(I wrote this one!)
POV: Star
At the gentle nudge of Colton to inform me that we were there, I marked my place in my book and looked out the window, studying the huge academy.
It consisted of a courtyard, (where I could see students milling about) and a few smaller buildings scattered around a very large one. There were some plants and bushes on the grounds, and a building smaller than the rest, which was probably some sort of shed.
"Are you going to keep daydreaming, or get off the bus?" Colton Joked.
"Yeah, right, I'm coming," I said, grabbing my (of course) lime green and yellow bag, which I had decorated myself. My parents didn't mind, as they were the ones who actually suggested it, since I wanted a colorful bag and there were none in stock.
Still staring at the giant building, I followed Colton out of the bus and stopped in the cluster of children who had been on the bus. My thoughts suddenly jerked to that old factory that Colton had pointed out, and I remembered the blond boy running inside of it. It seemed pretty weird... pretty interesting.
What am I saying? This is just an old factory, nothing special. Pay attention, I snapped at myself, suddenly aware that the big man (who was apparently name Jim) started talking.
"The dorms are in this building, but first, you can stop to pick up your schedule at the office, which is in that building," he said, pointing first to a building on the left, then on the right.
"Breakfast starts at 7:00am; you cannot be in your dorm from 8:30 to 3:30, and supper is at 7:00pm. The girls' dorms are upstairs, and the boys' are downstairs. Girls are not allowed to be in the boys' dorms at night, and vice versa. Curfew is 8:30. You may go receive your schedules now," Jim said in a bored tone, distractedly pointing to the building on the right.
We nodded and made our way over to the office. Since there were enough people for it to be crowded, Colton and I waited until everyone had filed out.
Instantly, my thoughts flew back to the factory. It's just a factory. It's not special. It's old, abandoned, and boring...
Despite my mental argument, I still knew, deep down, that I wanted to explore that factory.
"Star? Hey, you in fairy-tale land or something? It's our turn," Colton said as he waved his hand in front of my face, shaking me from my thoughts.
I slapped him on the shoulder. Well, it wasn't really that hard...
"Ouch!" he whined, holding his shoulder. "Why did you do that?"
"Oh, come on pansy, I didn't hit you that hard. Besides, I hate it when people wave their hands in my face," I said.
"Well, I'll make sure I don't do it, next time," Colton grumbled, rubbing his shoulder.
I rolled my eyes before heading into the office and retrieving my schedule.
I briefly scanned it over before looking over to Colton, who was reading his own.
"Trade?" I asked.
"Just because we trade schedules, it doesn't mean we actually trade classes," he told me, looking up from the paper.
I rolled my eyes. "No, you idiot. I want to see your schedule, and I'm sure you want to see mine, too." I grinned to take the sting out of my words.
"Oh, yeah... I knew that. I was joking," he said with a half smile, handing me his schedule in exchange for his.
Man, if I keep rolling my eyes at him, they're going to end up falling out of their sockets...
"Hey, we have the same classes." I was the first to notice the relativity.
"Yeah. Hey, it says that you have a roommate. Her name is... Aelita. Her name is Aelita Stones," Colton said.
"That's an unusual name," I mused aloud.
"You're saying that she has an unusual name?" Colton asked.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"That you- uh, nothing," Colton said quickly as he saw the look in my eyes.
Then, I unintentionally let a grin broke through, ruining the facade. "I'm just kidding. I know that my name is a bit weird, but I've always liked it," I admitted. "I wonder what my roommate will be like... Speaking of which, you have a roommate too. His name is Jeremy Belpois," I said, once again switching his schedule for mine.
"Hm..."
"What are you thinking about?"
"Oh, nothing, just going hm," Colton smiled.
I shook my head as we headed out of the office to the dorms. "See you later. I'm going unpack," I said as we reached the dorms, starting up the stairs.
Walking down the hall, I searched for at least three minutes without any success. "How can I keep missing it?" I muttered to myself under my breath.
