World Come Undone

[sevenpuddings]

Thanks for the really nice reviews everyone!

I'm really glad you're all enjoying Matilda. She's loads of fun to write.

Again nice chapter. You're a great writer

Who's that in the first part of this chapter? Matilda and? Is it Ric?

It was actually Lucas, as a carry on from the end of the last chapter.

[mori]

any chance of an update soon? pleasssse

[*caitie*]

yeh pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassssssssseeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!lol

[kase]

My overdue review is here after being shafted to a place with no internet connection! but i'm back. and sorry about the delay. Jess, that was brilliant!! How I love the Hunter clan. And Lucas.

How sad that he's gone now

Gosh that paragraph:

“I wasn’t born yesterday,” His face was inches from mine, his dark blue eyes staring deeply into my own, making me feel more uncomfortable in my own skin than I had in a very long time. It was as if he had read my actions, and known of my motives, for longer than I’d known of them myself. And that thought terrified me. “I know your type. I’ve been trodden on year after year by your type, and frankly, I don’t care if you do continue to put me down. All I ask is that you give me the respect to not pretend to be someone else when you’re around me. I can see right through you Matilda Hunter, and don’t you ever forget it,” He finished, his eyes turning a little darker (if that was even possible!!) as he turned and walked calmly out of my room, without even letting me dismiss him.

That had MY heart racing. Angsty Lucas is very out of character, but also very hot. And I loved Matilda's reaction. Of course I've always had a soft spot for the Lucas/Matilda pairing so you can expect that I'm hoping it develops.

And no, it wasn’t those kinds of feelings. Lust, want and desire. I’d felt those in recent times. No, this was pure adrenalin… fear, or even excitement. It had been so long since someone that wasn’t related to me; saw through me to what I was, the cold, cruel woman who cared little for anything or anyone besides her self. And that thought, was simply exhilarating.You wrote her reaction so well Jess.

And once again the Henry/Mattie relationship is just awesome. I love the way they interact and read each other so naturally.

“You were quivering at one stage there Matilda, and the last time I can remember seeing you quiver with fear was at age seven. That was before you realised quivering also helped you get what you want,” He said pointedly, and I had to concede that point. I couldn’t remember the last time the blood had pumped to my heart like that, or my breath had quickened to such a fast pace, or the fact that I’d felt dizzy after speaking to someone.

And the fact that they both know they're concieted, deceptive things

“I’m not becoming your collateral,” He said finally, jumping up from the bed. “I won’t be a pawn in any game you’re planning Matilda,” I just really love the whole game!

And I also like your references to Robbie and Beth.

She babbled on, which was an unmistakable sign of her nerves. Thank god Robbie was her only child that seemed to have inherited that particular genetic deficiency, I thought, rolling my eyes at Henry who smirked in return.I really did love the Hunter family. They really were a mixed bunch. *sigh of sadness*

On a different note, I like the dimensions you've given Matilda. The intellectual side suits her (coming from boarding school and all). But it's definitely a different side to her from the manipulative bitch she appears to be.

And one final thing, I loved this paragraph:

This bathroom was possibly the quaintest room of the house. The ceiling had those intricate corner designs, and the bathtub had those giant massive golden feet, like the one Rachel McAdams has in the Notebook, when Allie finds out that Noah built the perfect house. And for that sole reason, I loved this room. It was my own personal place for escape, where the magic could happen, and the witch of east Summer Bay could be transformed into a personal Princess. I sighed, as I placed my uniform on the toilet seat. It was going to take a hell of a lot of make-up to take the bitch out of the beauty.I'm not exactly sure why it appealed to me, but it did. It was just a lovely description blended into Matilda's own needs.

Well done Jess, I know the review was long overdue and I hope an update is coming up soon!

[sevenpuddings]

I feel kind of terrible, for letting this story drift once again into nothingness. HOWEVER, I'm back at Uni, and back doing writing as part of Uni, so I may start enjoying it once more. I'm not sure how many readers are left, but I've got 2+ chapters in the reserve AFTER this one, as well as a full plot line written out to get me to at least 28 chapters, so let's see how I go this year!

