Chapter Two:
The Dean
"Hey!" I bounced up to Paige, standing in front of her locker and about to open it.
"Oh hey Kimmy!" She smiled a childish one, ruffling out her skirt. "Something wrong?"
"Nope, I'm just supposed to meet Serenity over here." I opened up my tall locker, "I still don't completely understand why they have these things when we could just walk to our dorms."
"It's a convenience?"
"It's less walking!" She smirked as I laughed, agreeing whole-heartedly. "See, I knew that would work. One class to go right?"
"Yeah, but I'm heading towards the Dean's office in the middle of it." I picked up my books for the next class and shoved them in my messenger bag, "Grandpa needs to talk to me."
"Good luck," she opened her locker.
"Beautiful!"
"AH!" Paige screamed as Vance literally leapt out of her locker, having squeezed his tiny frame in there long enough for her to open it and get on heck of a surprise. "What the hell Vance?!"
He shrugged with a silly little smile, "I was tired of you seeing me on top of the locker, so it is sneakier to jump out of it!"
"You're messed up," she snickered while taking his hand.
He twirled and dipped her, giving her a kiss right in the middle of the hall.
Did I mention she was dating Lord Vance? Oops, must have slipped my mind! He was the psycho I was telling you about, the one that knew just how to entertain her long enough to keep her short attention span.
"Hey, get a room!" I waved my hand.
"How many times have we told you that?" They both looked at me, Paige still dipped.
I let my eyebrow twitch, "Whatever." They busied themselves with making out and suddenly I yanked a condom I always carried for a moment just like this out of my bag, hitting Vance upside the head. "Here you go buddy!"
"I'm going to hurt you!" Paige leapt up, snickering while I squeaked, hiding behind the nearest person.
"You did it again, didn't you?" Serenity chuckled while looking at the now laughing Paige. "Hello Paige, Vance."
"Ah! Lady Serenity!" he bowed dramatically. "Queen Kimmy, I am honored that you gave me this gift! Though, it is a size too small for me..." He placed a hand to his head and sniffled while throwing aside the little packet.
We sweat-dropped, "Sure it is Vance. Sure it is." Even Paige had joined in on that.
The warning bell sounded clearly, our eight minute break diminished to one.
"Well we better get going," I glanced at the nearby clock. "You know, I can just go early. That way I miss out on algebra!" I eyed them nervously. "See you guys later!"
"I'll tell him you didn't go to class for you!" Vance hollered back.
Great, that meant I would get another lecture. Damn it!
"You do and I'll make sure you can't have babies!" I dodged around a corner, weary of anything that might have been hurtled after me.
I was fifteen minutes early to the Dean's office, so the secretary gave a loud huff before ushering me in. I waved fondly to her and slid into his office where our beloved dean was comfortably snoozing.
"Grandpa!"
"Huh?" He woke up with a start, scratching the back of his head and much resembling a child. "Oh, I wasn't sleeping Kimmy!"
"Of course not!" I beamed and flopped into a chair. "So... why am I here-"
"Early? Probably because you skipped class."
I laughed nervously and waved my hand, "Besides that! Why did you want to talk to me?"
He chuckled while pulling out an envelope. Deja vu was a harsh mistress; I was instantly struck with a similar situation that took place in this very office...
:{On The Line}:
"Tennis is actually why I called you in here."
I perked up immediately, blinking.
"Pardon?"
"This is why you're here, Captain Kimmy." He tossed me a letter.
:{On The Line}:
"No, it's not for you this time!" he scoffed. "This is a letter asking me to admit you, Serenity, and any other tennis player I find worthy into the World Junior Team Selections Tournament."
I grinned, instantly enthused by his words, "Decide who you're entering yet?"
"No, that is your job." His eyes crinkled with his smile as I stared, shocked. This was a big privilege... "I don't know as much about the sport as you, Captain Kimmy, but I know you will make the right choices for the tournament. It specifies you and Serenity for sure, so you'll both be in it."
"Gotcha!" I nodded eagerly. "If that's all, I need to stall so I don't have to go to algebra!" I grinned. "How've you been?"
"Great, but besides that there is more," he closed his eyes. "The tournament is being held in a nearby city in California about twenty miles away from here."
I knew this all ready. If there was a chance the tournament was nearby, it would be here and it said it would be in this region this year.
