Chapter 21: First Day Of School

"Ladies and gentlemen, it has been a great honour in serving Kadic for eight years and it is time for me to take learning to a new level. I'll be flying to Australia to further my studies and be awarded the Bachelors Scholarship. Till then, I'll leave you in the safe hands of my most trusted colleague, Mdm Marinda," Mr. Galili ended his speech as Mdm Marinda took the mike from him. The school's auditorium was filled with students once more, and the gathering was the first moment together after the one-week break. Mr. Galili had made an announcement yesterday night to inform the students of the talk and everyone gleamed with excitement.

Jason slouched back in his seat, resisting the temptation not to put his feet over the front seat. They were all seated according to their classes now, though Cornelia was diagonally behind him, chatting away with her other non-guardian friends. Ian slapped Jason's back to get his attention from his daydreaming once more, "What's up with you, rich boy? Hitting on the new principal, I see."

"Now that you've mentioned it, she's not that bad," Jason gave him a sly smile.

"Yeah! I mean look at the size of her butt. Wow."

Jason shifted uncomfortably in his seat when Ian said that, "Talk like that, and my sister will never go to the prom with you."

"Aw man! C'mon! Your sister's the bomb. Like I told you before, she's been my crush since pre-school."

True, Jason thought. Ian had been his childhood playmate too. Met when they were only 3 years old but Ian's parents migrated to 5 years Kadic before Jason did. Jason drew his attention to the stage. He couldn't wait seeing Tiadora come up and be introduced as a new student. He knew that she won't have a hard time getting to know everyone as she and Sally looks identical. Thinking about Sally made him felt like he wants to puke. All she ever wants was to get notice as the luckiest girl in the school. It was already a bold move to dye her entire hair all light pink and the thing the Jason doesn't like about her, was that she always swayed her hair whenever she's beside or near him and it was very irritating.

"Now, I'll have this honour of introducing to you the new students of Kadic Academy!" Mdm. Marinda sent the crowd applauding as five kids graced the stage. A princess, two chicks and two dudes, Jason wondered cunningly as the two chicks drew his gaze and smiled flirtatiously at him. Ian punched him, “Whoa. Barely a minute in this school and they’re checking you out, dude! Share me your wisdom.”

Jason laughed at that one. Ian seldom calls Jason the smart one because Ian saw himself as a person as high as Jason. Ignoring his curious thoughts, Jason winked at both of the girls in response and they sink in paradise of his gaze. The names and description that Mdm Marinda described were clear and interesting, “Melody De Fouton, a French student who is here on a special scholarship. She will be joining the class 9-A. Next, Austin Davis, a student from Cross Academy here to take on the special courses that unfortunately, is not available in our neighbour’s environment. He will be in 10-B. Third, Tiadora Sanders, an overseas student from Australia who wants to continue her studies with her sister instead. She will take classes with 9-C.”

Australia? Why Kiara did came up with that? Jason wondered as he felt it was an unproductive reason. “Up next is Ulrich Princeton, another European student who is in one of the richest families in the world. 10-A, please welcome Ulrich with open arms. Last but definitely not the least, Chloe Ames, a dropout student from her previous school. I trust you won’t vandalise the walls with ‘I Love Justin Timberlake’ in our school, am I right?”

The girl vigorously nodded, ending the introduction speech for students. Just when Jason thought everything was over, a well-dressed man walked up to the stage and stood beside Madam Marinda. The principal smiled and held the microphone to her mouth again, “And here is a new English teacher which you will all address him as Mr. Alex. He will be teaching most of the nine graders during his time here.”

And after minutes of goodbyes and farewells passed, classes resumed as per normal. Jason took his place after taking his hand-scan from the sliding entrance of his classroom. His sister took her seat beside him and played with her volleyball again. Doesn’t she ever get tired of that thing? The thought always flowed back whenever she played with herself which is always every time. He watched her do a round toss over her head until the teacher’s voice boomed through the classroom, “Students, let us all welcome one of the newcomers of the school. Come in here, young man.”

Everyone forward from their seats to take their first glance at the new student. Even Jason was eager to meet the new kid, and on queue the boy came in as he brushed his bronze hair to the side. “Yo! I’m Ulrich Princeton! Nice to meet ya’ll.”

★

“I’m glad that you agreed to come back,” David whispered to Kiara who was in front of his desk, talking about the time when Kiara was about to quit as a guardian. “I thought you really wanted to bail, knowingly that irresponsible attitude of yours.”

“I am not irresponsible. Just a slow-learner, that’s all. Who knew I could see into the future,” Kiara whispered back.

“Me, myself and I. Though I’m worried about what you saw that day, about your stalker.”

“Tiadora said that the visions don’t come in sequence. I could see a 100-year-later vision now and a one-day-later vision after that. Weird, right?”

“If you mean that you saw yourself being stabbed one hundred years later, then of course it’s weird. A person like you won’t bear looking at herself in the mirror once you’re 115 years old.”

“Hey! I’ll be on of the most beautiful old lady at that point of time.”

"Whatever..." David shifted the attention to Tiadora who now sits beside him. "Yo!"

