Extraordinary- Chapter Ten: The Barbie Girls
plummet: Hey everyone. I decided to keep writing, thanks to the encouragement from y'all. I really needed that. I'm not going to promise greatness, but I'll write the best that I can. Heh, and I found a mistake of mine. I kind of forgot to mention the changes in this fic. So alright, there still are hero and sidekick classes (of course), but they only really count for P.E. and Sidekick Theory (both of which will be brought into the picture soon). So I'm gonna edit that in….Hehe alright, nothing much else to say, so…Continue on, please!
Disclaimer: This story is written strictly as a fan girl and is for pure enjoyment purposes only. I don't have any rights to the plot of Sky High, but I do to this fic! Ahaha, lol, small victory.
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But in the end,
What leaves you broken
In the end
Makes you better,
Yeah…- Better; Plumb
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-Amelie-
I sat, exhausted in all three counts, on the cool, metal stool in A.P. Bio. on Monday morning, my struggle to not fall through the floor the only thing keeping me awake and upright. My lab partner -a quiet, slip of a girl named Rosaline- was furtively scribbling down notes to Mr. Medulla's lecture on the complex matters of photosynthesis and its light and dark reactions. My pencil dangling loosely between my middle and forefinger, I wondered vaguely if I should be writing something down.
I sighed, my hands barely catching my head in time before it hit the table. I peeled my eyes open and glanced over at Rosaline's digital watch. 8:10…Only five minutes left to go…
I yawned, which I didn't consider that obnoxious, but Rosaline's indignant sniff told me otherwise. I mumbled a quiet apology, and it seemed to remedy the situation at least a little bit because instead of getting the lecture I knew she was keen on giving me, I only got a rather half-hearted glare. She went back to her note-taking for the remainder of class, leaving me to survive being tired in the quietest way possible.
Bang.
My head collided with the table.
The bell tolled, signaling the end of class and arousing me from my short slumber. Everyone else rushed out quickly in their anxiety, and my snail of a self was left in their dust. I blinked, my eyelids weighing a ton each and collected my pack before sliding off the seat. I was just about to make my exit when Mr. Medulla's voice pierced into my sleep-deprived brain.
"Oh, and Miss Bowen? A word, if you please."
I opened my eyes as wide as they would go so as not to appear rude. Too bad it served to make me look more stupid than anything else.
"Mr. Medulla…?" I asked, trying to give off the air of one politely confused.
"Yes," he bit off, sitting down on the stool in front of his desk. "I think," he continued rather condescendingly, "That it would be best to get some sleep at home in the near future, if that's alright with you? Because, believe it or not, the stuff I ramble on about isn't just for my health. It will appear on a test in the near future, I assure you, and it would do you good to take notes."
I may not have been fully coherent, but I knew an admonishment when I heard one. I frowned. "I'm sorry, Mr. Medulla," I muttered wearily. "It won't happen again."
"Yes," he said again in a clipped tone, "Yes, you better make sure it doesn't." He turned away sharply and glided back behind his desk.
I breathed deeply. Apparently, that was my cue to leave.
Time to drag myself to World Studies...
-Warren-
Glowering, I readjusted my backpack strap after it'd slid down my shoulder for the umpteenth time that morning. You'd think my leather jacket would prevent sliding of any kind, but no. It was so worn out from all these years of use that it had no grip left whatsoever, forcing me to shrug up my pack strap every five minu-
"Warren…!" A shrill voice disrupted my rant.
I turned to the source, and there was a passing of about three seconds before my sour expression became even more prominent. She had long, silky blonde hair, gorgeous blue eyes, and a slim, curvaceous figure…Let's face it, ladies and gents; she was a walking, talking, breathing…Barbie doll.
Barbie turned to her friends, whispering in a voice she undoubtedly thought was quiet – although, I could hear every word, "Ah! Ohmygod, he's looking at me…!" She then snapped back around as I walked closer, a smile painted on her heavily made-up face, "Warren. Hi. I wondering if you'd li-"
"No," I grunted, cutting her off quite nicely.
There was a day once a week, every week that a person in her little 'gaggle' would ask me out. Apparently, it was 'all for one and one for all'. My answers had yet to stray from 'No', 'Go away', and 'Flake off', but it seemed they were hard pressed to take a hint. Mostly I disregarded their existence, but my resistance was, undoubtedly, futile. They always came back for more, convincing themselves I was playing 'hard-to-get'. Oh don't get me wrong, I'm not that arrogant. I've heard them. It's hard not to when they follow you around like love-sick puppies. I swear they have one Barbie, Teresa or Kira stationed at every corner.