Because you were thinking about the factory, a small voice inside my head told me. I tried to push it down as I approached a girl in the hall.
"Um, excuse me, but could you show me where room 213 is?" I asked.
The girl had long, raven hair, and was wearing a pink shirt with a heart on it that exposed her navel. Her pants were a dark pink to match, and she was wearing make up. I could tell at once, by the look she gave me, that she was sassy, snotty, and just plain mean.
"I could, but I would be horribly wasting time on you. Are you brain dead, or something? Don't you know your numbers?" she scoffed, speaking the last sentence like she was trying to explain something hard to a two year-old.
Feeling my fists clench, I opened my mouth to tell her off, when another voice did it for me.
"You're the one who's brain dead, Sissi. Now why don't you leave her alone, and back off," the voice spat.
I saw a look of intense hatred on Sissi's face, so I turned around to see who had gotten her all riled up. It was a girl with pink hair, (Which I thought was awesome, even though pink isn't even my favorite color) and a burgundy jumpsuit with light pink jacket hood underneath, and dark pink boots to match the jumpsuit. If I could describe her in one word, it would be pinkilicious. (I don't think that's a word, though, sadly)
"Oh, look, Aelita Stones," Sissi said, spitting out her name.
She must be my roommate, I remembered.
"Are you still wearing that old jump suit? It's so out of style. It makes you look like a baby," she laughed scornfully.
Aelita looked down at her outfit, defiant expression faltering.
I could see Sissi's lips curl up in a sort of smirk, and I couldn't bear to see her have the satisfaction.
"Yeah, well, your outfit isn't too flattering either. I happen to like her jumpsuit," I shot back, words out of my mouth before I'd even realized it. I felt a twinge of satisfaction as her smirk fell.
"I'll have you know that this is newest trend," she spat at me.
"Yeah, the newest trend from the 1970's," I laughed.
Sissi clenched her fists and fumed before storming off into a room two doors down, which I guess, was hers. Feeling a wave of satisfaction, I grinned at the closed door.
"Wow. No one usually speaks to Sissi like that," Aelita's surprised voice said.
"Yeah, well," I huffed, "that girl obviously has some sort of big problem, and someone should speak to her that way."
"Biggest understatement of the year," Aelita giggled. "So, I heard you were looking for room 213?"
"Yeah." I (tried to) brush the strand of hair out of my eyes, and pushed up my glasses. "I'm Star, and I'm your new roommate," I smiled.
"Oh, okay. Come on," Aelita motioned for me to follow with a slight nod of her head.
We went down three doors, and she used her key to get in. I almost bumped into the pink-haired girl as she suddenly stopped in the doorway.
"Hey, I wanted to ask... The jumper, do you really think that it's...?" She grimaced down at her outfit, shifting uncomfortably.
"No, it's nice. I like it," I assured her.
"Thanks," she smiled, seeming relieved as we walked inside and I set my bag down, pulling the other bed from a panel in the wall.
I took about fifteen minutes to unpack, and headed off to supper twenty minutes afterward.
I got in line and joined Colton at an empty table.
"Sho, wha wash your roommate like?" he asked me, words slurred by his full mouth.
I pulled a face. "Please don't talk with your mouth full. My roommate was really nice, actually. Although, I met this other girl, that was pretty-"
"Ooh, she was cute?" Colton intervened.
I resisted the urge to punch him. "No, she was pretty mean. Actually, she was really mean. Aelita stopped her from picking on me, but then the girl started picking on her. I stopped her, and made her pretty mad."
"This girl sounds like the devil. Who is she?" Colton asked.
"Her name was-"'
"You're sitting at our table," came an icy voice.
"Speak of the devil," I muttered to Colton.
"Then, I turned to Sissi, surprised to see two boys standing behind her, waiting expectantly with their trays.
"Actually, I believe I'm sitting at the school's table. You have no right to claim it," I said.
"Yes I do. I'm the principal's daughter," Sissi sniffed.
