Author Note: Set some years into the future and pretty AU. And so begins Operation:
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High school was evil. This he knew before even entering it. The things that made it so? The schoolwork that seemed to have doubled since middle school, the cliques, and last and most hated, the opposite gender. Don't get him wrong, he didn't dislike girls exactly, but a certain female who he had recently spent the last seven summers with made him wary. At his previous high school, he needn't worry over those things listed before, it was a small campus where everyone was too mellow to form cliques and worry about relationships, and the amount of homework wasn't too bad.
But no. His parents had to move to a better suburban area and make him attend school with same afore mentioned female who messed up the enigmatic and irritable, female gender for him. He made a slight 'tch' noise as his deep, green eyes kept their vigilant stare out the window. "What a crappy neighborhood too." It all seemed so 'happy rainbow town'. He felt himself shivering already. "What was that Ben?" His father asked, never taking his eyes off of the street, cautious of any children who should want to suddenly run about like crazed animals. "Nothing," he snapped at his father, sneering out the window. At least he got to miss an extra day of school so they could move in. He raked a hand through his messy brown locks before looking down the street. "That the house?" His voice had even lost its usual youth due to his disgust and siappointment. "That's the one." How could his mother sound so cheerful? They were moving. He rolled his eyes. She was probably going to enjoy all the housewives. She herself wasn't one, but they enjoyed listening to you brag about your job - so he heard. Either way, judging from that show his mother watched every Sunday night, being a housewife was not all fun and games, but then when was life ever just that? But his attention was brought from the flow of thoughts currently occupying him as he noticed a house only so far from there's with two moving trucks and a rather nice car in the driveway. "Someone else moving in?" He had spoken it to himself rather, trying to get a good look at the family. Maybe they had a son his age?
"Apparently so, we can introduce ourselves maybe after we get situated." And while his father said that, it didn't happen that way. His mother ran over there first chance she got and came back with news of having dinner together later into the week. And unfortunately for him, no son - his age at least - but two girls. "Oh what joy." His parents smiled at him as he rolled his eyes again, carrying a box into the house and to his room. They looked at each other with sly smirks as he disappeared from sight.
Ben muttered of being thankful the moving was over as he fell onto his ebed, bouncing slightly from the gentle springyness. "Man. This is going to suck like all He-"
"Ben!" He cursed again. "Yes, mom?" He sat up and called back loud as he could. She was obviously downstairs consdiering how quiet her voice was, even if she tried. "Can you come down here for a minute?" He groaned and he left his room and slid down the railing of the stairs, earning a disaproving but highly amused look from his mother. "Ben, I want you to meet Cree. She's one of the daughters of the other new neighbors." She put a hand on his back, the other extending toward the girl. She must have been older than him, her height and general appearance said so. She was rather tall and fairly well built. Actually... He cursed mentally. 'She's pretty...' She gave a knowing but calm smile with her arms crossed, a form fitting pink top attempting to provide extra body and slightly showing her brown skin. Dark eyes bore into him - looking him up and down - before she extended a hand. "How do you do?" She spoke so damn eloquently. But she was nice enough, kind of seemed cocky to him though. He accepted the shake, which he found her grip to be rather strong - 'scary woman.'
"Nice to meet you." He nodded his head, trying to be as 'refined' as she. It was a natural competitive nature in him. Or maybe it was because in a slight way, this older girl reminded him of someone - Gwen. He almost wanted to gag. Two of them? Well at least only one seemed intent to mess with his fun. And he hoped it stayed that way. "This is the eldest of the daughter of our new neighbors, Cree here will be going back to college soon. She's a smart girl might I add. Your parents must be so proud."
Cree smiled - one that seemed fake to him - and crossed her arms again. "Your son seems most promising though, Mrs. Tennyson. Two of three of my parents' children are grown though and the other just doesn't seem to know what to do with herself." '-Siding with those brats for so long.'
