Dearest Reader
Finally we have reached Chapter five, in the Hell High series. I am halfway in my second year at university and it's quite an uphill battle to update regularly. But guess what? I'm on HOLIDAY now. Yay! So I can promise you that I will put out the next chapter on pain of death. I will also update the final part of the TOP TEN QUESTIONS series as many reviwers requested..
Thank you for all your lovely reviews, I am forever grateful.
Seriously Yours,
La Femme
HELL HIGH # 5
Thursday (4th Day of first week)
It was five minutes to his History class and Zuko was at the other end of school. This was rather strange as the class in question was just a corridor's length from the main entrance. However, this was a predicament Zuko was quite used to, due to one simple, unexciting, unchangeable fact. Between the main entrance and the History classroom stood the shadowed entrance to the Principals' Lair. Thanks to various reasons, genetic and otherwise, this was a location Zuko was keen to avoid. But he wasn't so lucky to escape totally unscathed. Because in between the other end of school and his destination, Zuko had to avoid an ever-evil Zhao, refuse an invitation for a 'quick' cup of tea with his Uncle and dodge a well-aimed textbook by his darling sister.
"Why is this place crawling with my relatives?" he wondered out aloud as he finally entered the classroom.
As his feet crossed the threshold. Zuko's spirits rose, remembering just who taught this class. It was no suprise that History was Zuko's favorite subject and he was nearly always top in class.
The class was almost full, due to his tardiness and Zuko scanned the faces to locate his friends…or rather friend: Mekai. The juniors who qualified to take Senior history were sitting right up front as if subconsciously seeking the teacher's protection in a unfriendly surrounding. A couple of PLOOPs were ganged up at the back, already munching on chocolate and swapping gossip at the top of their voices. Zuko's eyes narrowed as he spotted Jet, lounging at a corner desk with his arms around two vacant bimbos. That's weird! Where's Zula? Immediately Zuko realized that the sole reasons that the bimbos were still alive and breathing was the fact that Zula was yet to arrive. Jealousy was her middle name.
"Yo man! Get up here," yelled Mekai waving to catch Zuko's attention. Smiling slightly Zuko joined his friend.
As if on cue, Mekai started his 'I hate the world' rant: "Getting up in the morning sucks doesn't it? It's just the first week of school and I feel like I'm drowning already. Don't take me wrong. Drowning in shit not water. I'd take a dip in a pool over this anyday. Oh man! Why'd we need History? It's not like it's gonna repeat huh? Get it? haha…."
"Mekai?" Zuko said patiently.
Mekai halted his maniacal laughter to choke out a breathless "Yeah?"
"Shut up!"
"Oh Yeah! I forgot I was speaking to the almighty A-Plus History nerd."
Zuko ignored this and quoted. "If you don't know your history you don't know anything, you're like a leaf that didn't know it was part of a tree."
Mekai gasped and did a perfect imitation of his eyeballs dropping out.
Zuko gave up and turned his attention to the door. A door through which three girls were entering. One was of medium height with startlingly blue eyes, while the other was a serious, grey-eyed girl who was listening intently to the third female. The one unusual feature about the third girl was her thick hair. It was such a light blond that in the fluorescent light it shone white.
"Junior" offered Mekai, following Zuko's gaze.
"I wasn't asking."
"No problem, I'm a very helpful person. The white one's Yue. Blue eyes is Katana or something. Of course the gorgeous breath taking beauty in the middle is none other than our very own Enya."
"I didn't request a commentary."
"Your welcome. Do you think she'll…"
"No."
"Why you little…"
"Good morning class."
Heads were jerked up and chairs scraped back as everyone rose to greet the teacher, everyone except Jet's cronies in the back row, who remained seated under the cover of the standing mass of students.
Mr.Roku swept in to the classroom elegantly and as always, a sense of urgency and expectation followed him in. Setting his books at the desk, he fixed his cool amber gaze on the class.
"Welcome to the first History class of this semester. I trust you had a good summer because from this day fourth you will be neck down in assignments, wallowing in research and sleeping in the library."
The class sat there in stunned shock.
Roku smiled serenely and let out a slow chuckle. "Don't worry…just my joke."
The students let out a collective sigh of pure relief.
"But…"
Everyone held their breaths.
"Learning History can be daunting at times, but I want you to enjoy every minute of it so that you don't view it as a burden or as an inconvenience. You must learn because you want to not because you have to, UNDERSTAND?"
A few audible groans and mutterings spread across the room.
Roku held up a hand, "Think of it this way: History's like an amusement park. Except instead of rides, you have dates to memorize."
"Yeah, like I'd pay to memorize dates…" came Jet's voice from the back. Zuko scowled and waited for Roku to say something. And sure enough, he didn't disappoint.
