INTO

CHAPTER NINE

"Gwen, have you lost your mind?!" Miranda yelled. "Tell me, are you crazy?"

"Yes, I'm crazy," Gwen smiled at her in response. "Why? I thought you loved crazy? You seemed like quite the fan of crazy with that stunt you pulled earlier."

Miranda let out a deep sigh, her hands flying to head. "Is this fun to you?"

"I don't know, is it? Maybe," Gwen replied her. "How about you? Was flashing my life right in front of my eyes fun to you?"

"Ah, so that's what this is all about?" Miranda scoffed. "You're trying to get back at me for that? But this is foolish I tell you. Very foolish."

"I wish I could be so petty to actually risk all of our lives to just get back at you but no, that's not my reason," Gwen replied then faced Adam and Tina. "Don't you guys see it? This is our chance! They want to open the portal and we also need the portal to be opened to return home. It's a win-win situation."

"No, it's not," Adam shook his head. "They want to open the portal to get rid of humans. To start a war. We want to open the portal to leave just like none of this ever happened. It's very different, Gwen."

"Thank you for explaining it to her!" Miranda exclaimed. "She seems to have really lost her mind. Join hands with them simply cause we both want the portal opened? Are you crazy?"

"Look, I get what you're all scared of," Gwen wasn't giving up. "But if you think about this, isn't this better? You guys must have been getting comfortable around here. Look, I know it has only been a few days but those few days are enough for me to want to go back home already so you can't blame me if I see this as an opportunity. Yeah, maybe our reasons for wanting to open the portal are worlds apart but I still think we might be able to find something out through them."

"Have you thought about what could possibly happen if they find out you're human?"

"They won't," she replied, looking at Miranda directly in the eye. "As long as none of us snitches."

"Fine. I just hope you all know that this time I'm not the one trying to get us into trouble."

"I'm so glad to know you know getting us into trouble has been the only thing you've been doing ever since we got here."

"Excuse me?"

"This is risky," Adam spoke up. "But I think in the long run, it could be a good idea if we're all smart about it."

"Told you!"

"Oh shut up," Miranda rolled her eyes at Gwen.

"Miranda, you need to grow up," Adam let out, immediately turning to leave. "Both of you, in fact."

"Adam, wait," Gwen called out to him as he was leaving. "There's an after school meeting today. So we can all you know, get to meet and know each other."

"Where?"

"Here. At school," she replied. "There's no security to chase us out after school hours are over so you don't have to worry."

"Okay."

"You heard me, right?" She contemplated repeating herself. "See you after school then."

"I heard you, Gwen. Okay?"

"Oh, okay," she said then turned to leave to class with Tina hoping beside her, all of them leaving Miranda to herself.

Literally all alone. Just to herself.

"Did you fight with your friends?"

Miranda almost jumped as she turned to meet the dude from the cafeteria standing behind her.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Is that it?" he ignored her question. "Did you guys fight? What happened?"

Miranda let out a sigh. "Why do you keep on talking to me?"

"I've told you all already," he replied with a smile. "You guys seem like psychos and I like psychos."

"We seem like psychos," she repeated. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

"No, it's just a comment."

"Just go away," she let out a sigh as she began to walk to class.

"You didn't even ask for my name," he said, walking next to her. "You are Miranda, right?"

"And if I am?"

"I'm Harry," he flashed her a smile, stretching his arm forward. "Nice meeting you, Miranda."

"I wish I could say the same," she replied, ignoring his stretched arm as she resumed walking not bothering to even spare him a glance. "But all you've been doing is bother me so just go away."

"Okay, fine I will," Harry finally said. "But do tell your friends I would really like to be friends with you all."

"I won't be telling them that," her voice was monotoned as ever. "Now please, get lost."

---

Class ended and just as planned, they met up with the members of the group headed by Petal. At the end of their meeting, they all loved Miranda, felt indifferent about Adam and didn't like Tina. She barely spoke and the few times she did, her words were very empty.

Stefan managed to make it very clear to her that if she wasn't a Drezpire he'd have her kicked out of the group and all Tina could do was nod sheepishly while Gwen wondered if she hadn't made a wrong decision.

They walked home in silence, different things on everyone's mind. Adam wondered if he could use his powers to open the portal, Gwen thinking about a possible way to open the portal for just them while Tina simply thought of ways to make them like her.

"What are you guys thinking about?" Adam asked, interrupting their thoughts. "This silence is unusual."

"How to open the portal for just us."

"How to make them like me."

"How to say sorry."

Miranda's thoughts made heads turn. It seemed like she had no idea what she had blurted out as she kept on walking, not paying attention to their faces.

"Who do you want to say sorry to?"

"What?" She was obviously startled, her eyes widening. "What did you say?"

"You said you wanted to say sorry," Adam helped jag her memory. "To who?"

"s**t, did I say that out loud?" she cursed under her breath. "Whatever. It's to you."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. You said all I've been doing was cause trouble and I thought about it and it seemed like I've been kinda doing that."

"Oh," Adam smiled at her. "It's fine. Just let's all try to get out of here safely, okay?"

"Yeah," she returned the smile. "Gwen, you too."

Gwen arched an eyebrow, making her surprise very obvious. "I don't know what that means but whatever it does, sure."

"Tina," Miranda called out her last apology recipient. "You don't have to bother about them liking you. I don't like all of them myself."

"But at least they like you," she bit her bottom lip. "The only reason they're allowing me join the team is cause of something I'm not."

"Then be you," Miranda replied, nudging her. "Not the Drezpire you're not. Be yourself. And please for heaven's sake, I do not mean the timid Tina at school. Just try to get some confidence, will you? And remember right now they think you're a really cool Drezpire so use that idea of them to your advantage."

"Hey, Miranda," Adam laughed in surprise. "What's up with you? Did you eat something bad? Why are you suddenly being so nice?"

"I know right? I have no idea myself," she shook her head. "So y'all better enjoy it while it lasts cause trust me it won't be lasting for much longer."