AN: A third chapter to tide you over till Friday (which will hopefully be the next update.) I've got a plan shaping up in my
head for this fic. This is sort of setting the Post Pulse scene and such. I'm honestly not really convinced this is a good chapter,
so let me know. Also, if you'd like to see something in this series, let me know. I hope you enjoy chapter three.
---
November 1st 2012
---
She didn't want to have to come here. They scare her, terrify her to the very soul of her being. If she has a soul. She still hasn't worked that out yet. She wants to be home, reading a book in from of the window. But she is here and Zack ordered her to be here. She will not go home.
It's funny having a place to call home. She knows she shouldn't get attached. That's bad. She'll put her guard down and something bad will happen. Maybe it is good for her to be here; at least she'll be on her guard.
Where is she?
At school.
Zack suggested it before he left last time and somehow, in Jondy's mind, the suggestion became an order, because all Jondy wants to do is please Zack. It's her life mission and until Zack tells her he's proud of her, she won't stop trying.
School intrigues Jondy. She's seen shows on television about school. Pretty girls in expensive clothes being smart and happy. Nice, happy teachers laughing and sometimes falling in love with their protégés. It seems like a very far away place to Jondy and she cannot connect the schools she sees on the television to this dim, crumbling brick building. But she has a little bit of hope left.
Zack knows what school is like. He sometimes even tries to go to school. He knows it will keep the X5s out of trouble, maybe teach them to blend in more and make them a little bit Ordinary. And he worries about Jondy spending so much time alone. If Max was with her, maybe she'd be better. He knows he shouldn't worry about Jondy so much, but he does.
Jondy sits on the hard plastic chair outside the principal's office and swings her legs. She doesn't know yet, that school Post Pulse is different to television school. There is no money for schools anymore. And the classes are too full, the teachers are underpaid and overworked and no one cares if you're there or not. Every second person has a weapon to protect their lunch money or new bag. In ways she wants to forget, Jondy will fit in.
The Principal doesn't see a lonely twelve year old sitting outside her office. She sees another street kid, probably being forced into school by a harassed parent who is sick of seeing the police about her daughter.
Jondy doesn't know why, but she keeps promising to do her best and be good and finally the principal's resolve crumbles and Jondy is allowed into the school.
Jondy feels an almost childish glee. She remembers lessons at Manticore; six rows of five, the flashing screen. Sometimes teaching them languages or mathematics or history or the details of a mission. Jondy misses this blank uniformity.
This class is different. Mathematics, Jondy realises blankly as she stands in front of forty three aggressive faces. They don't look kindly on strangers. She isn't scared or apprehensive, she just is. Desks are jammed around the room and kids slouch, tossing each other notes or talking. The teacher is silently copying notes up onto the blackboard for the benefit of no one.
Jondy sits down, next to the window and looks outside. A jungle of buildings jerk up from the concrete and metal playground. Jondy feels something sour in her stomach. This is Manticore for Ordinaries. Jondy escaped Manticore. She wants to escape this place too.
The teacher asks questions in a flat monotone to specific students. Jondy matches names to faces as the teacher says them. She jumps a little when her name is called and the class titters a little. She answers one question, right, two questions, right, three, four, ten… the teacher stares at her. Jondy isn't concerned; she remembers Lydecker teaching her, Max, Krit and Jace this off flashcards before they moved to the barracks. It's easy.
The other children look at her with dark glances. She's too smart for them. The teacher is shocked she knows so much. Jondy wishes she'd made a mistake but too bad now. Anyway, she was designed not to ever, ever make mistakes.
The teacher leaves the classroom silently and Jondy turns back to the window. Something hard hits the back of her head and Jondy whips around to see who, what, why… Dark glares from both girls and boys. She doesn't understand… didn't she get all the questions right?
The teacher comes back and there's no more angry looks. Jondy won't be staying in the seventh grade. She'll be moved to the ninth grade, she's just so smart. Somewhere in her mind, Jondy knows this is meant to be a good thing, but it just makes her feel sick. Why do the Ordinaries make mistakes? Don't they like getting things right?
What makes something right and something wrong?
Maybe the ninth graders will be better.
