Chapter Three: It's Real.. Emma

Emma stayed her ass glued to her seat even though she'd just heard the bell ring out to signify the start of Recess. She had a couple of thoughts doing her in at this time. Neck deep in her musings, She became unaware of how her other classmates were rushing out in their numbers. Chemistry class was always boring the way Mr. Connor took it. But Emma would not agree to this, unlike everyone else. Still remaining in her thoughts, She tweaked her hair to the back of her ears, keeping her hands on both sides of her face afterwards. She had more than a couple of things to deliberate upon, in her mind.

One of these thoughts which kept throbbing at her temples was what Landon had informed her about earlier. Emma, at this time could not tell which talk worried her most.. if it was the news of those things—Werewolves now prowling the streets of Lockwood town in human form, or if the gruesome death of those girls was her major bone of contention. Eventually, she settled in her heart that both case scenarios were a bother to her just as much!

"Emma.. "

That call jolted her out of her silent reverie. She was just now thinking about Landon's behavior this morning. It did seem to her now that he was withholding something else from her. But she did not mind this now that she had gotten distracted by welcomed company.

She tilted her head prettily to the side in order for her to settle her eyes on the girl who'd just appeared in front of her. The girl's straight blonde hair waved to the side once she settled, standing.

"Hey, Jo.. " Emma greeted back, smiling through her eyes.

She then watched as Josie smiled back, but only briefly as she soon cut her smile to have herself settle on the seat adjacent to hers. Emma could tell her best friend was worried.

"Is something wrong, Jo?" She asked, concernedly.

"Why? Uhm.. why do you ask?"

"Because it's obvious you don't look too good right now." Emma told her and studied her twitch her eyes slyly as if she really did have something to hide.

"Here..! I figured you might need this."

Emma accepted the cup of Milkshake which Josie had just handed her.

"Thanks Jo.. For this! You're always so thoughtful and kind." Emma praised her before sipping the Milkshake. After a split second, she decided to ask; "What about Lucy? Where is she?"

"Over there!" Josie signalled by bobbing her head to the far end of the class. Emma spotted Lucy putting up some dramatic show at the far back of the classroom.

"I wonder what she's saying to them." Emma mused out loud.

Josie shrugged at first and then said; "I mean I'm guessing they're up to some Shenanigan affair either way."

Emma laughed heartily at this, before saying; "Seriously though, Lucy is quite a handful. I wonder how you deal with her most days."

"Well, what can I do? She's my sister after all. My twin sister!" Josie emphasized before darting her eyes once more to the back of the fat-spaced classroom which resembled more of a Conference Hall. Catching a second glimpse at Lucy, Josie smiled from observing her sweep the air about her with her excess charms while she walked. Swinging her hips effortlessly to the sides, she was looking more like the 'Queen Bee' addressing her cute little 'Worker Bees'. Emma was also looking.

"Ugh! So extra! Isn't she?"

"Yeah, right. Tell me about it." Emma remarked, teasingly at first, "but I envy you two though. I respect your 'Sister Relationship.' I sometimes wonder how it must feel to have a sister."

"Horrible most days, then fun on other days." Josie then settled her eyes on her Smoothie drink and began sipping from it in silence while sucking onto her straw.

Emma began to feel unsettled by her mood just from watching her do this.

"You know what? Fuck it! Tell me what's eating you up right now."

Busted! Josie dropped her drink and prepared to begin her talk.

"Actually, it's nothing that serious."

"Okay... "

"Okay fine! So maybe I was a little worried about you. That's it!"

"No way!"

"What did I say wrong?"

"There's no fricken way, Jo. " Emma said, rolling her eyes spontaneously after hitting the table mildly. "Not you too, alright!"

"English, Emma. Speak English 'cause right now I find it difficult to understand you."

"I mean.. Why does it feel like I am suddenly becoming everyone's 'Sympathy Case' today? First was with my Uncle Ric thinking me unworthy to learn about some gruesome news on Television. Next was Landon."

"Wait, Landon?"

"Yeah. Him. He got in my way while coming to classes this morning."

"So what.. He made you arrive late for class this morning?"

"No. Not that. But we talked and he mentioned some things about killings. Werewolves and shi—"

"Oh, it's real, Emma. That I can assure you. The news has been all over the Television since yesterday."

"Well, either way, I know Landon. He's obviously holding back something more because it just so happened that all at once, he suddenly feels I need protecting. Worse off, by him of all people."

"What? He really said that?"

"Do I sound like I'm joking? Like he clearly suggested being my Knight in Shining Armor. The nerve!" Emma said curtly.

"Hahahaha.. No fucking way. Is he like.. crazy!? I mean.." Josie burst out laughing again, Emma with her. "He really thinks he can protect you? You, Emma Anderson? The 'Emma Anderson!"

