CW: Implied/referenced child abuse, Implied referenced violence against children
Chapter TextAdora O'Sullivan sat outside the headmaster's office of her new school. The Grayskull Academy, a prep school for kids who had had ambitions to be influential adults. For most this was a given from their influential parents, they had the money to come, but it shaped you to be the best at everything. It was rumoured their politics classes was more 'how to get what you want in politics'.
Adora did not have influential parents, she actually had zero parents, what she did have was one in a million soccer skills and a very good application essay. It was a bit embarrassing because it was likely everyone would know she was here on a charity case, she didn't really belong here with those people, but it was a great opportunity to become someone who mattered and not end up right where she came from. She could do so much, she could actually help people. She could do everything she needed, be as perfect as possible matter as much as people expected her to.
"Ms Hope will see you now." A secretary said.
Adora sat in front of a rather intimidating tall lady. Her whole office was covered in weird crystals which gave off a light that made everything feel otherworldly.
"It's good to meet you in person Adora." She said in an almost robotic tone.
"Oh, umm nice to meet you too," Adora replied feeling very awkward.
"I'm glad you could come to visit the school before you start. This school is hard and we expect excellence, something I believe you are capable of achieving. However, it will be an adjustment from your previous schooling. Not only will the coursework be more challenging, but we also expect participation in activities and as you are a junior this year you should be in a leadership role in at least one of your two required extracurricular activities."
"Yes, Ma'am," Adora said with a sharp nod.
"This school produces the most influential people in all walks of life this means the opportunity you have been given should not be wasted. Keep that in mind, behave and you have the ability to flourish here as I am sure you want to. We got quite a few applications and to be honest you were a bit of a gamble. We had a few other options that didn't have any shall we say, liabilities in their past. But one of our board of governors suggested that all other factors being equal we should choose someone like yourself, the definition of at-risk youth to test our theory of education. Having you here in an environment the supports you and other students with your degree potential and not those dragging you down she thinks you can succeed, I hope you will prove her correct"
Adora nodded again. She wasn't exactly sure she liked the way this Ms Hope said liabilities. She knew that 'those dragging her down' was referring to Catra. They had been partners in everything for as long as she could remember. Anytime Adora did get in trouble it was with Catra, but not all because of her. Catra could do anything, Adora knew she was smart enough she just wasn't as good at hiding her emotions, controlling her impulses and was bad at not getting caught.
"If you go into the lobby your schedule and a copy of the school guidebook for you to pick up. Fellow students, Ms Glimmer Moon & Mr Bow Richardson will show you around and give a students view of things."
"Thank you, Ms Hope" Adora nodded.
A girl with pink hair and a purple romper leaned against the table looking bored by a boy with black hair cut short around his head and a t-shirt with a big red heart on it.
"You must be Adora." the boy said
"Yes, I'm Adora."
"I'm Bow, and my slightly grumpy friend here is Glimmer."
"Hi. Adora. And I'm not grumpy Bow I just didn't really want to spend my second to last day of real summer at school."
"Okay but you signed up to be on the welcoming committee. We have to welcome people" Bow explained
"I thought it would just be freshman night." Glimmer pouted
Adora looked at her schedule while they bickered.
"Okay." Glimmer said with a long breath, "What is your first class?"
"Huh?" Adora said glancing up "First class what is it?" Glimmer asked.
"Oh umm, calculus with Mr Brown," Adora said.
"Well come on," Glimmer said walking out.
"Don't be bothered by her, I promise not really mad, especially not at you." Bow said
Adora snorted, "Yeah I know I've seen mad"
The school felt like something out of a Victorian novel. It all was so clean, and the air conditioning worked in every room.
They went through her class schedule tracing the fastest paths. Adora was a bit overwhelmed by everything and Glimmer seemed content to explain everything without Adora's input with short breaks to complain about her mother. They headed to the locker rooms which didn't even smell like blood and sweat which was cool it was only slight BO. Looking at the equipment dragged Adora's mind to Catra. They had been on the same soccer team since they played co-ed in second grade, it was their escape for years. There was a part of her that wished Catra could be there now she would be blown away by how much there was and the uniforms for that year was new, actually new.
