| Title: First Story Window Rating: PG Copyright: The X-Files and its affiliated characters belong to Chris Carter, 1013 Productions, and the Fox Network Summary: Piper and her friends are out to help Mulder and Scully again after Piper's math teacher is accused of a murder. Chapter 1 March 20, 2000 1:30 PM FDR High School Warwick, Rhode Island The leaves swirled around in a circular motion. The wind shook the branches of the trees. Though not outside, Piper felt a chill go down her spine as if the wind itself swirled around her. She kept staring out the window, not caring what went on around her. She sat in a classroom. Eighteen other students sat around her. Most of them were scribbling down notes as the teacher spoke but Piper was too busy looking outside. “Earth to Piper.” Someone whispered. Piper turned and looked at Erin. She pointed to the front of the room, signifying Piper was missing the entire lesson. “I guess I zoned out.” Piper responded as she picked up her pencil. She looked down at her notebook and then at the board, realizing she had missed a lot of notes. “Wouldn’t be the first time you decided not to pay attention.” Maxine commented as she poked Piper in the back with her pen. Piper grabbed a crumpled piece of paper from her desk and turned. She threw it at Max who caught it and stifled a laugh. “Be quiet, Max.” Hannah demanded quietly. “I’m actually trying to learn something here.” Max looked at her and threw the paper at her. Hannah tried to catch it but missed it as it whizzed by her head. “Ladies…” The teacher said as she turned from the black board. Piper, Max, Erin, and Hannah turned around. “Think you could at least pretend like you’re paying attention?” “We can pretend.” Piper joked. She looked at the board and began writing what her teacher had written on the board. Her teacher rolled her eyes and continued explaining what she was teaching. “So we use these theorems when we have two or more parallel lines and a transversal when we want to prove that angels are congruent. PAI is the abbreviation for if the lines are parallel than the alternate interior angles are congruent. PAE is the short form of saying that if the lines are parallel than the alternate exterior angles are congruent. PCA stands for if the lines are parallel than the corresponding angles are congruent. Now you can only use these when you have two or more parallel lines cut by a transversal.” The teacher explained. “Is she speaking English?” Max whispered to Erin. Erin shrugged her shoulders and listened intently. Though most of the students were confused, they continued taking the notes. The teacher wrote the definitions on the board and then drew a picture to match. She continued to explain what she was talking about. Piper barely paid attention. Her eyes kept wandering to look out the window. Her mind thought of other things. She knew she should pay attention but she couldn’t bring herself to. Her thoughts were shattered by the pierce ringing of the bell. She listened as her teacher assigned homework. She quickly jotted it down in her notebook and then dumped it and her book into her backpack. Piper stood and faced Maxine. “What time are you leaving?” Piper asked. “Probably just chilling here until 2:15.” Max answered. “Adios amigos, hasta manana!” Hannah called as she walked out of the room. Piper, Max, and Erin waved good-bye. “You guys and that Spanish.” Ms. Winchell commented. “Hey, I’m not the Spanish freak.” Piper said. She turned to Erin. “You staying long?” Piper asked. “For a little while. I’ll go visit Senorita and then come back here with you guys.” Erin answered. “Need a ride home?” Piper questioned. Erin shook her head. “See you in a while.” She said as she walked away. Max walked over to the blackboard and picked up an eraser. She erased the notes that she had just taken and then picked up a piece of chalk. She scribbled her name across the board and then erased it. “So Ms. Winchell, does this lesson involve doing proofs?” Max asked as she began to draw something on the board. “Doesn’t every lesson involve doing proofs?” Piper commented as she walked over to the board. She picked up some purple chalk and wrote her own name on the board. “Proofs are fun.” Ms. Winchell said. Piper looked to Max and laughed. “I don’t think I get the PAI thing.” Piper said. “Would have helped if you were paying attention.” Ms. Winchell retorted. “You know, paying attention is highly overrated. Tell me when I’m ever going to need this stuff in real life.” Max said. “You know Max, I can’t tell you exactly when you’ll see this stuff but I’m sure once in your life you will and you’re going to look back and thank your good old math teacher.” Ms. Winchell joked. “Yea, that’s what I’ll be thinking.” Piper commented. Ms. Winchell rolled her eyes. Maxine lightly punched Piper in the arm. “Of course we’ll be thinking of you.” Max teased. “I’m glad I’m high up on the scale of your favorite people.” Ms. Winchell joked. A thick silence filled the air. No one spoke, they didn’t feel uncomfortable around each other but the silence seemed so thick. “So about this PCA thing…” Piper began. Both Ms. Winchell and Max looked at her, and laughed. * * * * Later that night, a woman walked past the school. She switched her purse from one hand to the other. She stopped, sensing something behind her. She turned but saw nothing. Weird, she thought to herself. She continued to walk. She looked down at the sidewalk and saw a small, yellow piece of chalk partially buried by some leaves. She bent over and picked up the piece of chalk wondering how chalk got outside. She put it down and shrugged her shoulders. She was about to get back up when something pushed her over. “What the…” She said. She picked herself up and looked around. She saw a shadowy figure standing in front of her. She dropped her purse and began running. She fell as something caught her by the neck. She tried to scream but no sound came out. She began to cough as she couldn’t breathe. Her last thoughts were with her family as she closed her eyes for the last time. Chapter 2 March 23, 2000 8:12 AM FBI Headquarters, Washington DC Scully sat at her partner’s desk. She brushed her hand through her hair, letting out an exasperating sigh. She looked at her watch and wondered where Mulder was. She read over the case file again, hoping she didn’t miss anything. She looked to the door as she heard it open. Mulder walked in with a cup of coffee in his hand. “What are you doing?” Mulder asked as he took a seat opposite Scully. “I just this case directly from Skinner’s desk.” Scully said. She picked up the file and handed it to Mulder. He took it and began to skim it over. Scully didn’t take the time to let him read it. “The murder took place at FDR High School, the place where…” “Piper goes to school.” Mulder finished. Scully nodded. “Read what happened.” Scully said as she began to put some things into a briefcase. “Save me the trouble.” Mulder said “A teacher from the school was found dead on a side street next to the school. It seems as if she was strangled.” Scully explained. “Strangled by what?” Mulder wondered. “We’re not exactly sure yet. There’s no fingerprints, no hair or fiber evidence, no murder weapon, it’s unexplained.” Scully said. “And I’m assuming Piper has something to do with it.” Mulder said. “Not that I can see but considering our previous engagements with her, I wouldn’t rule it out.” “Any suspects?” Scully shook her head. “All I know is we need to get down there as soon as we can.” * * * * As Ms. Winchell spoke, Piper looked out the window once more. Ms. Winchell may have made a great teacher but the subject just didn’t interest Piper. Geometry certainly wasn’t her favorite. Piper watched as a car drove by. It turned into the parking lot and parked. Piper gazed curiously at the car. The parking lot was for teachers only and as far as she knew, teachers didn’t come in a half hour before school ended. “Piper, you’re zoning again.” Hannah whispered to her. Piper nodded but didn’t take her eyes off the window. She gasped as she saw who got out of the car. Piper stood up and walked over to the window. |
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