The All-Star Academy Chapter Thirteen
Fun and Trouble: Finding the Tattle-Tale
The time the three of them spent at Indie Park was the best moments of their lives; Drake, Cole, and Sackboy had so much fun. Drake and Cole got their faces painted, Sackboy got a bucket-full of candy, and Cole won a stuffed snake for Sackboy when he tested his strength in the bottle toss (Drake was supposed to win it for him, but he missed; stating that the game was rigged). They ate at the food court, took funny photos from the booth, and finally they were going to ride the Ferris wheel.
Cole looked up at the Ferris wheel, it looked pretty old up close, "Are they sure this is still safe to ride? It looks kinda rusty…"
"It looks old, but I think it's still safe to ride," Drake replied.
Sackboy tugged at Cole's hand, implying that there's no need to worry.
Cole knelt to Sackboy's level, rubbed his head and smiled, "OK, OK, Sackboy. I'll take your word for it."
"What?" asked Drake, "You don't trust my word?"
"Yes, Nate. I don't," Cole replied plainly.
Drake grunted. They approached the ticket booth and the Ticketmaster asked for their tickets. He was amused by Drake and Cole's painted faces and they gave him their tickets.
"Thank you, sirs! Enjoy the ride!" He called cheerfully.
Another staff member showed them to their ride and explained the safety procedures. Neither Drake nor Cole cared that much… what he was saying was basic common sense. What kind of idiot would disobey the rules of the ride? Sackboy, however, listened to every word the staff member said. The member then closed the door and the wheel started spinning very slow. Sackboy held on tightly to his seatbelt; it made Drake and Cole chuckle.
"It's alright, Sackboy," Drake replied, "You won't fall as long as you have your seatbelt."
Cole looked out the window and down to the floor, "Man, they look like ants down there… I wish Toro was here to see this…"
Sackboy's entire face was against the window, staring at the outside world. He's really never seen the world from a perspective such as this. Sure, he's seen amazing things, but gazing at the setting sun high above ground with two of your favorite people in the whole world? Now, that's just a one in a lifetime opportunity. It warmed up Drake's heart a bit to see Sackboy even happier than he usually is and he's the reason why. He was also glad to see Cole happy, too. Truthfully, there were not a lot of things that made Cole MacGrath happy, but for him, seeing Sackboy (and surprisingly himself) happy was all he needed to make at least his life count for something. There were other things that made him happy, such as his best friend Zeke Dunbar, Nix and Quo, Toro (they had some history together) and some others he knew back at home, but Drake and Sackboy were the next best thing. This also benefitted Drake too. Like Cole, he and Sackboy were like Drake's "home away from home." The time they spent on the Ferris wheel made them realize how close they became as friends.
After the ride, Drake, Cole and Sackboy were sitting on the pier, watching the sun. Sackboy was eating cotton candy.
"It sure is nice," Cole said.
"Yeah," Drake responded, "I guess it is."
Sackboy then saw a man selling cotton candy and ran towards him with great speed. What Drake just noticed was that Sackboy was holding his wallet in his hand.
"Hey! Sackboy!" Drake exclaimed, "Damn… he took my wallet and I didn't see it coming."
"Well, Nate, at least he's learning something from you," Cole joked.
"Ha ha… shut the hell up, Cole," Drake gritted.
Sackboy bought a large, pink stick of cotton candy and when he gave back Drake's wallet, Drake quickly opened it to check just how much Sackboy paid for the cotton candy. He lost twenty-four dollars on a sugary snack…
Shit... Drake thought as he stared into the empty crevice of his wallet.
Sackboy came up to Drake and Cole and offered them some of his cotton candy. Drake politely (to the best of his ability) said no while Cole was more than happy to take some. Sackboy sat between the two of them and smiled as the sun settled; Drake and Cole smiled as well.
Life is good… Drake thought, looking at the photo booth pictures, Just too good…
~FOUR DAYS LATER~
To think it was that long since they went to Indie Park, the three of them couldn't believe that no one has caught them… until now.
Sackboy and Drake were in history class, studying about the PlayStation 2 until the intercom rang. It was Polygon-Man and, by the sound of his voice, he didn't sound happy.
"Sackboy and Nathan Drake! To my office! NOW!" It was so loud that the students could feel a small earthquake.
Sackboy was scared, he held his arms tightly. Never has Polygon called out his name in that nature. Usually, when he was called to Polygon's office, it was for a good reason or a special occasion.
Drake shuddered quietly, Shit… they found us out! But how?!
The teacher excused them both. While leaving, Drake noticed Dante, smiling and crossing his arms. He seemed to think that Drake and Sackboy finally got in trouble.
Asshole… Drake thought when leaving.
They took the elevator to the top floor. Drake noticed that Sackboy was holding his stomach, as if he was about to throw up.
"Sackboy?" Drake asked.
Sackboy looked up at the fortune hunter and nodded.
"It's okay. We'll be fine, I promise you." He hugged Sackboy, hoping it would make him feel better.
Sackboy hugged back, but his face was still the same expression—fear and anxiety.
They were in front of the headmaster's door. Sackboy's fear was fueled even more once they gazed at the blue office door. Polygon-Man's office—his sanctuary, throne room, the school's court room—just a few of the names given to his office.
Drake gulped, "Well, Sackboy… this is it." Before he opened the door, he knelt to Sackboy's level, "Whatever happens, we'll be fine. Just… don't worry."
Sackboy was still sad but he showed a small smiled and nodded. He trusted Drake. And so, Drake clenched his sweaty hands on the golden doorknob and turned it. The door slowly opened.
