Disclaimer: I do not own Ice Age.
AN: Ok…maybe a bit short, to me, at least. Changed some minor things in the prologue, but might as well check it out. Sorry if anyone was expecting chapters following directly after the prologue, but it's called a prologue for a reason…I think…Anyways, enjoy...
PART I
Chapter 1:
Manfred wakes up reluctantly, stretching in his bed as he squints at the rising sun. The day feels like it's supposed to be more special, but all he can feel is a sense of dread. After all, today is the first day of high school. More specifically, the first day of his sophomore year. Shouldn't he be singing songs and twirling out of bed and looking forward to one of the most important experiences in his so far unfulfilled life?
If anything, that's more Ellie or Sid's thing.
Manny sighs as he gets up, shuffling to grab his clothes to change into. Manny' had always been a nickname when Sid, a small bumbling chatterbox of a boy his age had given him when deciding that 'Manfred' had been too stiff and upright.
Unfortunately, his parents found it adorable and it stuck. And nearly four years later, it had become synonymous with Manfred.
Anyways, he'd probably be more excited if he were in any other school, but he just wasn't looking forward to anything today.
He pushes aside the painting easel to the corner, then makes sure not to trip over the speaker wires straggled all over the floor. He really needed to find some time to untangle them and pack them up.
With high school having caught him off guard, he certainly wouldn't find the time to now. After all, high school meant new teachers, new classrooms, and loads more homework. And the annoying students from Half-Peak Boarding School would be arriving today for their annual exchange program.
Honestly, he wasn't sure why they still had it since the Half-Peak students seemed equally nonplussed to find themselves at Valley every year, and vice versa, but the teachers seemed insistent. Something about tradition.
"Let's go, Manny!" His mom's voice drifted from downstairs. "Ellie's waiting outside!"
Manny's eyes widened as he hurries to grab his school bag and darts into the bathroom. Dammit, he forgot about her!
Manny nearly crashed into Ellie on his way out of the house, only saved by the girl darting out of the way while hauling him upright. Ellie laughs, her warm brown eyes gleaming.
"Slow down there, where's the fire?"
Manny flushes but obligingly kisses her cheek when she taps it and offers the side of her face to him. "Good morning."
"Morning!" Ellie chirps.
"Where are your brothers?"
"They found some friends to go to school with today," Ellie says. Manny lets out a quiet sigh of relief. He didn't exactly have anything against Ellie's fiercely overprotective brothers, but today was not his day and he didn't want to have to cope with their…energy today.
"What about Sid?" Manny asks as they headed up the road to the bus stop.
Ellie frowns, clearly thinking. "His parents are sending him to school today."
Thank god.
"Excited about the exchange program?" Ellie asks brightly. "I can't wait to head over to Half-Peak. The booklet they gave us makes Half-Peak seem so interesting - did you know that they've won numerous national competitions, and some international ones as well?"
Manny gives a noncommittal shrug. "So did we," he answers, trying to look as casual as he can. What booklet? What was Ellie going on about? Did he miss something?
Unfortunately, his girlfriend knew him too well and lets out a delighted laugh. "Manny, you didn't read the booklet, did you?"
Busted.
Well, might as well be honest. "There was a booklet?"
Ellie sighs as the bus stops in front of them. "I'll give you a recap."
As he trudges into the assembly hall, he gives a quick glance around. Not a lot of people have changed, though there are a couple of new faces mixed among the Valley students. The teachers are lined up at the corners of the hall, two stationed at the door as if to stop anyone from leaving.
The glossy sheen to the wood-panelled floors and the high-tech speaker systems would have drawn his attention and made him gawk, if not for the fact that Half-Peak students were gathered at the left of the hall, bags and luggages strewn around them. A couple were yawning and rubbing their eyes, and it was clear they had just arrived a couple of minutes ago.
A few were still making their way in and out the hall, zipped up in sports jackets of some kind.
Manny spots one or two glancing around uncertainly despite their raised chins, and feels a small modicum of sympathy. After all, while the Valley students were in a new school, they were still in the same town. The Half-Peak students had travelled several hours just to get to a new school and a new year.
Ellie waves at him energetically from the corner, and he makes a beeline for them. Eddie and Crash are making faces at the Half-Peak students while Sid hides behind Ellie, and Manny suspects that Sid had already won the wrath of some of the students. Intentionally or not.
With Valley Academy - the school Manny was from - being known for their creative alumni, Half-Peak was full of athletes, whether they be the traditional football and swimming, or the less traditional dance and chess. And naturally, while people thought these schools would complement one another, it was clearly the opposite.
Needless to say, there was no love lost between the schools.
Ellie beams at him, somehow oblivious to - or ignoring - the animosity from the other side. "Ready?"
Manny sighs.
Sid shrinks back even more. "They seem…friendly," his voice is tiny.
Manny smirks.
"You guys have no idea what we have planned for them!" Eddie and Crash high-fives, shooting the left-side of the hall a stink eye.
Ellie frowns at him sternly. "Boys, behave."
