Chapter 2
Lex, Randy, and Howard all stood in front of Norrisville High, staring up at the building as their fellow students entered.
"Men, from this day forward, we are sophomores!"
"Woo!" They all walked into the building, holding their locker assignments in their hands.
"New freshman…" Lex looked worriedly at the new kids who were carrying huge backpacks and trying to find their homeroom.
"Bash is gonna have a fun year." Howard mumbled.
"Not if we catch him in the act. I don't stand around for that sort of thing and you guys of all people know that!"
"Just don't break your nose again, okay?" Randy chuckled.
"That was an entirely different situation! Let's not forget your black eye from my first day."
"…t-that's an entirely different situation!"
"Mhm. Believe what you wish. Oh! Here's my locker!" Lex rushed towards the thin, metal locker and entered the combination.
"Looks like we're neighbors!" Howard said, taking the locker next to Randy, which was across from Lex's own locker.
"This. Is awesome sauce. I swear the school partners us up for every single class and locker assignment." Lex stated, grabbing what she needed before shutting and locking the locker.
"To class! Onward, my friends!"
"Got it, 'boss'." The duo followed Lex to a class that had the door wide open with a bunch of other students filing in. They all entered the neat classroom with posters lining the walls and a bookcase covering one entire wall in the back of the room.
"I can already tell that whoever our teacher is, he's a neat freak." Lex muttered, taking a seat right next to the window. Randy and Howard followed, sitting in the two empty seats next to her. Right as they sat down, the teacher walked in and smiled at the class. He was quite tall and had neat blue-black hair and grey eyes behind a pair of huge, circular glasses.
"Good morning, new homeroom! My name is Mr. Forester! I may not seem like it, but I'm quite a strict teacher and do not tolerate any unacceptable behavior. Would the young lady in the back row please spit out her gum?" The whole class looked around as a girl continued chewing her gum, assuming the teacher was just joking. Until a yellow slip of paper flew onto her desk.
"You must meet me after class. You, yes YOU next to her, will be meeting me after class too if you don't put that phone away." Mr. Forester continued smiling in a friendly manner as he looked pointedly at Heidi. She grumbled something before slipping the phone back in her pocket.
"Good! Now, let's get started with this, shall we?"
*Later, in the cafeteria*
"I'm exhausted." Lex mumbled, letting her head fall onto the light blue table.
"Why? They didn't give us any work or anything." Randy asked.
"I know, but don't teachers think today is pointless? I mean, all we do is introduce ourselves and such until class is over. We all know each other and we'll forget everything the teachers told us today, so there's no point."
"…true, but it's the first day."
"No excuse. I'd rather have my face mashed by Bash. Mildly, of course." Howard said. They suddenly heard a disturbance a few tables away and their attention was glued to the direction it was coming from.
"Fresh meat! Welcome to Norrisville High! I will be here for your daily beatings and lunch money. To prevent the first day of pain, hand the money over!" Bash demanded, holding a fist up threateningly at three freshman.
"W-we brought lunch!" Stammered the tan boy with maroon hair that was tucked mostly under a beanie and light brown eyes.
"That'll do, stutters!"
"Let us go! What did we do to you?!" Yelled a girl with blond hair that stood out against her mocha skin and dark brown eyes.
"Nothing. You're just freshman!" Lex groaned in annoyance at Bash and looked around for Mordea, knowing full well that she would stop this.
"Great, sis isn't here. Randy, hold my lunchbox." She ordered, setting the bag in Randy's hands before marching over to Bash.
"You never learn, do you?"
"Well well well! If it isn't the old twerp! I'm kinda busy with the freshmen, so please wait your turned to be bashed."
"I'd say clever play on words if it wasn't so lame. Now, I'm gonna need you to step away from these nice students or I'll have to make you."
"How do you plan on doing that?"
"I'll figure it out as I go along. So, are we gonna do this your way or my way?" Bash pulled his fist and aimed it at Lex's face. At the last moment, Lex stepped to the side and Bash's fist slammed into the wall.
"I guess we do this your way, but," lex smirked at the sight of Mordea re-entering the cafeteria, her gaze locked instantly on Bash, "I don't think you want to. I know my sister doesn't."
"Bash!" Bash's eyes widened and he turned around to meet the agitated gaze of Mordea.
"Hey Mordea! What's going on? I was just talking to the wonderful newbies!"
"Sure you were." Lex muttered, stifling a laugh at Bash trying to act like he WASN'T going to make the freshmen become one with the wall.