I could see Colton glare and open his mouth to refuse, when I held a hand up.
"It's not worth it," I told him. "She'll probably badger us the whole time," I said, directing the last few words (Icy glare of my own included) to Sissi. She smirked as we got up and tried to find to find another seat.
Colton sighed. "I hate her already."
"Yeah, I know."
We couldn't find another two seats, because people kept refusing us, saying that we were new and unpopular. Each time we were refused, I gritted my teeth and walked away, turning my back to snickers.
"I'm going sit on the floor," I said curtly to Colton after being refused three times.
"Okay," he sighed. "I'm going to see if I can get another table."
While I went against the wall and resumed eating, Colton went to another table. Surprisingly, he came back about ten seconds later, without a tray.
"Hey, I finally got us a table. These people will let us sit with them."
"Wow, really? That's great."
I got up and followed Colton to a table inhabited by three boys and a girl. I was surprised to see that the girl was Aelita, my roommate. There were two blond and one brunette boy.
"Hey Star. Why didn't you tell us that you had no where to sit?" Aelita asked with a smile as I slid into a seat next the brunette and the blond, who had a streak of purple in his hair. (which was pretty cool, I thought) Colton took a seat on the other side of the table.
"Uh, I don't know, I guess," I smiled shrugging my shoulders. "We actually had a table until Sissi kicked us off, saying that it was hers. We refused at first, but she kept bothering us until we agreed."
Everyone around the table assumed expressions of disgust.
"Yeah, you'll have to watch out for her. Just because she's the principal's daughter, Sissi thinks she's better than everyone else. She even has little slaves that follow her around all the time," Odd rolled is eyes, cocking his head toward Sissi's table.
I felt an unfamiliar feeling stir inside. I mentally frowned in confusion. Then I saw the blond bespectacled boy whisper to Aelita.
"That's Star, my roommate," I heard her whisper back. "Star, these are my friends." She looked to the blond.
"I'm Jeremy Belpois."
"Oh, you're Colton's roommate."
I received a nod.
"I'm Odd," the blond next to me said, shaking my hand.
There's that weird feeling again... I can feel my heart flutter.
"Yes you are," the brunette grinned.
Odd scowled.
"I'm Ulrich," the brunette said. "Nice to meet you guys."
"Likewise. This is my friend, Colton."
He gave a small wave.
The table erupted into conversation.
"I like your hair," Odd suddenly smiled, looking at the green streak.
"Thanks," I reply, suddenly feeling bashful as my cheeks turned pink.
We finished supper in five minutes (Odd finished it in less. I'm surprised he's still so scrawny, with how much gusto he eats with)
I went with Aelita back to the dorm, when she suddenly started grinning at me.
"What?" I asked.
"Oh, nothing. You're on cloud nine," she giggled.
"Your point...?" I asked, suddenly realizing I had been thinking about Odd.
"I think I know what you're daydreaming about. Or, should I say whom?" she asked, eyes sparkling.
"I... I don't know what you're talking about..."
"I know you like Odd."
So that was that weird feeling...
I shrugged, feeling my cheeks glow, but didn't deny it.
"I knew it. You were staring at him during lunch," Aelita giggled.
"Aw, no, I was? Great... Listen, you won't tell anyone, huh...?" I asked.
"I promise," Aelita grinned as I took out my key and we both went in.
She immediately started gathering her shower supplies, and walked out. I almost did the same, but something stopped me. Acquiring an excited smile, I ran out the door, almost forgetting to close it, and hastily descended the stairs. Then I searched for Colton's room, but instead, bumped into him.
"Ouch... Star, what are you doing down here?" he asked, rubbing his head.
I noticed the shower supplies in his hand. "Put those back," I said, pointing to them, "because we are going explore that old factory."
He looked to his bag, then to me.
"Well, I don't know... curfew is in a half hour..."
"Come on, we'll be quick. Besides, don't tell me that you don't want to find out what's in there, too...?" I urged. I knew I had won by the look on his face.