For the first class it is. She's the cutie, the sweetheart, the little angel. Every question fired at her is answered correctly without missing a beat, like some sort of game. Jondy knows behind the cheerful laughter and jokes, they're testing her. She doesn't know what for, but she answers their questions the only way she knows how; the right way. The teacher thinks she's funny and very clever, but half way through the lesson, when the teacher falters and Jondy corrects him, he calls her names under his breath. Jondy just slumps in her seat. She feels like a toy, a pet meant to preform tricks on command.
It's okay until the third class. And it's over before it's begun. Jondy's paging through a textbook, remembering her old Manticore lessons when someone is standing in front of her. Saying things about her she doesn't understand. Maybe Ordinaries speak a different language to X5s. Jondy thought that they all spoke the same, but Jondy doesn't understand this boy. But she knows the look in his eyes and his body language. He's attacking her. Defence. Jondy knew defence.
His hand shoots out to punch her and Jondy ducks easily, her left leg shooting out and kicking him in the stomach. He doubles over, scratching out at her and actually scratching her cheek. Jondy hisses, like the cat she is, and her fists fly. He's cowering on the floor and Jondy's gone, out the window.
She walks the long way home, holding her hand to her cheek to stop the thin trickle of blood running down her cheek. She can't ever go back to that place. The dark, dirty buildings, the wrong answers and the boy she can't understand.
For a second she pauses, wondering what Zack will say when he finds out what happened. Maybe… maybe this is being an Ordinary. Trying something and doing it wrong and retreating. Maybe that's what Ordinaries do.
She goes home.
Zack won't turn up for three more weeks yet. Jondy will find the public library - or what's left of it - in two days and she'll relish the new, unread books and what's left of the Internet and all the information she can memorize.
And when she finally tells Zack what happens at school, he blankly nods and turns to leave. He's proud of her for trying. He wants to tell her how proud of her he is for coming to New York and living and just trying to be Ordinary. But he doesn't. He's only as strong as his weaknesses. And Zack resolves that Jondy will not be his weakness and he leaves her alone with her books and worries.
He'll be back sooner than he needs to.
head for this fic. This is sort of setting the Post Pulse scene and such. I'm honestly not really convinced this is a good chapter,
so let me know. Also, if you'd like to see something in this series, let me know. I hope you enjoy chapter three.
---
November 1st 2012
---
She didn't want to have to come here. They scare her, terrify her to the very soul of her being. If she has a soul. She still hasn't worked that out yet. She wants to be home, reading a book in from of the window. But she is here and Zack ordered her to be here. She will not go home.
It's funny having a place to call home. She knows she shouldn't get attached. That's bad. She'll put her guard down and something bad will happen. Maybe it is good for her to be here; at least she'll be on her guard.
Where is she?
At school.
Zack suggested it before he left last time and somehow, in Jondy's mind, the suggestion became an order, because all Jondy wants to do is please Zack. It's her life mission and until Zack tells her he's proud of her, she won't stop trying.
School intrigues Jondy. She's seen shows on television about school. Pretty girls in expensive clothes being smart and happy. Nice, happy teachers laughing and sometimes falling in love with their protégés. It seems like a very far away place to Jondy and she cannot connect the schools she sees on the television to this dim, crumbling brick building. But she has a little bit of hope left.
Zack knows what school is like. He sometimes even tries to go to school. He knows it will keep the X5s out of trouble, maybe teach them to blend in more and make them a little bit Ordinary. And he worries about Jondy spending so much time alone. If Max was with her, maybe she'd be better. He knows he shouldn't worry about Jondy so much, but he does.
Jondy sits on the hard plastic chair outside the principal's office and swings her legs. She doesn't know yet, that school Post Pulse is different to television school. There is no money for schools anymore. And the classes are too full, the teachers are underpaid and overworked and no one cares if you're there or not. Every second person has a weapon to protect their lunch money or new bag. In ways she wants to forget, Jondy will fit in.
The Principal doesn't see a lonely twelve year old sitting outside her office. She sees another street kid, probably being forced into school by a harassed parent who is sick of seeing the police about her daughter.
