Please enjoy another chapter to Living Day! Like always I love reviews and feedback!
Jackson placed his tie on carefully tightening it up. He studied his reflection…How his black hair had those strange yellow tips he has had since birth. It's a good thing hair dye comes in yellow or he would have gotten a lot of questions from the normies. Normies….that's a word he never understood…if they are the 'normal' ones…then what is normal? How are they any different from the monsters? He moved to his bed and carefully placed on his black shoes that had been recently shined by his father. It was time for a new year at New Salem Academy…He hated the fact he couldn't wear his sweater vests or bow ties, but when both monsters and normies go to school together and those said normies had no idea monsters even existed then…uniforms was the best way to make the said monsters blend in a little better. Except for a few of those monsters…like himself, his bright yellow bangs and eyebrow ring was against dress code, but Holt was not letting him take out the piecing and had a few rounds not only with their parents, but Head Mistress Bloodgood as well who gave up in the end. As for his bangs…Jackson couldn't help that and he was not dyeing over his natural color. He turned around checking his trunk making sure he had clothes not only for himself but Holt as well. Even though he never got to be out that much, their trigger didn't really allow him to be. He felt the need to make sure his alter ego had everything he needed as well, like their father always says 'a happy alter ego is a more pleasant one to live with' Jackson had to chuckle when his father said that all those years ago when he told them about each other.
Jackson and his family lived in a town called Old Salem…the forgotten side of New Salem where monsters roam in perfect harmony. Down in between two hills just in the shadow of New Salem. The only 'normie' that really lived here was Jackson's father…oh and Frankie's grandfather. Yeah…maybe there was two 'normies.' Calling for his father to help him with his bags he sat down and waited. His school's dark blue jacket sat on his lap as he read through a letter he gotten from his only 'normal' friend Clair. He has known her since she moved to New Salem freshmen year. It took him a while to warm up to her…but in the end she won and they became friends. She still had no idea who he really was. That was fine of course, well in Jackson's eyes it was, but when it came down to it…she was trying to figure out more. She really wanted to know him. He has thought about telling her about his life ever since she told him about her life. He smiled at her kind words and explaining an event that happened to her mother while they were on vacation. Smiling a bit he carefully folded the letter and placed it in his jacket pocket as his father come in.
The drive was short when it came to getting to the train station to take them to the school that was only five hours away. Jackson stood next to his mother as she hid her hair in a bun. Her long red hair would sometimes flicker when it wasn't tied tightly back. She even wore one of the bracelet's his father invented (with help from Frankie's grandfather of course) to make it easier for monsters to blend in. She played with it slightly as Dr. Jekyll placed his hand over his wife's.
"Please calm down Sydney before you accidently turn it off."
She stopped holding his hand, "I'm sorry…normies just make me nervous."
He smiled and kissed her forehead, "You are just as nervous as they would be if you suddenly burst into flames."
She quickly grabbed onto his hand as she reached for Jackson. He sighed quietly as he allowed his mother pull him close. He didn't understand why she was so nervous with normies around…she kind of married one. But Jackson knew his father was more than an average normie…the way he held himself and was able to work a very stressful and demanding job without switching out at work. Sadly that meant he would at home…but his Hyde side was nice, got into trouble a lot, but nice. They walked together to the train as Jackson's father helped him place his trunk and bags into the train. He stood back smiling at Jackson who gave a small one back.
"You know what I'm going to tell you?" He asked as Jackson turned to look at him.
"Yes…call you if anything changes between Holt and me…try to stay calm and cool…and I happen to switch out in front of the normies then I will have to go to the night classes with the vampires and others who don't want to disguise themselves." Jackson repeated what he always told his father before he left in a monotone voice.
His father smiled and ruffed his hair, "Good…but I will add one more thing to that list…Frankie, please look after her. She trusts you…and so far you are the only person her age that her father trusts her with. Just help her get accustom to school before you let her out to the world."
Jackson stuttered a little forgetting that Frankie Stein is coming to school this year. She wasn't able to last year when she was first made. Jackson was there when she brought to life and since then Frankie has been attached to his side. "I would never force her away from me." He told his father.