"Okay?"
"Don't jump to conclusions so swiftly," he scribbled something down hastily. "Since the last time something this grand happened you girls were offered a scholarship year-round to a rival academy, I find it only fair that karma be repaid and we'll be sponsoring foreign kids to come to school here for those that can't afford our rates." He adjusted his spectacles, "So twenty kids are going to come to this school to participate come October 1st. The age limit is fifteen and older, just so you're warned. Fifteen as of this January 1st, by the way," he cut me off as I moved to open my mouth, "Yes, you'll have to show them around."
"Fine," I whined. "Wait, TWENTY NEW KIDS?! No, teenagers, seeing as it's fifteen and up... TWENTY NEW TEENAGERS?! THAT'S WORSE!"
"Yeah, so you'll have to help them feel at home," his eyes crinkled yet again. "Can you do it Kimmy?"
"Of course I can," I bit my lip. The thing is: making myself do it. "For you Grandpa, I will."
"That's a good girl!" he clapped his hands. "Besides, if you didn't then I would be forced to stop overlooking the occasional PDA I've secretly had reported about the students."
"Hey, we're good students!" I gasped. "We just enjoy male affection!"
"Oh Kimmy, how you make these old bones laugh!" He laughed heartily. "It's decided then. Also, if you do well in the tournament, I'll send you and... let's say any seven of your friends... on vacation somewhere special besides the beach house this year."
Seven... oh I knew what he was getting at.
"Let's talk about that later," I mumbled. "I don't want any unhappy thoughts surfacing. October 1st they'll be here right? So that means they'll go the entire school year with us. That's cool." I smirked, "If they can handle it that is. I'm still adjusting!"
"Don't lie to me," he rolled his wise-eyes. "I know where you stand, Queen Kimmy."
"How'd you know 'bout that?" I grumbled. "Besides that, how many boys and how many girls?"
"Only three girls."
"Wow, that's a lot of boys. We need more girls you know!" I placed my hands on my hips as I took to my feet. "By the way, do I go by Singles when I choose who should go on, or do I pick Doubles Teams too?"
"Both."
"Got it!" I glanced at the clock, seeing I had succeeded in completely skipping algebra. There was no practice today, luckily, so I would have more time to make my decision. "Ha, alright the bell will ring in..." A shrill and clear chime sounded from the hallway and I grinned maliciously. "Bye Grandpa!"
"Bye Kimmy!" I slammed the door. "That girl is nothing but trouble!" He chuckled. "Of course, that's why I love her like a granddaughter."
:{On The Line}:
"You successfully skipped algebra! Congrats!" Paige shook my hand dramatically.
"OOH LA LA! AREN'T I JUST GORGEOUS!"
We turned to see Ty skipping down the halls, wearing a beautiful and dazzling pink dress with a long blonde wig on.
"KING TY! YOU'RE SO BEAUTIFUL!" Some of his fans were squealing as he skipped by and stopped in front of me and Paige. The two of us turned a daring shade of pink and rubbed our temples.
"How do I look?" he twirled majestically.
"Radiant as all ways my dear King Ty!" I joked after getting over the residual shock. "The lipstick truly brings out your complexion!"
"Oh I know!" He sighed dramatically, the back of his hand on his forehead.
"I actually think you look better in that than a lot of girls would." Paige was wide-eyed.
"Really?" His eyes shimmered as he took her hand. "Thank you Lady Paige!" It was our way of joking or exaggerating emotions to one another when we used our 'royal' titles.
"What play are you possibly doing this time?" Tiffany had sauntered over upon the very obvious display. "You're actually kind of pretty in pink drag."
"Another compliment!" he gasped. "We will be doing the epic tale of Sleeping Beauty as a snowball! It means we'll be switching up the roles and I am cast as the beautiful maiden!"
"How'd I know it?" Aylin and Augusta appeared. "Who is playing the handsome prince?"
"Ryo will be playing the handsome prince and my true love!" the ever-dramatic Ty clutched above his heart.
"Speaking of which, where is your true love?" I glanced around the hallway.
Suddenly, I was spun with my back to the locker, another body almost against mine. Gazing up, I found Ryo dressed in a prince's chic, looking absolutely amazing.
"How do I look?" He gave a coy smile.
