Chapter 5: Back to School

Sydney

The holidays are over and students are back to their usual routines of gossiping in stairways, throngs of college girls chattering outside their lockers. It's also the time where the homework comes in huge piles and the busiest moment of the cadets' lives having to tackle studies and fights with Grumm.

Kathy Broadway saw Sydney from a far distance and ran up towards her in small footsteps and caught up with Syd who was on her way to locker. "Hey Syd, how's your holiday huh? I've got the best fun, yada yadda yada…." Kathy looked at Sydney with expectant eyes. Then, "did you hear what I just said?" Sydney tossed her textbooks into the locker and took out a file before turning to her good friend. "Yeah, heard it. Let's go, it's lecture time."

"What's up with ya gal, doesn't seem like you to like lessons all of a sudden? Hormonal problems huh?"

Syd walked straight ahead towards the lecture while Kathy trailed behind her.

Yeah, just what am I thinking? I don't like lessons, not before, not now and definitely not the future. It's not like I suddenly caught up with Sky's habits or something. Sydney shrugged. Why am I even thinking of him at this time. Knock it off Syd, just suck it up.

Sydney entered the already half full theatre and chose the seat somewhere in the middle. Looks like it's going to be a long day. Before long the lecturer entered the class and tapped on the table, having to go through introductions and how this semester is going to be like. About fifteen minutes later, Sky walked in sat beside Syd. "I reckon this seat isn't taken." And arched a side of his brow questioningly. Sydney shook her head.

Sky's never late before, why is he today? Sydney can't help wondering. During one of the 5-minute breaks, Syd asked Sky, "Sky, can I have a look at your time table?" He passed it to her.

Looks like he has almost the same timetable as me. Great, so now we're in the same class. Same squad and same class, ooh such a treat, thought Sydney ironically.
"Syd, is something wrong? You seem, I don't know, troubled." Sky asked, concerned, "are you alright?"
"Yes, yes I am. Guess I didn't sleep well last night, that's all."
Why is he looking at me like this? It didn't happen before, or did it? I was too busy to notice any. We seem to be quarreling more than we could ever hold a peaceful conversation that can last more than 5 minutes. What on earth's happening to me?

Jack is on the line of both Syd's and Sky's communicator. Seemed to be another of Grumm's movement seen. At the most unfortunate time of the year, this would have to happen. The worse thing was none of their classmates knew about their identities and they are not ready to jeopardize their identities as yet but the beeping sound didn't want to stop, not like a mobile phone, which could be switched off too.

Soon the whole lecture turned their heads to the origin of the sound, and both Syd and Sky took off with half apologetic look on their faces.

"Yes Jack, for your information, Syd and I are in the middle of a talk, this has better be of importance." Sky spoke with much impatience.

"Sky, we need both of your backup now. The truth is we are in a middle of a fight now. Can you come here a.s.a.p?"

"Ready?"

"S.P.D Emergency!"

(Shall minus the fight scene here.)

And the fight took another twenty minutes of their time. Both cadets scurried back to lecture, which is conducted halfway. The lecturer who is most frustrated to be interrupted so many times, glared at them whilst they shrug.

After lesson

"Syd, where have you been? Here's the note you wanted. Oh gosh, look at the slash on your elbow. Boy, what happened?" Kathy asked in bewilderment.

"Nothing, look, Kat, I have to go, Sky's waiting for me there. Thanks for the note, see ya tomorrow, okay."

Sky

Syd's been acting strange around me today. I wonder what has happened? Oh well, but the good news is that at least we did not quarrel this time. Who knows what might happen tomorrow anyway? I've just found out that both her timetable and mine is the same too. Well, for a reason or something, I feel glad. But why?