First of all, thanks to Skykat for proofreading this for me like, a month and a half ago! Secondly, thank you to Kase for that damn awesome review. It kind of made me want to start posting again, and you two girls should know if I write this story for anyone, its for the two of you, who I dare say are my most loyal readers!

Hopefully you'll all enjoy where this story is going, I know I am!!

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World Come Undone

Chapter Ten – Devil Horns

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“Matilda,” I said offhandedly as we walked down the now empty hallway.

“Lucas,” She replied with a snort, rolling her eyes at me. “Going to pull me up on my behaviour before class has even started? Tell me to play by your rules?” She continued, her voice climbing a little as she halted in the middle of the corridor.

Shaking my head, I laughed a little. She had guts, this girl. The side of me she’d seen just days before – it was a side my father and brother had only been privy to on rare occasions. However good an actress she may have been, her eyes betrayed her beyond anything she could have believed. At least, to a more perceptive person they betrayed her… others would have simply seen the gleam in her eye as joy, or happiness, or in conjunction with the laughter of a carefree woman. Only someone with a deep-set experience of being trodden on and spoken down to could tell the difference between an evil gleam and a joyous twinkle. And there was no mistaking her evil gleam.

“It’s terribly rude to insult someone and then laugh at them,” Matilda snapped, crossing her arms defiantly across her chest and pouting a little. “I do not enjoy being mocked at all,”

“Neither do I,” I retorted quickly, “but that doesn’t stop almost every person in this school mocking me day in, day out,” My voice was rising, as I felt my cheeks flush a little, the anger rising in me. “Forgive me for wanting to stop another person before they got their chance,”

My humiliation was complete. I’d revealed the two parts of my innermost self to this stranger within 48 hours, but I just couldn’t stop myself. All the years of silence had built up, and now everything was being thrown on to this poor girl, just because she’d assumed to walk all over me.

“Look,” Matilda sighed finally, uncrossing her arms and locking her eyes with mine. “Can we like, call a truce? You get me, and I get that, and I promise to like, not pretend, and all that jazz when I’m around you, alright?” She mumbled out, as if it caused her pain to admit defeat.

I nodded in return, my lips clamped shut for fear my word vomit would return, and she’d have even more ammo on me.

“But don’t even think for a second that means you can treat me like… this,” She said, gulping as she motioned to the lack of space between us, “in public Lucas, because, I have to like, create a reputation, or something here, and you so won’t look good in the picture,”

And her moment of humanity was over, just like that.

“Whatever,” I shrugged, as I turned her shoulder to face a classroom. “English extension is through here, and its Luke,” I said, opening the door from behind her and shoving her through.

“Lucas,” Mrs. Gillies said, causing Matilda to turn and give me a ‘yeah, right,’ look. “So pleased you could join us. And you’re Matilda Hunter?” She said, peering over her glasses as Matilda nodded.

“Hm. Partner assignments for the first assessment were given in your absence, so you shall be partnering Miss. Hunter,” She said sharply, looking down her nose towards me as I groaned a little, “Unless you have a problem with that Mr. Holden,”

“Not in the least,” I replied, a little too sarcastically. Matilda snorted a little as she took a seat, and I shot her a glare as I walked past to my own seat. This was not how I envisioned spending the first term of my final year at school, not at all.

-

“So,” Matilda said, as she approached me at the end of class. “I guess our truce no longer stands, especially if I’m going to have to work with you on this stupid project.” She rolled her eyes. “You better keep up with me Holden, I don’t like to be behind in class, or in marks, or in position,” Her tone was serious, her eyes narrowed as she sat a top of the table. “Now, explain to me what this stupid project is, that woman could put even the most obnoxious teenagers to sleep, and I should know, I am one!”

“At least you’ll admit to it,” I said, pulling out my assignment sheet. “Didn’t you even bother to read the handout?”

She shook her head and pulled out a compact mirror. “No, as if.”

That was her answer. No explanations as to why not. Or even how she could have made it to Year 12 without possibly ever reading the assignments. Sighing, I watched as she snapped the compact shut, threw it into her back and looked at me expectantly. “Well?” She finally prompted.

