I know I shouldn't have even applied, but at the time it had caused
everyone the greatest amount of happiness. "But Dad," I said looking
towards my father, "I CAN'T go."
Author's Thingamabobs:
So I pulled this story out of the figurative attic, and thought I'd share it with everyone. Just because I haven't written any anifiction for so long that I had a hankering, if you know what I mean. No spoilers for any of the later books, which is nice, I'm sure. Well. Not really, Because that means you haven't gotten to read the last books yet....*stops herself* Anyways, not mine. None of it. Not making money. (Thats a disclaimer, right? ^_~)
The School --Part One
"Would you like to tell me why not? This school is a great oppurtunity for you."
I would like to tell my dad why not, and maybe I could some day. But not this day. M y name is Marco, and you already know I can't tell you my last name. And you know the reason I can't go off to boarding school, no matter how much of a 'great oppurtunity' it is for me.
"Would you let me think about, please??" I asked, heading towards the playstation.
"Alright, but I would really like you to seriosly consider it. This school..."
"Yeah, yeah, would be a great oppurtunity for me." I flipped the on switch and began beating the computer at football. What have I gotten myself into, I thought as I scored another touchdown.
"What have you gotten yourself into?" Jake's words echoed my thoughts as we walked toward school.
"Chill out man...I applied to please my father, it was after my mom...before..."
Jake looked at me all serious. "So?"
"So, what?" I asked shrugging. "No way I can go. Have to stay and save the world."
"Marco. This school could be really good for you."
"And the rest of mankind?"
"Marco. Maybe you should go. Maybe..."
"What? And bail out on you guys. No way man, no way."
No way was I going to leave my friends to fight the Yeerks alone, while I wasted my time at some college prepatory school. No way was I going to abadon the fight, abadon the fact that my mom might still be....no way.
"I know I'm always saying how insane this stuff is...but I couldn't leave you guys to..."
"Why don't we talk about it afterschool. Cassie's? Alright?"
I nodded and walked off towards class. On the way I smiled and attempted to flirt with a pretty girl. For some reason, she seemed to be able to resist my beauty and charm, and walked away from me. Oh well, I wasn't really into it today anyways.
I sat through classes without my usual repotoire of witty comments. My math teacher even asked me if I was okay. I laughed inwardly at that. I told him about the school, I'm not sure why. Probably because I'd asked him for a recommendation earlier that year. I got another speech about 'great oppurtunities' from him.
I wasn't looking forward to the meeting at Cassie's barn. Of course, one could rarely look forward to going to the place where they planned their own demise on a regular basis, but this time was different.
After school I headed out back to morph and fly to Cassie's. I spotted what I thought was Rachel in the air on my why there.
Rachel? I thought-spoke to the eagle.
Either it was a real bald eagle, or she was just ignoring me. Typical Rachel.
When I reached the barn, Ax, Tobias and Cassie were already there. I demorphed back to human and said hi.
"Congratulations!"Cassie yelled, looking as if she were going to burst.
"Thanks," I muttered looking towards the ground.
Rachel and Jake flew in next, an eagle and a falcon. "Alright," Jake said as he finished demorphing, putting on his 'down to business' face.
"We have to decide what's best for Marco and the group."
"I think that's easy," I jumped in. "I stay, and we continue like we have been."
"Marco's right, for once," Rachel said. "We can't break up the group, it's too dangerous. Besides, if I'm not around to keep him from doing something stupid, who else would have enough patience to do it?"
"Yeah, and who'd be here to keep Xena from killing everyone?" I countered.
Cassie looked at us. "We're not going to be able to stay together forever, it won't be long until we have to face the decision of college. It's not about the war this time, it's about Marco. And I think this school would be..."
"Don't say it!" I shouted. "I know, a great oppurtunity!"
This is a human matter. Ax said plainly.
We need Marco. Tobias said. It's that simple.
"I agree with Cassie," Jake said. "This about Marco. Not the war, not the Yeerks. Cassie is right, we can't stay together forever."
