Piper

Mission 2 - Gaining One's Trust

"I get that rush that comes when you know you're doing something wrong and are getting away with it, like stealing from the school cafeteria of getting tipsy on a family holiday without anyone knowing it."

- Lauren Oliver

Tabitha glanced at the table where James sat. With a tray in hand, she forced herself to walk over to that area. She needed friends, one she could rely on for Whitly Middle School was where she could easily get lost. 

And she figured that the class clown of Miss Hudson's class was the best person to start with.

She assumed that anybody would love to hang out with a buffoon. They make people laugh for entertainment. Just like those jesters, she read about in books who brought humor and liveliness back in the royal halls of a castle.

But Tabitha knew she was not in a scenario where knights and princesses roamed; this was an actual school where evil lurked in the air. And she, along with the cat named Lenore, were focused on doing something about it.

The task wouldn't be easy as obstacles were in their way. In fact, Tabitha had been bullied the first week of school, as two girls, Serina and Monique, from Mrs. Perkins advanced 5th-grade class taunted her.

As being the new girl wasn't enough, the mean girls had to have their way. Telling her that they were better than her because they aced the placement exam. Bragging rights weren't on Tabitha's list, and she didn't care if they were in classes that ranked above Miss Hudson.

But since the two kept badgering her with the news, Tabitha became one hot head and before she knew it, Tabitha twitched her nose; otherwise known as her body spells. Little did the girls know who they were talking to as Tabitha did that to them; one where they couldn't say anything for five minutes. Thus, the young witch walked away freely without further trouble.

A little hocus pocus here and there and Tabitha believed she did well for all students. But the cat took notice and Lenore knew she had to do something before her friend would be doomed for abusing her spells.

Carrying her tray to the end of the rectangular table, she smiled at James and his friends. At least that's what the manual said, so Tabitha knew that it wouldn't be that hard. And with some sort of prayer, Tabitha started a conversation with them.

"Hello, can I sit here?" She pointed to the empty seat next to a girl who had her dark hair in braids.

"Sure, aren't you the new girl?"

The girl in braids asked as she made more space for Tabitha to sit down.

"Yes, umm ... I'm Tabitha."

She stood there waiting to be invited for she never knew what a pat on an open area of the bench meant.

"Well, don't be shy, sit down. I'm Astrid and this is James and Hansel."

Astrid pointed to two boys with blonde hair.

Tabitha grinned as she knew James from the very first day but it was her first-time meeting the boy in a blue shirt.

"Hansel? As in the story of Hansel and Gretel?"

The blonde spoke up not ashamed about the birth name his parents gave him.

"The one and only! I get that all the time from people who don't know me well. Never liked that story about those mischievous kids who were punished by that ugly witch. But my parents called me that, so I grew accustomed to it."

Staying silent, Tabitha had other feelings about that witch in that children's story ... as she was an old lady just minding her own business., when two greedy children ate her gingerbread house. An exact sign of violation. But Tabitha kept her thoughts to herself as voicing her opinions out loud might give her secret away.

Tabitha had a feeling that she would do well with her new friends as they accepted her with open arms. Too bad it wouidn't last forever, as Piper would make sure of that.