| Chapter 8 March 26, 2000 12:37 PM FDR High School “Maybe he’s not coming back.” Scully said, beginning to doubt herself. Her right hand searched for the lever on the side of her seat. Her chair was reclined from her short nap but now she knew it was time to become alert. “I think we should stick it out a little longer.” Mulder suggested. He looked down at his watch. “Besides, Piper gets out of school in less than an hour.” Scully rolled her eyes and took a sip of her day old coffee. She crinkled her nose and opened her automatic window. She dumped the contents onto the street below. “Maybe he was scared off when he saw us coming.” Scully guessed. “Maybe.” Mulder whispered. “But, in the event that he does come here, wake me up.” He reclined his chair and closed his eyes. Scully smiled as she watched her partner sleep. * * * * Piper shifted her leg out from under her. She rested it on the back of the chair in front of her. She scribbled notes down on a piece of paper but she didn’t comprehend them. Her mind raced with ideas of who the killer was and what his motivation could be. Erin sat in front of her, Maxine next to her, Kyla next to Erin, and Candy in front of Erin. She was surrounded by friends, who all at least pretended to pay attention. “Let’s have a war.” Piper’s teacher spoke. “Where have we heard that before?” Maxine whispered to anyone who would listen. It was a line she and her classmates had heard their teacher say many times before. They had been trying to reach the Civil War for almost a month and they had finally reached the time period. History classes always seemed to be based around the wars that were fought, whether they be lost or won. Piper’s thoughts were interrupted when she heard her teacher speak, this time not about the History lesson. “Dr. Greene, this is a surprise.” Piper’s teacher said. All of the students looked up to see their principal standing in the doorway. “Just coming to check up on some of my favorite students.” Dr. Greene said. “Great, time to be tested.” Piper whispered to Erin. Erin looked behind her and smiled. She knew that Dr. Greene was friends with Piper’s father and always had the need to pick on Piper when the chance came. “Ms. Kane…would you like to explain to me one of the reasons why the South decided to secede from the union.” Dr. Greene asked. “Sure, so he picks one of my friends.” Piper whispered. “Better than you.” Erin commented. Candy listened to her friends talk as she thought about how to answer her principal’s question. “Um…the issue of slavery.” She finally answered. “The northerners felt slavery was wrong whereas the south wanted to keep their slaves.” “Well, that was an issue, a big misconception actually. The civil war was more than just slavery.” Dr. Greene said. “Here it comes.” Piper said quietly. “Ms. Alexander, anything to add to that?” Dr. Greene questioned. Piper sighed. “No.” She answered. “Okay.” Dr. Greene said. “Mind if I sit in you class for a while, Mrs. O'Hara?” “No problem.” She answered. Dr. Greene walked down one of the rows, past Piper and Erin. He glared at Piper as he walked by. She felt a chill go down her spine. He took a seat behind her. Piper secretly looked to Max and rolled her eyes. Max smiled and turned back towards her teacher. Piper tried to smile but she felt Dr. Greene’s eyes going through her like ice. And then it hit her. She knew who the murderer was but how could she tell Mulder and Scully? “Oh my God!” She yelled, jumping up from her seat. Mrs. O'Hara stopped in mid sentence. Piper’s entire class stopped to stare at her. “Ms. Alexander, are you okay?” Dr. Greene wondered. She turned to him, her mouth hanging open. “Piper, would you like to see the nurse?” Mrs. O'Hara asked. “No.” Piper said as she sat back down in her seat. Max, Erin, Kyla, and Candy all turned to her, surprised at her outburst. Mrs. O'Hara shrugged her shoulders and turned back to the board. The rest of the students all turned, listening to her every word but not Piper. Her mind was focused on other things. “Piper, what was that all about?” Erin whispered, turning to Piper. “Nothing, just turn around.” Piper answered quietly. Erin took one last look at Piper and then turned. Piper continued to sit in class, anxious to leave. The news she had could be life saving but she had no one to tell. Every once in a while, someone would look back at her, wanting to know what her outburst was about but she wouldn’t tell anyone. She couldn’t tell anyone, except for two people. Finally, the bell rang. Piper was the first to spring out of her seat. She dumped her things into her backpack and waited for her teacher to say her final words. As she did, Piper brushed past Dr. Greene, who grabbed her wrist. “Let go of me!” She shrieked. “I think we need to talk.” Dr. Greene suggested. “I’m not talking to you. Let me go.” Piper exclaimed. The rest of the class began to leave, except for Piper’s friends. They kept their distance, but were ready to help Piper if she needed it. Mrs. O'Hara noticed Piper and Dr. Greene in the back of the room. She walked over to them, curious as to what was going on. “What’s going on, Piper?” Mrs. O'Hara asked. Dr. Greene immediately let go of her wrist. “Nothing.” Piper answered immediately. “That outburst didn’t seem like nothing.” Mrs. O'Hara said. “I just thought of something that I really need to talk to friends about. Now, let me talk to them.” Piper begged. Mrs. O'Hara nodded for her to go. Piper walked over to her group of friends, who followed her out of the room. “Piper, what is going on?” Max questioned as soon as they were out of hearing distance of anyone. “I know who the murderer is.” Piper answered. “What?” Erin exclaimed. “I can’t tell you here. I have to tell Mulder and Scully.” Piper said. “Piper, you have one more class left. Geometry with Ms. Winchell. You can’t just skip class to go talk to Mulder and Scully.” Kyla pointed out. “I have to. This is life or death, Kyla!” Piper screamed. “Piper, Kyla has a point.” Erin said. “You can’t just skip school. Jumping out a window is one thing…but just not going to class.” “Erin, Ms. Winchell will understand. She knows what Piper’s going through.” Max argued. “You know…” Candy began. “I don’t think skipping class is right but I also think Ms. Winchell would understand.” “Yea but Candy…” Kyla stuttered. “This is unconventional.” “Kyla, if this is a matter of life or death…” Max exclaimed. “I think Kyla’s right.” Erin agreed. Piper stood by, watching her friends argue. She tried to get a word in but then realized they would never stop arguing. She slipped out of the way of her friend’s eyes. She ran down the hallway, having people stare at her as she went. She ran down to her Geometry room, and saw Ms. Winchell sitting at her desk. A few students were sitting at their desks, studying while others stood around talking. “Piper, is something wrong?” Ms. Winchell asked, knowing the answer to her question before she had asked it. “I know who did it.” Piper whispered, not wanting the other students to overhear. “Now, Mulder and Scully are nearby on a stakeout…” “Go.” Ms. Winchell interrupted. “But don’t you want…” Piper protested, surprised at her teacher’s instant reaction. “Go.” She repeated. Piper nodded and ran out of the room. Scully stared out of her binoculars, looking for something out of the ordinary. Mulder snored quietly next to her. The noise didn’t bother her. Actually, in some ways it soothed her. She turned her head, and gazed out to the surroundings around her. She saw a figure running towards her. She opened the car door and dropped her binoculars on the cement below. The sound awoke Mulder from his peaceful slumber. “What is it?” He asked tiredly. He raised his chair and got out of the car. He walked to the other side of the car where Scully was standing. |