"Alright," I said, "we can't stay together forever. But I am NOT going to bail on you guys. I'm just not."
"There is one person we're not asking," Cassie said gently. "Marco, do you want to go to this school?"
"I won't. I can't do that to you guys."
"But do you want to?" Cassie prompted.
"I don't know. I've never even been there."
"Then why don't you go visit. You can do that, right? It's not that far from here, if we needed you, we'd no where to find you."
"Well, there is a Visit Weekend coming up. That's where enrolled students stay with students who've been there. I would only be gone a weekend."
It was a good idea. I wanted to visit the school, but was afraid that I'd like it enough to want to stay.
"Alright. Sounds good," Jake said. "We should all go home," enjoy a nice afternoon to ourselves. It might be awhile before the next."
I waved good-bye to Jake as my Dad and I headed off to see the school. It was about two hours away and we had to be there by 8, it was 6 a.m. and I was tired. I kind of ignored my dad's attempt at communication and dozed.
"You know son, I'm glad you decided to give this school a chance. It could be good for you," I heard my dad say as we pulled in and I began to wake up. All around other kids were getting out with their families, carrying enough supplies for a weekend trip.
"Where are you going to stay?" I asked my dad, as I sleepily pulled my duffel bag out of the trunk.
"At a motel, here in town, I'll give you the number in case you need to call me."
My dad scratched something on a piece of paper and handed it to me. I stuffed it my jeans pocket and followed the huge signs with "Visit Weekend-this way" inscribed on them in huge letters.
We reached the school, the kids stayed in what used to be a college dorm, and that was our first stop. At the door, the parents went to a parent orientation and we went to meet our weekend hosts, I hugged my dad awkwardly, promised to call him sometime tonight and went to meet my host, Ben.
"You Ben?" I said to one kid with dark hair, with a nametag clearly labeled,'Scott.'
"What do you thik?" he answered, testily.
"Whoa, just kidding around, chill man." Finally I noticed a frail guy with long blonde hair and thick glasses standing towards the back. His nametag label stated: 'Ben'.
"Hiya Ben, I'm Marco, and it looks like we get to be roomies for a weekend." Ben looked at me disgustedly.
"Yes, I am Ben. And you will be staying in my room for a weekend. But that doesn't make you my 'roomie', and I would appreciate if you would not speak to me unless absolutely necessary."
"Jeesh, you people need to lighten up."
Ben pointedly ignored me, and began walking away. I followed him, assuming he was leading to where I was going to stay for a weekend. I shrugged, deciding right then and there, that this place was not for me. But I'd come for the weekend, so I'd stay for the weekend.
Ben walked down a hallway lined with doors and opened one. "This is my room. Where you will be staying. You can sleep on the unused bed in the corner. I have to go to class, now. If you consult your schedule, you will see where you need to be next. Be sure to close the door and turn off the light when you leave. And if you make a mess, you will clean it up." Ben walked off.
"Hey! Get some sleep in class or something, you're seriously cranky!" I shouted after him. He just kept walking.
"Great," I muttered as I sat on the hard bed Ben had indicated was mine. "This weekend's going to be blast, I can tell already." I threw my duffel on the bed and looked at the schedule. Fifteen minutes to head back to the entrance area for general orientation. It only took about two to get to the room, so I figured I had time to find a bathroom.
The bathrooms were public, and I learned that there was one on every floor from a guy passing by. I headed in the direction he pointed. He seemed as icy as Ben. What is this, I thought, a school full of people who never have fun? And then I learned the answer, in the entrance of the bathroom, something a normal person wouldn't even give a second glance to, was a Yeerk pool.
Another kid walked in smiling. "You here for the weekend?" I asked.
"Yeah? How'd you know?"
"Lucky guess."
"That's some strange plumbing they got there, huh?"
"You have no idea." I muttered.
"Huh?"
I walked out of there, my blood racing, my heart pounding. This place was practically Yeerk heaven. 'The Brightest Kids in *****" was the school motto, kids away from home, no one to notice they were different, no one to hide from. Recruitment of kids who were going to be in positions of power, before they had any power to stop them.
