Chapter 4: Haya Pukes In Class
After the thirty minute morning break, Lonnie went to the one class she wished she didn't have to take for one hour and half until lunch break: Auradon History. It's not that she didn't think that the history of the United States of Auradon was interesting at all, but the fact that she heard the same history year after year was what irritated her. At least, on the bright side, she'd get to sit with Kory and Xaos at the same table. The bad side was that the teacher had assigned permanent seats for all the students, so Lonnie and her friends were stuck in the front. The obvious guess would be that the teacher didn't exactly trust the new villainous kids.
The neutral side was that, while Kory sat on Lonnie's right side, Haya sat on the left side.
So far, Lonnie still hadn't gotten the chance to interact with Haya. Although Kory told her that it would take time for Haya to get used to her before they could become friends, Lonnie still felt unsure. It did seem silly of her to fear a new student, even if he or she came from the Isle of the Lost, and assume that they can't be friends. After all, Lonnie had been friends with Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos ever since they first met; they even did friends-night-out when they would make cookies in the kitchen, go to the movie theaters, and whatsoever. But it was probably different because their villainous parents had no connection with Lonnie's mother, Mulan. Last year, for instance, Mal and Audrey barely got along because Audrey's mother was cursed by Maleficent and her dad defeated Maleficent; the feud between the parents was passed as a grudge between the girls (thank God they became friends after Ben's coronation). So who new what would happen between Lonnie and Haya?
"All right, class." The students turned to look at the teacher, who was new as Lonnie noticed. Hopefully, he would be better than the previous Auradon History teacher, Mr. Winsome. "I am Mr. Roger and I will be your new Auradon History. Usually, I like to make the first day of school a good start and one of my ways is to talk about my heritage and myself. So, who would like to go first?"
There were murmurs approving of the idea, but many didn't like the idea of going first.
"I would like to talk about mine! It's very fascinating and beyond comparison!" A girl rose among the middle row. Her hazel hair was tied up into a clean bun with a ponytail coming from behind. She wore a red spencer over her perky pinky dress and golden heeled-sandals. Her head was decorated with golden jewelry, especially a golden tiara that stood out like a poodle wanting to show off.
"Sure, why not?" Mr. Roger said as he motioned the girl to come in front of the board. "And you are?"
"The name's Eleanor Malcolm," the girl said in a bragging tone as she curtsied in front of the class. "My father is King Malcolm of Scotland. My grandfather was Duncan and a king of Scotland until his treacherous relative Macbeth killed him while he slept and took over the throne, forcing my father and uncle Donalbain to flee. Unlike the Macbeths, my family and I are true royals!"
Kory elbowed at Lonnie. The latter looked to see Kory unsuspectingly passing a sheet of paper on the table. Making sure that Mr. Roger didn't see anything, she looked at it.
Xaos: Bummer. I should have thought of asking for one of Maleficent's sleeping curses for my birthday. Because I'd rather be cursed to sleep than listen to another princess story.
Kory: I'm used to hearing people brag back on the Isle, especially Gabriel and Hannah, but this is ridiculous. Lonnie, please tell me this isn't how heroes educate their kids here in Auradon. P.S: This is a back-and-forth passing conversation. Once you are done passing this, pass it to Haya.
Lonnie looked at Kory, who gave her an encouraging smile. Finally, Lonnie took a deep breath, grabbed her favorite blue pen and wrote her comment.
Lonnie: It happens that a few people like to brag about themselves because they defeated a villain who's now stuck on the Isle. Plus, some people are just too prejudiced. Don't get me started with how Chad Charming and Audrey behaved last year. P.S: Who's Hannah?
Once she was done, Lonnie quietly passed the paper underneath Haya's nose. The Hun girl looked at Lonnie with fierce confusion, which made the poor girl tremble. Finally, Haya looked at the paper and smirked before writing something down with her quill. She passed it back to Lonnie.
Haya: Right back at ya, sister. I'd bet on Havak's leftovers that Eleanor would get a world record for Miss Cynical. P.S: Hannah, fully named Hannah South, is the daughter of Prince Hans. Believe me, she's just as obnoxious as this Scottish perky doll. Think they might be related?
Lonnie managed to hold back a laugh; her smirking face still managed to get a grin back from Haya. When Xaos and Kory saw the comment as well, they had the same reaction.
"Well…uh, Eleanor," Mr. Roger hesitantly said. "It was a very interesting summary of your family's history, but it didn't have to take half-of class. Would anybody else like to share his or her story?"
"No need to waste time, Mr. Roger," Eleanor insisted. "There's no story that can equal mine." She shot a nasty look at Lonnie's table, especially towards her three classmates, which meant pride and disgust about their presence.
"Indeed not, Eleanor, but rudeness does equal with a trip to the Headmistress' office. Now back to your seat," Mr. Roger said sternly. The Scottish spoiled back paraded her way back to her spot. Mr. Roger scanned the room and his eyes landed on Kory. "Why don't you come and tell us about yourself?"