“It’s a comparison of texts.” I sighed finally. “We need to analyse why Jane Austen could write Pride & Prejudice in the early 19th Century and have a major impact on that society, and the compare it to the BBC mini series and consider why it still causes such an impact on modern society,”

“Huh,” She stated, biting her lower lip gently, apparently deep in concentration.

“Have you ever read Pride & Prejudice?” I asked slowly, figuring that this was the most appropriate place to start.

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife,” Matilda replied in a faux English accent. “Have you ever seen the mini series?” She retorted quickly.

“I cringe every time when Mr. Darcy comes out of the lake, and that have that whole, ‘Mr. Darcy. Miss. Bennett,’ scene,” I replied, not missing a beat.

Her mouth dropped open in shock. “But that’s the best scene ever!” She looked well and truly horrified at the thought of someone not agreeing with her, so much so that I had to stop myself from laughing at her, because she would not have appreciated that in the least.

“At least we’ve done the hard yards there,” I said, running a hand through my hair, “Now all we need to do is figure out how we’re going to approach this,” I continued, looking down once more at the assignment sheet.

“So, like, everyone in the class has to do this assignment, right?” She asked me finally, and I looked up to see her brow knitted together, her eyes looking down, glancing at the assignment.

“Yup. We’re all doing the same thing for the HSC after all, and Mrs. Gillies figures this way we can all use each others knowledge in the long run,”

“Well, how we approach it is easy then. You and I compare and contrast our own views on why it was so popular then and now. Kind of like how Elizabeth and Darcy are always doing that verbal sparring thing. Clearly, you and I have different views on the subject, and it would just add to that whole, compare and contrast thing we’re already like, doing,”

“Huh,” I mimicked her earlier pose, thinking deeply about her suggestion. Admitting it was brilliant would be like admitting she was brilliant, and she’d never let me live that down. On the other hand, admitting her brilliance would also get me full marks on that assignment, and put me ahead for the rest of the year. I guess sometimes it just came down to pride be damned.

“Okay,” I stood up and nodded. “We’ll do it your way,” Gathering my books together, I threw them carelessly into my backpack. “At least this way, you have to do your own work on it too,”

“As if I wouldn’t,” She replied with an air of flippancy, jumping off the desk, causing her hair to flick over her shoulder. “I wouldn’t want to rely on you to get me an A,” She snapped as she began working. “I’ll be over this afternoon to figure out the details, see you then, Lucas” She turned to throw me one sarcastic smile before gliding out into the crowded hallway.

It was going to be a long year.

-

“Hey, Luke,” Cassie yelled after me as I was walking down the front school steps. I turned to grin at her, allowing her the time to catch up with me, before we continued walking. “How’s year 12 treating you?” I asked, as she groaned.

“I’ve already got two assessments, and a mountain of reading and homework,” She shook her head. “I feel as if we haven’t been on holidays at all.”

“I know exactly what you mean,” I laughed a little. “It’s like they kill us with three terms of intensive work, and then decide to step it up when we begin the final year!”

“The worst thing is they enjoy it as well,” Cassie remarked. “I swear, I saw Mr. Simons chuckle when he handed us our Legal Studies assignment. There were devil horns and everything!”

“Better than me. You remember that blonde girl from the Surf club the other day?” I asked, as Cassie nodded. “I’ve been paired with her for my Extension English assignment. Which means I have to work with her to get it done, and get good marks. Great marks even,”

“Ouch.” She shuddered a little. “That has so gotta suck,”

“You better believe it. I’m on my way now to have an audience with little miss Snob and figure out exactly how we’re going to pass this assignment,”

Okay, so it was a little white lie, but Cassie was one of the few people around here who treated me like a human being. Besides, she was best friends with Belle Taylor, and it couldn’t hurt letting her know what a crappy situation I was in, because there was a pretty high chance any information given here would be repeated at least once – and maybe Belle would… not take pity, or feel sorry for me… but… something might change.

“Sounds like a barrel of laughs,” She said apologetically.

I shrugged in return. “It could be worse. I could be stuck with her brother,” I laughed a little, until I saw Cassie groan inwardly. “Don’t tell me, you’ve got him for an assignment partner?”