"Well I'm sure that's not the case, and thank you. Ben can be a handful though." His mother sent a stare his way which he returned with a weak smile and a shrug, looking at her from the corner of his eyes. Cree smiled and uncrossed her arms. "Yes well, you and your husband are good parents as you seem to have everything under control. And I would love to stay longer, but I have plans to attend to, I'll see you at dinner on Saturday." She smiled and waved as she set off the opposite direction of her house - leaving Ben to wonder where she was headed. His mother smiled and waved before pushing him further inside. "Nice girl, huh?" He smirked and rolled his eyes. "Sure. Nice as every college student." His mother shook his head before leaving to the kitchen to finish up dinner. Seemed the neighborhood was more intersting than he originaly believed.
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He hated it. He already knew he did. Just walking around the campus told him he wasn't going to like it. He hadn't even talked to anyone yet, though a majority of the students seemed pretentious if not lost in their own groups. He earned quite a few stares, most good and a few rather malevolent. They must have had poles up their holes. He snirked at them and returned the look, quickly spinning to avoid colliding with a girl who seemed intent on not moving out of his way. "Whoa, what was-? Oh. Gwen." His eyes drooped and his brows furrowed slightly, he looked from her to the other girls in her group. "Ben, I know you're already you're going to get into trouble, but please at least tone it down! Your parents don't want to have to come down here I'm sure and I don't want you causing trouble for either of us." She looked at him sternly, hardly changed since seven years ago, but that made two of them.
"Save it Gwen. Besides, my rep isn't going to mess up your's. We have may the same last name, but we're not siblings, just cousins. No one cares, besides it's your school." He smirked deviously, turning his head to catch her reaction as he walked off. She seemed pretty pissed. Perfect. It was always a funny thing. Two of her friends were giggling and blushing while the others were having varied reactions. A couple of them must have been more lackey than friend. But if anything, she sould be coming to him for different reasons. As her bmaleb cousin, it was his job to beat up on the boys who were giving her unwanted attention. "Tch. So much for that idea." He rolled his eyes, as it became habit since moving into the new neighborhood, and headed to his homeroom.
Upon walking through the door, he knew he'd enjoy the class. He'd be able to sit in the corner and watch people. And funny people they were. Everyone had so much energy, though there the occassional groups that shows up everywhere; a goth group, a prep group and one that just stood and remained unlabeled. "How fun they all seem..." He smirked as he looked at everyone and went to the seat furthest in the back of the room. Only two minutes after the bell rang and the teacher hustled in the room, a young girl following in tow. Many of the students simply straightened up their act, while some did just that and looked to the teacher and the girl trailing behind.
"Alright, shut up and sit straight-" surprisingly enough all -except Ben- did as they were told. "We have two new students. The girl behind me, and the kid in the corner. Get up and get over here."
Jeez... He looked somewhat frail - though rather malicious - but he sure was tern and hard to say no to. Ben obeyed - of course - and came to stand next to he girl, though he didn't bother to get a good luck. "This here is Abigail Lincoln and Benjamin Tennyson. Now you can both go sit." He waved a hand toward the seats and everyone stared at them as they retreated to opposite sides of the room. "Well then, to get class going until you all are finally out of my hands, talk or something, keep the new kids entertained." The teacher promptly went to his desk and fell into his seat lazily, picking up a book and shoving his nose in, obviously trying to ignore the students before him.
A brunette from the other side of the room of Ben snorted and shrugged slightly. "Something the whole class can enjoy? Yeah, right. Besides, what the girls talk about the guys only nag about." She smirked and crossed her arms, a few other girls agreeing. They were all preps though. Ben decided it was time to have fun, even if it was only a little.
"That's only because girl's lack the adventure and charisma to do anything exciting." All eyes turned to him as he sat leaned back against the seat, one arm propped over the edge and the other on the desk. He looked all too cocky for the girl's taste. "Yeah? Well at least girls can hold an intelligent conversation." She arched a brow, waiting for a come back to that one. "Being a smart ass doesn't count for intelligence." There was a chorus of 'oh's - mostly masculine.
