holding a plate, which had big delicious brownies on it.

They looked so innocently sumptuous that my mouth started watering. What? Food is life. I was about to grab a brownie from the plate but Jessica swatted my hand away.

"Not for you, Evans."

Evelyn took one look at the brownies, and eyed Jessica. Then she broke into her gorgeous smile and said, "Is this for me?"

Jessica said, "Yes. I wanted to apologise for my behaviour earlier. These are some of the best brownies of the town. I got them made especially for myself. I had ordered it, and it was delivered it just before the lunch hour. But then I thought I would call it a truce between us and share this. These are really delicious."

"Really?!" Evelyn's eyes widened. "I guess I'll accept these then."

She took the plate from Jessica's hand and set it infront of herself. Then she picked up a brownie, stood up with that same delightful look on her face, she said, "Jess, I really appreciate this. However, I think you deserve more brownie points for taking up this initiative."

Jessica's face went into the panic mode. It was then I realised that those were hash brownies, because, Jessica never, and that means, never shares desserts unless they are sketchy. After being pranked by her and Jack many times, I have now become a connoisseur of shady food.

"N-no, you have it. I got this for you," Jessica said.

"Oh no. That would be too cruel on my part," Evelyn pouted. "Please, I insist, you have some first and then I'll have them. Bon Appetit."

With that, she inserted the brownies one by one into Jessica's mouth by her 'polite insistence'.

Fifteen minutes later.

A high Jessica was being dragged down from the fan by her friends, thereby spoiling her aspirations of becoming the world's biggest 'fan' of her favourite celebrity. She took the job quite literally.

Finally, after a massive and hilarious tug of war, Jessica was pulled down and taken to the infirmary for some rest. Although I do wish that her friends stay with her and keep an eye, just in case she wished to play 'doctor'. Although I made sure I would visit her later and get Evelyn and her to reconcile. I swear Jessica's role as the mean girl would gather more annoyance than applauses.

Evelyn finished her lunch and tossed the tray into the nearest trash can.

Then she looked at me and said, "Shoot."

"Next question. How am I the key?
Does the rival gang know this?"

"You are the key," she said with a smile, "because the place where this technology is kept an be opened by various aspects of your body."

Cue the double take.

"What?!"

Evelyn rolled her eyes. "C'mon, your dad's a techno giant. What were you expecting?"

"Definitely not this. Care to explain?"

"Yup. There are three steps to unlock this place. Step one, your fingerprint. It is a rather redundant thing though. Second step is your retinal scan. Now comes the most important one, the third step."

I leaned forward in anticipation. "What is it?"

Evelyn met my eyes and said, "Your heart."

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

And there comes thy cliffhanger.

Honestly, I was taken over by a very savage urge to end the chapter at this. The chapter otherwise was too long, and my plan would have been given away...so...😁😁😁

Anyways, don't worry, everything will be revealed in the next chapter, which I will hopefully post next week, if I am not out of station 🤔🤔

Let me know what you feel😃😃😃

Till the next update

May the force be with you
-(biting nails in anticipation) Natasha.