Today, a great man died. Stan Lee, you were too good for this world. Farewell, Oh great one. With that said, Star vs the Forces of Evil is owned by Disney and Stands are the creation of the brilliant and talented Hirohiko Araki. Enjoy.
A Clock in my Head: Chapter 1.
(Echo Creek, California: Present Day)
Time seemed to have slowed to a crawl for the class of Ms. Margaret Skullnick. Which was understandable, given that it was the last class of the day with only a minute left before the bell rang.
The students were all but comatose as the hefty troll-woman rambled on about theorems and equations that the majority of them would never use in their real lives. However, out of all of them, Janna was by far the least interested in what her teacher had to say. Not so much because she didn't care, but more because she was anxious to get down to the park and begin her Stand training for the day. They had all pretty much mastered Overlaying and Jefferson had promised them something extra special for that afternoon.
Needless to say, the young Filipina was eager to get started.
If only the bell would ring.
BRRRRRRRRING~
As if responding to her mental commands, the school's electronic sound system let out its blaring call; signifying the end of another long day.
All at once, the life returned to the zombified high schoolers as they started to gather their belongings. Unfortunately, before any of them could stand up, Ms. Skullnick shot everyone a piercing glare.
"Hold it!" she said sternly, freezing everyone in their tracks. "I don't recall dismissing anyone."
With great reluctance, but no resistance, the students all sat back down in their desks and waited for her to continue.
"That's better." The troll-woman said with a sort of gruff satisfaction. "Now then, before I let you all return to your unexamined lives of tweets and unboxing videos, I just want to remind everyone that exams are less than five weeks away. So hit those books and study, study, study."
Naturally, a few disgruntled murmurs arose from the crowd, but Skullnick seemed to have anticipated them.
"Oh, I know what you're all thinking. 'Why doesn't she just let us go? Five weeks is practically a lifetime. I've got plenty of time to goof around before I need to study.' Well, think again. Because time has a funny way of slipping through your fingers. And if you're not careful, you could wake up one morning and realize you've only got a few hours left to prepare. So take my advice and don't screw around."
No murmurs this time, but a few people rolled their eyes.
"Or do. I honestly don't care. Whatever happens to you once you leave this classroom is none of my business. For those of you who choose to heed my advice, I wish you the best of luck with your studies. As for the rest of you, I recommend you use your free time this summer learning a trade. Okay, now you're dismissed."
And with that, the students all resumed their standard exiting procedures.
Within moments, Janna had gathered all of her things and was making her way for the door. As always, Jackie, her oldest and dearest friend, was waiting for her in the hall. She was about to call out to her when a familiar voiced cut in.
"Just a minute, Ms. Ordonia." Said Ms. Skullnick in a stern but relaxed tone. "I'd like to have a word with you. In private."
Janna looked over at the troll-woman, and then back at Jackie, who gave her a sign that she'd meet her out front. So, with that settled, the young Filipina walked to her teacher's desk to see what she wanted.
"Uh… yes, Ms. Skullnick."
"Pull up a desk, dear. This could take a while."
Oh… that did not sound good.
After a quick Gulp Janna did as she was told and took a seat right in front of her teacher's desk.
At first, the older woman said nothing; which only compounded her anxieties.
"Um… Ms. Skullnick." She said nervously. "If this is about last week's test, I can explain…"
"Relax, dear. You're not in trouble." The troll-woman said casually. "I just want to talk."
"Oh… uh… okay. Sure." Janna replied confusedly. "What do you wanna talk about?"
"Nothing much. Just wondering how you were doing. How are things going at home. That sort of thing."
"Uh… I'm fine… I guess. And home's pretty much the same as it's always been."
"I see." Skullnick said in a tone that suggested she did not believe her. "Listen, sweetheart. I know you might not believe this, but I remember what it was like to be your age. All those hormones rushing through your system. All these new thoughts and feelings bubbling up to the surface. It's all just so overwhelming, and that makes it so easy to lose yourself to one sick vice or another. I guess what I'm trying to say is, honey, I've been where you are and I know how hard it is. So, if you ever need someone to talk to, my door's always open."
By this point, Janna was completely freaked out. She had no idea what the hell this woman was talking about.
"O….kay…. thanks. I'll keep that in mind."
"I hope you do. Because believe me, I wish I'd had someone to talk to about this stuff when I was your age. Maybe then my eating disorder wouldn't have gotten so out of control."
Suddenly, Janna felt her left eye twitch.
"What did you just say?"
"I just meant that…"
"I do not have an eating disorder!" the young Filipina shouted defensively. "I mean, yeah, I'm a little bigger than I was a few months ago, but that's just from a little stress eating. I have it under control."
"Oh, you poor, poor thing."
"What?"
"'Just a little stress eating.' 'I've got it under control.' You sound just like me when I was your age. So young. So full of denial."
"I'm not in denial! I'm just a little overweight! It's nothing!"
"Now, dearie, there's no shame in admitting you have a problem. After all, with your rather… um… shaky homelife and paternal abandonment issues, it's only natural that you'd…"
"What did you just say?" Janna growled viciously as her left eye began to twitch again.
"Now hold on, I didn't mean anything by it. I just… well, it's no secret that your mother's had more than a few…"
"I know what you meant, but that's not what I'm talking about!" she spat harshly. "That other thing you said. What did you mean by 'paternal abandonment issues'?"
