CHAPTER ONE
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On Your Mark, Get Set, School!
"Dash! You're going to be late for your first day of High School," called Helen Parr from the kitchen downstairs. "Jack-Jack, you too!"
"I'm going to High School?" replied a tired boy from across the hall. Dashiel Parr pushed himself out of bed and shook his head, it'd only been him and his little brother ever since their sister, Violet, left for college a week earlier. Jack-Jack's stupid replies were starting to get on his nerves. "School-y, School-y, School-y!" sang the five-year-old as he skipped past Dash's room.
Dash lazily went through his morning routine, brushing his teeth in less than two seconds, and got dressed in less than five. He thumped down the stairs and grabbed a soda from the refrigerator, "Dash, you know better than that," Helen said as she stretched her arm from across the kitchen and took it. "You KNOW what happens when you have caffeine-"
"But I REALLY need it today, Mom, I didn't get enough sleep last night," he whined.
"Well, that'll teach you to go to bed earlier, and to do your summer reading DURING the break instead of at the last moment-"
"But I finished all three books by midnight," he said snatching the orange juice and sitting himself at the table.
"Did you remember your suit?" she whispered, as she turned back to cooking the bacon. It crackled as Dash took a swig of his drink.
"Yes, Mom," Dash replied before scarfing down his eggs, grabbing his book bag then, at an extremely leisurely pace for him, walked to the bus stop.
The Metroville High bus rolled to the stop ten minutes later, sputtering and popping. The doors squealed open and Dash pulled out his student ID and flashed it at the driver. He grunted a hello at the old man, and the driver returned it in a more cheery demeanor then brushed his mustache with the tip of his finger before closing the door.
Dash plopped into one of the brown, ripped up bus seats and ran through his schedule in his mind. He ran a hand through his bright blonde hair while the bus was slowing to a stop. The doors breathed open and consumed a couple of drowsy students dressed in nicer-than-normal outfits.
He turned his attention to the trees outside his window and watched as the birds fluttered in and out of the leaves, singing their muffled song. He enjoyed this peacefulness, having been battling villains all summer long, and all he wanted was a nice vacation. The bus lurched forward.
"Um… is anybody sitting here?" Dash turned around, a girl about his age stood holding tightly to the back of the seat.
"Sure," he said as he made room for her.
"Thanks," she said brushing some hair out of her face. After a few moments of uneasy silence and playing with the straps of backpacks, Dash broke the silence.
"So, what's your name?" he asked in a higher pitched voice than planned.
She giggled a little then replied, "My name's Matty Emil, I'm a freshman. What about you?"
"My name's Dash Parr, same," he grinned, his freckled cheeks turning a light pink color. "It's nice to meet you, Matty." Dash wished that he could run away, for a fire, or for Bomb Voyage to suddenly appear; anything to get away. Matty began to braid her milk chocolate hair, while Dash turned his gaze out the window again just as the giant school pulled into view.
"I'll catch you later, Dash," Matty said as she threw her backpack over her shoulder.
"See ya!" he sighed as he did the same, and then followed her out of the bus. Dash dropped off some of his things at his locker then walked at a jogging pace to the Auditorium for Freshman Orientation.