Title: Soldier's Daughter
Rating: PG
Warnings: Very slight mention of yaoi, some violence
Spoilers: Gundam Wing
Disclaimers: I do NOT own Gundam Wing. Wish I did, but I don't. It belongs to Sunrise (I think)
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Soldier's Daughter: Chapter TwoThe next morning, I got up earlier than anyone else, so I took the opportunity of a quick early morning shower. I felt much better having washed the sleep away. After drying off, I ran my fingers through my messy hair to get rid of the tangles. A long time ago I had learned that my hair was almost resistant to brushing, so I didn't try to straighten it. A semi-awake Dian was waiting for the bathroom when I came out. We nodded to each other as she went in and I headed to my room. For once, this was a school without a uniform so I dressed in jeans and a nice shirt.
I went upstairs with my things for school and was ready to go, even if I was early. Odin was in the kitchen helping to braid Michael's hair as they ate breakfast. Solo looked like he was working his way through a second or third bowl of cereal, his braid already done. I made myself a cup of coffee, I have an aversion to eating breakfast and, besides, I'm not hungry in the mornings. Marie wandered in a few minutes after me, flicking her short hair out of her face.
"Don't you want anything to eat, Annel?" she asked with a cheerful smile as she made some toast.
I shook my head and replied, "No, thank you." At that moment, Jorden came in holding his half-done braid. After making his cup, Jorden sat on the counter and finished tying up his hair. He looked down at me and smiled.
"Hey, finally! Someone else who thinks that eating food first thing in the morning is the most disgusting thing in the world." Jorden leaned forward and ruffled my hair. I moved away from the counter and glared at him. He pretended to wave off my look. "Eek, evil death-glares. I'm dying. Ahh." Jorden proceeded to do a dramatic death scene across the counter. Once he had 'died,' Jorden hopped to the floor and took a bow. "Thank you, thank you."
"You're such a goober." Dian, who had come in during his 'death-throws,' said. She had tied her wet hair into a half-ponytail. "Don't you have anything better to do, besides 'dying' in this nice clean kitchen?"
"No, and I'm not a goober. You're a goober." Jorden tweaked her nose, "You're he gooberiest goober that ever goobed a goob." And so they continue to bicker all the way to the bus stop, in the "I am not/You are too." argument. Just before the bus arrived, Marie decided that Jodie and Dina's annoying banter had been enough. I was silently grateful to her.
"Can you two act any more immature?" Jorden rolled his eyes at Marie's question. "Come on, you're both in high school. Jorden, you're graduating next year and Diana, you keep telling us how grown up you are now that you're in middle school. At least try to act it, I have a reputation to maintain."
"YOU have a reputation?! My God!" Jorden teased her. "I feel SO horrible for soiling you precious reputation. How can I EVER make it up to you?"
Marie replied without missing a beat, "By acting more like the mature, responsible, almost-adult that you're not and less like the half-wited, annoying, older bother of mine that you are." The others laughed, even Jorden. I was just glad that the bus arrived before another bicker match happened. We all sat at the front of the bus, which surprised me. I had thought the Maxwells would rush for the back. The reason wasn't hard to explain later on in the ride. There were a lot of people taking the bus. It got very crowded by the time we reached the schools.
Once off the bus, we had to split up. Odin and the twins went across the street to the elementary school. Jorden stayed at the high school, while Marie, Dian, and I went to the middle school. We were all going to meet up during lunch at the high school. The girls left me at the office to pick up my class schedule, locker number, and combination. After a few minutes of searching, I found out that Marie and I were to be sharing a locker. I really didn't care; it was better than sharing with complete stranger.
Marie asked what my classes were and I showed her my schedule, as I put what I wouldn't need in the locker. I had noticed during my search that some of the lockers were a bright shade of lemon yellow, while others were an abysmal powder blue. The older girl noticed my glare at the lockers as she finished getting her books, and laughed.
"Horrible colours aren't they. I think they used the last dregs of paint for them." Marie wrinkled her nose at the lemon of our locker. "But hey, it could be worse. The high school has PINK lockers." I raised an eyebrow and smirked. Then, as the bell rang, Marie tossed, "See you at lunch, Annel." over her shoulder as she disappeared into the crowded hallways.
I found my morning classes fairly easily and I wasn't behind in any of them. I had either already gone over or just started most of the stuff in them. I met up with my 'cousins' at the front doors before we headed across the field. They chattered about their classes and asked about mine. I muttered short answers, there wasn't that much to say. They knew more about the teachers and gave me the information on them. We met with the others in the high school cafeteria. I nodded to the boys as we sat by the front windows. Marie and Dian teased Jorden about the pink lockers.
"Well, at least yours aren't made of WOOD." Jorden retorted.
