Continue to tell tales!

Ah I love this segment of Shannon's story! I'm really digging this!

Also, as a side note, around 150 entries! Given that there's 356 days in a year that means we're almost half way! WOO HOO!


After another 15 minutes Shannon finally started to walk home. As she got to the street corner a couple of girls pulled up in a red sports car. Riding in the back seat was Amanda. They were all laughing and singing to the music playing. Shannon stared aghast at them. As the light changed they zoomed off leaving Shannon standing alone at corner lot of the school.

Most of the semester carried out the same way. Shannon and Eddie would walk to and from school without Amanda. Aberdine would join them for lunch, she and Eddie had stopped fighting so it wasn't as bad. And Shannon didn't talk to Jeremy, or even a lot really.

Fredrick even approached her and asked if she was being bullied. He and Meredith had noticed she wasn't her usual cheerful self. Shannon assured them she wasn't being bullied and that she was just having a busy week.

Truth is Shannon was feeling down. Her best friend had stopped hanging out with her. According to Eddie, Amanda was always busy with basket ball or spending time with someone new. She had become exceedingly popular in high school.

Snow had begun to fall and Christmas was just around the corner. Shannon was more eager to finish the semester, which didn't happen until late January. The final day of classes most people didn't show up to school. She had hoped Jeremy's friends wouldn't show up so she could talk to him. Instead Jeremy hadn't shown.

Shannon sat with Aberdine while the sparsely attended class filtered in.

"We should've skipped school today." Aberdine observed "No one is coming, its crazy snowy outside, and it's not like we'll have homework over Christmas break! No teacher is that sadistic!"

"Maybe." Shannon didn't want to admit that Aberdine was probably right but she also knew if she skipped school Meredith would punish her. "We may not have skipped school, but who says we can't skip class?" Shannon smiled wickedly at Aberdine as she gathered her bags and walked out of class. Aberdine followed suit.

"Look at you! Miss. Rule breaker! What's but fire in your step?"

"I'm just sick of everyone telling me how I should be, who I should talk to, how I should act. I'm my own person. I can make my own decisions!" Shannon wasn't really sure why she felt like breaking the rules. She just knew she wanted to be in control for once.

Shannon and Aberdine went to the cafetorium to spend the period goofing off. A few other students had the same idea. Only the seniors (who had first period spare) were quietly studying. Shannon sat down and started to doodle in the margins of her notebooks. Aberdine set up a small chair fort and lay down for a nap.

The first period passed slowly as there wasn't much to do. Shannon quickly filled all her margins with drawings of flowers and dead trees. As the bell rang for the next class Aberdine snapped awake. Some of the goof off kids went away, a few more came, the seniors switched out with other seniors who had spare. Aberdine gathered her things and looked expectantly at Shannon. Shannon just kept doodling.

Aberdine smiled and dumped her stuff there and settled in for the long haul. The two of them sat there talking about anything and everything. For once Shannon felt like her and Aberdine were on the same page as they complained about how popular always stepped on those who helped them get to where they are and promptly forgot who they were.

As the next period bell rang, though they had class, Aberdine and Shannon remained in their seats, their art books spread out across the table. Other students were forced to eat their lunches at different tables. As their lunch hour came Aberdine bought them some fries with gravy (the only good thing on the menu). Eddie sat down at their artwork covered table and ate his sandwich over his lap.

"Have you two been here all day?" Eddie asked.

"Yep." Shannon smiled. For the first time in months she felt like she was herself again. She felt right.

After lunch Shannon and Aberdine packed their things and talked quietly until the final bell rang.

"Well, Shan, it's be awesome! I'm gonna head off now! See ya in the new year!" Aberdine slung her backpack over her back and was about to leave.

"Wait!" Shannon called out to her. Aberdine stopped and turned. "I have a Christmas Present for you." Shannon dug around her bag and pulled out a small black choker she had found and thought Aberdine would like. She handed it to Aberdine who smiled and put it on immediately. "It looks cute on you. And its black."

Aberdine laughed. "I wasn't sure if I was going to give you this but I guess I will." Aberdine reached into her backpack and pulled out a small gift bag. Inside was a silver necklace with a skull on it. Its eyes were replaced by faux ruby hearts. "It's a bit dumb, I know, but I just thought you might like it."

Shannon smiled and put on the necklace. "I love it. Thanks!" Shannon hugged Aberdine. Aberdine smiled weakly and waved bye as she left. Shannon gathered her things and went to wait for Eddie.

She was surprised as Eddie and Amanda walked up.

"I didn't think you'd want to walk home with us." Shannon tersely greeted Amanda.

"Of course I want to walk home with you guys! I feel like I've barely seen you guys all year!"

"That's because you haven't." Shannon pointedly added. Shannon turned and started walking. Eddie and Amanda rushed to catch up.

"Did you skip ALL your classes?" Eddie asked.

"Yep." Shannon smiled proudly.

"What!? Why? Aren't you the one always preaching about how important school is!?" Amanda asked.

"Like you would know what I preach." Shannon spat back. "Besides. School is important. Just sometimes a break is more important."

They walked the rest of the way in silence until they reached the break off.

"Uh. I'm gonna hang here a bit and say goodbye to Amanda. Shannon you gonna stay too?"

"No." Shannon didn't break step and walked away without looking back.