"Oh, well, I just meant that, well, ever since you were little you've longed for a father figure in your life and…"
"And who told you that?"
"I'm… not at liberty to say. But rest assured, you have people in your life who care about you. Enough for them to ask me to…."
"Oh my God! I can't believe this!"
"Now, sweetie, just calm down."
"THAT BITCH!"
"Language, Ms. Ordonia. Language and volume."
"I'll split her f***ing head in two!"
"Now wait just a minute, missy. I didn't…"
"RAAAAAAH!"
And with that, the pudgy Filipina stormed out of the classroom and charged down the hall like a raging bull.
Leaving the older troll-woman alone with her thoughts.
"Oh dear…" she said, with both exasperation and disappointment. "Well, that's what I get for improvising."
XXX
(Somewhere down the hall)
Like an angry salmon fighting against the current, Janna pushed through the tide of students; her eyes scanning every face, every inch, in search of her illusive quarry.
Jackie Lynn Thomas.
Her so-called best friend.
She was the only person Janna had ever told about her… paternal issues, so logically she was the only one who could've put Skullnick up to that pathetic excuse for an intervention.
Oh, how it made her blood boil.
What the hell was Jackie thinking?
Telling everyone her most embarrassing secrets.
Treating her like she was some kind of hopeless charity case.
It was just so unlike her.
This was all that bitch Kelly's fault. Her and those stupid mushrooms. They'd warped Jackie's brain and turned her against her.
Well, she'd soon fix that. She'd set Jackie straight and get her old friend back. But not before she gave her a piece of her mind.
Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted three familiar faces; Annie, Britney, and Oscar.
Perhaps one of them knew where Jackie was hiding.
As she approached the unlikely trio, the young Filipina noticed that Britney, the crass coldhearted queen of the human pyramid, seemed to be doing all the talking, while Annie and Oscar, the latter of whom had his arm around the former's waist, were listening with what appeared to be genuine interest.
Honestly, even with all the facts, she couldn't wrap her head around how those two, of all people, could've possibly become friends. Why, it was nearly as mindboggling as Lightfoot somehow bagging herself a guy like Oscar. But then, those were mysteries for another day.
Right now she had bigger concerns.
"It's not fair! I tell you, it's just not fair!" Britney said heatedly as Janna approached them unnoticed. "I mean, I was at the training camp. I saw them. They were like a well-oiled machine. It was a thing of beauty. We had this season in the bag. But then, one week before Opening Day, our star pitcher checks himself into a depression clinic! I swear, it's like God hates me!"
"Aww, It's okay, Britney." The young otaku said sympathetically. "I'm sure they'll turn it around. I mean the season just started. Besides, it couldn't 've been that bad."
"Are you kidding? It was a disaster! Without Hernandez the team's whole rhythm is off. The Rockies were up eighteen points in the first inning. And this new pitcher, he looks like he's barely out of high school. He's so green he should be selling frozen vegetables."
"Well… uh…. Try and think positively."
"Hey, Lightfoot." Janna cut in suddenly. "Have you seen…"
"Excuse me! We're discussing something!" The head cheerleader said, callously brushing her aside before shifting her focus back on Annie. "Anyway, you want positive, fine. The series against the Rockies is a total wash, but like you said, it's still early, so we can absorb it. And sure, we'll probably squeak by in the next one because the Diamondbacks are still reeling from the drug bust! But then we play the Giants, and there's not a single addict on that whole mother loving team! Oh, what's the point? The season's ruined."
"Are you finished? Good!" the young Filipina said before violently shoving Britney to the floor. "Now Lightfoot, have you seen Jackie anywhere?"
"No, why?"
"Because I'm looking for her. That's why." She answered bluntly. "What about you, Oscar? Have you seen her?"
"Nope, sorry, dude."
"Ugh! Thanks. Way to be useless.
"Hey, wide load! What the hell is your problem!" the head cheerleader said venomously as she picked herself up off the ground. "Where do you get off pushing me to ground like that? Don't you know who I am?"
"Yeah, you're the Queen-Bitch of Cheerleader Land. Now one side, I'm not in the mood."
"Oh, you're not in the mood? Well, guess what? Now this is happening!"
And with that, Britney gave the hefty girl a mighty shove of her own; which of course, only amounted to pushing her back about an inch.
"Did you just shove me?"
"Yup. Whatcha gonna do about it, Porky?"
And from there, as I'm sure you can imagine, things only got worse.
Before anyone even knew what had happened, the two girls were engaged in an impromptu wrestling match with a large group of people crowded around them.
Naturally, Annie tried to break them apart, to which Janna responded with,
"F*** off, StarFan! This is none of your business!"
To which Britney replied,
"You leave her alone, you stupid manatee!"
And so on and so forth in that manner.
Before long, the chanting of the crowd subsided and a new, much sterner voice arose.
"What is going here?" the new voice said in a no-nonsense tone. "You girls, stop this shameful behavior, at once!"
"F*** off, dumbass!" Janna shouted without thinking.
An action she quickly regretted.
For upon looking up from giving the head cheerleader a headlock, she realized that the person she'd just cursed at was not a student, but rather a short, portly, balding, mustachioed man in a cheap Italian suit.
The 'honorable' Principal Edwin Bonner-Skeeves.
And he did not look happy.
"You two. My office. Now!"
End Notes:
The teams are real, but since this in another universe the roster is different. So, any similarities to any real players is coincidence.
Anyway, thanks for reading.
Later.