Too loud. The Literature teacher, Ms Serena, snapped her head back to the students and eyed David square in the face. Her plum body seemed too big for her cardigan as she took two steps forward and frowned, "Vincent! I understand that Tiadora is a new student but there's a time for talk and a time for listening. Were you listening, Mr. Fields? Can you repeat to me the title that the class will be acting in?"

"Romeo and Juliet?" David tried guessing the obvious.

"Incorrect. Kiara help your unattentive classmate."

Kiara leaned back and finished the touches on her high ponytail as she smiled, "We're doing a Snow White play."

"Excellent," Ms Serena complimented, "A Snow White play will be very interesting, rather than the usual Romeo and Juliet. I have already decided the characters for everyone that includes our two new students." Ms Serena started passing out pieces of paper to the students which held their parts for the play. David snatched his slip before Kiara could get it from the front and slouch back onto his chair as he concentrated on the words on the paper.

David Vincent Fields: The Prince.

The Prince? David frowned in disappointment. He didn't want to have a big part in this, having the audience tempting to throw food when he's acting. David tapped Tiadora's shoulder to see her character, and then he asks for Kiara's character. "Why do you and Tiadora have good parts?" David made himself sound very symphatetic as he folded his paper in half.

Kiara eyed him, "Being a dwarf is not a good part."

"What does the reindeer do in this story?" Tiadora asked, puzzled in her part of the play.

"It's one of the animals that Snow White is friends with. You'll just have to act as an animal," Kiara winked and turned her attention back to David, "What about yours, Prince Charming?"

"How did you know I'm the prince?" David said sarcastically as he watched Kiara’s jaw drop in shock. A high pitch voice came from the other end of the classroom, sounding excited. Sally got up from her seat and tried to catch Ms Serena's attention, "Madam, who is the Prince?"

"Maybe you can ask Vincent that."

I hate it when she calls me by my middle name, David thought. Makes me so eew. "Why can't we ask some of class 10-A students??" Sally eagerly asked.

"Those students have already gone through their moments last year," Ms Serena started to sit down when the bell rang as the students wasted no time in leaving.

♫

Tiadora walked into the cafeteria and found the air-conditioned room crowded even though it was bigger than the auditorium. She remembered Kiara's teachings on taking her meal from the 'lunch-lady'. "The food is already paid for as you enter the school," Tiadora recalled her saying, and when asked who paid for it, Kiara wouldn't tell. Tiadora took a yellow tray and joined the line of students waiting as she scanned through the food laid out. She was surprised that people eat in three stages here, appetizer, main course and desert. When Tiadora reached to the lunch lady, she was confused what to get. She could tell that the lady across her was getting impatient but decided to ask Tiadora in a nice manner, "What do you crave for today?"

"Give her the Asian Chicken Rice," Jason spoke for her from behind, "It's my favourite. You should give it a try." The lunch lady smiled at Jason as she lays out the plate of rice with the cut chicken and a bowl of soup. Tiadora turned around with her tray to face Jason and murmured, "Thanks."

"No problem. Hey. Sit with me?" Jason asked with his face close to hers. The nod from Tiadora made Jason snatch away her tray and grabbed her hand, ushering her towards another crowded table. From afar, Tiadora could recognise some students. Kiara and Cornelia were chatting with some other students whom Tiadora could see, were Ian and Bobby. Once they reached, Jason sat beside Tiadora, still holding her hand. Tiadora noticed Sally stood up from her seat and shifted on Jason's left seat, everyone turned quiet. Jason smiled, "This is Tiadora, a new student. She's one of us now. Lets toast."

From frowns, it turned to smiles and cheers as the ten other students on the table toast their cans and spill their drinks. Tiadora enjoyed the company though it was an unfamiliar custom to it, she felt appreciated. Jason went through the list of his pals. Tiadora tried remembering them by their 'special' feature. Ian's the one with the crooked smile, Tiadora thought over it again. Sally's the one with the pink hair and the same face. Shaniqua ties her blond hair in two ponytails. Bobby is the tallest among them. Daniel, or as Jason calls him, Danny, is the one with the yellow cat eyes. Isabella has the multi-coloured finger nails and Edward with a banana-shaped scar on his hand.

But all, including Kiara and Cornelia, had a colourful wristband wrapped around their left wrist. Jason's friendship band. Maybe he'll pass it to me later; Tiadora spared a positive thought for herself. She then realised that there was someone missing. Someone who should be here. Tiadora craned her head towards Jason and pulled his folded sleeve as she asked, "Where's David?"

The noise stopped from the table and confused eyes were on Tiadora. Nobody said a word till Ian said out loud, "Goth-zilla is not one of us."

"Goth-zilla? Jason, what are they talking about?" Tiadora stared with pleading eyes.

"During..." Jason tried crafting his words carefully in front of everyone, "school time, David doesn't really hang out with us."

"But isn't he your friend?"

"No," Jason said aloud but his expression was a sad one.

