38 DEGREES CELSIUS
A lot of things can happen during a class chalet right?
Note: 38DC has been slightly revised. Nothing much will change, of course, except for the silly grammatical/spelling errors that I have made, and the 'format', if that actually makes sense. Also, this was my first fanfiction after all, (not that that is an excuse) so I greatly apologise for the many cliched things that I have used. (Not going to do that again. I hope. Haha.) Thanks for reading!
Disclaimer: I don't own Maximum Ride or any of the characters that appear in James Patterson's books. But I wish though… Sigh.
Chapter 1: Say what?!
"Yeah! It's going to be like, totally cool and all."
"I knowwwwwww. I mean, this is our class's first outing together! And it's going to be sooooo fun! I can just imagine it already. The yummy barbecued food, playing at the beach, swimming! Man oh man oh man oh man oh man!"
"I can't wait to go!"
"I wonder if my mum will approve though…"
Yeah, something was up. It wasn't every day everyone was chattering when I went into class just in the nick of time before the bell rang. They could beat the pants off that kid, wait, er, Nudge I think, her name was. Yeah. That talkative kid who lives down the neighborhood could start chattering about the weather and end off with the colour she wanted her hair to be. But it was kind of cute anyway.
"'Sup?" I asked Fang as I dumped my bag on the floor and slumped onto my chair. Hey – I woke up with Total barking his head off and his drool all over my foot. Not my fault. I really wonder what Ella and Angel see in that dog. Ella's my sister and Angel's another kid from the neighborhood. She's real cute and she always comes around to hang out, or play with Total. I tell you, those kids absolutely adore it and I have no idea why.
"Chalet." My best friend owns a totally emotionless mask. But he's still my best friend. Yeah yeah, same ol' story – our mums were childhood best friends and they go out together a lot, which resulted in Fang and I having to spend time together since the days we started tottering around in diapers and sucking our thumbs. Oh, the joy of reminiscence.
I raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"Chalet," he repeated. He then pointed to the whiteboard before looking down and continuing doing whatever he had been doing before.
I looked at the whiteboard.
Class chalet from 23-26th Apr. Compulsory.
We'll see about that. I felt the compulsion for rubbing off the "compulsory". I was never the one for class spirit anyway.
"Class, can you please settle down?" Brandon, our class chairperson, called out. Everybody went back to their seats as he read out the announcements for today.
"All computer club members, please take not that there will not be any co-curricular activities for you today." Some people groaned. Geeks.
"Zack, you're to see the Discipline Mistress later after school today because you've failed to appear for detention yesterday." I heard Zack curse.
"And finally… our class chalet!" Everybody whooped. Except me. And Fang.
"It'll take place from the 23rd to the 26th of April, which is three days from now. Consent forms will be given to your parents. It is compulsory for everyone as each and every class will be participating in class-bonding activities during these four days. The form that you're going to receive later will contain the list of items that you'll have to bring. And, Mr. Danny's coming."
Everybody groaned. Well, almost everybody. I could see Brigid high-fiving Mandy. I rolled my eyes at Fang. Typical. There was a reason I hated those two. Especially Brigid. I mean, come on. I could readily write a list of 100 reasons why I hate Brigid, beginning with sucking up to teachers and ending up with acting cute and dressing like a slut. But it's not good to linger on trash like that.
"So, are there any questions?" Brandon asked.
I raised my arm.
"I can't go," I said.
"And why may that be?" he said in that patronizing tone he saved specially for me. I could tell.
"Because I don't want to go."
"Your attendance is counted like during normal school days, Max," he said, exasperated.
"So?" I retorted.
"So, Max, if you don't go, it'll be counted as truancy." He crossed his arms and sighed, frustrated.
"But it's just a freaking chalet!"
"Well, since it's just a class chalet, why don't you go and stop making a huge fuss about things?"
"Go. It'll be fun." Fang shot me a look and sort of half-smiled at me. That immediately made up my mind.
"Alright, alright."
"Who're we going to share rooms with?" Brigid chirped excitedly. I saw her exchange a glance with Mandy. Geez, I bet they're dreaming of sharing a room with Mr. Danny.
"Mr. Danny will be creating the list, and he'll tell us on Thursday itself."
"What are we going to do those four days?" Iggy asked. Yeah, the blind kid. We don't talk much, but he's pretty okay. He's kind of creepy though. Even though he can't see, he has this uncanny knack of knowing where things and people are.
"Now that, you will find out later." Brandon gave everyone an evil grin. "The class committee has specially created the program for the whole class." Everyone groaned. So did I. This wasn't going to be good. "What? With Mr. Danny's approval, of course," he added hastily. Everyone was still shooting him suspicious looks. He snickered.
Brandon sighed and got the various subject representatives to remind the class about the homework due.
"What's wrong with a chalet?" Fang murmured.
"Nothing," I said. "Are you sure it'll be fun?" I frowned and knitted my brows. School was bad enough. He leaned forward.
"I'll be there," he whispered in my ears, and I flushed. Gosh, he looked sexy… His voice was sexy, and the way he looked at me… No! I did not just think that. He's your best friend, you stupid idiot, I reprimanded myself in my head. Thank goodness nobody could read minds here.
Yeah, you may think I'm in love with Fang or something.
Well yeah, I think I am.
"Ohmygosh, you're going on a class chalet? That's like so cool! My class is just going to have a picnic and we're going to the zoo. Like, hey, the zoo! And you're complaining." Ella rolled her eyes.
"I would gladly swap," I said to Ella. I sighed and passed the consent form to Mum after a moment of hesitation. Mum looked through the form and signed at the bottom.
"Look at the stuff you'll need! Why don't you go shopping with Ella, Angel and that nice girl Nudge later?" my mother suggested.
"Aw man, you know me better than that, please no Mum," I whined.
But Ella was already calling Angel and Nudge up. Dang. Don't even ask me how she is in possession of their phone numbers because I. Have. No. Idea.
"And Max, I know you're a smart girl, so don't let anything…funny… happen, okay?" she said.
Funny? Then it hit me. I groaned.
"Do you have no faith in me, Mum?" I muttered.
"Well Max, you gotta admit it, you're very pretty," Mum said.
"Ha-ha. Nice one Mum, you're just complimenting yourself aren't you?" I grinned. I look a lot like my mum. She smiled at me and let it go. Well, at least my mum did care about me.
Ella hung up and told us that they were on their way. Mum handed me some money and shooed us out of her study.
The doorbell rang. Ella ran to open the door and there stood Angel and Nudge. Nudge looked around eleven-ish. Huh. I should get around to asking her how old she was. Angel was holding a teddy bear. I think she called it Celeste. Both Angel and Nudge were dressed in girly clothes. Pink clothes. With kiddish designs. And flowery patterns.
"Hi Max! We're going to have so much fun!"
"Hello! We've like only talked twice right, but I still remember. This is going to be so much fun! We'll choose cute outfits for you. You'll look good in almost anything! I can tell! OMG, Max you're like so pretty. Hmm. Maybe pink will suit you. I hope it does. I like pink. I wonder if there's such a thing as pink hair dye. Then maybe I can dye my hair pink. That would be so totally cool!"
As Nudge continued chattering, Ella pulled my arm and we walked towards the nearby mall. Well, they walked and I stumbled. I was in a daze.
You know, I could just pass out right now.