Disclaimer: I do not own Ice Age.
AN: Thanks to all those who reviewed!
Chapter 17:
Manny wakes up to bright sunlight being splashed rather abruptly across his face, and jolts awake as he notices someone else with them in the room. Was this how he was going to keep on getting woken up? Because if so, this trip is already becoming very stressful.
Sid is blinking groggily into the sunlight. "Wha-?" He mumbles.
Diego glares at them, agitated. "Wake up! Do you know what time it is?!"
Manny's mind registered the time: 7:15. It's almost the same effect of splashing cold water on his face. They had to be in class in fifteen minutes. He scrambles out of bed as Diego sprints out the room, presumably heading to wake the other four up.
Pulling Sid out of the bed and effectively waking him, he turns to his unpacked luggage and pulls out a set of clothes, wasting no time in shoving the necessary materials into his bag - after a quick scour for his new timetable - and then dashes out the room.
Eddie and Crash, surprisingly, are already awake, though they seem equally unaware of what's going on.
Diego tosses Manny and Sid sandwiches. "Breakfast," he explains curtly.
Shira and Ellie come speeding out of their room as well, neat and presented. They accept the sandwiches, beginning to tear into them as Diego leads them out of the room. Manny quickly unwraps his own sandwich and bites into it, briefly savouring the taste before he tunes in back to Diego.
To his amazement, he can see equally groggy Valley students rushing around with Half-Peak students, some half-dressed and others yawning despite the jog they're doing. Some, like the herd, have either fruits or sandwiches in their hands, which they eat with relish.
"What's happening?" Ellie asks, bewildered.
"Everyone's late," Diego explains quickly, "and we're trying to get everyone to class on time."
A few students call out harried greetings to Diego, who responds to them in the same tone. A Half-Peak student turns as Diego calls out to them. "Where's Soto?"
"On his way to biology!" Is the short reply before the student also vanishes in a wave of students.
"Good," Diego huffs.
"What is it?" Shira frowns.
"I have practice today during first and second period. Soto has both your classes, so he'll take you to your second lesson." He turns briefly and sighs at their expressions. "Soto's the best person to bring you around; I can't be in two places at once."
"You sure about that?" Manny asks sceptically.
Diego smirks, then rushes on. He stops abruptly at the sight of Soto, and waves him over.
"He's joking right?" Crash demands. "There's no way Soto is going to agree to this."
Ellie shrugs while Eddie vehemently shakes his head.
Soto makes his way over with a group of Valley students, that Shira quickly recognises is Gutt and his gang. Fear trickles into her, but she forcefully shoves it down. She's in a public setting with tons of witnesses in broad daylight. There is nothing Gutt can do to her, especially with the herd watching.
Besides, failing that, she trusts Diego, and knows that he wouldn't leave them alone in a vulnerable position.
Diego and Soto exchange a few words in Spanish, which results in Soto's reluctant nod. He beckons to both group and then makes their way over.
As they turn to follow, Shira feels a hand grab her wrist. She turns to see Diego grin encouragingly at her, then press a quick kiss to her lips before running off. Smiling fondly to herself, Shira quickly rejoins the group and tries hard to ignore Ellie's exuberant grin.
They return to their dorms that evening with Diego, who sits himself on one of the sofas and sets his bag down. "You have got yourself a lot of introductory homework," he smirks. "Want me to get dinner for you guys?"
"Here?" Eddie asks in disbelief.
Diego blinks and gestures to the dining table. "Yes…?" He rolls his eyes as the twins face palm themselves. "What do you guys want?"
"Pizza," Eddie and Crash chorus immediately.
Diego nods and tuns to the others.
"Whatever they have," Ellie smiles sweetly, "but nothing with garlic." Diego nods and turns to the last three.
Manny voices their thoughts. "Anything works for me."
Nodding, Diego disappears through the door, leaving his bag on the floor.
"What time is it?" Eddie asks, glancing around for a clock.
"Four in the evening." Crash says mournfully, glancing at his phone. "We just wasted a whole day that could have been spent pranking."
Ellie ruffles their hair affectionately but says nothing.
Diego returns in a couple of minutes, his arms laden with food. Unloading it all on the dining table, the herd snatch up their respective food - with Crash and Eddie fighting over the pizza - and then settling themselves on the sofas. Diego picks a sandwich for himself and leans back.
"Coach says we're supposed to 'help' you," he sighs, "to get used to our schedules. That means eat dinner, do your homework now, and then get to bed by eight unless you want a recap of this morning."
Shira nods, already beginning to feel drowsy; was it a side-effect of Half-Peak? She pushes it aside though and takes quick bites of her food, pulling out her textbook.
"Let's make this quick."
The next few days came and passed without incident. With most of the Valley students run ragged with the combination of settling in to their new timetable while also dealing with tiredness, the usual troublemakers - including Gutt and his crew - were too tired to bother the Half-Peak students. Likewise, the Half-Peak students had thrown themselves into practice in anticipation of the Tournament.
After three weeks however, something happens.
Diego was sitting with the herd, as had become habit, when his phone buzzes. He picks it up and glances at it, then stands up abruptly, dropping his fork on the floor. Ignoring everyone's questioning and slightly alarmed looks, he runs out the room, cursing under his breath.
"Diego?" Shira calls after him. She gets up and runs after him. "What's wrong?"
"It's Zeke," Diego didn't bother to turn around.
"What?" Ellie, too, joins them in their mad dash. She had developed a sort of fond, exasperated acquaintance with Zeke after their project, and concern blossoms in her.
Diego's phone buzzes again and he nearly trips over himself in his haste to read it. "He's in the nurse's office - someone's poisoned him!"
