Chapter 3 – Backpack Hideout

After I finished changing my clothes, I ran back downstairs to the kitchen with my backpack to meet up with Kirby, who was going through the empty bag of apples to see if he missed any.

"I'm back, Kirby!"

"Poyo!"

"So here's the backpack I was talking about." I said while placing it on the counter.

Kirby looked at the backpack from all angles, then looked inside the bag to see all of my school books inside.

"Poyo?"

"Sure, you can fit. Some of these books I don't even use anymore, but just forgot to take out."

Even after I took all the unnecessary books out, Kirby looked unsure that he'll fit inside it.

"Well, there's only one way to find out right?" I asked.

"Poyo."

Kirby placed one foot inside the bag and then the other. He then sunk down inside the bag until he couldn't go any further.

"See? Perfect fit!" I said with glee.

"Poyo!"

"You okay in there? Ready to go?"

"Poyo Poyo!"

"Alrighty! Let's go!"

With Kirby safely hidden inside my backpack, we both left my house and I started walking down the path to Primp Magic School.

As I walked down the path, I showed Kirby a quick tour of everything that is to do in Primp Town. I showed him the entrance to Nahe Forest, the park, the plaza filled with shops, and finally, our last stop, Primp Magic School.

"Poyo poyo?"

"Yep. This is my school." I said to him. "Pretty neat-o, huh?"

"Poyo…" Kirby sounded amazed at the sight of the building in front of him.

"Hey, Kirby. Did you ever went to school?"

Kirby thought about it for a second, then shook his head no.

"Really?! Not once?!"

"Poyo."

"*moan* Lucky." I pouted.

"Uh, Amitie…who are you talking to?"

I quickly wrapped my backpack around my back and turned around to see Lidelle standing in front of me.

"O-Oh! M-Morning, Lidelle! N-Nice day we're having, huh?" I asked nervously.

"Yes, it is. But…who were you talking to just now?"

"Oh, that? I was just uh…"

Fiddlesticks! I didn't think people would get suspicious already! I have to think of something to protect Kirby's identity and quick!

"Uh…I was talking to…MY BACKPACK! Yeah, that's it! I was talking to my backpack!"

"Your backpack?" Lidelle looked confused.

"Yeah! You know how I'm just a soul controlling this body from inside my hat? Well, it's kinda like that. Only it's a backpack, and it doesn't have a body to control."

"I see."

"Do you get it, now?"

"No, not really. But it sounds nice. A little weird, but mostly nice."

"Yep! That's just who I am! Nice and weird! Heheheh."

"O…kay then." Lidelle brushed off that last comment like it was nothing. "We should probably get to class now. Don't want to be late."

"Uh, yeah. Let me just call my parents and tell them I'm at school. I'll meet you and everyone else inside." I said.

"Okay. See you in a bit." I watched as Lidelle walked inside the school building.

"Phew. That was close."

"Poyo?" Kirby said while poking his head from out the backpack.

"Oh. That was just one of my friends. Her name is Lidelle." I explained.

"Poyo."

"Hey, Kirby. Thanks for not saying anything during all that. Do you think you could do that until school's over?"

"Poyo!"

"Thanks, little buddy! I definitely owe you for this. What do you want for dinner? My treat."

"…"

"Poyo poyo poyo."

"Superspicy curry? You have that back in Dream Land?"

"Poyo!"

"Alrighty then! Super-spicy curry it is!"

"Poyo poyo!"

We then heard the school bell ring meaning it was time for class to start.

"Shoot! I'm going to be late! Remember what I said, Kirby."

"Poyo." Kirby gave a slight nod and hid back inside my backpack. I then ran inside the school building, hoping that I won't be tardy for all this.

When I got inside the school, I ran to my classroom just seconds before being late, which is a first for me. I sat down at my desk near the window and placed my backpack with Kirby inside in between me and the window.

"All we have to do is get through the school day, which is about 4 hours. After this, we can go to the store, alright?" I whispered to Kirby.

The backpack did a small hop, letting me know that Kirby heard what I said.

"Thanks again, buddy." I smiled.

"Amitie."

I heard a dull, unamused voice calling my name, and I turned to see Sig standing over me.

"Oh. Hey, Sig. How's it going?"

"Good." Was all he said.

"Caught any cool bugs lately?"

"Yeah." Was all he said.

"Well, that's nice."

"Hey, Amitie?"

"Yeah, Sig? What's up?"

"Who were you talking to just now?"

It was here that I froze up in panic.

Seriously?! When I don't want his attention, he notices?!

"U-Uh, w-well…" I stuttered, trying to think of an excuse.

"She said it's one of those bodiless soul thingies. Much like her hat." Lidelle answered for me.

Thank you, Lidelle! You're a lifesaver!

"Oh…I don't get it." Sig said.

"Me neither. She was talking to her backpack not too long ago."

"Talking? To you backpack? That has to be the most childish thing I've ever heard!" Klug, overhearing our conversation, said to me. Once again, insulting my intelligence.

Normally, I would be defending my crazy antics from Klug's insults right now, but I have to keep Kirby a secret. So I did something I'm not proud of.

"Yep! You're right, Klug. That is pretty childish of me. Guess I'll never be as mature as you."

God, that was painful to say.

"Kyahahahaha!" Klug laughed. "Finally! Someone with a brain! I'm glad someone in this school realized that they're no match for me! Although, I never thought it would be you of all people, Amitie."

I am so going to regret this later.

"Hey! Lay off her, Klug!" This voice belonged to Raffina, who was sitting a few desks from the right of me.

"Why don't you mind your own business, you she-ape!"

"WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME?!"

"Huh. So you're losing your hearing now?" Klug threw an insult at her. "That's really sad, Raffina. You missed out on Amitie giving up on ever being better than me. I suggest you do the same."

"GRRRR! WHY YOU LITTLE…" Raffina was about to charge at Klug and beat him to a pulp…

"Ok, kiddies. Let's settle down now."

But that's when Ms. Accord showed up.

"B-But Ms. Accord!" Raffina whined. "I was about to teach Klug a thing or two about respect!"

"You're blaming me?!" Klug asked. "It's not my fault Amitie's so blockheaded that's she talking to her backpack!"

Blockheaded?!

"Talking to her backpack? Amitie, what is Klug talking about?" Ms. Accord asked me.

Great! Now the whole class knows that I was talking to a backpack! At least it's not the real truth.

"Oh, that? It's just a phase I'm going through. I'm perfectly fine."

"A phase?"

"Yep. Just a phase."

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

"Are you sure it's just a phase?"

"Yes! I'm sure! I'm 100% positive! Now can we please just start the lesson please, teacher?!"

"…"

Everyone looked at me with some form of a shocked look on their faces.

"Uh…okay. Let us begin." Ms. Accord said, then turned around to face the chalkboard.

As everyone took their seats, I looked down at my backpack. Kirby hasn't moved or said anything throughout that entire scene. I appreciate him for doing so, but I was worried that we won't be able to keep this ruse up for long.

This is going to be a long day.

A/N: Here's chapter 3, finished and ready to be read. The wait times may be a little longer from here on out. Working on a separate story that I don't know how long it's going to be. Will be alternating between these three stories, but the third one won't be uploaded until it's done, which again, don't know how long it's going to be.

That's all I have to say. Feel free to review, favorite, and/or follow the story. Just a reminder, this and the other story I'm currently working on will be updated at the same time, so the next part might take a while to finish. Until then, thanks for reading.