I rolled my eyes heavenward as Barbie mouthed the word 'progress' to one of the brunette Teresa's. I sighed, annoyed and tired. I could never win.
I made to move past them, but Barbie and a Skipper grabbed an arm each, the Skipper pouting in what she probably thought was a cute manner. It made me want to gag.
A Christie came up from behind – Caitlyn, the little girl in the room over from my apartment has a bit of a Barbie obsession, to put it lightly. I'd been sitting her on Saturday nights for awhile, so by now all of Barbie and her friends' names had been engraved into my brain…
Yeah anyway, a Christie came up from behind me and put her hand on my shoulder. My fingers twitched, and I'm sure the rest of me didn't look too happy either because Skipper and Christie jumped back as if they were burnt. Barbie, however…
She just didn't get it.
"Let go," I said, my voice dangerously low.
"You know…" She smiled coyly, evilly. "I don't think I will."
I heated up my arm just enough for it to be uncomfortably hot. Barbie yelped, cradling her injured hand with a frown. Unfortunately, by now I'd learnt that Barbies were indestructible.
"Now that wasn't very nice," she cooed revoltingly, hand resting suggestively on her hip and batting her eyelashes.
I breezed past her before she could get a hold of me again and headed off to Mandarin Chinese 3. She and her friends kept shouting my name, but I payed them no mind. I was now no longer even near an amicable mood.
-Amelie-
I had suffered through four periods now. Thankfully the only time I'd been completely out was in period one, and even then it was only for roughly five minutes. I'd even managed to write some notes last class! I gave a small smile. Things were looking up.
My gaze lingering in the general direction of the doorway, I caught Warren striding in out of my peripheral vision. He was looking surlier than usual, shoulders hunched, pack strap clutched with more force than needed. He sat down in his seat stiffly, dropping his book-laden backpack with a thud onto the floor.
Hm. I wonder what idiot rattled his cage, I thought sardonically.
Alright, so I was a little grumpy, but could you blame me? I hadn't slept in two days, afterall…
My smile evanesced into a grimace. I was grateful, now more than ever, for the time I'd spent learning to clear my mind. It was useful, and not just for keeping my emotions in check.
I took out my book and opened it mechanically to page 20 as Mr. Wong entered the classroom, my homework book-pressed from marking the page. I slid my pencil out from behind my ear and wrote my name neatly on the top of my homework paper.
There was a collective rustle of paper and a flicking of pages as Mr. Wong began his lesson. I scribbled down notes obediently, raising my hand now and then to answer a question.
My mind was blissfully blank and still so even as the bell rang for lunch. I gathered my things and made a smooth exit. I maneuvered myself through the bustle of students, touching everyone as minimally as possible. I had mastered the art of invisibility.
As I rounded the corner, a thin yet strong hand yanked me backwards into the now-empty hallway. Apparently, the 'invisible' part had yet to work for those actually wanting to find me.
"Wha…?" I said confusedly. I was shoved back forcefully into the wall of lockers, one of the dials digging painfully into my lower back. A group of girls closed in on me, my captor in the lead. My eyes darted from one malicious smirking girl to the next. Was I missing something here…? "Um, what are you do-"
A slap from the blonde cut me off quite effectively. I promptly closed my mouth, jaw stinging.
"Don't you dare speak to us, you little tramp," she hissed. There was an echo of 'Yeah, tramp' throughout the half circle of girls now surrounding me, the volatile blonde positioned outside of the formation and in front of me, hand still raised and pointing an accusatory finger at my face.
"I really don't under-"
"I said don't talk!
That very hand slapped me again, my head whipping out to the side. Anguished tears welled up in my eyes. I could do nothing to defend myself. My powers were next to useless in a closed off hallway.
"Are you ready to shut up now, slut, or do you want more...?" She let her question hang ominously in the air for a few seconds. When I didn't answer, she continued, "Alright, good, so you're not completely stupid." My jaw set angrily and she smirked, leg bent cockily out to the side. "Aw, did I upset-"
I took the opportunity to stomp down on one of her perfectly manicured, sandal-clad feet. She shrieked, jumping backward and breaking the tight circle. I made a mad dash for the opening and broke into a run. I had just about made it to freedom before I was detained, this time by my hair. I gave a small grunt of pain as I slammed into the lockers again, another of the dials reinforcing the previous bruise.
