Part 34 - Keep quiet

Y/n

"Y/nnnnn...wake uuuup..."

I groan as the low whisper of a voice got louder with each second.

And as my mind started to wake up, so did my senses. Meaning the feeling of the repetitive tapping against my forehead got increasingly more annoying with each time the connection was made.

And then it felt electric. Like when you and someone bounce on a trampoline for a long time, then when you get off and touch the tips of your finger it sends a shock between you.

Only this time it just went straight through me and quite possibly into my brain.

The sudden touch of lightning into my skull made my eyes open quicker than they ever have before, and when they saw a face hovering over my own merely inches away, I didn't even have time to register who it might have been before my hand instinctively came up to slap it away from me.

With a small shriek, I hit the mysterious figure off my bed, and they stumbled backwards and onto the floor with a groan. It was then that I saw that they weren't so mysterious after all.

Pugsley sat flat on his butt on the floor down next to my bed, gently rubbing his face where I'd just hit it full force without thinking.

"Ugh...ouch..."

I felt a huge wave of guilt when I realized it was him, and I threw my covers off of me, rushing out of bed and crouching down by his side within seconds, not really caring that my pj shorts had probably ridden up overnight and my butt was most definitely not covered completely, but it's not like he could see it so it's fine. 

I lifted my hands up, but I was unsure of what to do with them, so they just sort of hovered near him until they found their way to cover my mouth as I spoke.

"Oh my god, I am so so sorry, are you okay?"

He nods as his hand came to a stop on his cheek, and he smiled at me. How could he smile? I just smacked the shit out of him, and he's still happy.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Are you? That was quite the scream."

I scoff.

"That was not a scream. That was...a squeal, at most."

He just smirks and laughs a little.

"Yeah sure, we'll go with that."

I hit his arm, but much more gently as I mirror his smile with my own, sitting down on the floor and looking at him with guilt weighing on me.

"I mean it though, I am so sorry I hit you. If I had known it was you I never would have done that."

He shrugs.

"You had every right to. I scared you, yeah?"

I tilt my head in an agreeing matter, gesturing with my hand,

"Maybe just a little bit."

He smiles, and places a hand on my arm.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you scared. I just wanted you to wake up."

Okay well that much was obvious. I didn't understand why he didn't just wake me up the regular way though, by yelling from across the room.

"Sure, but like...why did you shock me? I thought we promised not to use our powers on each other."

He shrinks a little at that, removing his hand from my arm as he moved to stand up, grabbing my own hands and pulling me along with him.

"I know, and I'm sorry. But I had no other choice."

Wellll, you kinda did but alright.

He looked around the room for a moment.

"Also, did you move your bed? I could have sworn it wasn't this close to the window before."

Ah, right. I forgot about that.

I'd come back to the dorm on my own yesterday without Pugsley with me, and in my solitude, I made the very impulsive and physically excruciating decision to rearrange my side of the room to get my annoyed energy out of my system after being ignored by this dude all day. And my bed now sat right up against the glass window instead of it's usual spot near the wall. Honestly I kind of wanted to change it back already, but I didn't exactly have the time to do that right this instant.

"That's...not important. What matter was so pressing that you had to quite literally electrocute me awake?"

Both his expression and his tone turned more serious, gripping my hands a little tighter as he spoke, looking right into my soul.

"There's something you need to see."

««« ♪ ♪ »»»

"Oh my god...what do you think happened to him?"

I moved a little further around the corner that lead into Professor Orloff's classroom, where I was currently peeking into, trying not to be seen by the police officers or medical examiners that were near the doorway that was taped off with crime scene tape.

Because in that room, floating in his now shattered jar, Orloff was dead.

He looked...scared. Like whatever the last thing he saw before he got killed, was truly terrifying. And honestly I don't blame him, anything that was capable of taking chunks out of someone's head that big had to be pretty scary.

Pugsley moved behind me, getting a better look inside the room, where Principal Dort and the Sheriff stood in front of Orloff's dead...well, sort of body.

Sneaking around like this made me feel like a kid again. That one year on Christmas when I creeped down the stairs to catch a glimpse of Santa Claus putting my gifts under the tree, but instead of being met with the sight of a big man in a red suit and hat, I saw my dad hunched over by the fireplace, still wearing his robe with a cup of coffee in his hand as he filled me and my brother's stockings. I was 4, I never told them I knew the truth, and I just played along with the lie.

Only now the sight before me was much, much worse.

"I'm not sure why, but it had to have been Slurp. Nothing else could take bites like that out of someone's head."

That meant he was here, last night. And nobody saw him. Come to think of it, I hadn't seen him since he got taken away at camp. I wonder how different he looked now, if he'd changed at all. I know he's like a cannibalistic murderer and all that, but I admit I was a little curious how he was doing.

We both stayed quiet as we tried to hear what Dort was saying to the sheriff. I was kind of glad that Pugsley was just as nosy as I was, it made me feel less bad for snooping around when I wasn't supposed to.