Emma was still giggling happily when she said; "Stop it Jo.. You're making me seem like some bully!"

"But you are."

"Jo..?"

"What?" Josie exclaimed softly, "did you not nearly dismember Landon's arm during Judo practice just last Tuesday?"

Emma continued to laugh some more. Josie, as well.

"That boy certainly has a memory problem or should I say he recovers fast from being wronged." Josie asserted.

As the laughter continued, Emma's gaze quickly switched towards the window. She saw someone she was so not expecting to see. Why was he risking his life so foolishly?

"For the love of god! Landon!" Emma exclaimed, seeming irritated and at once prompted up her seat to begin to head that way. She was going to pull down the window slide.

"No no no no.." Landon shouted, eyes shooting out his sockets from seeing her approach him that way.. "Emma, please.. "

"Go away, Landon! Quit stalking me already. My god!"

"Okay, okay I will but I only came by to check on you," Emma listened but attempted to slide down the window.. "No no no.. Wait! I promise I just.." Landon could not believe she would go along with this. He could end up fall—-

"Emma....!"

His shout resounded loudly at first and then it faded quickly once he reached the base of the tree whose branch he'd climbed all the way up to reach her class.

THUD!

Emma knew he would drop but she didn't mind. She then casually dusted her hands to head back to her seat.

More than half the Class girls including Lucy's squad were tempted to boo at her for behaving that way to Lockwood's High Most Charming Superstar—Landon! But they wouldn't dare!

"Em..? You didn't have to do that to him!" Josie yelled at her, softly.

"I didn't have to do that to him? Do what to him? I simply said to stop stalking me and slid down the window. Him falling is not on me." Emma told Josie and then shrugged afterwards.

"Right.. Well news flash, Emma! That was pretty mean of you. I mean, poor Landon! You've only just succeeded in breaking his arm I am sure. Or something more than that. "

Emma watched as Lucy said those words in the most dramatic way, moving every ounce of her bodily gestures to buttress her talk.

Pause! How soon had she gotten here?

"Come'on! He'll be fine." Emma said, rolling her eyes again.

"For sure he will be. I just wonder when he'll turn his attention from you to us girls who have stayed waiting in line for so long."

"You just sounded totally shameless, Cee." Josie cut in, somewhat disappointed at her sister.

"I second that!" Emma told Josie.

"Yeah right! Second it all you want, Emma. I still think that boy is totally pitiful for choosing to stick to you. I mean.."

"Drop it, Lucy. He's not dead yet. Like I don't intend to kill him anyway. He just fell off a fricken tree branch. He would be around for a long long time for you to keep establishing your crush on him. You and the rest of your crew."

"Jeez! Sarcasm, Emma. You know what? Whatever!" Lucy exclaimed, "you can choose to tie his lazy ass to a stake and burn him alive for all I care but that boy did nothing wrong loving you."

"Jeez! Can you drop this talk already?" Emma insisted with a frown on her face.

"You are totally overpowering, Emma."

"Ain't I happy to be?" Emma then faked a grin at her.

Lucy began to grumble and folded her arms in each other. Josie stayed laughing at her sulking while Emma studied both sisters. Theirs was always a selfish-selfless relationship but somehow each twin complemented the other's shortcoming.

"Uhm.. Emma?"

"Yeah?"

"You really do need to be careful out there you know?"

"I know Jo. Best believe that I can take care of myself." Josie nodded.

"You sure you can?" Lucy questioned. "In any case, you have us both 'Kay? If anything goes wrong, we are witches and will always be here to protect you."

"Shhh! Quiet, Lucy. "

"What? Why should I?"

Emma watched as Josie chided her twin for being such a loudmouth.

"You need to keep your voice down alright?"

"I still don't understand why I should do that." Lucy retorted, "I mean, more than half the school knows about us and how proud we are as Casta Witches."

"Still, we need to tone it down a notch," Josie warned. "don't you see? We need to be cautious now that we have those things prowling the streets of the city in disguise. They could be anywhere, Cee. Even right here with us."

"Who cares?" Lucy interjected, despite observing her twin look about her shoulders, "look, Jo, I DON'T FRICKEN CARE! Besides, I would really enjoy toasting some wolf dogs for dessert!"

"Oh, alright now, you two. It's enough. No one is toasting anything. Recess is already up. We are having another Practical class in five minutes tops."

"Ohhhh—-"

Both girls exclaimed distastefully..

"Mhm-mm. Now, it's time to prepare."

"What a wasted life." Lucy began to complain, "It's official, you two." She then puckered her lips tiredly, "I hate school!"

Emma giggled lightly at this.