Dr. Jekyll smiled again leading Jackson back to his mother who hugged him tightly. "Be safe son…Okay…call us!" She started getting Jackson to roll his eyes before getting smacked in the arm by his father. His mother missed all of that making Jackson glare at his father who glared back. Finally his mother pulled out of their hug smoothing out his hair as Jackson's name was called by a young looking normie girl. Her black hair fell down her back to her bottom and her duel colored eyes shined in happiness. Jackson blinked a couple of times trying to see past the illusion…it always does this to him when he first sees a monster who has never used the bracelet before. As Frankie came closer she hugged Jackson tightly and he could finally see her pale green skin and scars. Pulling out of their hug he could see her fully…from the bolts in her neck that disguises themselves as a necklace to her skin being a pale cream color.
"Hey Frankie…you illusion suits you nicely." He told her as she smiled brightly.
"Thank you! I can't see it…I didn't know what I looked liked I am so happy you can though!" She rushed out before getting a scared look on her face sparking a little, "But now you can't see me! I am so sorry I must have scared-"
Jackson held up his hand making Frankie stop, "It might take me a couple of seconds to see through an illusion since I am part monster…but I can still see you for you."
Frankie blushed smiling softly at him, "Oh I am sorry…I forget you are part monster sometimes."
Jackson patted Frankie on the head, "Its fine…most people do…but let's get you things on the train."
"That's a great idea," Dr. Jekyll said smiling warmly at Frankie who blushed avoiding eye contact with the older man. "Come on Frankie."
He led her to the train as Jackson slowly followed…he knew his father wanted to tell her to be careful…even though her parents may have went over everything with her before they left. Dr. Frankenstein walked up behind Jackson placing a hand on his shoulder. "I guess her parents didn't want to come?"
Dr. Frankenstein got a pained look on his face, "They don't agree with disguising themselves…but I wasn't going to make Frankie stay home if she didn't want too."
"I bet that was one hell of a fight." Jackson said watching his father talk to Frankie.
"Yes…it was, but I won in the end like I normally do." Dr. Frankenstein said in a confident tone.
"Ah…isn't my favorite mad scientist Dr. Robert Frankenstein!" Dr. Jekyll exclaimed loudly shaking hands with the normie scientist. He was the same height as Dr. Jekyll if not a few centimeters shorter…his black hair stood up as if he was electrocuted style, goggles hid in his hair as his normally white lab coat was left at home. He was wearing a normal blue button up shirt and black pants, "Dr. Jekyll my favorite question!" He exclaimed back making Jackson roll his eyes.
"I still don't know why you call me a question…I thought we answered everything." Dr. Jekyll asked as Dr. Frankenstein laughed a little, "You should know sir I still want to examine you on why you are the way you are."
Dr. Frankenstein looked at Jackson who backed up a bit, "There is no way I'm letting you examine me. I get that enough when my father thinks Holt's trying to switch the trigger on my again."
Dr. Jekyll just chuckles a bit, "He acts like it is such a bad thing…but until you and Holt come to an understanding then I have to keep an eye on him."
"Like poking me with random needles," Jackson mumbles out to Frankie who just giggled.
"See that is why I want to see…How does that even work? I am dying to know!" Dr. Frankenstein said practically bouncing as Jackson's father shrugged, "If I knew…I would tell you."
Jackson shook his head at the two older men as Frankie was playing with her skirt, "Shouldn't we say bye to your mother?"
He looked over to see his mother waiting for his father to stop talking to Dr. Frankenstein. He shook his head again, "No…I already did, but I have a feeling we will need to get on the train."
At that moment the whistle sounded making Dr. Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll snap out of their conversation. Before either one could say their good byes, Jackson grabbed Frankie by the wrist and pulling her to the train. The moment they got on the train slowly started to move, Frankie looked around in awe as Jackson led her to the back of the train. Soon he got to the train car that was labeled 'M dorms only' (M Dorms are only for monster use….N dorms are for Normies…or humans if you wish) None of the normies know how they are selected into the dorms, but at the beginning of the year, all new students are given a card that says either 'M Dorms or N Dorms' and they have to stay on that side of the train. To help keep monsters a secret from the humans as well as any monster hunter families.
Frankie stepped through the door Jackson held open for her. It took all she had not to stop and stare. There was monsters of every type sitting down in the seats talking to one either about their summer. "Welcome to New Salem Academy Miss. Stein." Jackson said pulling her farther into the car.