Heartland High

I finally get to start this story back up again! Huzzah! Anyway, it's time to send in your ideas again, cause the school bell has rung! For people who took an absence in reading, this picks up right where Alice starts crying. Let the insanity begin! And since it's been such a long time, I've conjured up a long chapter for everyone :)

10. The First Morning of Many

Julius glanced at the teary eyed child across from him. She looked absolutely miserable, her eyes burning and swelling from saltwater. Julius knew he had to do something. He couldn't handle the tears of a girl, especially one who reminded him so much of her. He stood up, his muscles tight beneath his skin. Closing the little distance betweem them, he enveloped her in a hug, winding his arms around her waist. His instinct was building up, the one that had grown over the years of watching two small children who had no mother. Holding this fragile teenager close, it was almost like having his tiny brother and sister back in his arms. He just didn't want to let go.

" J-Julius..Ju-I can't breath!" Alice gasped, the air skidding from her lungs. Instantly, Julius let go, looking down on the slender girl in front of him. She looked up, her soft teal orbs forgiving." Do you feel better?" He backed away from her, glaring coldly at Alice, who obliviously looked back.

Not wanting to continue to awkward moment, Alice headed for the door. With her hand twisting the knob, Julius cleared his throat." Sleep well."
".. I will," she smiled.

She left Julius to his thoughts, his lonely running thoughts. Perhaps I will like this child.

*BEEP, BEEP*

Alice's clover shaped alarm bleeped at her, trying to wake her from her foggy sleep. Her groggy eyes looked at the clock. 6:30, time to get up.
Leaning up, Alice let the green wool blankets slip from her shoulders. Stepping out of the bed, she felt the cold hardwood floor against her feet as she trudged to the mirror. Her hair was clean, her face was blemish- free; perfect. After brushing her teeth and hair, Alice dug through her closet for some clean clothes.

Her search led her to a red t-shirt with with a stick man hanging by his foot and a group of pinatas beating him with sticks; she found it oddly humorous. Donning a pair of eggshell white jeans and some snug, brown flats, she adjusted a brown bow in her hair and then went to sit on her bed.

I heard that I'll get all the books I need once classes start, so I guess that means I'm prepared. And now I've got loads of time. She looked at the clock, the time was exactly 7:00.
Classes don't even start until 8:30, I'm already bored to tears. Maybe I should see what everybody else-

*KNOCK, KNOCK*

The sudden bang on her door made Alice jump from her skin. She cleared her throat." W-Who is it?"

" Boris," the muffled voice called out. Boris? I don't remem- oh! That punk kid!

" Come in."

The door pushed open, revealing the hot pink haired boy. He pushed the door shut and made his way over to Alice, who simply smiled. Even in the dim room, his hot pink tie was vivid.
" Ready?"

" Um.. ready for what?"

" For classes, you dunce! Once the year starts, it hits you like a brick, so let's get to the cafeteria before the rest of the crowd then we'll head off to class."

" Okay. Sounds like a plan," she smiled.

The cafeteria was just as she had remembered, the long oval tables lined with seats in the middle and the 4-seater tables off to the sides. She hadn't been inside the level where you got food, but that was where Boris was taking her. And when she saw it, Alice immediately deemed it life changing.

Tables were spread out everywhere, some had lids over them to keep warmth over the contents. Others were packed with ice, freezing any perishable items on the tables. Bins were littered with ice and drinks, and others were with warm things to drink. One was even filled with hot water, sugar, and teabags, making a sweet tea container.
Now that was creative!

" Hey, Alice, since there's hardly anyone here, why don't you check out one of the 4 seaters? I got some other friends who'll be sitting with us, and I know they'll like you," Boris grinned at her, a wide toothy grin. Skipping out of smaller section of the room, Alice trotted over to a diamond shaped table, rimmed with blue and yellow. Boris was right, there weren't many people here. A few other students were sitting in scattered out places, but that was about it, until she caught another table in the farthest corner of the cafeteria.

Alice's hair stood up on her neck, her brows furrowed together. Three seniors- Nightmare, Julius, and Gray, were staring openly at her, uncaring of who knew. The curtains of the grand windows behind them fluttered around from the AC, shadowing the trio from sunlight. They looked like demons who were out hunting for prey. Her, obviously. But the menacing aura was ignored when Boris sat in front of her, blocking the three from view." Here ya go," he said, sliding a plastic cup filled with tea her way.

" Thanks, but, how did you know I think tea?"

" Lucky guess. And I've never known anyone who went here to not like it. I think that's why our basketball team was dubbed "tea trotters" cause they always drink it at half-time. Pretty lame, huh?"
She laughed at the name, but the brief moment of relief was over when she felt the penetrating stares of the seniors on her again.

" Hey, Boris, can, uh, can we go somewhere else? The seniors are really freaking me out right now," she pleaded. Not wanting to be suspicious, Boris barely glanced over his shoulder. The seniors were still staring, nothing had changed. " I'll bet you money they're tryin' to psych you up for the prank," he snickered.

" The senior prank?" That's right! For them, today is Freshman Initiation! How could I forget?

" Yup. But don't mind them, eventually they'll get bored and leave you alone. It's what they do," he sighed." I'm not so sure about that," Alice said nervously, looking back at them. Boris slapped her shoulder, loosening her up." Relax, once Gowland comes our way they'll quit staring. Seniors are weird like that, they don't want anything to do with anyone younger than them if another senior is involved."

I still have so much to learn about this place.

" Well, speak of the Devil and he shall appear," Boris exclaimed." Took you long enough, old man!" he cackled. Looking over his shoulder, Alice saw another man standing behind Boris. He was tall, very tall, and did look much older than anyone she knew. His yellow polo shirt really brought out the bright blue of his tie, but was softened by the warm brown of his pants. His reddish auburn hair was held by a braid, the same color of peachfuzz of his face." Oh, shut it, you little delinquent," he snapped, taking his seat next to Boris.

He smiled at Alice, who smiled back." So your that gal everyone's been talkin' about," he held out his hand," nice to meet ya. The name's Gowland." Alice took his outstretched hand." I'm Alice, but I guess you already knew that."

The three talked for what felt like hours, but it was nothing more than a few minutes. Alice was confined in their stories, what had come with their years of age and the very little wisdom Boris had. They told her of their adventures; how Boris had been in juvie so many times some of the guards there were some of his best friends, how Gowland was top in a community engineering course, and anything that came with it. As the trio were about to deepen the conversation, the intercom blared out.

Students,

Classes will start in exactly 15 minutes. Please direct yourselves to the appropriate classrooms and find a seat. All materials will be handed out at a later time. Thank you.

" Well, we better get a move on," Gowland said, standing from his chair. Boris followed, along with Alice close behind. Glancing back, she saw the seniors still sitting there, watching her, whispering, probably about her.

" Hey, hurry up!" Boris yelled from afar, making Alice snap back to reality. Before she turned around, her eyes were caught with Gray's. The blood in her veins curdled under his predatory eyes and she quickened her pace

Did I do something wrong? If I didn't know better, I'd think they were out to kill me.

Wonder what those devious seniors are up to? I'm working on a plot for each class. In a previous chapter there's a list of Alice's secondary classes, so if you actually want to go back and look at it, then you can send in some ideas for how those classes will affect school for her and everyone else.

All the roleholders will be in two connection classes. Eventually you'll know which ones; I'm such a nerd XO :)