"How much longer is this going to take? I can't have my guests arrive to a crime scene."

He gestured towards Orloff, and I couldn't help but feel a little peeved at his lack of empathy. I mean somebody died, have a little respect.

Sheriff Santiago gave him a quizzical look as she spoke.

"I assumed that you were cancelling the gala, out of respect for your late colleague."

Now there is someone with their head screwed on right.

Wait.

Cancel the gala?

Okay everything else in her sentence I agreed with, except for that. Look it's sad that he died and all, sure. But I am NOT missing this gala, I've been looking forward to it since the year started.

"Oh, I know Professor Orloff would want us to keep calm and outcast on. That's the Nevermore way."

Okay then, why the fuck have I never heard that before?

Santiago looked just as skeptical as I was.

"Doubt anyone's gonna show up once this hits the press."

"Perhaps we can just say that there was an unfortunate classroom accident."

The sheriff now turned to face him fully, and both Pugsley and I leaned a little further in to see them. I mean, I knew Dort was kind of a weirdo, but he was acting extra suspicious today.

"Do you really want it out there that the Jericho Sheriff's department still hasn't caught a killer zombie."

And that folks, right there, is manipulation. And quite possibly subtle blackmail. Clear as day, he's trying to cover it up, but why?

Sheriff Santiago seems kind of pissed off. I would be too if I had to listen to Dort's bullshit for that long, but her tone turned more assertive.

"This isn't over. From now on, my deputies handle campus security."

When Dort tried to cut in, she quickly shut him down.

"That's a non-negotiable."

Yes, girl, I'd cheer for you but I'm trying not to be seen.

I was so focused on them, that I hadn't realized how far forward I was leaning, and before I had time to realize it was happening, gravity had already started to take it's bitch ass toll on me as I felt myself begin to fall, heading straight for a face plant to the floor.

Oh well, I guess this is it. Tell my face I love her, and that I am sorry.

I was fully prepared to feel the worst pain ever, and potentially break my nose,

But alas, I did not.

I just sort of...hovered, in mid air.

Well, okay maybe not quite hovering, but there was something that stopped me from falling.

And that something came in the form of an arm wrapped around my waist, that was attached the the boy standing behind me.

"Woah, you okay?"

I turn my head back to look at him, and he had a nervous smile on his face as he kept me from falling. 

I let a small huff.

"Thanks, I thought I was gonna face plant for a second."

He shakes his head with a sincere look.

"I'll never let you fall."

I wanted to thank him again, but before I could respond, both of our heads whipped towards the sound of getting caught.

We'd been spotted by one of the officer's. Shiiiiiit.

"Hey! You two, you're not supposed to be here!"

The officer started to move towards us in a hurry, and Pugsley pulled me back up onto my feet, taking his arm off my waist and grabbing my hand instead.

"Time to go."

He flashes me a quick smile before we started to run, and the act of racing down the halls in hopes of escaping the fucking police was so crazy, that it caused an echo of laughter to come with us as we just kept moving.

Our feet carried us through the halls, the officer still on our tails, but falling behind with each step. And once we made it outside, Pugsley pulled me towards one of the huge pillars that stood outside the building, wide enough that if you were to hide behind it, you couldn't be seen.

And that's exactly what we did.

My back was flush against the cold concrete of what was practically a small wall, and Pugsley stood adjacent to me, facing the court behind us while he kept an eye out.

He was close, perhaps a little too close. But that wasn't the main thing on my mind right now.

He had his hand over my mouth.

I'm not sure if he was really thinking when he did it, maybe just wanting to make sure I didn't give our position away to anyone walking past, but this was probably the closest he has ever been to me, and that thought alone was making my face heat up to the point that I was sure he could definitely feel it.

If he looked down right now, he'd see a flushed mess and rosy cheeks, because I genuinely didn't know how to feel about this. His other hand was leaning on the wall above my head, and I think if he got any closer, I might just pass out.

I don't know...I kind of liked it.

I kept my eyes locked on his face, which luckily for me was focused behind me, so I still had time to get my heartrate under control before he noticed I was staring. But I couldn't help it, he just looked so...

How do I explain it...I've never seen Pugsley like this, taking charge.

And I'm just a girl, okay? I admit that my heart beats a little quicker for a guy who isn't afraid to take the wheel sometimes. But I just...

Fucking hell Y/n, pull yourself together. This is Pugsley we're talking about, he's not..

Oh but he is...

I had hoped I wouldn't still be thinking about him like this, but that night when we almost...

And now this. I can't take it.

I felt like I was looking at a different person to the boy I'd met not that long ago, but it was still him, I just never thought I could see him in this kind of way.

I shouldn't. I know I shouldn't.

But he just looks so-

"Hello? Earth to Y/nnn?"

