Chapter 25: Surprise!
It was the last week of February and it was a Monday at JC high. No one liked Mondays. It was like that piece of bread that everyone skipped when they first opened up the bread bag.
Richard sat in his English class with Roy, Vic, Kori, and Jenny. They were currently sitting down waiting for the teacher to finish printing off their notes. Their teacher, Mr. Light, was pretty disorganized. As he waited for all 25 copies to get done, the class sat and talked.
"I'm just so ready for this year to end." Said Jenny as she chewed her pink gum vigorously.
"Oh yeah, totally." Added Richard.
Roy turned around in his desk and said, "Hey I thought freshmen year wasn't half bad!"
"That's because you turned into a dick half way through it." Jenny replied.
They all laughed but Roy flipped the pink haired girl off. She rolled her eyes. Roy slumped in his desk. "I know...that's why I lost Jade in the first place."
They all became silent and quieted down. It's been a few weeks since the park incident between Jade and Roy. After that night, Jade never called him even though she promised. She'd barely even talked to him lately and all hope of them getting back together was lost. Roy had been in the worst of moods lately. No one could blame him though.
"Hey," Kori gave the sad ginger a sincere look, "don't worry bout it. She'll come around."
"Yeah man. You know how Jade is. Stubborn but friendly." Vic reassured.
Richard gave them all a curious look and said, "What's up with her anyway? She seems a bit...off."
"I've noticed that too." Jenny scooted forward more. "She has been a little bit more distant from us."
They all agreed. Roy began to put a lot of thought in those words. He had noticed that and frankly, he was worried. Jade was usually all perky and happy-occasionally. But lately, she's been quiet and has been missing training practices.
"I'm going to talk to her later on." Richard said. "Because she's been missing training and hasn't been telling me anything."
Mr. Light turned around with a stack of papers and said, "Alright class!" He pushed his glasses up to the bridge of his nose. "Lets get started!"
A groan emitted from the students and the teacher began passing out the papers. Sadly, the note packets were ten pages long.
TT
"Now carefully pour the enzyme into the cylinder." Dr. Chang careful watched his students follow his directions. They all slowly and cautiously poured the chemical into the vinegar. It turned a bluish green color and smelled horrible.
"Oh my," Gar pinched his nose, "this smells worse than my gym socks."
Rachel, who was busy reading, snorted and said, "I highly doubt that."
Gar turned around and pointed at the monotone. "Hey at least I'm doing something!"
"Shocker." Rachel said blandly and continued to read. Gar turned back around and crossed his arms.
"Aye mate, it seems like you have a thing for Rachel." Toni said as she walked up to the pouting blonde.
Gar looked wide eyed at her and nervously laughed. "Why on earth would you think THAT!?"
He started laughing hysterically and awkwardly. Toni raised her eyebrows and adjusted her safety goggles. "Well, you two are always arguing, pestering at one another, and she always blushes when ever you say something sincere."
Gar stopped laughing and stared hard at the Australian. He processed her words through his head and a said, "But you and Alain never do those things and you two like each other."
"Wha-we do not! That is-you can't-yo changed the subject!" Her face turned redder than her hair.
Gar crossed his arms and smirked. "Aha! I'm right. I'm right! You lose! Hahahaha!" Gar did a little victory dance and Toni smacked her forehead. She wished she would've never even brought it up.
"Logan! Monetti!" Dr. Chang yelled and the two students whipped around to face their teacher. "Unless you want a detention I suggest you quit messing around and get back to work!"
They both cowered and immediately followed orders. Toni then whispered, "Sheesh what's got his nickers in a twist?"
Gar shrugged his shoulders and replied, "Maybe he needs a girlfriend."
TT
Jade was walking home and stared at the grey sidewalk as she did so. She wished she could be with her friends back at the pizza place but thanks to Slade, she had to deny their offer.
The past two weeks had been miserable. She'd never felt so alone in her life. Jade missed being able to do what she wanted whenever she wanted, she missed shopping with Kori and Karen, babysitting with Jenny, but most of all, she missed Roy.
She sighed and felt tears sting in her eyes. "What have I done..."
A while back, a few weeks after her and Roy broke up, a few guys had merely attacked her one night on her nightly jog. It was late around 8 ish and she'd taken a shortcut to go back to her house. Since she had earphones in, she hardly heard the three Slade bots sneak up behind her and grab her from behind. Screaming was useless since one of the bots covered her mouth, and her claws wouldn't come out since they'd put these special cuffs on her hands.
When they'd reached their destination, and old abandoned factory that was dark and mysterious, they'd finally let her go. She shot out her claws and prepared for battle.
"What do you want with me!" She had screamed. But the bots walked out of the room and she ran after them. The door slid shut and she banged on it to try and get out.
Halfway through the banging she suddenly wished she would've brought her phone instead of iPod. As she turned around, Slade sat in his big black chair ever so quietly.
"Who the hell are you!?" She screamed out of pure rage and panic.
"My child, I have so much to teach you." Was all the masked villain had said.
After about two hours had passed by, Jade had taken in all the information Slade had told-more like demanded-her. He realized Jade was one of the most cared about people in her group and had merely targeted her because he admired her persona. She wondered why he didn't target Kori, not that she wanted him to, because Kori was like the shiny new gem.
"Because, if I had done this to Kori, Richard would have noticed quicker and would've destroyed all of my plans."
