Chapter three

When lunch rolled around, Alina was a bundle of nerves. She had roped Lizzy into helping her, and the two of them were hiding behind a pillar near the cafeteria. Marcus and his friends were sitting at their usual table, waiting for the show to begin.

She glanced at Lizzy, who was biting her fingers nervously. "Alina, are you sure about this?" Lizzy asked, her voice trembling.

"Yes, I'm sure," Alina replied, her determination unwavering. "It's either this or my life is completely ruined. Do you have the rodent?"

Lizzy nodded and, with shaking hands, pulled out a big white mouse from her bag. "You know we're going to be in so much trouble if they find out Mr. Jiggles is missing from the lab," Lizzy said, her voice barely a whisper.

"Calm down, nobody will know it's us. Nobody saw us when we took him from the lab," Alina reassured her, though her own nerves were frayed.

"But Alina, I'm scared," Lizzy said, her whole body trembling. "Can't we just return Mr. Jiggles and forget about this prank?"

"No! We have to do it," Alina insisted, glancing over at Marcus, who was watching them with a smirk. "I need that scrapbook back."

Taking a deep breath, Alina took Mr. Jiggles from Lizzy. The plan was simple: create a commotion and slip Mr. Jiggles into Mr. Thompson's pants. She just hoped it would be enough to satisfy Marcus.

"Okay, on three," Alina whispered. "One, two, three!"

With that, Lizzy grabbed her tray of food and ran toward Mr. Thompson, who was just entering the cafeteria. She collided with him, emptying the contents of her tray all over his clothes from head to toe.

"I'm sorry!" she exclaimed, pretending to clean his clothes with her handkerchief while Mr. Thompson yelled at her for being so clumsy and promptly assigning her detention for the rest of the week. Meanwhile, Alina approached, pretending to help clean up the mess. In one swift, sneaky motion, she slipped Mr. Jiggles into Mr. Thompson's pants.

Within seconds, Mr. Thompson's face contorted with shock as he felt the mouse wriggling inside his trousers. He began shouting at the top of his lungs, pulling at his pants in a frantic attempt to get Mr. Jiggles out. The entire cafeteria erupted in laughter and gasps.

"Get it off! Get it off!" Mr. Thompson screamed, yanking down his pants in a fit of panic. He stood there in his boxers, flailing around as the students laughed hysterically. Mr. Thompson then ran out of the cafeteria as if his life depended on it.

Alina and Lizzy ducked behind a pillar, trying to stifle their giggles. Marcus, meanwhile, was laughing so hard he nearly fell off his chair. He stood up and clapped his hands. "Bravo, Alina! That was perfect!"

Alina peeked out, her heart still racing. Glancing over to where Marcus was seated, he gestured for her to come over. Alina swallowed hard and looked at Lizzy. "This is it, Lizzy. I think he will give me back my book."

"I'm so happy for you," Lizzy whispered to her as Alina beamed with joy.

"Please, will you follow me and go see him? I'm too shy to go alone," Alina asked, her eyes desperate for Lizzy to say yes.

Lizzy nodded her head, and both girls held hands, heading toward where Marcus was seated with his friends. Marcus looked up, a smirk forming on his face. "That was good, Alina," he said, clapping his hands. "You really impressed me," he added, looking at his friends. "Didn't she try?" he asked them.

"Of course she did," Joe, one of Marcus's best friends, said, giving her a sarcastic thumbs up.

Alina rolled her eyes. "I'm glad that you all are impressed. Now, Marcus, give me the book. Remember, you promised. A deal is a deal."

"Of course," Marcus said. "Give me the book," he said to Kenny, another friend. Alina turned and saw Kenny holding the book, barely containing his laughter.

"Marcus, I don't think you should give her the book just yet," Kenny said, laughing out loud. "Have you read this page?"

Marcus looked confused and snatched the book from Kenny's hands. "Give me that," he said, reading through the pages impatiently. "Evan, with his muscular arms and fierce glare, gave Marcus the beating of a lifetime. Marcus whimpered and cried like a baby."

The whole table erupted in laughter as Marcus read those words. His face turned red with anger, and he glared at Alina, who clung to Lizzy tightly, wishing the ground would open up and swallow her.

"Oh my God, Lizzy," Alina whispered. "What am I going to do?"

Lizzy shook her head, nervous and afraid. "I don't know, Alina. Why did you write about him in your book?" she whispered back.

"Shut up, both of you!" Marcus snapped at them. "And all of you, stop laughing!" he shouted at his friends. "How dare you write this trash about me? You know what? I'm not giving you this scrapbook again," he said, waving it in Alina's face.

"Why?" Alina cried out. "But you promised!"

"Yes, I did," Marcus retorted. "But you ruined it. Now, the only way I'll consider giving it back is if you agree to be my slave for the rest of the semester," he said, a wicked smile creeping upon his face. "Either that, or I read this book out loud for everyone to hear."

"Please, Marcus, it's not you in the book. It's some other random Marcus I knew at my former school."

"Yeah, right," he scoffed. "So what's your answer? Are you going to be my slave or not?"

"What is going on here?" A female voice said behind them. They all turned to see Evan and Kendra.

"Alina, are you alright? Is Marcus bullying you?" Kendra asked, concerned.

"No," Alina replied nervously. "We're just having a discussion."

"Marcus, don't you dare bully my friend," Kendra said, her voice rising. She stepped closer, her fists clenched.

"Alina, are you sure you are alright?" Evan added, his eyes narrowing at Marcus.

"Yes, I am," Alina said, though her voice wavered.

"What's your business, Evan?" Marcus sneered. "You better leave."

"Or what?" Evan challenged, stepping closer. The tension in the air was high.

"Alina, this is all your fault," Marcus said with a cynical smile creeping on his face. "Maybe I should just read it out loud so he understands your heart," he mocked, holding up the book.

Alina looked at him, her eyes begging him not to show Evan and Kendra the book. Marcus brought the book up, tossing it in the air and catching it. "I think there is something you'd like to see, Evan," he said, flashing a wicked smile. Just as he was about to open the pages, Alina rushed to Marcus and grabbed him, embracing him tightly. She whispered in his ear, "Okay, I will do it. I will be your slave."

Kendra and Evan watched, confused and unable to understand what was happening. The whole cafeteria turned their gaze to them.

"It looks like Alina is in love with Marcus," Joe said, adding more injury to the wound.

Marcus pushed Alina away. "I know I'm handsome, but get in line," he said as everyone began to laugh at Alina.

"You are evil," Lizzy said to Marcus, glaring at him for the stunt he just pulled.

Alina trembled with embarrassment, hoping she could just erase herself from the scene. "Let's get out of here, Lizzy," she muttered, pulling her friend away as the laughter of Marcus's group echoed in her ears.