Funny Love High
After four years of unconsciously dodging the government, it's finally caught up with the adults of Sooga Village that their children don't attend school. So they send them off to Funny Love high, a school just on the other side of the island that they recently discovered (after their mascot- Cupid- lost his way). So now all the good little ninja boys and girls must shuttle to school. Pucca is no acception (even though she's aced every test they throw at her) and she hates that Garu isn't exclusively hers to chase. (And even I, the author, must attend. Talk about a lousy plot line. I'll have to have a chat with my editor… (*Garu, can I borrow your sword?*) So, anyways, I'm now living at the Goh-Rong restaurant as an intern and things have changed…like Pucca isn't wearing her famous dumpling-style anymore (-curse my issues of In Vibe magazine) and Garu isn't sporting a heart on his jacket or his pony tails anymore (that is an improvement…) oh, and Master Su is now- I'll just let you read…
Chapter 1 Shuttled Aside
Pucca awoke to Yani, as usual, tugging on her headband. As morning tradition, it lacked grace. As an alarm clock, it was punctual.
"I'm up…" she grumbled. Like always, she blew a kiss to her biggest poster of 13 year old Garu, her he-is-but-he-won't-accept-it-yet boyfriend. Also like always, she went to take a shower and left Yani to a bowl of milk and Goh-Rong noodles and sardines.
After her refreshing shower, she smiled at the calendar. Not only would she be riding the Sooga-to- Funny Love shuttle with Garu today; it was her 16th birthday today.
With a mega spring in her step, she dressed in her red sleeveless turtleneck blouse, black miniskirt with red plaid fringe and knee high black lace-up boots. As she brushed her hair to its fullest length and slipped a red plaid headband over it, she gazed out the window. She noticed the big rumbling Sooga-Movers van parked in front of the new pastry shop across the street. A small minivan rolled behind.
As soon as the back door opened, a boy black cat with green eyes so sharp Pucca could see them from her room hopped from it. He was followed by a tall lanky boy clad in black and blue. The boy's bluish-black hair glinted in the early sunlight and Pucca's heart beat faster. Funny, Pucca frowned, Garu isn't around. Just as she was about to speculate more, Yani mewed her distress over the time. "Uh-oh," she muttered. "Thanks, Yani! You're a real pet."
Garu reclined in his bus seat as the doors began to close. "Safe…" he murmured under his breath. He shot up when the door swung open. "Huh?"
"Sorry I'm so late, Dada." Pucca sighed, appearing on the bottom step.
Dada (who still sports his close cut hairstyle and is now the bus driver on weekdays) smiled. "It's okay, just take your seat."
Pucca beamed his way, and half bounced toward a displeased Garu. "Is this seat taken?" she asked politely.
"No," Garu grumbled. He glared up at her with his dark grey eyes. He glanced out the window to survey the new neighbors moving in to Pah-chu Pastries.
"Can I sit here then?" she inquired.
"No," he replied shortly.
"But-"
Garu concentrated hard and made an exact duplicate of him sitting in the empty space. "Now it is."
Pucca's bright hazel eyes lost half their morning shine. "But it's my birthday…" she murmured, slowly moving away.
Garu grumbled again, and his clone did too. Out of his peripheral vision, he watched Pucca take a seat next to Ching and Kim (that's me). The two friends dutifully tried to cheer up the birthday girl. Garu turned away from them all together.
By the time the shuttle reached Funny Love high (FLH), Pucca's mood was still lower than it had any right to be on her birthday. By this point, Kim and Ching had also run out of topics and jokes, and Pucca hadn't even cracked a smile at one (including the ones about funny love)! Her hazel eyes stayed misty and Kim wished she'd learned how to stir fry a ninja.
Garu had dissolved his clone in time to let Abyo slide into the seat. The two were now blabbing on and on about kung-fu and Talia Hart's butt. (Talia, sitting five seats away, was none too pleased by the conversation…)
Pucca sniffled softly. "And tonight's my party." She rummaged through her black and red messenger bag and pulled out a blue handkerchief (there's a story behind the only BLUE object Pucca carries around). Wiping her eyes and composing herself, Pucca stood as soon as the shuttle stopped in front of Funny Love high. Garu and Abyo rose too. Shaking off her sadness, Pucca strode over to Garu and planted a kiss on his cheek. "See you at my party, Garu."
Kim (me) shook her head and followed Pucca out. "Girl, I don't know how you keep from running Garu through with a pointy ten foot pole." Kim sighed.
"If only you knew… Ah, first period's about to start. Let's go see if Muse* Heather has a new recipe for cake." Pucca dashed off before Kim could ask what. (Muttering a very extensive list of reasons not to scrap the storyline, I follow her.)
Muse- all the teachers are Muses, which means they're Master Su's maiden.