"Then what would you pay to see Jet? An X-Rated movie perhaps?" Roku raised an eyebrow as the glass giggled nervously.
Jet stared at him with a steely look in his eye and burped in response.
"A burp is not an answer Jet. But we must all work to our strengths I guess" Roku's lips twitched as everyone who had ever been bullied/beat up/pawned or maimed by Jet hooted in amusement.
"As it is the first lesson, we will not be doing anything—" everyone started chattering with excitement but Roku wasn't finished.
"—but read the first chapter on the Rise of Nazism." A quiet 'booooooooooh' went around the classroom. But before Roku could respond, the door banged open and Zula marched into the room and started making her way up to her boyfriend, while tossing a casual "Excuse me" over her shoulder.
"No Excuse me Miss Azula, I was under the impression that this lesson began fifteen minutes ago. I was obviously wrong."
Zula stopped dead in her tracks and turned around slowly. "I was in my father's office, discussing some family matters" she sneered, stressing on two not so random words.
"Oh so I wasn't wrongabout the time…"said Roku as his eyes narrowed dangerously. He was a man who didn't take lightly to any threats, veiled or other wise. "Well anyway I suppose a brilliant student like yourself can afford to miss an introductory lecture…"
"Yes I can and I'm so glad that you understand." Smirked Zula as she resumed the walk to her seat.
"Well then I'm pretty sure you can enlighten the class as to what the most publicized neo-nazi organization of today is?"
"Simple. It's the Schutz Staffel Totenkopfverbande. In simpler terms known as the Death's Head Detachment of the SS" Zula grinned smugly, as she awaited praise.
But she waited in vain.
"No, that's wrong, Zula. But don't worry. There are no stupid answers, just stupid people. You may take your seat."
Zuko could hear her grinding her teeth all the way to her seat.
Over the whispers of the gleeful class Roku continued, calm as ever.
"Moving on, tomorrow I will be asking you to give me an oral report on Hitler and how he ruled Germany." Another 'boooh' went around the class. It was well known that Roku had an unhealthy obsession with Hitler. He taught it every year in every term. He rarely went into other parts of the history book.
"And Jet, a belch is not an oral report. I thought I should pre-warn you about that" Roku smiled, so did everyone else.
"Whatever" muttered Jet coolly, winking at Zula who was too fuming to notice.
From then on, the lesson continued smoothly until the bell signaled its end.
Noticing that Zula was staying back allowing the class to empty, instead of pushing her way out the door, Zuko busied himself near the doorway and waited for her to make her move.
Sure enough just as Roku gathered up his folders and turned to leave, Azula stepped in front barring his way.
"Mr.Roku, I want to have a word with you about how you treat the principal's daughter." She sneered hoping to intimidate.
Roku just stared down his nose at her and sniffed. "Keep it short, keep it sweet, keep it to yourself." Turning on his heel, the greatest teacher in this side of hell, walked away.
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"That was certainly weird." Yue said as she walked out of the room.
"Roku: ONE , Zula : ZERO" laughed Katara.
"All in all, all I learned were two new insults." shrugged Enya making a face, "Ok guys catch you later. I have the world of Physics awaiting me."
"Knock yourself out." smiled Katara. "Oh wait; the sheer boredom would do that for you."
After a final wave, the three friends parted.
"She's all alone. I'm gonna make my move." whispered Mekai as he sprinted towards Enya and skidded to a halt a bare two feet from her.
"This I gotta see…"grinned Zuko as he made his way discretely within hearing distance of his best friend. "First Roku totally creams dear sis and now Mekai is about to be toasted. This day is getting better and better."
"So Enya, what's up? How was your summer? Class sure was fun today wasn't it? Can I carry your books for you?"
Enya bit her lip in perplexion, "Which question would you like me to answer first Mekai?"
Mekai sweat dropped. "Oh never mind. So you've got physics now right? So have I. So which page are we up to in the text book? I wanna be ready you know? Cuz I'm like totally into Physics."
"Ah…but we haven't even started anything. Mr. Iroh spent the first lesson debating which tea was best, Ginseng or Jasmine? Weren't you there?"
"Er…I was…"stammered Mekai, and continued in what he hoped was a cool 'devil may care' attitude. "But c'mon who actually listens to that guy? All he does is yammer about something or the other. Besides, he's related to my best buddy. So I have no fear about passing this paper."
Zuko slapped a hand to his head. Mekai you better run...
Enya's eyes narrowed. "Oh so you'll resort to such low schemes to get a pass would you? How sad…And for your information, Mr.Iroh is an EXCELLENT teacher.It just takes him a while and two pots of tea to hit his stride. Don't you ever underestimate him."
And with that she whirled around and stalked off.
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"I'm NEVER gonna smile again." said Mekai, burying his face in his hands in total dispair.
