The next morning, it was Joanna Holmes's suggestion that Matt go to Sussex with Shirley. Shirley wasn't sure, and asked Matt. She was surprised when he agreed to the idea so enthusiastically, and told him as much, adding,
"I'd have thought that, after your last run-in with Molly, you'd rather stay home with Emily and Watson, and hack around."
"Ah, yes," Matt said with a tiny smile. "Molly. I did some reading up on her since our last interlude- quite an amazing history she's got, isn't it? And I'm willing to be you don't know the half of it!
"But I wouldn't worry too much about her- I found out a thing or two that might come in handy."
Then he smiled invitingly at Shirley, tucked Emily into his pocket, and followed his friend out the door, towards Sussex.
Bo met up with them halfway, and listened with growing horror as Shirley eagerly filled him in on their new mystery.
"Shirley, wait a minute." he said, when at last he could get a word in edgewise, "The last international mess you got mixed up in almost got you killed, as did the one before that, and the one before that. Do you really want to go through that again?"
"Bo," Shirley frowned, "You know me better than to ask that."
Bo blushed.
"Sorry. Of course you don't want to get killed. But I know- it's all about the mystery. Just, tell me, won't you- why?"
That one, she had to think about for a second. At last, she answered.
"'Cause I'm bored."
Matt and Bo stared. She shrugged.
"I know I know, it's not very noble, is it? But it's the plain truth- I'm bored, and I want something to do."
"How about marbles?" Bo deadpanned. "Really, I'd think you could find something safer to do than to invent new ways to replenish your supply of bruises."
Matt snickered behind his hand.
Shirley swatted at him, but he ducked, grabbed her arm, and kissed her cheek. She blushed. Bo's eyebrows shot skyward.
They started talking again after several minutes' silence, and reached Sussex in a short amount of time.
There, Matt looked nervously around him at the milling, shouting crowd of students. Shirley grinned at him reassuringly, and she and Bo dragged him over to where their own little 'clique' was standing.
They were Stink Patterson, Alicia Gianelli, Carson Evans, Blake Hewitt, Bart James, Parker, and Shirley' nemesis, Molly Hardy.
"Matt?" Alicia was surprised. "Are you coming to Sussex now, or something?"
"Uh, no, actually," Matt admitted, "I'm here with Shirley. I- I'm staying with he family for a while."
Shirley really didn't feel like she deserved the raised eyebrows all around. She also didn't like the way they made her blush.
Luckily, Bart soon provided a distraction by offering around a few pamphlets on a UFO convention.
"It's set up by a man named Albert Wiley," Bart said eagerly. "He's a real sci-fi buff, and speaks six different dialects, including two thought to be extra-terrestrial. He's my idol."
"Now, he disturbs me," Molly frowned, studying her pamphlet cautiously.
"You aren't the only one," Alicia reassured her, tossing hers into the trashcan.
"We'd better go introduce you to Ms.Stratman," Shirley told Matt. "The earlier you meet her, the better the impression you make."
"You mean," he exclaimed in mock hurt, "there's a chance I could make anything but?"
"Come on," was all she said, and yanked him away from the cluster of teenagers, towards the school.
They found Ms.Stratman deep in conversation with Mr.Howie, discussing the schedule he would have to cover when filling in for a regular science teacher that morning. They stood there for a good five minutes before she even realized that they were there.
"Good morning, Miss Holmes," she said. "Early, I see."
"Yes, ma'am," Shirley nodded. "I came to introduce my- friend, Matthew Harris to you. He's staying with us for a few days, and he was hoping he'd be allowed to sit in on my classes."
"Of course," Ms.Stratman smiled at Matt, who'd had the presence of mind to dig out his old K-On uniform, and wear it to Sussex. You could practically see Ms.Stratman melting at the sight.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Matthew," she told him, extending her hand. He accepted it, and shook it cordially.
"Yes, ma'am," he smiled at her.
A few more pleasantries, and Ms.Stratman dismissed them with the suggestion that Shirley take Matt to their first class ahead of time.
After they'd left, Shirley turned to Matt and exclaimed:
"I can't believe it! You've got her eating right out of the palm of your hand! How'd you do it?"
"Same way your disturbed little friend, Molly, does," Matt smiled. "You find out what the person wants to see in the people around them, and you alter your appearance and attitude to conform to those standards. It's actually quite simple- your Ms.Stratman likes order, decorum and ambition. Molly gives her all three. I gave her the first two, and you unconsciously gave her the last when-"
"-I said you wanted to come to Sussex," Shirley finished, admiring. "That's pretty neat. Now- could you tell me why I bother her so much?"
"I think so," Matt grinned, as she led him into an empty classroom. "She likes your ambition - she'd be crazy not to - but you don't conform. You're late to class, your uniform isn't always pristine, and you don't seem to care."
"But I do!" Shirley protested. "About other things, I mean. Not those."
"I know," Matt smiled slightly. "Important things- like mysteries, and people who need your help. That's what you care about. You're thinking straight- it's the rest of the world that's got it backwards."
"Well, Shirley twinkled, "maybe not all the rest of the world."
Matt's smile broadened.