☆

Jason kicked his coke can again as he stared at the volleyball court where Cornelia kept her cool. The other girls kept on missing the ball as all eyes were on Jason, the heartthrob. Cornelia laughed silently at their distraction and continued being in the lead. But after a while, Jason felt bored just standing there, looking pretty. He had heard from David, via sms, that their class will be acting Snow White. He scratched his head in wonder, why Snow White? Last year's memories flowed back when he played as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet.
Initially many of his classmates, mostly girls, voted him for the Romeo position but Ms Serena, the same Literature teacher as David’s, had decided to give the hero's post to someone else. The piercing scream tore him from his flashback. This scream was so familiar, he'd recognised it anywhere. It was Sally's. Jason rushed to the auditorium where class 9-C was having their rehearsals and where the scream was from.

Once there, Jason forced open the blue doors and looked upon the dressed students. Some were clad with fur and feathers while a few dressed in weird long costumes. Jason spotted David, who was wearing a rather stunning knight's armour, just standing there in front of Sally. "Yo. What's up?" Jason came from behind David.

"What's up?!" Jason heard Ms Serena's angered voice from one of the seats, "How many times have I spoken to you kids before. No hip-hop language in any of my classes!" But soon, Ms. Serena blasts a fierce gaze towards Sally and growled, "What's the matter with you, Sally? Is there a problem?"

Sally moved away from David but kept staring into Jason's eyes. Her face, Jason thought, so similar to Tiadora's in every way. That soft feeling made him smile, making Sally think that the smile was for her. Ms. Serena repeated herself once more, bringing the attention back to the Snow White play. "Ms. Serena," Sally almost hissed, "How could David be...be the PRINCE when I'm the princess?!"

Jason heard someone corrected Sally from behind, 'Snow White'. He turned around to look at a girl kneeling on the floor in a brown-fur coat with two branch-like sticks attached to a hair band that was worn on her head. Jason instantly recognised the girl behind the painted-red nose. He took her hand, brought her up and pushed her back into the curtains where they were alone in the dark. "You?" that was all Jason could say.

Tiadora giggled, "You."

"Nice outfit."

"It's itchy. I'd prefer Kiara's night gown better."

"Hey you should wear that one more. It looks good on you."

"But it makes me feel all tingling inside, and that's not a good feeling at all."

Jason laughed at her, "It'll go away. Oh hey listen. About just now. When I said that David wasn't my friend, well I lied."

"Why do you have to lie to your friends? Don't all of them have that friendship band which indicates 'Jason's friend'?" Tiadora wondered aloud, giving him the hint.

"Life in the 21st Century isn't as simple as your time. People here judge other people for their looks instead of their attitude, and unfortunately, David had accidentally gotten himself hated by many people."

"Accidentally gotten himself hated?"

"Didn't Kiara tell you about the cheerleader incident before we left for Iceland?"

"Because of that? I really don't understand. Didn't that cheerleader girl already gradiate?"

"You mean, graduate? Well yeah but many cheerleaders have respect for that cheerleader cause she's pretty skillful. And hot."

"Kiara said that that cheerleader was a bitc..."

"Ah-ah-ah," Jason placed a finger onto her lips to shush her, "remember what Ms. Serena said. ‘No hip-hop language in my class' "

"A-hem! Theodore!" Ms. Serena stood a feet away from their position. That was when Jason realised that he had been holding onto both of Tiadora's hands, standing so close to her. Quickly, he let go of her hands and took a step back. Ms. Serena stormed towards them. Tiadora looked down like as if she was being scolded but Ms. Serena glared at Jason instead. "Are you done talking, Theodore?"

"It's Jason, Ms. Serena," Jason tried to say.

"Aren't you Jason Theodore Kingston? I can call you Jason or Theodore so don't try to defy, Theodore! Out of my class."

"But...but..." Jason didn't get to finish his sentence as the ground shake. His fears sent on alert as he looked at Tiadora for an explanation. He could sense that it was no normal earthquake.

BRAWL!! A hoarse noise came right outside the auditorium and scared everyone in the set. Again, Sally yelled out a cry because through the glass ceiling at the stage, she laid her eyes on a grayish-green hand about to be thrown forward to the glass. “Sally, watch out!” David shouted at her when the glass began to crack, but Sally just stood there watching the monster continue in its attempt. And soon, the shards fell straight for her face.

David threw himself forward and pushed Sally away from the glass as the pieces dropped to the wooden stage. Tiadora pulled Jason to follow her to David’s aid and once there Sally had fainted in shock. Tiadora touched Sally’s forehead and closed her eyes. Nothing happened but Jason and David knew what was going through. The monster wailed louder as Jason asked Tiadora in a frantic voice, “What’s happening, Tiadora? One of the sacred animals?”

“Far from it,” Tiadora yelled as the noise was loud. The fist of the monster finally got through the broken glass and made a hole in the middle of the stage. Kiara came from the back curtains and crouch down to their level. The creature then put through its fingers in the glass opening and pulled open the rest of the cement ceiling like as if it was a piece of paper. Finally, Tiadora got to see the face of the monster clearer. Analyzing the features correctly, she shake Jason’s sleeve, “Get Cornelia. A Balistia has attacked the school!”