"My life is OVER, my love life is TOAST, my happiness is DEAD and my sanity is ROAST." He wailed.
Zuko sighed and looked down at his friend. If he didn't do something now, Mekai would continue with his lackluster poems and eventually move on to drinking everything with more than five percent alcohol in it, including toothpaste. "Listen man, She's not the type for you. I mean all she does is study and play netball. You're more into adventure and art. You need someone bubbly, cheerful , someone like…like…Oh damn who ever is cheerful in this school?"
Mekai lifted his head and looked around, "Erm…Ty Lee?"
Zuko lifted an eyebrow and turned to look at Ty Lee. The petite brunette with never ending hair. Sure enough, there she was flashing her teeth as she talked animatedly, making the circle of students around her crack up. A circle of friends that included Zula and Jet.
Catching Zuko's stare, Mai, another one of Zula's cronies, curved her lips in to something halfway between a sneer and a smile. Zuko shuddered and looked away.
"So you think Ty's my type?" Mekai prompted pathetically.
" No."stated Zuko firmly. "She's pals with Zula and only twisted psycho inbred weirdoes hang around her."
"I'm doomed to live a lonely LIFE, no love for me but grief and STRIFE.
Eternal darkness clouds my SIGHT, and sucks away my love, my LIGHT…."
"OK you've got to snap out of it man, What's up with you? You're acting like some doped up Romeo. C'mon it's a brand new term, you're supposed to be planning brand new pranks and all…not chase skirts." Snapped Zuko, punching his friend on the shoulder to emphasize his point.
Mekai looked down at himself in sudden disgust "You're right…What was I thinking? Ok that's it, I'm done playing Mr.Nice Guy, who needs a girl friend any way? I mean look at you…you've never been on a date but you've still got it…."
Got what? Zuko wondered. In second thought, I don't think I wanna know.
"…From now on, I'm on an all-out strike against this school and all who are allied with it. World… say HELLO to 7H3 PR4I\IK574H !"
"Dear god, what have I done?" muttered Zuko shaking his head.
"Good morning class…Ready for a wonderful hour of Physics?" Iroh chirped as he waddled in to the class at that moment.
"He…he…hee… the question is… are you ready for an hour of non-stop trouble?" Mekai sneered in a creepy voice that made Zuko push his desk, far away, as space let him.
"Ok then lets begin our adventure." Mr.Iroh continued, oblivious to the fact that one student was plotting his doom. "I thought that we'll start with Quantum physics. You'll learn of interacting protons, neutrons, electrons and the wondrous nature of X-rays."
"Any questions?" Iroh beamed around.
He he he WRONG question …Mekai thought, cracking his knuckles in anticipation. Zuko moved another foot away.
"I have a question." Mekai sneered as he raised his arm up. All students turned to note down whom the nerd was, so that they could beat him up at recess. Out of the corner of his eye, Zuko though he saw something akin to admiration on Enya's face.
"Ahhh that's great…Fire away my boy." Iroh nodded his head in assent.
Oh I WILL fire away sir.
"I just wanted to know…"began Mekai in a sugary sweet voice, "If you had x-ray vision, but closed your eyes, could you still see?"
Iroh scratched his beard, "Umm…you see…there's nothing called X-ray vision so…"
"But If you have x-ray vision, and you can see through anything, wouldn't you see through everything and actually see nothing?"
Iroh narrowed his eyes and appeared to be in deep thought.
"One more thing, If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?"
This time the class decided that Mekai was just messing with the teacher and burst in to laughter. And this time, Zuko clearly saw the look of disgust on Enya's face.
Iroh's pensive gaze turned humourous, "Ahhh…this reminds me of the Philosophy lesson I had with the juniors…tell me Mr.Mekai, do you happen to share some genes with a young chap called Kuzon?"
"Sir I assure you that I don't like sharing my jeans with anyone let alone juniors. That's plain unsanitary." Mekai said in mock horror.
"Really?" questioned Iroh, "So I suppose you don't share any genes with the headmaster too right? So you won't get off so easy if you are sent to his office now, hmm…?"
"Yes sir…"answered Mekai meekly and Iroh resumed his lesson.
"You may have won that round…but don't count me out yet…"Mekai muttered.
Zuko shook his head in bewilderment and wondered how his best friend had gone from a love struck loser to a fully-fledged psycho in a span of one period.
Oh well…there are some things I just don't want to know…he decided.
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Man was that long or what? Okay there are a few things that need to be cleared up. Mainly is this Zutara or Kataang? Well…that depends on how the real anime turns out. Those writers sure know how to keep us guessing hmm?
We'll do our best to bring in new characters like Mai and Ty Lee as they are introduced. So keep reading and have a nice day.
Catch you later,
Baal