THIS IS STUDY HALL, NOT PLAYTIME! (matt&maryanne)

[wendy]

Addison absent-mindedly nodded at Matthew, not making any promises that she wouldn’t copy any History notes. She glanced at Matthew quickly, curious as to why he’d scooted away just a little bit when she’d snapped. It wasn’t like she was yelling at him. Shrugging it off, Addison shifted in her chair, trying to figure out how she was going to fix this. Matthew and Mary Anne would certainly not get along, so she couldn’t really try to continue a conversation with the both of them. Still, she didn’t want to be rude. Mary Anne seemed like a sweet girl. Addison was sure that if she could have a few minutes to talk to her alone, she wouldn’t mind her all that much. So what if this whole thing hadn’t gone over well? Just because it hadn’t started well didn’t mean it couldn’t end well.

Addison cringed. Now that apologies had been exchanged, she wanted the two of them to get along, or at least to be civil. It was highly unlikely, though, she was sure. “It’s fine, Mary Anne,” Addison smiled, making sure it was known that she’d accepted the apology and had (sort of) moved on. Now, she just needed to see what she could do about Matthew and Mary Anne getting along for, at least, the remainder of class. Addison could really be such a people pleaser sometimes which was why she wanted to appease both of them. She needed to let Matthew know that she was sorry for ‘cheating’ and that she was still his best friend despite their brief argument. She wanted to be friends, or at least acquaintances, with Mary Anne (she really would’ve liked more female friends, and she was a senior, which made it that much better).

Oh, Matthew certainly was not having this. She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. How was she supposed to solve this? “Matty, it’s not fair that I can’t tell you what to do and then you think it’s okay to tell me what to do.” She could never tell him what to do or boss him around. She could be such a pushover, letting herself be bossed around by him. Addison rolled her eyes, dismissing his tone. “I can be friends with whomever I well please,” she told him, a bit haughtily. She was growing rather tired of him telling her what she could and couldn’t do or who she could or couldn’t be friends with. Addison looked back to Mary Anne, nonchalantly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear; while her mouth was hidden behind her arm, she mouthed a ‘later’ to Mary Anne, referring to the notes she still definitely wanted to borrow.

[MARY ANNE SPENCER]

Mary Anne's patience was, frankly, running more than a bit short. She had had just about enough of this rambunctious young chap, and she wanted him to settle down and keep quiet as soon as possible, whether he liked it or not. Her dreams of reforming him into a charitable, acceptable young lad were quickly running into the ground once she realized that such reformation would entail more encounters with this wild monster. Perhaps.... he cold do without being saved. If it meant the difference between having to merely pt up with him on Earth or being with him for eternity in the hereafter, she was quite content to let him merely burn. He had chosen his own fate, and Mary Anne was not particularly inclined to sway him from that course simply to have to be privy to his chatter and mocking laugh for an immeasurable amount of time which was meant to be spent in sheer bliss.

Goodness, what she really wanted right now was a nice mug of tea. Well, maybe not a mug. That sounded so boorish and masculine. No, a nice cup would do, filled with steaming tea leaves and a drop or two of milk and honey. She could just curl p somewhere with her tea and a good book, and read about the romantic exploits of one of Miss Jane Austen's lovely characters. Truly, that would be the best escape from this stressful situation.

"I think everyone involved would appreciate it if you just kept quiet while the mature, big kids are talking, eh deary?" Mary Anne shot a dirty look to the beastly one. He needed to just keep off her nerves if he knew what was good for him. Mary Anne was not particularly ready to play nice for much longer with sch an unruly mongrel.

It was then that Mary Anne saw Addison mouth to her from behind her arm. Now, Mary Anne was not particularly used to the entire idea of secrecy and deceit, and as such she worried that her reaction may not have been as discreet as one may have hoped for in such a situation. placing her palm in front of her mouth facing the beastly one, she hissed, quite more loudly than expected, "Alirght, deary, I perfectly understand!" she then straightened up and shot a glance towards the monkey boy, as if daring him to question her Godlike powers of deception and secrecy.

[MATTHEW PETERSON]

"It's fine, Mary Anne."