"Like a very sexy prince," I snickered, the blush becoming profound on my cheeks.
"Oh Prince! Give me a kiss!" Ty leapt at Ryo, trying to smooch him.
"Save it for the play Ty," he held him back with one hand, his demeanor dark as he tried to keep the lips from him.
"Oh fine!" Ty huffed. "You just have another princess is all, don't you?"
"I'm not into pink dresses," Ryo swiveled back to me, cornering me against the locker and capturing my lips in his.
"I knew you had another!" Ty had false tears on his face, probably used from the vial of eye drops he carried on him indefinitely.
"Drama queen," Paige rolled her eyes. "Dear God, he's literally a drama queen!"
"Princess!"
"Whatever," she pouted. "Where's my Drama Queen?"
"I'm no queen!" Vance proudly stated, dressed as the evil villain of the story. "I am evil!"
We face faulted.
"Trust me, by now we know exactly what you are. Still not sure on the boy or girl part," Paige smiled.
He glared then gazed at me and Ryo, who still had me against the locker but were watching the scene with idle fascination.
"PDA!" he pushed us apart. "And adultery! You have a princess! Go, shoo!" He waved at Ryo as if trying to send him away. "Now! Before I tell her!"
"I'm right here!" Ty pouted pathetically and I found myself growing tired of the entire situation.
Serenity joined us not a moment too late. He saw her, eyes sparkling as she dropped her shoulders while staring at him, hiding a laugh behind her hand.
"Oh Serenity! Give me a kiss!" Ty jumped.
"No. You're wearing lipstick. There's just something weird about kissing a guy with lipstick on." She held him back with as much strength as possible.
"Woe ways me." He was squatting near the lockers, a dark cloud like aura above him.
"He's pouting again," Aidan quoted his signature saying which we have copyrighted as his. He had just shown up with Patrik. "So Kimmy, why'd you skip Algebra Two?"
Ryo's glare fixated on me, "Yes Kimmy, why did you skip a class?"
He was not in class with me. Theater was seventh period...
"I had to go speak to the Dean," I threw my hands up in my defense. "I had a legit reason! He called me in to talk to him!"
"About?" he pried. He hated when I missed a class because he knew I would sooner skip and go to the courts than participate in my lessons. I had done it countless times before, especially with Paige.
And I would do it countless times in the future. It was a wonder I wasn't failing by this point.
"The selections for the World Junior Tennis Team coming up," I smirked as the twins, Tiffany, Serenity, Aylin, and Paige stared in awe. "I have to pick a few people besides me and Serenity to participate in the tournament. And we're going to have twenty exchange students coming to our school October 1st and from then until summer to keep up their education while the tournament goes on. They're coming early to adjust to a new school like we've had to do before."
The air got darker around my girls as I mentioned it. Savannah had popped up just soon enough to hear it, though she knew very little about our old encounters.
"So you have to decide who gets to play from the Regulars?"
"Yup, from the entire tennis team, but I'm only admitting Regulars, seeing as they are the best in this school. You might want to try for it too, Rachel, seeing as you're good enough to be on the Regulars."
Where she had come from in the past ten minutes baffled me. She had chosen being the best out of the Non-Regulars than one of the weakest links in the Regulars.
"Nah, I'll watch and cheer," she shook her head.
"Back to the Theater!" Ty suddenly screamed. "We must get out of our facades before we simply ruin them! Come Vance! Come Ryo!"
They sighed but followed after him. Vance began skipping as well while Ryo walked, laughing quietly and shaking his head all the while.
"Man he's cute," I stared at him as he left. He looked so intelligent and he was, but there was that passionate, adorable, acting side of him. He treated me like I was his goddess, something any teenage girl would die for.
"So is this lug!" Tiffany yanked on Patrik's ear, "When he's not being loud."
"Hey!"
"Don't 'hey' me! Hay is for horses!" She smirked while jumping on him. "Gimme a piggy-back ride horsy!"
He galloped off, making her scream as he started jumping over potentially dangerous things that could hurt both him and her. It was only a matter of time before they wound up injured.
"The villain is always the hottest though." Paige was talking about her little wig-boy, Vance.
"And Ty is just beautiful!"
"Somehow, I don't feel like that's a compliment," Serenity let her head drop.