Fuck. He was looking at me, meaning he saw me staring. Plus I don't think the heavy breathing through my nose was helping much.

I just nod, still unable to take my eyes off of him.

"Mhm."

I couldn't say anything else, as my mouth was still covered, but when I glanced down to his hand, he must have realized what he was doing, because he almost immediately took it off me and looked away from me.

"Uh, sorry, I didn't mean- ...I think we're safe now."

I let my head fall down a little, trying to hide my face from him in hopes that he hadn't noticed how red I was, but there was something still lingering in the back of my mind that was bothering me.

My brain thought back to that moment yesterday that he had with Agnes, and I felt the same peeved feeling that I did before. I'd almost forgotten about it completely, with the laughter and the running, the way his arm felt around my waist when he kept me from falling, and then now with his tactic of keeping me quiet. 

I hadn't even thought about my hatred of his laughing at her words yesterday until right now, but my demeanor shifts again as I look down away from him.

"Yup. Great."

It came out sounding harsher than I'd wanted it to, and I could feel Pugsley's gaze turn to me at my sudden change of tone.

"Hey, are you sure you're okay..?"

Well shit.

I nod softly, trying not to give him any more reason to question my attitude towards him.

"Mhm. Fine."

"Y/n."

His tone was stern, just as it had been back at the festival when I was being stubborn, the same as I was now, and it sent shivers up my spine just hearing it.

I felt his hand under my chin, tilting my head up so he could look at me fully without me pulling away, and the way he was staring so intensely into my eyes was freaking me out a little bit.

"What's the matter with you, huh? You've been acting funny since yesterday."

I scoff, and muttered under my breath.

"Have I? And here I thought Agnes was the funny one."

He let out a laugh, moving both his hands to hold my head as he leaned in closer.

"Is that what this snarky mood is about? Are you seriously that annoyed that I laughed at one thing she said? And here I thought I had actually done something to piss you off."

Well I mean you also kind of ignored me but I guess we're just going to skip over that part entirely.

He was close...It was like I was basically breathing in the same air he had in his own lungs, and it was making me nervous.

"I...shut up, that's not what I meant. I just figured she couldn't be that funny..."

He smiles.

"Trust me, that was nothing. You know nobody can make me laugh like you do, so you don't have to worry about a thing, you're still my resident funny girl."

His hands let go of my face, and I let out a breath of air I hadn't even realized I'd been holding, laughing off my nerves as he continued his staring.

"Whatever..."

He called me his funny girl. And I don't think I am ever going to get over that for the rest of my life.

Pugsley then softened his expression, and his hand reached into his back pocket for something, only taking seconds before he returned it closer to me, only now it held a familiar shaped wrapper that I couldn't help but get excited to see.

He held it out for me to take, with a small smirk on his face.

"Please don't be mad at me? I have a peace offering."

I took the small bag from his hand with a grin that I could just not hold back no matter how hard I tried, and I laughed as I looked down at the packet of sour gummy worms in my hands.

"Thank you...but how did you know these were my favorite?"

He shrugs.

"They're the same one's you've shared with me twice now, I figured it was about time I returned the favor."

There was a small pause before he brushed a piece of hair away from my forehead.

"Are we good?"

I nod.

"Yeah, we're good."

He poked the tip of my nose with his forefinger softly, before he started to tun to walk away, but there was another thing lingering on my mind that I wanted an answer to.

"Hey."

He stopped mid step and looked at me.

"Yeah?"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

His gaze met mine, confused as to what I meant, seeing as I gave absolutely no context.

"Tell you what?"

I sigh.

"That night, at the festival. Why didn't you tell me that you saw Slurp? I wouldn't have said anything, I promise. You can trust me, right?"

His expression dropped like I'd just told him I'd killed his cat.

"Of course I trust you, I trust you more than anyone, I swear...I just- There were so many people around that night and I didn't want to risk somebody hearing me, and you were hurt so I was focusing on you and I didn't even realize. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I guess it sort of slipped my mind after that."

He looked like he was panicking, though I'm not sure why, I wasn't mad at him for not telling me or anything, I just wanted to know why.

"Hey, it's okay. You were never obligated to tell me, it's not really my business, but I just wanted to be sure I didn't do anything."

I saw his shoulders visibly relax as he shook his head softly.

"I need you to know, that I would never keep anything like that from you on purpose. I trust you with my whole being."

Woah.

I was not expecting that. I mean yeah sure I trusted him a lot too, but the way he said it sent a chill up my spine. Or maybe that was simply just the brisk air surrounding us.

Either way, it made my head spin even further than before, this boy was going to drive me insane one day, I swear.

I give him a slight nod, and he smiles at me.

"Alright, we should go, it's getting really cold out here."

Moving away from the pillar, the two of us begin our walk back to the main building, not speaking of the closeness that we just shared mere moments ago.

If things like this keep happening between us, I'm afraid my last thread of dignity might just break.