“Not exactly,” She replied cryptically. “At least, not a school assignment,”

I nodded but didn’t push the matter. Whatever Cassie was up to, I didn’t want to know. A million bucks says if I did know, I’d blurt it out to Matilda within minutes.

“You wanna walk home with me? They live right next door, so you could drop in on Henry and get a head start on whatever your project is,” I asked her, smiling as a giant smile crossed her face.

“I’d love that,” She squealed, which caused me to laugh, and her to clamp a hand over her mouth, her cheeks flushing red.

“Cool,” I smiled in return, enjoying for the moment the company of a friend.

-

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Please R&R, it makes my day!

[*caitie*]

yay an update!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!

Okay it was very muchly awesome i loved it!!!

Hmmm, I wonder if Lucas likes Mattie, maybe deep, very deep down? lol

Hmm and does Cassie like Lucas?

I love this fic lol

Update soon

[mori]

oh i love this fic very very much so firstly, thanks for the update. Secondly, i love matilda and lucas i can just feel the chemistry haha. Please continue updating

Sam

[Jen]

Hey Jess, you know I love your style.

I really like the way you have constructed the Lucas/Matilda relationship so far. They seem to have a blunt honesty with each other, which is kind of unnerving. To me and to them! I like how Matilda is so down to business, and Lucas becomes totally self concious. My humiliation was complete. I’d revealed the two parts of my innermost self to this stranger within 48 hours, but I just couldn’t stop myself. All the years of silence had built up, and now everything was being thrown on to this poor girl, just because she’d assumed to walk all over me. *sigh* You've got feel sorry for him, but it makes Lucas even more loveable. The contrast to the Cassie/Lucas friendship is great too. A totally different dyanmic.

Keep up the updates when you can, I'm always eager to read.

Jen.

[kase]

First of all, thanks to Skykat for proofreading this for me like, a month and a half ago! Secondly, thank you to Kase for that damn awesome review. It kind of made me want to start posting again, and you two girls should know if I write this story for anyone, its for the two of you, who I dare say are my most loyal readers!

Aww thank you Jess. I'm glad that I've been able to provide some motivation for you to write this awesome awesome story.

YAY! Mattie and Lucas again. I agree with Jen. Their bluntness is fantastic and I loved them to death already. Considering it is such a love octogon, you've developed their chemistry so well even though they fancy other people. And yet, you still manage to remind us that Lucas hasn't forgotten about Belle. I'm loving where this is going!

However good an actress she may have been, her eyes betrayed her beyond anything she could have believed. At least, to a more perceptive person they betrayed her… others would have simply seen the gleam in her eye as joy, or happiness, or in conjunction with the laughter of a carefree woman. Only someone with a deep-set experience of being trodden on and spoken down to could tell the difference between an evil gleam and a joyous twinkle. And there was no mistaking her evil gleam.

Ah she's got you there Matilda. I love how Lucas can just read Matilda like a book. It must be so unnerving for someone like her, especially when it's by someone she sees as lower than herself in social standing. And I also agree with Jen about poor Lucas revealing more than he wanted to. It really does make him more loveable!

I love light hearted chapters and there some really nice bits in there like:

“English extension is through here, and its Luke,” I said, opening the door from behind her and shoving her through.

“Lucas,” Mrs. Gillies said, causing Matilda to turn and give me a ‘yeah, right,’ look They have so much chemistry and spark!! Weee.

Andddd:

"I cringe every time when Mr. Darcy comes out of the lake, and that have that whole, ‘Mr. Darcy. Miss. Bennett,’ scene,” I replied, not missing a beat.

Her mouth dropped open in shock. “But that’s the best scene ever!” She looked well and truly horrified at the thought of someone not agreeing with her, so much so that I had to stop myself from laughing at her, because she would not have appreciated that in the least.

It really made me smile about that age old debate over Mr Darcy's lake scene!

I'm pleased to hear you still have a couple of chapters coming out, I'll be expecting them soon So glad this one is back on!

[*caitie*]

hey this is a great fic!!!!

When are you going to update?