Adora felt a tap on her shoulder setting off alarm bells in her brain. In one fluid motion, she threw the assaulter to the ground with a crash.
"Oh I'm sorry," Adora said looking at the stunned Bow looking up at her.
"What the hell?" Glimmer said looking at her quizzically.
"I'm sorry," Adora said again,
"That was impressive and painful." Bow said struggling to sit up.
Adora offered her hand getting him to his feet.
"What do you study?" Glimmer asked more curious than angry.
"Study?"
"Yeah. I do taekwondo and Judo." Glimmer said
"Oh, none? I just know how to fight." Adora said the real reason would probably be frowned upon by this school. "He scared me, I was distracted I'm sorry."
"Look it's fine. As long as you don't do it again out of the ring I can let it slide." Bow said shrugging.
"Thanks," Adora said blushing.
"Well come on. I'll show you to the main hall, we'll pass by student government building. I think that should be your leadership option any job there counts." Glimmer said sighing
Adora followed behind. Walking back through it the school felt less impressive and more confusing and big. She had to admit she didn't think she would get chosen when filling out the application, it had been Mostly Shadow Weaver who wanted it, and her guidance counsellor at school. They wanted her leadership to be used for good and not ever actually proven illegal activity. Apparently, it was the wrong kind of business sense. Never mind all Adora wanted the money for was medication, ice packs, band-aids and the like. Adora had people to take care of, but no one did care about that it was still just ill-gotten gains.
Adora's thoughts brought her all the way to Glimmer showing her a large room full of chairs in a semi-circle, a podium and a smartboard.
"I give you student government" Glimmer exclaimed doing her best Vanna White impression.
"Looks fancy," Adora said.
"Not really usually pretty boring unless someone starts a fight that is." Bow said.
"Right' Adora groaned.
The bus ride back home was way too long for Adora's liking she felt antsy. She busied herself reading the student handbook. It had long portions about expected grades easy enough. High performance in extracurriculars not that had she could do sports easy, and student government would work she could do that. The behaviour code and attendance rules was why she was worried. Flipping someone to the ground was probably frowned upon, turning down her alertness was not something she was good at. She couldn't stop being good at fighting through or people got hurt, people always got hurt. She shook her head to try and keep her mind away from the bad things, focus on making a plan. She had her school schedule worked out, and when she would need to leave to be on time, she had her uniform Ms Razz from next door had made alterations for her so that was done. Her scholarship covered lunches so that was done. She had homework time planned out. She had started writing behaviour code notes picking out the ones she would struggle with. Again the idea of attendance drifted back into her brain. You needed your parents to vouch for you (Adora noticed they didn't even bother with adding 'guardian' to their instructions) which was a problem because Shadow Weaver wasn't known to call in when Adora missed school to keep a concussed Catra from hurting herself more, even if it was Shadow Weaver's own fault.
Adora jumped from the bus. It was amazing the change from Etheria country to Horde county. The whole atmosphere changed, the hyper manicured sprawling lawns gave way to brown patches killed by the August heat and car exhaust. The Mc mansions became a mix of section eight housing, trailer parks, cramped duplex and old houses. Walking inside her run down group home she greeted by a jumping hug from Catra.
"Hey, Adora!" Catra shouted.
"Nice to see you, Adora, Tell me everything," Shadow Weaver said pulling Adora from Catra's embrace earning them a glare from Catra.
"It was nice Ms Weaver," Afora said sitting at the kitchen table.
Meg and Lily were already at the table they were the current other residents in the Girls home. Meg had been there for two weeks a veteran foster kid and at age 9 was not that much of disruption to business as usual pretty nice but aloof. Lily was only seven had been there a few months, she was always a disruption to the point it was normal.
Adora gave the rundown of everything that happened skipping the assault on Bow. Shadow Weaver seemed really impressed making Catra smile glad that she was making Shadow Weaver proud even if Catra rolled her eyes so much during the conversation it must have hurt. Lily seemed to be having enough of the conversation and had started making art with her mashed potatoes much to the disgust of Meg. Shadow Weaver seemed pleased by her report and dismissed the girls to the living room to watch TV or 'whatever it is you do'. Sitting in the living room watching television with Catra sprawled out on her as they half-watched tv felt so normal it was hard to believe that going to Grayskull would change anything.