Fine?! Fine?! Nothing about this was fine. His best friend was a traitor! A good-for-nothing low-life of a trecharous, back-stabbing, conniving, cheating traitor, and she expected this all to be fine?! Matt couldn't understand it. Then again, he couldn't understand a lot of what Addison did, but this was different. Ever so much different. This was Mary Anne Spencer they were talking to, the very same girl who had encouraged her cheating in the first place and called her a...Well, Matt wasn't exactly sure what the word for it was, as Mary Anne hadn't exactly said it, but he was sure it was somewhere between "nitwit" and "grown-up" on the scale of horrible insults. But either way, she acted far too mature to be trusted. Certainly not the type of person Addison should ever be shaking hands with if she intended on staying his best friend for much longer.

Matt glowered at the exchange of words. Unable to resist the sudden urge, Matt crossed his arms over his chest and slid so far down in his seat that only the top half of his head was visible. He made sure to aim a small kick in the direction of Mary Anne's ankles as he did so, only feeling the tiniest twinge of regret. After all, she deserved it, for turning Addie the way she was. " 'S perfectly fair," he grumbled, brown eyes adjusting their glare back towards Addie. No. Addison. Addie was dead to him now. "I don't try and be friends with stupid idiots who call me nasty names," he shot Mary Anne a look that he felt said it all, when accompained with words he apparently found so cutting.

He supposed she must have been insulted too, as she replied with that same tone that made him want to chuck a particularly sharp paper airplane somewhere right between her eyes. Or her fingers. Come to think of it, a papercut between the fingers would probably hurt a whole lot more...

Matt squirmed upwards in his seat just enough to stick his tongue out at Mary Anne, in a manner that more than solidified his position as the most immature of the bunch. Not that he minded. In fact, Mary Anne's apparent attempt at insulting his lack of development in the area rolled right off him, earning her no more than another childish remark and narrowing of the eyes. "Well I don't wanna talk to you, anyway," his eyes darted quickly between the two of them before resting on Addison. "Besides, Addie's not mature. Are ya, Addie?" his stony face wavered for a moment, and his brown eyes grew wide, as if somehow fearing the answer. Which was a stupid idea, as Matt didn't fear anything.

"Huh?" he snapped out of the one-man staring contest at the sound of Mary Anne's horrible attempt at a whisper, jumping up to a ramrod straight position in less than half a second. "What was that?" Matt glanced wildly between the two girls in search of an answer before settling back to stare at the one glaring at him--Mary Anne. He narrowed his eyes again, giving her his best interrogation stare as he slapped his palms loudly down on the table. "Understand what?" he spoke with a dreadful calm utterly uncharacteristic of his typically bouncing self. Still glaring evenly, Matt managed to give Mary Anne the sort of stare that implied there was a very sharp sword pointed directly under her chin; one he would not hesitate to spill metaphorical blood with.

[wendy]

What if she just got up and left? Asked the teacher to go to the bathroom, or said she wasn’t feeling well and if she could go to the nurse. She would have to insist that she didn’t need anybody to accompany her to the nurse. Then again, she wouldn’t mind just moving to a different table. It might be interesting to see how Matthew and Mary Anne interacted. Though they probably would go right away to ignoring each other; Matthew to his paper airplanes and Mary Anne to her school work. That would be boring. Hmph… Addison turned to look at Matthew has he sunk into his chair until he was hardly visible. She rolled her eyes and reached over to ruffle his hair. Mary Anne’s comment along with Addison’s action almost made her laugh. Ruffling his hair made him seem like a child (her father had always ruffled her hair) and yet she felt rather immature for doing so. Nonetheless. “I wish you two would get along,” Addison said quietly, absent-mindedly twirling a strand of her own hair around her finger.

“Well, no, of course not.” Addison gave him a look; why would you befriend somebody who called you nasty names? “She’s not an idiot, though, Matty.” Addison had to defend the girl because she knew Mary Anne must be the farthest from, especially with her notes so in order. Besides, the nasty names had all been a big misunderstanding which Addison was slowly beginning to forget about it. Friendship sometimes started in the strangest of ways and who was to say that this incident couldn’t lead to being friends with Mary Anne? Matthew would have none of that, of course, but still. Again, she rolled her eyes. Matthew sticking his tongue out at Mary Anne was not helping with the immature label she’d given him. Oh, dear. “Well…” she started uncertainly. “I can be when I need to be.” There. That should do it. It wasn’t a yes but it wasn’t a no.

Addison gave a startled jump as Mary Anne’s attempt at a whisper, giving her a sharp look. She’d briefly forgotten the girl was there and—where in the world had she learned to whisper?! Addison almost slapped her palm against her forehead but resisted the urge because if Mary Anne hadn’t given them away, a facepalm certainly would. When Mathew glanced to her, she gave him an innocent shrug. Once his glare had focused on Mar y Anne, however, Addison was far from innocent. She shook her head at Mary Anne, giving the international sign for ‘don’t say anything.’ Hopefully, she’d understand that and not make this any worse than it already was.

