Chapter Seven: Friends

They didn't come back after the holidays. And four others didn't come back after the holidays.

Professor Coppers said she had received letters from their parents saying they weren't sending them back to school this term.

No one bought it.

To make matters worse Carly's rich parents bribed the school into moving her annoying friend, Rebecca into Cassandra's old bed.

Rebecca is like an exact copy of Carly except she doesn't have a personality, AT ALL. She seems to exist solely for the purpose of feeding Carly's ego.

And gossiping.

As of late Carly seems to have developed a crush on Witt.

"Carly you should totally ask him out," babbled Rebecca excitedly.

"I don't know. Jade you're friends with Max Michaelis right? Does he ever talk about me?"

"Hmm," I say jerking out of my thoughts. "Who? Oh, you mean Witt. Um, no he hasn't mentioned you."
Carly and Rebecca glared at me. I just smirked.

Next morning I informed Witt of his new admirer.

"Damn it," Witt cursed.

"What's the matter? Not your type?" I teased. Witt rolled his eyes.

"Oh shit, here comes her annoying friend," he muttered. "Quick hold hands with me or something."

"What?"

"Pretend we're dating so I don't have to date her."

"Just say no."

"Then I'll seem like jerk."

"Yeah, but Rebecca will spread the word back to Carly and they'll kill me in my sleep. Plus they'll spread it around the school gossip chain."

"So?"

"So we're not actually dating."

"Just..." Witt grabbed my hand and moved his fingers so that they were intertwined with mine. I tried to wiggle my hand free he had a really strong grip. In retaliation I clenched my fingers together squeezing Witt's between them. He flinched slightly but didn't loosen his grip.

"Hullo Max!" bubbled Rebecca.

"Hi Rebecca," Witt said with far less enthusiasm. "What's up?"

"Oh well," Rebecca giggled, "I , well, Carly was wondering if you'd like to go out with her."

"Oh," Witt shot me a glance out of the corner of his eye as if to say 'back me up here'. "Well Sc- I mean Jade and I were kind of dating."

The look on Rebecca's face was priceless. I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing.

"Oh," her gaze traveled down to our interlocked hands and her eyes narrowed. "How long have been dating for?" Witt opened his mouth to reply but I was faster.

"Since just after Christmas," I elbowed Witt in the ribs to make him go along.

"Well that's nice," Rebecca turning away and hurrying back to Carly.

As soon as she was out of ear shot I pulled Witt in the opposite direction.

Once we rounded the corner I let go of Witt's hand

"Since Christmas?" asked Witt.

"Well if I said we only started dating after Carly started liking you they'd think I was only dating you to spite her. And you owe me so bad. And you do realize that we'll have to pretend to be dating each time we see them?"

"Okay, I'll give you chocolate, and I'm sorry let's just say I owe you one. A really big one." said Witt. "Now what are we going to do about the missing students?" I changed the subject. Witt furrowed his brow, thinking.

"Get Allison and meet me by the suit of armor out side the library in two hours. Dress for sneaking around. I'll get Fandom and Hopps," he paused slightly as though waiting for me to protest, I didn't, "and we can look for clues." I nodded, and turned to go.

"Scar?" called Witt after me. "This is not a date okay? Just a group of friends."

I laughed,

"See you, Witt."

Just friends.