"Bashford, let's have a talk about this. Now."
"Why? There's nothing to talk about!"
"There will be the next time you have detention!" Bash seemed ready to say something back, but stayed quite considering that, if looks could kill, Mordea would have murdered him.
"Fine. I'll see you freshmen later."
"Bashford!" He hurried over to Mordea, who winked over her shoulder at the group.
"So, are you guys okay?" Lex turned to the three kids with a worried expression.
"Yeah, we're fine. I think he scarred Dustin mentally a bit, though." The girl from earlier said, gesturing to the boy who was looking at Lex like she was the most amazing person in the world.
"That's a common effect of Bash on most kids. For me, his breath was pretty traumatizing, but his fist will leave quite a mark. I'm Lex, you?"
"I'm Scarlett, the guy's Dustin, and Miss Silence is Jasmine." Another girl with soft pink hair and closed eyes waved at Lex from behind Scarlett. How she could see Lex, she didn't have a clue, but hey. Whatever.
"T-thanks for helping u-us out, Lex." Dustin stammered out adorably.
"You're welcome, Dustin!" Dustin blushed and Lex laughed lightly.
"You gonna beat us up, too?" Scarlett asked, arms crossed across her blue blouse.
"Why would I? I saved you, or tried. My sister's the one who did. Still, I wouldn't hurt innocent bystanders!"
"Good. I'd have to fight you off."
"Because it went so well with Bash." Scarlett seemed a bit annoyed at Lex, but was thankful for the same nonetheless.
"So, you three got a place to sit?" Jasmine shook her head.
"Then you'll be sitting with me and my friends. Beware, Howard's new to letting people at our table."
*Time skip brought to you by the power of moi!*
Our infamous trio was hanging out in Randy's backyard with Nomi as an end to their first day. Nomi was casually asking how their day had been and what they did.
"Anything else happen that's worth note?"
"Lex saved some kids today." Randy answered.
"Really? What destroyed the school today?"
"No, it was from Bash."
"For a second I thought your day was exciting. Still, that's good that you stood up for them, Lex."
"Thanks Nomi, but that's what anyone would want to do. I just actually stand up and talk sense into Bash when Mordea isn't." Lex chuckled.
"There's a reason you're a ninja, Lex. You just demonstrated the appropriate actions it takes to be one."
"Hey, Nomi. How did you choose Randy?"
"Well…I just…hmm…that's going to take me a moment to think. I suppose it was the more admirable moments of his. True, he's reckless, impatient, not the brightest, a little attention seeking on the occasion–"
"Hey!" Randy pouted childishly as Lex and Howard laughed.
"But he possesses the qualities a ninja needs, as well. He's valiant, self-sacrificial, loyal, and has the heart of a hero. These are the attributes of a ninja…to me, at least."
"I ship it!" Lex shouted with a laugh.
"Ship? Ship what where?"
"You don't get it and I hope you never do."
"Whatever a 'ship' is, it just ruined by small speech about being a ninja!"
"Aww, I'm sorry Nomi."
"Good. That speech was, as you would say, 'Bruce' or 'awesome sauce' and now it doesn't feel as amazing."
"Get over it, Nomicon. It was still very deep and moving. I was just being weird."
"I'm well aware of that."
"You ruined my apology."
"You ruined my mini speech!"
"I said sorry! Hey, if Randy has all of those traits, what do I have?"
"Well, you're…well, today you demonstrated your protection over others, even if the situation is small. I would say you're loving, protective, and valiant when were all against the Sorcerer just last school year."
"Do I have any cooler traits? Like brave, courageous, daring, audacious, etc.!"
"You're definitely audacious. Still, I'd need time to think over your attributes."
"Did you pick me to be a ninja?" "Not that I can remember."
"Who chose me then?" Nomi's eyes widened in surprise, since he hadn't been expecting that question. He turned to Randy and Howard, but they were just as confused and were looking at Nomi for an answer.
"To be honest, I'm not sure."
"Is there another Ninja Nomicon?"
"…I don't think so."
"Aren't you supposed to know everything, Nomi? Do you at least have an idea?"
"I could speculate on it. I'll tell you if I think of anything."
"Thank you, Nomi!" Lex took out her phone to check the time and stood up.
"I gotta go guys. Dad wanted me home by now. See ya tomorrow."
"Until then."
"See ya."
"Bye." Lex kissed Randy's cheek before leaving, smiling at his now red cheeks.
"Don't do anything stupid."
"N-no promises." Lex chuckled and left for her house, unaware that she was being watched.
