Chapter 9
Girl of Fortitude
Point of View: Kairi
--
My first day of attendance at the University of Artemis...went just as planned. I started this day of mine walking to the college with Selphie and Tidus by my side. I was a nervous wreck, barely getting any sleep at all from the excitement I bore within me. My attire consisted of a clean white blouse and a light blue plaid skirt. I tied my long hair into a ponytail, wisps of auburn framing my face. Slipping into my shoes, I grasped my backpack tightly, my palm sweaty. I made my way down the spiraling staircase, and into the kitchen where a lovely aroma of bacon and eggs greeted me.
I skipped into the kitchen cheerfully whistling. I slipped into the chair across from Tidus, smiling warmly at him, and that smile returned.
"Morning Tidus, morning Selph!"
I giggled at the sight of Selphie. She wore a little apron tied primly around her waist. Settled on her brown hair was a puffy white chef's hat. She turned and made a face at me.
"Hey! Stop laughing! You're lucky I took that cooking class last year!" she said, her hands struck her hip.
I muffled my giggle as Tidus joined me. But Selphie turned out to be quite the cook. We each ate our fill before declaring ourselves stuffed. Dropping my fork onto the plate, I dragged my backpack with me out, and started out the kitchen.
"Where do you think you're going?" Selphie said loudly.
"To the couch, to settle down my bursting stomach! Duh!" I turned around and said clearly to her.
"Oh no you don't! You and Tidus are gonna wash all the dishes. EVERY LAST ONE!" she stated in her loud, frightening voice that mothers used to discipline their child.
Tidus and I stood frozen, bewildered by her tone, and by the high pile of plates sitting in the sink.
"I feel like a mom..." Selphie muttered as she strolled out of the kitchen, tossing off her silly chef cap carelessly.
"Damn..." Tidus muttered as he continued to glare at the huge pile.
Walking over to the sink, slowly, I glanced at the clock. 7:35 am. Pushing back my sleeves, I turned on the water and began scrubbing like a madman err, madwoman. Tidus watched, frozen again, and I suppose, rather scared of my violent washing. Turning to him and glaring evilly, he backed up to the wall. I grabbed him by the collar and dragged him to the pile.
"I'm taking you down with me..." I grumbled.
My first class began at eight o' clock sharp, and I refuse to be late for my first day.
--
7:40 am.
I snatched my backpack and sprinted down the sidewalk, banging the door as I slammed it shut. Poor Tidus, who had to open it again to let himself out, was close behind. I ran as if my life was on the line. Finally, I spotted a blur of yellow before me, walking calmly, rather enjoying her gentle stroll to the university. I charged at her and pounced at her, causing her to release a scream.
"Selphie!" I screamed, "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU LEFT WITHOUT US!"
She grinned sweetly, as Tidus caught up with us, panting hard.
"Well..." she began, still wearing her innocent little smile, "I didn't want to be late for my first day, and you guys were taking so long!"
Then, we really killed her.
--
I wandered the crowded corridors. The three of us had split up to search for our first classes. I braced myself as I walked through the crowd. I had already been bumped into a couple of times, rather roughly, and I'm sure I don't want that happening again.
I glanced worriedly at my watch.
7:58.
I only had two minutes to find my class if I intended to make it there on time. Finally, my quick eyes spied the room I was looking for. Walking in, I could see most of the other students were already seated. Blushing slightly, I slipped into a seat in the center of the classroom. I noticed a darkly colored rotate-able chair facing a dusty chalk board. The bell rung just as I was seated. I released a sigh of relief.
Suddenly, without warning, the chair spun around. In it was seated my philosophy professor. I gasped. She looked...I have no words.
I found my teacher, Professor Kiyle, might just perhaps be a bit on the mad side...
"It's nice to see you all awake and ready! Now, if you'll please glance to the board; oh dear, it seems I may have erased all my plans. Now where is that sheet...oh, a knife? I wonder what that's doing here... I apologize for my lack of readiness."
She was tall and slender with short brown hair in which a variety of clips where littered about. She wore thick rimmed glasses and had previously applied dark red lipstick. She wore an Oxford shirt and a dark skirt. Around her neck was a loosely tied black tie, which she had flung carelessly over her shoulder, allowing it to hang from her back. I grinned. I liked her.
She wasted no time with any formal introductions. Her name was written neatly on the board, and that proved to be the only source to her name. Next to her name was in parentheses: (ki -y-l) I suppose her name is slightly strange... The lesson itself proved to be incredibly interesting. Her enthusiastic voice rung in my ears, echoing within my head.