[MARY ANNE SPENCER]

Feeling her rightful sense of superiority restored now that she knew something Matt didn't (though he clearly wanted to, the nosy little devil), Mary Anne felt quite content with the situation. Now, she was perfectly aware that the Lord Almighty bade his followers not to judge their neighbors lest they themselves be fit to be judged, yet Mary Anne simply couldn't help it. She'd given chance after chance after chance. This young mongrel was simply hopeless, and she felt duly justified in feeling smug in keeping a secret from him. She liked to watch him suffer and squirm. He was just like Georgianna. He could never be content with things as the were. He always needed to know just exactly what was going on and he couldn't bear the thought of being left out. It was JUST as annoying a trait in him as it was in Mary Anne's sister.

Sitting back in her chair, Mary Anne donned an expression of surprise and confusion. "Sorry?,"she asked. "I certainly didn't say anything." Smirking, Mary Anne waited for his response.

Now, she probably shouldn't have derived such sinful pleasure from this whole ordeal. She knew it was truly reprehensible to enjoy watching other people squirm and grow angry. At the same time, however, it was kind of... well, it was irresistibly satisfying to know that she was knocking those pompous little twats down a few pegs. Putting them in their place, as it were. It wasn't JUDGEMENT,a s it were, but more of a reminder that they needed to repent lest they lose their souls to the fiery bowels of Hell, struck down by the hand of an angry God....only not quite in so many words.

"I have honestly no clue what you're talking about, sweetheart." That was generally Mary Anne's 'tell'. She couldn't help but whip out the pet names when she began to lie. Whether it be a variation of 'darling' or 'sweetheart' or 'honey', she found a way to work it into conversation. Feeling superior did that to her.

Placing her hand back up to her face in order to mask her words once more, she hissed "Okay, deary, we're in the clear." She whipped him a snide glance before continuing on. "He'll never, ever know!"

[MATTHEW PETERSON]

When had Addie turned so mean? It couldn’t have been a gradual thing, because Matt would have noticed and snapped her right out of it, probably literally. But then…she couldn’t have turned evil just like that, in the blink of an eye. She was much stronger than that, even if she wasn’t quite as great as him. So of course, it had to be Mary Anne’s fault. Not that he hadn’t known as much already. It was just confirmation of what she’d done, the response Addison gave him, and no amount of hair ruffling or smiling could ever change that, because they were over and Addison was worth nothing to him now. He stuck his tongue out at his former best friend to reiterate the silent point, sure she’d understand what it was he meant. After all, they’d been friends five minutes ago. Surely the mind reading powers wore off a bit longer than five minutes from the end of breaking all ties. He hoped they did, because he certainly wasn’t going to waste any effort speaking with her.

“What d’you mean, you didn’t seen anything…?” Matt leaned a bit closer to Mary Anne, feeling a great deal more intimidating than he actually was as she searched her eyes for reason. “Don’t try lying to me…If you do, I’ll—I’ll cut off your toes,” he nodded, satisfied with the threat before settling back down in his seat, pointedly facing as far away from Addison as possible. It was quite difficult, as he also took great care not to appear to be sitting too close to Mary Anne. He certainly wasn’t about to catch her stupidity and evilness disease.

The pet name, however, set him off. “Don’t call me that, poison brain!” he snapped rudely, eyes narrowing. Matt was nobody’s sweetheart. Not now, not ever, and certainly not Mary Anne’s. The idea made his skin crawl.

And then, of course, she had to go and whip out her hand like that again, and Matt knew instantly that she’d been trying to trick him all along. Ha! Like he’d ever be stupid enough to fall for her lies! “Hey! Hey! I told you not to lie to me! You were whispering! I saw it, you stupid old witch!” his voice grew steadily louder as he began to bounce up and down, pointing his finger wildly at Mary Anne throughout the accusation. “See, Addie? She tried to trick me! You can’t be friends with her! She’s being unfair!”

Well, there went the silent treatment.

