Jeff leaned back against the wall. God.. that was the worst dream he ever had. He felt so messed up, so sick.. he would never hurt Belle. He wouldn't...
But... he was hurting her. He was hurting her with his wish. He wanted her to be his girlfriend, and he 'demanded' it... as a clockwork girl, Belle simply felt an 'obligation' of some kind to do what he wanted.
Jeff stared ahead. He felt uneasy for some reason. He felt like he was being watched- which was indeed the case.
Brittany, the ghost-girl was watching the human boy with curiosity. She watched as he slumped against the wall, and just started to cry. Brittany gasped a bit, as she went closer to try and help him. "Are.. are you okay?" she asked, ghostly and immaterially. It was like she didn't exist to the unchanged students, and at times like this it was very awkward.
The boy didn't react to her words as he balled his eyes, as the the mix of events, and his dream just made him cry. Damn it! If anyone saw him like this... but he didn't care. Seriously, what could anyone do? He lost the only person who ever cared about him. "I hate you changed!" He suddenly shouted, right into Brittany's face.
The ghost girl gasped taking a step back. Could.. could he see her? "W-why do you hate the changed?"
Still Jeff just stared. "The sunlight took away my girlfriend... I told her... to... to s-still be my girlfriend, and... God why did I do that?"
Brittany looked sadly, placing an immaterial hand on his shoulder. "It's okay," she tried to say to him encouragingly.
"N-No, i-it's not okay." Jeff said staring ahead.
Brittany blinked. Okay... now... this was getting creepy for her. Was Jeff hearing her voice? It didn't seem likely, and he wasn't reacting to her 'exactly'. "So.. what are you going to do?" she asked getting closer even more curious.
Jeff wiped his eyes. "I'm going to set this right. I can't order her... I'm... I'm just going to... to let her go. She's... she's right. If this goes on I'll... I'll hurt her. I don't want that. I... I just..." He slowly got up. He felt so angry but determined, as he walked 'through' Brittany.
Brittany sighed a bit as she haunted the corridor some more, watching Jeff walk away- but tensed as the boy seemed to Stare at her.
"...Just me and the ghosts... just... like always."
The young teenager sighed. This was the end for him... but... at least, at the very least, he can end it on his own terms.
Principal Erin, sat in his darkened office. He was fast becoming a legend among the unchanged students. Some thought him a monster. Some kind of strange sand creature, that didn't leave much of an expression (though certainly an impression) on those who met him.
The principal spent most of his time working out how to run a school of transformed students with unchanged students. It was not as easy as it might appear. Often he just had to 'make do' when certain situations cropped up. The issue of clothing for instance, he had pretty much relaxed now. It was not as dire as he feared.
Of course with all this work, there was a feeling in the faculty that they had in some way neglected the needs of the normal human students. Budget costs were effectively doubled, with twice as many teachers being required to work day or night. It was not hard to see why most schools just became one or the other. However Erin wanted human and changed students together. Still, there was a certain 'inevitability' in most people's mind, that at some point there would be more changed as unchanged.. and that tended to reflect on the decisions made.
There was a knock on his door.
"Enter," He said with an odd echoed voice, as the two clockwork girls entered. "Ah... Belle and... Ricky?" Oh dear.. oh dear oh dear. "Transformed at the same place and time did we?"
"No sir," Said Ricky as she placed the little clockwork down.
"Um- no," said Belle who was now staring at the sandman. She felt... a little afraid for the first time. She imagined what being a changed might be like, but never meeting one. This contrasted greatly to Ricky, who was staring with- shy curiosity. Interacting as a girl was quite a new experience too.
"Am... am I in trouble?" Belle asked meekly. Did they found out about...
"Hm? Why would you be little one?" asked the principal curiously.
Belle stared for a moment, then looked down. "Cause... I might have like- done something bad."
Principal Erin looked strangely at the clockwork, and shook his head, allowing a dusting of white and black sand to fall over his desk. "You are not in any trouble that I am aware young lady.. I just wanted to meet you both personally. I am very glad to have changed students with the human group. You are going to be... ambassadors to them. They will have so many questions, and I hope you can help them."
Ricky tilted her head. "I don't really know. I mean.. Principal Erin, I only just now became a changed." She wasn't thinking to be 'representative' of anyone. She just wanted to be with her friends.
Erin nodded. "All the same, I just wanted to personally thank you both. If you have any difficulties with any students, tell me. I want you to be happy here. I also have your new student cards." He said gesturing.
The two thanked the principal as they left his office.
Ricky looked to his little 'cousin-changed'. Belle seemed unusually pensive. She didn't really know much about her. It seemed odd for destiny to put them together in a way like this.
"Are you okay? She asked the little clockwork girl.
".. like- yeah." She said. "But- boyfriend-Jeff..."
Ricky tensed a bit at that. The way she said that, so automatically... it wasn't her own words. Ricky could tell the difference somehow in the vibration of her voice. "Belle, you need to resist when someone tell's you something you don't want to do."
"I... I can't," she said softly. "N-never could. I got to like- trust people. I'm a dummy." She said. She relied on other people... she always did.
The two stopped as Jeff was now heading towards them. What was even stranger was that behind him was a ghost girl- though Jeff didn't pay attention to her.
Jeff glanced around carefully. "Belle- I heard... you went to the principal. Did they... find out?"
"I.. no boyfriend-Jeff. Not as far as I can tell."
Jeff stared at her, then glanced at Ricky who had the most accusing look possible. Ricky looked at him like he was absolute slime, and it was not an assessment he could dismiss either. He looked back to the little clockwork girl, bending down on his knees to her to get more to her level. "Belle? I.. I am so sorry. Please forgive me and forget any command I gave you. I.. I was just.." He trailed away.
Ricky folded her arms. Jeff was always so big, and seemed even bigger now that she was so small herself... but right now, the snobby rich boy was looking quite.. pathetic.
"It's okay Boyfriend-Jeff," Said Belle softly.
" Stop that. Please. You were right. This.. isn't going to work. I... I release you."
Belle looked up at him, with a faint smile. "T-thank you, Jeff," She said gratefully. "It... it is for the best."
Jeff nodded, not allowing any more tears to be shed. He desperately wanted to hit something. To hurt something. The rage inside him was building at the injustice... the absolute injustice of it all. The sun took away the only thing he... he ever had. "Yeah... well... you take care. Take care... of each other." Jeff said turning away from the stunned clockworks.
As Jeff wondered the halls, he put his hands in his pockets... "Why am I here?" he asked aloud.
He wasn't in any state to learn anything from the teachers. He didn't want to be in school. Did he really want to go home? He didn't know where to go, but he was already in a daze, just leaving the school building.