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. How old are you? Ten? Don't you know that women live longer than men? That's because they're smart enough to know not to abuse their bodies from over 'excitement', and they win arguements that men so often lose from being that accused smartass." By now, all eyes were on Abigail Lincoln. She ehrself looked rather cocky, though too cool. She was leaned back in her seat as well, red hat tipped to cover her eyes and arms crossed over a surprisingly endowed chest. But more importantly, the girls cheered and clapped while the guys glared and turned to Ben. The teacher peeked his eyes over the top of the book, even he was interested now. "Yeah, well at least men know how to enjoy their shorter lives. After getting out of school, a majority of woman either marry some rich - and probably older - man to live off him and sit around at home. And even if they get a good paying jobs, they're snobs." All the guys smirked and turned to look at Abigail, who now sat up and tilted her head forward and tipped her hat back, sable eyes staring intensely at Ben.
"And? Most men who have good paying jobs are cocky bastards who think they can two-time because they have money and only half the charm of a humble guy. And those old men who do marry those girls who want them for their money are stupid fools only look for some cheap activity in bed." Every pair of eyes in the room widened, surprised that she would bring up sex even if rather subtlely, and turned to Ben. He grinned and sat up as well, hands delving into his pockets.
"Well then Ms. Smart-ass, what do you plan on doing with your life that makes you so different and give me one reason why women are so much better." Of course when he made his comment, he hadn't expected it to become a face off between the new kids - male vs. female nonetheless, but this was better than planned. Especially since this Abigail character squirmed and began looking uncomfortable.
"I'll follow in my father's footsteps and become a doctor. But a pediatrician, so I can help kids. And maybe have my own family and make sure they're well taken care of. And I'll be sure to marry someone my age who isn't a rich, pretentious jerk." Many a pair of femimine eyes lit up and Abigail received encouraging smiles from half the class - even the male half. Even Ben was surprised and found her rather noble, not to say there was any reason she wasn't. And while she hadn't even got to the second half of her arguement, everyone seemed rather pleased with her. "You're kind of troublesome, know that?"
"I take pride in who I am. Makes things more exciting." She tipped her hat forward again before leaning back in her seat with feet propped on her desk and arms crossed. After that, many of the students began chatting rather lively, even outside their gender and clique. Had he and Abigail started a revolution within their home room? 'Maybe I'll like this school after all...' His gaze flitted over to Abigail's collected figure and her name quietly escaped his lips. "Hm. Rather like the sound of it."
"She's an intersting girl, isn't she?" Ben jumped and turned his head, eyes widened and looking at the kid who had suddenly appeared beside him. "Sorry about that. The name's Itsumi. Ben, am I right?" He pushed his glasses up from the edge with his palm, fingers curled and gave Ben a rather sly though kind smile before extending his hand. "Yeah, that's right. So, are you new too or something? Where'd you come from?" Ben looked around, still feeling slightly startled. "Fairly new. Only came a week before you. But this place is too boring for my tastes." He laughed and turned back around to face the other side of the classroom. "I'm glad to have people like you and Abigail in class with me. Livens things up - a lot." Ben smiled and Itsumi returned the look with a smirk. "Aside from that, Abigail seems to be the only good looking girl in class who isn't stereotyped or overly femimine." He arched and gave a lop-sided grin; Ben saw where that was going.
"But we're new, how could we be put in a group anyway?" It was Ben's turn to have the lop-sided grin, but Itsumi gave him a look of remorse. He automatically knew what that meant. This was one of those kind of schools were you were judged and thrown into a group as soon as you stepped on campus. Wonder what stopped them from throwing him in one. "You're too different. You and Abigail. You reek of bad ass and Abigail of smart ass... and vice versa. There's no one who really falls into that here. It's kind of funny though." Itsumi smiled folded his arms on his desk, resting his head on them and seeming pretty relaxed. For once, Ben didn't want to say anything at all.
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As of now, I'm unsure whether or not to keep or exclude the Omnitrix. And as for all that happened in the KND, Abby hasn't been decommissioned and her earlier comment of helping kids is not what it seems. I'm also clueless as to add the whole alien thing (which still may or may not require the Omnitrix) to give thefic some action.
Hope you enjoyed chapter one, the next will be up shortly. Please review, constructive criticism welcome.