[wendy]

Addison shifted, becoming quite uncomfortable. This was all getting to be a bit too much for her. Her best friend (though he probably didn’t consider her as his anymore) and a potential friend were going at it. Addison didn’t know it was possible for two people to dislike each other so much. Then again, they were completely opposite. Maybe it shouldn’t have been so surprising to her. Oh, and as if to prove her previous thought, Matthew was acting just as she’d expect him to if he was deeming her ex-best friend. Well, I suppose if we’re no longer best friends, then it won’t be hurting anybody if I became friends with Mary Anne, Addison thought, almost immaturely. It wasn’t at all how she thought friendships to work and it wasn’t as if she would befriend Mary Anne for that reason. Addison certainly liked her and she did intend to make conversation another day, when Matthew wouldn’t be there to make things difficult.

As Matthew was giving her the silent treatment, she didn’t have much to say when it came to his comments. If he wasn’t going to talk to her, maybe she wouldn’t talk to him either. If only he’d just decided to ditch today. He was always off climbing trees, why not today? Why did he have to come to Study Hall today of all days? Addison exhaled loudly, sub-consciously using it as a way to express her annoyance. Not only with Matthew, but partially with Mary Anne. Again, she thought, if only they could at least be civil. That wasn’t asking too much was it? “Don’t worry,” Addison said distractedly, “he won’t really.” As if that needed explaining. Matthew was usually all bark no bite. Besides, it really wasn’t likely that she’d be best friends with somebody who actually did go around cutting off the toes of people they didn’t like.

It was like whiplash, hearing Mary Anne using pet names like sweetheart and deary and then hearing Matthew snapping insults left and right. Patience could only last for so long. Addison sent Matthew a short not-so-subtle glare to make it clear that she was displeased with his rudeness. Not that he would notice or care, but nonetheless. However, when his voice began to near a shout, she had to say something. “Matty!” she hissed, “not so loud. You’ll get in trouble!” Addison glanced towards the teacher who seemed just as unaware as usual. Great.

Addison shot an apologetic look in Mary Anne’s direction, starting to grow tired of constantly apologize for Matthew’s behavior. She didn’t really need to worry about it but she felt it was necessary. Addison held her hands up, as if surrendering. It was really all she felt like doing right now, anyway. She shifted again, folding a leg beneath her this time. “I won’t be able to change your mind now, so I’m just going to stop trying.” She said to him, making it crystal clear. Then Addison looked to Mary Anne and smiled her best smile, hoping this wouldn’t put a damper on what she wanted to be a lovely friendship.

[MARY ANNE SPENCER]

Mary Anne loved being able to put herself in a position of utter moral superiority. She was clearly the most mature of the group, and she took great pride in the fact that she was able to stand as a pillar of opportunity for the young little Addison girl. Perhaps, just as long as she was able to see Mary Anne as an example of what i would be like to NOT be a common street whore, she would still have a chance to pull herself up by her bootstraps to get to a better place. Mary Anne just loved knowing that she was saving a fellow human being from the fiery torment of an eternity in the pit below. It just made her giddy at the thought that she had rescued that poor girl from her own heathen ways.

The other one,however, seemed altogether quite hopeless. Mary Anne hardly batted an eye at the mention of toe removal. She honestly was not surprised. She'd always known that it was just a short leap to go from loud and unruly to absolute homicidal toe-cutter-offer. It was a well known and documented fact! Mary Anne merely shrugged at him, returning to smiling like an absolutely ecstatic angel at Addison. Mary Anne made a mental note to only refer to the girl as such from then on. 'Addie' reeked of harlotry and skankitude. 'Addison' on the other hand was the perfect name for a reformed lamb of the lord.

The awkward silence that fell upon the table was like music to Mary Anne's ears. She had done it. She had successfully broken the demon's grip on the young Addison. No longer were his words regarded by her sweet little project. For once in that entire study hall they were not plagued by the ceaseless noise of distraction and idiocy. There was merely quiet, promising the opportunity to actually get some work done.

Mary Anne could never have imagined that in such short a time of reform and religious pleading she'd be able to get Addison so firmly on the side of righteousness and good, but to her great surprise the girl turned and positively hissed, HISSED, at the mongrel that had once tempted her into such great evil. Mary Anne nearly teared up at the sight of it. She had done SUCH great work there that day.

Mary Anne folded her hands politely on the table, tilting her head slightly and absoultely BEAMING at Addison. "Oh, deary, you know why don't we get together some time later? I should bring you back to my dorm! I have the perfect dress for you that I think would REALLY bring out your eyes, and we could have some tea and a snack and I'm sure it would just be SO fun! Just us girls! Oh! And you could meet Lizzie! She'd LOVE you, I'm sure!"

Mary Anne shot a fleeting glance towards Matthew, the devil's spawn, before continuing, "Unless, of course, you have other plans."