Jondy doesn't know why, but she keeps promising to do her best and be good and finally the principal's resolve crumbles and Jondy is allowed into the school.
Jondy feels an almost childish glee. She remembers lessons at Manticore; six rows of five, the flashing screen. Sometimes teaching them languages or mathematics or history or the details of a mission. Jondy misses this blank uniformity.
This class is different. Mathematics, Jondy realises blankly as she stands in front of forty three aggressive faces. They don't look kindly on strangers. She isn't scared or apprehensive, she just is. Desks are jammed around the room and kids slouch, tossing each other notes or talking. The teacher is silently copying notes up onto the blackboard for the benefit of no one.
Jondy sits down, next to the window and looks outside. A jungle of buildings jerk up from the concrete and metal playground. Jondy feels something sour in her stomach. This is Manticore for Ordinaries. Jondy escaped Manticore. She wants to escape this place too.
The teacher asks questions in a flat monotone to specific students. Jondy matches names to faces as the teacher says them. She jumps a little when her name is called and the class titters a little. She answers one question, right, two questions, right, three, four, ten… the teacher stares at her. Jondy isn't concerned; she remembers Lydecker teaching her, Max, Krit and Jace this off flashcards before they moved to the barracks. It's easy.
The other children look at her with dark glances. She's too smart for them. The teacher is shocked she knows so much. Jondy wishes she'd made a mistake but too bad now. Anyway, she was designed not to ever, ever make mistakes.
The teacher leaves the classroom silently and Jondy turns back to the window. Something hard hits the back of her head and Jondy whips around to see who, what, why… Dark glares from both girls and boys. She doesn't understand… didn't she get all the questions right?
The teacher comes back and there's no more angry looks. Jondy won't be staying in the seventh grade. She'll be moved to the ninth grade, she's just so smart. Somewhere in her mind, Jondy knows this is meant to be a good thing, but it just makes her feel sick. Why do the Ordinaries make mistakes? Don't they like getting things right?
What makes something right and something wrong?
Maybe the ninth graders will be better.
For the first class it is. She's the cutie, the sweetheart, the little angel. Every question fired at her is answered correctly without missing a beat, like some sort of game. Jondy knows behind the cheerful laughter and jokes, they're testing her. She doesn't know what for, but she answers their questions the only way she knows how; the right way. The teacher thinks she's funny and very clever, but half way through the lesson, when the teacher falters and Jondy corrects him, he calls her names under his breath. Jondy just slumps in her seat. She feels like a toy, a pet meant to preform tricks on command.
It's okay until the third class. And it's over before it's begun. Jondy's paging through a textbook, remembering her old Manticore lessons when someone is standing in front of her. Saying things about her she doesn't understand. Maybe Ordinaries speak a different language to X5s. Jondy thought that they all spoke the same, but Jondy doesn't understand this boy. But she knows the look in his eyes and his body language. He's attacking her. Defence. Jondy knew defence.
His hand shoots out to punch her and Jondy ducks easily, her left leg shooting out and kicking him in the stomach. He doubles over, scratching out at her and actually scratching her cheek. Jondy hisses, like the cat she is, and her fists fly. He's cowering on the floor and Jondy's gone, out the window.
She walks the long way home, holding her hand to her cheek to stop the thin trickle of blood running down her cheek. She can't ever go back to that place. The dark, dirty buildings, the wrong answers and the boy she can't understand.
For a second she pauses, wondering what Zack will say when he finds out what happened. Maybe… maybe this is being an Ordinary. Trying something and doing it wrong and retreating. Maybe that's what Ordinaries do.
She goes home.
Zack won't turn up for three more weeks yet. Jondy will find the public library - or what's left of it - in two days and she'll relish the new, unread books and what's left of the Internet and all the information she can memorize.
And when she finally tells Zack what happens at school, he blankly nods and turns to leave. He's proud of her for trying. He wants to tell her how proud of her he is for coming to New York and living and just trying to be Ordinary. But he doesn't. He's only as strong as his weaknesses. And Zack resolves that Jondy will not be his weakness and he leaves her alone with her books and worries.
He'll be back sooner than he needs to.