She mentally smacked herself as he stated the obvious but was still pretty pissed about everything. During this two hour sit down, he basically wanted Jade to do all of his dirty work. He had a plan, that he had yet to tell her, and it apparently involved a lot of blackmail. She sat there, sinking in every demand he's given her.
She didn't understand how a person could be so cruel. She didn't understand why he wanted to be this way in the first place. But most if all, she didn't understand why he'd picked her.
Jade didn't want to betray all of her best friends. She didn't want to sneak around an do Slade's dirty work. But she had to or else her friends would end up hurt. He's made it clear that if se disobeyed any I his orders, the first person he'd target would be her beloved reluctantly agreeing to do what he said, the demonic man finally let her go. When she left the dark building, she felt like she'd left her dignity behind.
Thinking back to the horrid memory, she remembered where to meet Slade tonight. It never escaped her mind as to why Red X couldn't do all of his dirty work. but then again, she figured it was best to not ask questions. As she walked down the sidewalk, she couldn't help but let the tears flow down her reddish cheeks.
TT
"Umm okay...what about that one?" Toni asked Alain as they laid on a blanket at JC beach looking at the stars.
"No! That's not even close to the Big Dipper!" Alain laughed and put his hands behind his head.
Toni laughed as well and flipped over on her stomach. The two teens had been laying out on the beach for about an hour and were currently trying to find the Big Dipper. It was about 8pm and Alain had promised Toni's parents that he'd get her home safe and sound by 8:30.
"I suck at this game." Toni said as she blew a piece of red hair out of her face.
"Hey look on the bright side," Alain said and he propped himself up on is elbows, "at least you have a great fashion sense!"
Toni laughed and looked down at her outfit. She wore a red and black plaid shirt with dark blue skinny jeans a brown hiking boots. Her hair was thrown messily up into a ponytail and she wore no makeup.
"You're a dork!" Toni laughed harder and plopped down.
"I know. We have that in common." As the two teens laughed, try quieted down just as quickly. Soon, the only thing you could hear were the waves washing up on the shore. A few minutes later Alain stood up.
Toni looked at him curiously. "Where are you going?"
Alain held out his hand which she took and he pulled her up. She wiped the sand off of her butt and looked at him again.
"Lets take a walk."
TT
It had been about ten minutes and they continued to walk. They talked about almost everything such as: Their likes and dislikes, favorite food and movie, school, friends, ever weird words. It seemed that the two fifteen year olds would never run out of things to talk about.
"Toni," Alain started as he shoved his hands into his pockets, " There's something I've been wanting to tell you for awhile now..."
Toni listened fully and continued walking but kept her eyes on him. A spark of hope flashed in her eyes. He continued, "I like you. More than a friend."
She stopped walking and stared at him, speechless. 'Say something! You like him too!' She thought but the words wouldn't come out. She now knew how Kori felt.
"I think you're beyond amazing and funny and daring and you can make any guy smile with your accent!" He took her hand and kept walking until the reached a sand drawing.
As Toni looked down at the writing in the sand she gasped. The words read: Will you please be my girlfriend? Surrounding the question were red rose petals and a few candles. Toni was completely speechless as she held Alain's hand. Tears sprung in her red eyes and she looked at him.
"Yes!" She jumped on him and he caught her surprisingly, spinning her around. "Oh my gosh! This is truly amazing!" She mumbled in his shoulder. She was overjoyed that he'd finally asked her to be his girlfriend.
She couldn't wait to tell Her friends but for now, she decided to enjoy the rest of her time with her boyfriend.
"You have no idea how long I've been waiting to ask you this." Alain said as he beamed down at Toni.
Toni smiled and wiped away the few tears. "And you have no idea how long I've been waiting for you to ask me."
TT
Jenny stormed out of Wally's bedroom angrily and grabbed her satchel. She headed straight for the front door but before she reached it, Wally stopped her.
"Jen!" He yelled and she spun around, narrowing her eyes at him. "You're being ridiculous!"
Jenny's mouth dropped open and she took steps towards him as she yelled, "IM BEING RIDICULOUS!?" She laughed and turned back around with we hands on her hips. "Excuse me for wanting to spend time with you! But you're too busy on your stupid x box that you won't even pay attention to me!"
Wally gasped and put a hand to his heart. "Don't talk about Gina that way! Take it back!"
"See! My point exactly!"
Wally threw his hands up in the air. "Oh for the love if Pete I'm SORRY! Geez, it's not like I have to devote every minute of the day to you!"
Jenny shoved hi harshly and screamed, "That's not even half if it! Aside from your dumbass x box, you rarely even talk to me unless you need something! I even see you in the halls flirting with other girls you DICK!" She turned around and grabbed her bag off the floor by before she opened the door, he sped in front of her under a second.
She scowled and said, "You can't use your powers!"
He crossed his arms. "Says who?"
"Agh! Get out of my way!"
"No! Tell me why you've been acting so weird!" He demanded.
She rolled her eyes and grunted again. "I jus did you idiot!"
"Half of those examples aren't even true! You never act this way! Tell me Jenn..." He took her hands in his and she settled down a bit more.
She didn't speak though and for some reason she looked...scared?
"Wally..." Her voice wavered and it looked like she was about to cry. He rubbed her arms waiting for her to finish. "My period is late."
Didn't see that coming.