"Oh yeah! Yours isn't only PINK, but a welfare locker, too." Dian laughed. Jorden was about to say something when he glanced past me and frowned slightly at the person coming up to our bench. It was a boy I had noticed from one my classes. I frowned as well as Rob Wess came up to us.
"What do you want, Rob?" Marie asked in an annoyed tone. Rob ignored her, focusing his attention on me.
"Whatcha doing hanging with the Maxwells, sweetheart?" I shot a glare and turned to ignore him.
"Go away." Marie said angrily.
"Yeah, go back to whatever hole you came out of, Rob." Dian added.
"But, why? Don'tcha like me?" Rob asked as he placed an arm around my shoulders. I glared at his hand and spoke in a calm, cold monotone.
"Remove… your arm… and leave."
"Aww… come on, Anni-baby." he said with a leer. I stood and whirled to face him, but, before anything happened, Jorden interrupted.
"Her name's Annel, Rob, and I suggest you leave like she told you to." His voice had a hind of anger in it that I didn't understand.
"Fine then, Jordi. See ya in class, Annel." and with that Rob sauntered off. Odin touched a fist that I didn't realize I had made. I let out an angry breath and sat down. We finished eating and returned to our respective schools for afternoon class. On our way back across the field, Marie and Dian told me about Rob.
"He's such a jerk…"
"Rude to the teachers, obnoxious to us students, and loud…"
"Its best to try and ignore him."
"Even though it's hard sometimes." Marie finished as the end-of-lunch bell rang. "Damn. Come on, we don't want to be late, now do we?" And we hurried to class.
My afternoon classes passed without incident. Rob bothered me in both of them. I had to resist the urge to punch him. Marie and Dian had band after school, so only the boys and I were on the bus home. It was mostly empty, only a couple of other kids besides us. Odin chattered happily about his sixth grade class, what they did and such. When we got back to their house, Aunt Hilde asked how our day was and was met with various "Fine's" from her sons.
"Well that's good." she said cheerfully. "Oh, Duo's had to go away on some business and won't be back for a few days." I noticed her hide worry at the last part. Jorden also must have noticed for he put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, don't you have homework?" she said suddenly, waving the twins upstairs. Odin followed and I headed downstairs. Before I was out of earshot, I heard Jorden stay and speak with his mother.
"Dad'll be fine. Don't worry, Mom."
I left before I started eavesdropping again. I briefly wondered what Aunt Hilde was so upset about. If Uncle Duo was on a business trip, what was the worry? The rest of the afternoon and evening passed quickly. Even though I had been sorely tempted to, I hadn't gotten in a fight at school. That night, I was again bothered by that fog dream and I had woken in a complete sweat.
The next morning went by. My classes were rather boring, though Rob made one of them a bit of a trial, for he would not stop bothering me. Finally lunch came, we had planned to meet up at the middle school. About halfway through the break, Marie and I had to get some things from our locker. Odin came with us, wanting to see where our locker was. Then, while I was getting my things for my afternoon classes, with Odin and Marie on either side, Rob Wess showed up.
"Hey, Annel. Still hanging with the Maxwells, I see." With much difficulty, I ignored him. He responded quite badly to being ignored continually by someone. Trying to get some sort of response out of me, Rob shoved Odin to the side. "Out of the way, shorty."
"Okay. That was very rude." Odin said calmly. "We haven't done anything to you."
"So?" Rob asked as he shoved Odin harder causing him to fall.
Everything seemed to freeze at that moment. I could feel the anger take over my system. As Rob turned to face me, my fist connected with his jaw, sending him across the hall to crash into the lockers. I could dimly hear Marie telling me to stop, but all my attention as focused on the one who shoved my brother. Ducking under a wild swing, I kicked his legs out and pinned him down.
"Don't ever pick on my brother again." I spoke in an emotionless tone. Before any thing else happened, a teacher's voice called out.
"STOP!! What is the meaning of this?!" Immediately, I let go of Rob.
"She attacked me! I was just standing here and she punched me for no re..." Rob accused as he stood up.
"No," Marie interrupted. "Rob shoved Odin first, then Annel..." Several other people started shouting out information.
"Quiet, all of you!" the teacher had to shout to restore order. I could recognize the look on the teacher's face. I had seen it both times I had been expelled. Without waiting for the teacher to continue, I left. I knew I was in trouble again. Just as I was going out the door, I glanced over my shoulder at Odin. The sad, hurt, resign, look on his face startled me. Pushing it aside, I hurried out into the colony. It did give me something to think about as I wandered back to Uncle Duo and Aunt Hilde's place.
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AN: Uh oh!! Annel's in trouble again!!! Any who...I think I should take this moment to disclaim the lockers at their schools. I based them on the ones at my middle and high schools. Yes, my high school has PINK WOODEN lockers.
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