Kory suddenly stiffened as Mr. Roger spoke to her. "Wait…m-me?"
Mr. Roger gave an encouraging nod. "Why not? It would be interesting to hear from somebody who comes from a different background than any of us."
"Oh, m-my life has nothing interesting to talk about," Kory said as she was nervously was trying to get herself out of this situation. But the teacher didn't budge: he motioned her to come forward. Lonnie watched as her friend rose from her chair, making sure she got a warm hand squeeze from Xaos before she got up, and walked towards the board. Eyes were looking at her. Eleanor looked like she was predicting that this class would end badly.
"So, tell us a few things about yourself and your life back on the Isle of the Lost," Mr. Roger said with a smile.
Kory nervously fidgeted her fingers. "Well…let's see. My dad's the god of mischief Loki. He tried to kill his brother Thor and take over Asgard. And because he courted my mom, a regular mortal who used to work in a coal factory, she and her entire family got locked on the Isle when Odin and Auradon's authorities found out she was pregnant with me."
"So your entire mortal family was found guilty just because your father had you with her?"
"If you put it that way, yes."
"They say your father and the other evil gods are locked up in a prison in Tartarus. Do you know if it's true?"
"It is. The barrier on the Isle is too weak to contain gods, so they put them in the one place they're too afraid to take action: Tartarus, the worst part of the Underworld. But I did get to visit my dad in his cell, sometimes."
"You could visit someone in the Underworld?" A student asked.
"Yeah." Kory talked a bit more confidently. "But only if you were related to the prisoners. I usually visit my dad on my birthdays or on his birthdays, but that's all. And he barely talks about how he's doing since he's got nothing to do in prison except eat and sleep. When I visit, he mostly asks how I'm misbehaving at school or if I've been tormenting my mortal family."
"Family pressures are tough for you, aren't they?" Mr. Roger told Kory as he listened with full curiosity.
"Yeah…"
Lonnie stopped paying attention to what Kory was saying when she saw a piece of paper appear under her nose. It had a comment on it.
Haya: Kory is usual a bit nervous to talk about her family in front of others. Believe me, if you've seen her household back on the Isle, you would know. P.S: Pass back.
Lonnie looked back at Haya, who pretended to not see her in order to avoid getting caught. Would it be possible that Haya wanted to be friends with Lonnie? Well, there was only one way to find out.
Lonnie: Why? She has a big family?
Haya: Her mother, her grandparents, her great-grandfather, her six uncles, her four aunts, and twelve cousins. Include her, which makes 27 people.
Lonnie: 27 PEOPLE? God, that must leave barely enough space for her in her household.
Haya: Well, since she's a demigod, her family was provided with a big house back on the Isle. If you were a demigod born from one of the evil gods, like Xaos and Kory, you got a special house because you and your entire mortal family got involved with an evil god.
Lonnie: That doesn't sound fair.
Haya: Sister, nothing is fair in life except for the logical stuff. Is it fair that an entire family gets locked up in an island full of villains just because only one member slept with one god? No. Is it fair though that the demigod gets locked up on the Isle right after it's born? Yes, because you can be born evil. That's the way life is.
Lonnie: So… do you think it's fair or unfair that…your dad got…defeated by a girl?
Haya: What do they teach you at Auradon? Gender doesn't matter between adversaries. It's equality in combat and skills that matter when it comes to worthy opponents.
Lonnie: So you think it's fair that Mulan defeated your dad?
Haya: Yes and no. It's fair because Mulan was a worthy opponent and unfair because obviously she ruined his chances of domination and he got stuck on the Isle. Why do you ask?
Lonnie: Uh…well…how to say this? Mulan…is my mom.
Lonnie saw Haya freezing as the latter read Lonnie's last comment. The Hun girl turned her head in a robotic matter in order to face Lonnie with eyes widening at the second. Her dark eyebrows were frowning as if they were in pain and her mouth was grimacing.
"What?" Haya's voice sounded deeper than usual, which made Lonnie cringe.
Haya's face suddenly started to become pale. She quickly covered her mouth with one hand as the other held on to her stomach.
"Haya, are you OK?" Kory stopped talking to the class as she noticed that her friend wasn't doing well. Everyone then looked at Haya, who was starting to wobble.
"Oh dear," Mr. Roger said. "I think someone should take her to the infirmary." It started worsening: Haya was dragging herself off her seat, now covering her mouth with both hands.
"OH, NO!" Xaos exclaimed as he stood up and rushed to Haya. "Not now, Haya! Now's not the right time to…"
Too late. Haya bended and a ghastly noise was heard, along with a nasty smell. Students became disgusted as they pinched their noses.
"…Puke," Kory sighed, finishing Xaos' sentence.
Lonnie slapped herself. Great job, Li Fa Lonnie, she mentally scolded herself. Great job.