I didn't know what to do, but I knew I had to warn the others...
Author's Thingamabobs:
So I pulled this story out of the figurative attic, and thought I'd share it with everyone. Just because I haven't written any anifiction for so long that I had a hankering, if you know what I mean. No spoilers for any of the later books, which is nice, I'm sure. Well. Not really, Because that means you haven't gotten to read the last books yet....*stops herself* Anyways, not mine. None of it. Not making money. (Thats a disclaimer, right? ^_~)
The School --Part One
"Would you like to tell me why not? This school is a great oppurtunity for you."
I would like to tell my dad why not, and maybe I could some day. But not this day. M y name is Marco, and you already know I can't tell you my last name. And you know the reason I can't go off to boarding school, no matter how much of a 'great oppurtunity' it is for me.
"Would you let me think about, please??" I asked, heading towards the playstation.
"Alright, but I would really like you to seriosly consider it. This school..."
"Yeah, yeah, would be a great oppurtunity for me." I flipped the on switch and began beating the computer at football. What have I gotten myself into, I thought as I scored another touchdown.
"What have you gotten yourself into?" Jake's words echoed my thoughts as we walked toward school.
"Chill out man...I applied to please my father, it was after my mom...before..."
Jake looked at me all serious. "So?"
"So, what?" I asked shrugging. "No way I can go. Have to stay and save the world."
"Marco. This school could be really good for you."
"And the rest of mankind?"
"Marco. Maybe you should go. Maybe..."
"What? And bail out on you guys. No way man, no way."
No way was I going to leave my friends to fight the Yeerks alone, while I wasted my time at some college prepatory school. No way was I going to abadon the fight, abadon the fact that my mom might still be....no way.
"I know I'm always saying how insane this stuff is...but I couldn't leave you guys to..."
"Why don't we talk about it afterschool. Cassie's? Alright?"
I nodded and walked off towards class. On the way I smiled and attempted to flirt with a pretty girl. For some reason, she seemed to be able to resist my beauty and charm, and walked away from me. Oh well, I wasn't really into it today anyways.
I sat through classes without my usual repotoire of witty comments. My math teacher even asked me if I was okay. I laughed inwardly at that. I told him about the school, I'm not sure why. Probably because I'd asked him for a recommendation earlier that year. I got another speech about 'great oppurtunities' from him.
I wasn't looking forward to the meeting at Cassie's barn. Of course, one could rarely look forward to going to the place where they planned their own demise on a regular basis, but this time was different.
After school I headed out back to morph and fly to Cassie's. I spotted what I thought was Rachel in the air on my why there.
Rachel? I thought-spoke to the eagle.
Either it was a real bald eagle, or she was just ignoring me. Typical Rachel.
When I reached the barn, Ax, Tobias and Cassie were already there. I demorphed back to human and said hi.
"Congratulations!"Cassie yelled, looking as if she were going to burst.
"Thanks," I muttered looking towards the ground.
Rachel and Jake flew in next, an eagle and a falcon. "Alright," Jake said as he finished demorphing, putting on his 'down to business' face.
"We have to decide what's best for Marco and the group."
"I think that's easy," I jumped in. "I stay, and we continue like we have been."
"Marco's right, for once," Rachel said. "We can't break up the group, it's too dangerous. Besides, if I'm not around to keep him from doing something stupid, who else would have enough patience to do it?"
"Yeah, and who'd be here to keep Xena from killing everyone?" I countered.
Cassie looked at us. "We're not going to be able to stay together forever, it won't be long until we have to face the decision of college. It's not about the war this time, it's about Marco. And I think this school would be..."
"Don't say it!" I shouted. "I know, a great oppurtunity!"
This is a human matter. Ax said plainly.
We need Marco. Tobias said. It's that simple.
"I agree with Cassie," Jake said. "This about Marco. Not the war, not the Yeerks. Cassie is right, we can't stay together forever."
"Alright," I said, "we can't stay together forever. But I am NOT going to bail on you guys. I'm just not."