"Well, okay. I'll be right back," Colton said dashing into a room a few doors down and coming right back out, closing the door behind him.
Ten minutes later, we jogged into the forest, panting.
"I still... don't know about... this," Colton said.
"Relax," I told him. "Besides... What could happen?" (I didn't know it yet, but those three words were probably the most jinxed words in history)
Temporary POV change: Normal
As Jeremy went back to the room to grab his towel, which had been left behind, he noticed Colton wasn't there.
The blond didn't have time to ponder that, however, because that's when an alarm popped up on his computer screen. Jeremy groaned.
He grabbed his phone on the bed, and dialed a familiar number.
"Come on, come on, pick up already..."
"Hello Jeremy," came Aelita's confused voice.
"Aelita, where are you?" Jeremy asked.
"Well, I'm in my room. I just got out of the shower," Aelita said in the same tone.
"Xana has activated a tower."
He could hear a groan on the other end.
"Jeremy, I've got a roommate. Curfew is in 25 minutes. She'll want to know where I'm going," Aelita said.
"You'll have to make something up," Jeremy said before hanging up.
Aelita almost groaned again, until she noticed that Star wasn't there. Shrugging, she started to dial Yumi just as Jeremy dialed Ulrich.
12 minutes later, Odd, Ulrich, Jeremy, and Aelita were assembled at the factory, and Yumi was on her way. All were in pajamas, except Jeremy.
"Weird... Xana hasn't launched an attack on earth yet," Odd mused.
Suddenly a black substance started leaking out of the computer.
"You had to say that," Jeremy sighed.
It took the mutilated form of a human. Twisting it's head (Well, it was a sort of head) into an unpleasant expression, it immediately lunged at Jeremy.
He screamed and stepped back, but the monster grabbed the blond and electrocuted him before throwing him to the wall. Jeremy slid down with a moan, and moved no more.
Aelita would have ran over to him, but at that moment, the monster lunged at her. This time, they were all ready.
To her half-annoyance, Odd and Ulrich jumped in front of her. Sure, she was grateful for the protection, but she what she didn't like was being the weak person, always needed to be protected.
Odd got ready to hit it with a piece of metal, but it just slinked back into the computer.
Aelita ran over and fell to her knees beside Jeremy, putting and ear to his chest and two fingers on his wrist-pulse.
"He's unconscious," Aelita reported.
"That was Xana's aim," Ulrich grimaced.
Aelita sighed. "Well, there's nothing I can do. I'll just have to set up a delayed virtualization," she said, going over and typing on the computer.
They all got in the elevator, Aelita stealing one last glance at Jeremy before the elevator doors closed.
POV: Star
"This is so weird," I murmured, tracing a finger along some metal cabins.
"I think it's cool," Colton said as he stepped inside of one.
I did the same, inspecting the interior. Hearing the elevator doors open, I whirled around to face them, still in the cabin. My jaw dropped and my eyes bulged as the doors opened to reveal Ulrich, Aelita, and Odd.
There were a few sharp intakes of breath, and Aelita's eyes widened.
"Star! A-And Colton; what are you guys doing here?" Suddenly panic flashed in her eyes. "Get out of there, before it-"
Suddenly there was pneumatic hiss, and all I saw was Aelita's panicked expression and Colton's fearful one before doors came into my view and closed, trapping me in darkness.
Usually, I'm not evil, but... cliffhangers are so fun...
Matson: Oh yeah, reaalll evil. -rolls eyes-
Adventurer411: Did you roll your eyes at me?
Matson: Maybe...
Adventurer411: Ill have you know that I am waaayyy more evil than you, at least.
Matson: Who said I even wanted to be evil?
Adventurer411: Uh, er...
Matson: Yeah, that's what I thought. What's the point to even put me in this random conversation...?
Adventurer411: Because it's fun... Also, it works better when two people ask for reviews.
Matson: Good point. Reviews would be nice, thanks.
Adventurer411: Yeah! Review...