I glanced to my left. A tall young woman with pretty auburn eyes and her long chocolate tied in a tight braid sat straight; listening intently on the professor's every word, never interrupting her lecture, all the while scribbling down notes as she spoke. I admired her for her hard work. I peered to my right. A young man with spiked raven hair with dyed streaks of brownish gold, and bright blue eyes, whom continued contribute to the lecture by asking rather interesting questions. I found an interest in him, for he reminded me of Sora, curious and bold. I grinned. I rather liked these two whom I sat between. Perhaps I should ask their names...
The entire lesson went, if I do say myself, exceedingly well. The professor talked over a series of theories and different perspectives and opinions, which I found most to be overall, very interesting and true. She also talked about a novel, which we were assigned to read. I looked at it closely. It looked like the book Selphie had been reading the other day. Perhaps she was expecting to have Professor Kiyle too.
"This book is exceptionally difficult to find, the main cause, its incredibly low popularity. Not many bookstores care to carry it. But, I expect you each to get a hold of a copy of this novel, for we will be discussing it each and every day, beginning next week, so that gives you a week to find it, which is more than generous. If my memory serves correct, you can find this book at Ginny's Book Store, it carries the oldest and most ancient books, or perhaps Corders, though I really don't recommend it..."
Putting her books that she had taken out during our lesson back into a purple bag, she glanced up at all of us briskly.
"Anyways...that's it! We're done for the day!" she glanced at the clock hanging above the board, "And we're only one minute late!"
She bid us all goodbye as we made our way down the row of seats. I walked down the stairs, the girl previously sitting beside me just in front of me. I smiled politely at my teacher as I passed her desk. I walked down the hall, the two students whom sat beside me at my sides once more.
"She's quite something, wouldn't you say?" the boy struck up a conversation between us, "Never seen a teacher quite like her."
I just shrugged, "I haven't met any of the other teachers here before, so I really can't say."
"Well, I like her methods of teaching," said the girl, "She knows what she's doing."
"Can you believe we have to read that thick book?" the boy groaned, exasperated, "It's got to be at least 900 pages!"
"I know!" I said, suddenly outgoing, "I hear it's pure torture."
"It is," said the girl, "I just began reading it, and it is the most irritatingly boring book ever!"
I laughed at her comment. And here I was thinking she was completely into the class that she'd enjoy any sort of torture!
"By the way, I'm Kairi Hikari."
"I'm Candice Bender," said the girl, "But my friends from back home call me Candy."
"And you?" I asked turning to the blue eyed boy.
"Brent Ohara, nice to meet you guys, or girls," he replied with a goofy grin.
"Oh, so you're Japanese?" I questioned.
"Yeah," he began, "But I don't speak."
I laughed, "Me neither, though people think one of my parents were Japanese."
"So, you guys done here?" Candy asked.
"Naw, I have foreign language at one-thirty," Brent answered, "Thought I should become fluent in my native tongue!"
"Hey, me too!" I said excitedly, "Then I have Island History at four."
"Yeah, I have that too," Candy said happily, "Now I know for sure I'll know someone!"
I grinned at my newfound friends. We walked to the end of the hall, then outside into one of the college's many courtyards, exposing ourselves into the warm sunshine. I quickly spotted Selphie and Tidus waiting for me. Selphie waved to me to catch my attention.
"Well, I guess I'll see you, Brent, after lunch, and Candy at four!" I said turning to my companions.
"Okay, see ya," Candy said with a wave.
"Later." Brent said coolly.
I strolled over to Selphie and Tidus and we started for the boarding house together. We told each other of our first classes, each optimistic and pleased. I told them of my interesting Professor Kiyle, and surely enough, Selphie had her for her next class. Selphie and Tidus seemed interested in my new friends, and they seemed to have made some new friends as well.
"Let's grab a bite to eat before our next class," Selphie suggested.
I glanced down at my watch. We had a full four hours before having to return to the college for our next class. Selphie had her philosophy class next, followed by an arithmetic class; Selphie had discovered during her years in high school she had a passion for math. Tidus had sports, blitzball to be exact. UArt has an entire underwater arena just for the rather violent sport! Then, he had an art class, Tidus turned out to be quite the artistic one! His art was composed of strange shapes, though it was indeed soothing to the eyes, for he had expertise in his choice of shape and color.
"Actually, I can't," Tidus said with a huge grin, "I have a lunch date with this girl from my class..."
I laughed at Tidus' joke, for his face revealed he wasn't serious, though Selphie really had it in for him! She took her books and slammed them on his head! Of course she didn't mean anything serious, but he sure learned his lesson!
"Ow!" Tidus cried rubbing his head, "Is this how you treat all of your boyfriends?"
Selphie just walked on, standing tall, "That's what you get, and if you ever do cheat on me, I'll actually hit you hard."
I laughed as Tidus staggered on behind, still rubbing his head, which was rather spinning from the impact of Selphie's books.