The semi-circle of girls closed in on me for a second time. I gulped. I was trapped and out of ideas.
The blonde smirked cruelly. "That's right, hussy. You've got nowhere to run."
-Warren-
I exited my period five classroom with a sigh, having just finished filling in Mr. Wong about my summer trip to Hong Kong, China (Mr. Wong was good friends with my aunt and mother; he was always interested in hearing what we'd been up to, including all of our family excursions).
I combed my fingers through my hair, more than a little peeved. He was a nice guy and all, but he just didn't get that I wasn't keen on 'socializing' (nor would I ever be).
I was about to turn the corner when movement further down the hall was brought to my attention. I peered over shoulder and narrowed my eyes at my discovery. Barbie and her crew were beating up on some kid. I altered my course, walking right up behind the gathering in nothing flat. The half circle of girls parted for me automatically, each one in turn glancing at the other nervously, no doubt wanting to warn their leader of my presence. The only one who was unaware of my disturbance was Barbie herself (no surprise there).
Barbie gave her victim another shove, hissing in a threatening tone, "You better stay away from him or else I'll-"
"Or else you'll what?" I interrupted darkly, towering over her 5'7" frame from behind.
Barbie spun around with a look of faux pleasant surprise, careful to shield the person behind her. "Oh nothing, nothing at all. Right, girls?" she asked with the utmost innocence, hands held behind her back.
Cue group echo. Inwardly, I rolled my eyes. Outwardly I glared at her, issuing a challenge. Let's see how long she could last without flinching. One, two, thr- flinch. Huh, I was oddly disappointed.
Her smile was nervous now as I smirked down at her. She was quick to snap her fingers. "Alright girls, let's roll." And off she went, tail between her legs, cronies trailing behind her subserviently.
I rolled my eyes, this time for real. However, my annoyance vanished instantly when I noticed who was standing in Barbie's place.
"Amelie…?" I questioned, confused. Amelie held her ground rigidly, her eyes looking everywhere but at me.
"Thanks for that," she muttered quietly, humiliation lacing her tone of voice. When I made no attempt to move or respond, she flushed, the red handprint on her cheek becoming pointedly obvious. I took a step forward and reached a hand out as if to touch her face. She flinched visibly, and my arm fell limply to my side. "Alright," she whispered. "I'm gonna go now…"
She made to move around me, but I caught her arm.
"What did they do to you, Amelie?" I asked gruffly, feeling fierce protectiveness well up inside me.
"N-nothing at all. R-really, it's f-fine. D-don't…worry about it," she trailed off lamely, tugging weakly on my arm. "Please let go…"
I didn't want to comply, but I did anyway against my better judgment. Off she went, rounding the corner with her posture so drawn in and mortified I thought she would fall through the floor at any moment. I leant back against the lockers, exhaling heavily and blowing some hair out of my face.
What have I gotten her into…?
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Because I'm so grateful for all of the wonderful responses I got to my note, I think I'll write out replies this time!
equinelover101: -squee- A new reviewer! Thanks so much for your words of encouragement, and I'm glad you don't hate my story. I hope you liked this chapter!
Sasha: That's very true! No one likes the same things; people's opinions vary on all subjects. And creating your own fantasy world is a blast. Hehe. Hope you enjoyed chapter 10.
Element Girls: As of now, I don't plan on stopping anytime soon. -smiles-
rootbeergirl19: I'm not gonna say that my enthusiasm has been renewed, but I will say that I do think you're right. This story should have at least some definite ending.
windsing: Another new reviewer! I'm glad you don't think my story's a Mary Sue! I try really hard to keep it that way. Hehe, and no it wouldn't totally suck if I continued this story, so…Hope you liked chapter 10!
Blue: Heh, I've done worse than four months before, trust me. Lol, but it doesn't help to ease the guilt. Thanks for your understanding and your review. Don't worry though; I'll try my best to finish this!
Thanks to all my chapter 9 reviewers as well!
Readerfreak10, horsebookworm, Sasha, rootbeergirl10, shadowphoenix101, Element Girls, and my dearest friend Windswisdom…
You guys are great! …See ya next chapter!
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