"There is one person we're not asking," Cassie said gently. "Marco, do you want to go to this school?"
"I won't. I can't do that to you guys."
"But do you want to?" Cassie prompted.
"I don't know. I've never even been there."
"Then why don't you go visit. You can do that, right? It's not that far from here, if we needed you, we'd no where to find you."
"Well, there is a Visit Weekend coming up. That's where enrolled students stay with students who've been there. I would only be gone a weekend."
It was a good idea. I wanted to visit the school, but was afraid that I'd like it enough to want to stay.
"Alright. Sounds good," Jake said. "We should all go home," enjoy a nice afternoon to ourselves. It might be awhile before the next."
I waved good-bye to Jake as my Dad and I headed off to see the school. It was about two hours away and we had to be there by 8, it was 6 a.m. and I was tired. I kind of ignored my dad's attempt at communication and dozed.
"You know son, I'm glad you decided to give this school a chance. It could be good for you," I heard my dad say as we pulled in and I began to wake up. All around other kids were getting out with their families, carrying enough supplies for a weekend trip.
"Where are you going to stay?" I asked my dad, as I sleepily pulled my duffel bag out of the trunk.
"At a motel, here in town, I'll give you the number in case you need to call me."
My dad scratched something on a piece of paper and handed it to me. I stuffed it my jeans pocket and followed the huge signs with "Visit Weekend-this way" inscribed on them in huge letters.
We reached the school, the kids stayed in what used to be a college dorm, and that was our first stop. At the door, the parents went to a parent orientation and we went to meet our weekend hosts, I hugged my dad awkwardly, promised to call him sometime tonight and went to meet my host, Ben.
"You Ben?" I said to one kid with dark hair, with a nametag clearly labeled,'Scott.'
"What do you thik?" he answered, testily.
"Whoa, just kidding around, chill man." Finally I noticed a frail guy with long blonde hair and thick glasses standing towards the back. His nametag label stated: 'Ben'.
"Hiya Ben, I'm Marco, and it looks like we get to be roomies for a weekend." Ben looked at me disgustedly.
"Yes, I am Ben. And you will be staying in my room for a weekend. But that doesn't make you my 'roomie', and I would appreciate if you would not speak to me unless absolutely necessary."
"Jeesh, you people need to lighten up."
Ben pointedly ignored me, and began walking away. I followed him, assuming he was leading to where I was going to stay for a weekend. I shrugged, deciding right then and there, that this place was not for me. But I'd come for the weekend, so I'd stay for the weekend.
Ben walked down a hallway lined with doors and opened one. "This is my room. Where you will be staying. You can sleep on the unused bed in the corner. I have to go to class, now. If you consult your schedule, you will see where you need to be next. Be sure to close the door and turn off the light when you leave. And if you make a mess, you will clean it up." Ben walked off.
"Hey! Get some sleep in class or something, you're seriously cranky!" I shouted after him. He just kept walking.
"Great," I muttered as I sat on the hard bed Ben had indicated was mine. "This weekend's going to be blast, I can tell already." I threw my duffel on the bed and looked at the schedule. Fifteen minutes to head back to the entrance area for general orientation. It only took about two to get to the room, so I figured I had time to find a bathroom.
The bathrooms were public, and I learned that there was one on every floor from a guy passing by. I headed in the direction he pointed. He seemed as icy as Ben. What is this, I thought, a school full of people who never have fun? And then I learned the answer, in the entrance of the bathroom, something a normal person wouldn't even give a second glance to, was a Yeerk pool.
Another kid walked in smiling. "You here for the weekend?" I asked.
"Yeah? How'd you know?"
"Lucky guess."
"That's some strange plumbing they got there, huh?"
"You have no idea." I muttered.
"Huh?"
I walked out of there, my blood racing, my heart pounding. This place was practically Yeerk heaven. 'The Brightest Kids in *****" was the school motto, kids away from home, no one to notice they were different, no one to hide from. Recruitment of kids who were going to be in positions of power, before they had any power to stop them.
I didn't know what to do, but I knew I had to warn the others...