"I can't believe how hard that girl hits..." he mumbled.
I laughed as I dropped my books in the house, then rejoined Selphie and Tidus outside. We slipped on our shades, like always, and headed on for lunch at a nice fast-food restaurant Selphie had spotted earlier. I opened my wallet. Only three crisp twenties remained, and I knew that wouldn't provide me the supplies I needed for the rest of the year.
"I really need to get a job..." I mumbled, a worried expression upon my face.
"Hey, look," Tidus said, pointing at an ice cream parlor we were walking by. "Help Wanted," he read.
"Thanks Tidus! You guys mind if I take a look?" I asked, grasping this opportunity.
"No way," Tidus said, "I saw it, and I'm gonna get the job!"
"What!" I cried desperately.
"Just kidding!" he laughed at my pathetic face.
I blushed a dark shade of scarlet before laughing it off, and hurrying into the shop, Selphie and Tidus close behind. I pushed open the glass doors and a cool breeze from the air-conditioned just blew me away. At the counter, I saw a familiar boy talking to the manager.
"Is the job still open?" I burst, running up to the counter, where my hands were bit by the chilly feel of the ice cream case that my hands ran over.
"Sorry, this young man just applied," she replied, and Brent gave me a sheepish grin, "But we could use an extra part-time worker for the same shift."
"Really?" I asked hopeful.
"Yeah," the woman said with a warm smile, "From one to three, think you can take it?"
"Yes, yes! Thank you so much!" I cried out, a little overexcited.
"Welcome to Robinson's!" the woman said sweetly, "I'm Jade, the-err, your manager!"
I grinned at Jade; she looked overly friendly, and was perhaps in her mid-twenties. Her silky shoulder-length chestnut hair brushed slightly against her face. She wore a little pink-striped apron over an attire of a strapless cerulean top accompanied by a snowy white skirt. She wore high-heeled sandals, adding the finishing touches to her cute attire. Overall, she was quite pretty.
"You two start tomorrow, 'kay?" Jade informed us before walking into the flapping doors which led to who knows where.
I smiled brightly at Brent as he smirked at me. I'd be co-workers with my newest friend! Making friends and becoming closer was so much easier than I thought it'd be!
"I'm so glad I got the job!" I exclaimed with a sigh of relief.
"Yeah!" he agreed enthusiastically, "It'll be so much fun working with you!"
I introduced him to Selphie and Tidus, whom found an instant liking to him, and declared I found the nicest people to be friends.
"Hey, you want to join us for lunch?" I offered, "We're just heading out to grab a bite."
"Thanks for the offer, but I have plans, maybe another time?"
"Sure," I said warmly, as we headed out.
"See ya, Miss Kairi." With his two fingers, he gave me a light little casual salute. I threw him a wave as we headed our own little way.
--
Author's Notes: School's almost over! The 17th is so close... We're getting our yearbooks in two weeks! Okay...gotta stop talking...
Reviews:
Juzlovnsora: Is this a SK, or is it not a SK. That is the question. Well, you'll just have to find out! Mwahahaha! Loved your little analogies that made no sense!
aliasfan: Yeah, I decided it was time for the return of the scrapbook, though, I really haven't said who it is, and I'm kinda torn over it. Kairi...or childhood crush... Oops...I just kinda screwed it up for you! Okay! Forget all that! Hehe...will Kairi fall in love with someone else? Will Sora? Tune in this summer to find out!
Astaldotholwen: I read your one-shot, and I sent you a review. Glad you think my chapter was low in errors! My program has spell check!
HisLight: Hehe...glad my descriptions have an affect on you! I'm pretty sure I read that cauliflower line from somewhere, though, I can't remember... Well, glad you're okay with the whole poem-line thing!
AuroraAustralias: Yeah, I think I might write from Janice and Selphie's point of view. Okay, talk later!
classengurl: Yeah, Aniiston's probably my all time favorite writer! I talk to her every now and then. I'll definitely take your recommendations! I've been meaning to check out other's work, but so little time...
About the names, well, Candice Bender's name is split between uber nice people I met at camp! Candice was our camp leader, and also it's kinda Astaldotholwen! (I know that's not how you spell it but...) and Bender's my other camp leader, Elyse, and her sister, Emily, -'s last name! Brent is just a name I remembered using for my elementary school's newspaper (that my classmates and I made) fiction. Ohara is my friend Jessica's last name, and also this guy my other pal, Natsha walks home with. Love teasing her... Kiyle is just a name I made up as I typed letters! I guess I've just always pictured women professors how I described her, probably cause of too much manga... Jade is the name of my friend/fellow writer! Her stuff is soo good! So, I own all those characters! (And Janice, though she's kinda real...)
'kay later ppls!
-Lyphe