"Headmaster?" Drake asked in a small voice.
Polygon was sipping tea, "Come. Sit."
The room seemed darker than when Drake first arrived. He and Sackboy noticed Cole sitting in one of the chairs, looking down. Sackboy and Drake sat in the chairs next to Cole and suddenly the curtains came down, covering the windows. A single lamp light turned on and Polygon's eyes were glowing, like little balls of fire.
"Now, do not be afraid. I just want the truth." Just Polygon-Man saying that scared the crap out of the three of them.
"Answer this: Did you leave campus grounds without permission?"
He leaned in on the three students. Cole's heart was beating faster than usual and, due to the silence, everyone could hear his pulse. Sackboy was about to cry. Drake took a deep breath. Despite the pressure the headmaster was trying to pin on them, he was going to stay calm and be sly with his words.
"Headmaster," he said calmly, "we just needed to get some quick groceries that day. I am terribly sorry for not telling you in advance. It will never happen again."
"Nathan," Polygon said, raising an eyebrow, "do you take me for a bumbling buffoon? Do I look like an idiot to you?" He said this with so much sarcasm that Drake almost crapped in his pants.
Polygon backed away from them, his eyes in the shadows, "I will ask you this one more time. Did you leave the academy without permission?"
He asked in a calm but irritated voice. Cole looked at Drake, waiting for an answer but Drake kept quiet, licking his lips and breathing heavily. Cole's eyes showed concern and kept swallowing the shame he felt. It only took a couple minutes until Sackboy cracked. He couldn't take it anymore—Polygon cold stare got the best of him. He nodded profusely, admitting that they left the academy without telling him and caused some ruckus around town. Sackboy's isn't a person who would lie; he wouldn't lie if his life depended on it. Even though he told the truth, he also took the blame. He claimed it was his idea, not Drake's and explained that he should be punished and let Drake and Cole go free. He dragged them into his goal to reach Indie Park; they don't deserve this.
Drake and Cole were stunned. They were amazed by how mature Sackboy truly is. He was willing to take the fall. Polygon, however, saw it coming. He figured one of them would break and tell the truth and, if that didn't work, he had other ways of making them talk.
"Well then!" He said cheerfully, "Since someone finally admitted the truth, for you, Sackboy, I'll give you… huh… whatever shall your punishment be? Hmmmm… Ah! I got it! How about two months detention?"
Sackboy accepted with a serious face. Drake couldn't take this. He can't—no, won't—let Sackboy suffer alone. He already had a guilty conscience; he didn't want add more guilt.
"Wait!" He exclaimed, "I want detention, too! And I don't give a damn how long! Besides, it really was my idea to leave the academy. So, if you're gonna punish Sackboy, you better damn well punish me as well!"
Polygon now was bewildered. No one at the school would dare vouch for a student, especially one being punished. He smiled and wrote Drake's name down along with Sackboy's.
"Very well…" was his response. Polygon then looked at Cole, "Do you wish to vouch for Sackboy too, Mr. MacGrath?"
Cole looked at Drake and Sackboy. To an extent, it wasn't his fault, but he also had a hand in the escape plan and did cause some havoc when they were riding through town. He was silent for a few moments then he took a deep breath.
"Yes." He simply said, "Put me along with them."
Yet again, the headmaster was short beyond words. He stared at the three of them with curious, unbelievable eyes. He could not believe how close the "troublesome trio" has become. They'll go so far as to go down together.
If one falls, they all fall, I suppose, Polygon thought as he wrote Cole's name down.
He gave them all detention slips and warned them that if this happens again, they'll wish they had detention the second time around.
"Leave my office." He concluded.
Cole, Sackboy and Drake left his office, but before he left Drake was still at the door.
"You're still here?" Polygon asked, irritated.
"Uhh… yeah… actually I wanted to ask you something, Polygon," Drake replied, "Just my curiosity, but how did you know?"
"About what?"
"The escape plan?"
Polygon was silent for a few seconds, "Oh… a student claimed he saw and heard about your plans."
Drake eyes were wide open, but stayed calm and asked, "Who was it?"
"I can't tell you," Polygon replied, "This person has asked me to keep their identity anonymous."
Drake nodded, "Okay. Thank you."
He closed the door and wandered off in thought. Someone snitched? Who? Who's the bastard who told on us? Was it Sly? Dante? How did they even…
He was interrupted by Cole and Sackboy calling his name. He caught up with them, but he still thought to himself.
I gotta know… he declared, I gotta know who did it; and why they did it.
And thus, they walked off in the halls and back to their classes and back to their classes.
Preview!
Nate: Hey guys! Nate Drake again here to say that we're on the case!
Cole: The case of what? The Snitch?
Nate: We got a caper to solve, my dear Cole! We just can't let this person get away with this!
Cole: And how do you expect us to find them? Anyone can be a suspect you know...
Nate: We'll find a way... we always do!
Cole: What about PM?
Nate: Polygon-Man can go and suck a-
Cole: Nate! There are children reading this you know (and Sackboy's here too!)!
Sackboy: ~Grabs a magnifying glass and looks through it~
Nate: Sorry and it's settled! Detective Nate and Co. are on the case to find the snitch bitch!
Cole: Wait... what?
Nate: Next time on The All-Star Academy: Detective Drake and Co. Busts the Snitch!
Snitch: YOU'LL NEVER UNCOVER ME! MUAHAHAHA!
Nate: Hey! Get back here!
Chapter 13 done! (●´∀｀●)
Yay! A detective chapter is coming next! Wonder what will happen? Will Detective Drake find the tattle-tale? w(°ｏ°)w