Dire Woods
Chapter 5

Alexander was sitting upright in his bed surrounded by pillows, hot water bottles, various cold packs and bowls of snacks when John Joseph entered the room.

“Feeling better?” he asked.

“Worse,” said Alexander.

“Sorry to hear it,” John Joseph commented. “Guess I’d better go straight to bed and not bother you if you’re still sick.”

“Nobody’s going to bed until we get something straight,” Alexander stated “You see, there are a few things that you need to know.”

Hidden rooms? Ghosts in the hallways? Problems with a full moon?

John Joseph couldn’t think of anything that he needed to know right now, right this instant, right before going to bed, but he was obviously wrong.

“And they are?” he asked.

Alexander’s lip curled up into what could only be described as a sneer. John Joseph stared in fascination; he’d read about them, but he’d never actually seen one in action.

Alexander leaned forward, remedies crackling. “The reason I’m feeling worse is you, John Joseph, not some stupid headache. It’s you and the possibility that you’ve ruined my reputation by coming to my house for a sleepover. I didn’t want you here and I wish you’d never come.”

John Joseph was confused. “Then why’d you invite me?” he asked. “Heck, this was your idea!”

Alexander rolled his eyes and sighed loudly. “Because your father works at the school, obviously! I heard you talking when I walked into the cafeteria. I wouldn’t have invited you if he hadn’t. I thought you might be some use to me in the future. I’m NEW remember?” He ran his hand over his forehead. “Boy was I wrong, even if your family did found the darn place. “

“How do you know that?”

“Research, John Joseph, research. I like to know what’s going on.” He took a sip of tea and focused his gaze back on John Joseph. “You do know everyone at school thinks you’re useless, right?”

John Joseph wasn’t sure it was everyone ... but he figured it was definitely a majority. And they were pretty hard to miss.

He nodded.

“You are aware that no one, and I mean no one has ever scored as low on Magical Studies tests as you have,”

John Joseph nodded again.

“If it wasn’t so pathetic, it might be funny. Unfortunately for me, it’s not, I was the idiot who invited you for this sleepover.”

“Why didn’t you cancel?” John Joseph asked. “I wouldn’t have minded.”

“My mother,” Alexander continued. “She didn’t want to upset your father, he is a teacher, remember? She figured if I cancelled the sleep over, he’d get mad and give me rotten grades. I can’t afford rotten grades.”

“That’s not the way my dad is,” John Joseph stated. “He doesn’t do things like that.”

He’d have to give rotten grades to half his students if he was.

“Good to know, but a little late,” Alexander snarled.

“So what are we going to do?”

“Nothing,” Alexander responded. “You and I are going to do nothing. For the rest of the weekend, you will stay out of my way. Better yet, why don’t you fake being sick tomorrow and just go home. That way I’ll have at least a day to work on rebuilding my reputation before we get back to school.”

“Done,” John Joseph answered. He’d pack his gear, head home and hike to the campsite by himself. Or, he could just lounge around the house and enjoy the peace and quiet! Either way, he wouldn’t be here, which was a definite improvement. Although he had been looking forward to spending the day with Mr. Blunt.

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