If you're reading this right now it means you made it through the first two chapters. Thanks for sticking with me for so long!
This next chapter was really hard to write. Serious writer's block.
I'm trying my best to keep Artemis in character, so basically I tried to think how Artemis would respond to being forced to go through public school. What would he do? This is what I came up with.
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It was the first day of school. Artemis, Robin, and Bradon walked the six blocks to the high school. (Chase's elementary school was in the opposite direction.) The sun was shining, and the birds were chirping, but still Artemis felt dejected. He could not believe he was walking! If it were up to him, he would rent a car and a driver to drive him every morning and afternoon. But Mrs. Frome thought walking was a good idea. He could still hear her as she had sent them off that morning.
"It's only six blocks after all. When I was a kid, I had to walk twelve blocks, no matter what the weather, and I didn't have a backpack."
What a pointless story. What do parents expect their children to do when they say things like that? Say, "Oh, I'm so grateful for my backpack!" and skip away?
"When I turn sixteen, I'm buying myself a car!" Bradon declared.
"Maybe you should get your license first," suggested Robin.
"I will."
"Your birthday's in four months, and you haven't started driver's training yet," she pointed out.
Bradon wasn't concerned. "Details, details. I know, I'll buy my car first, so when I get my license, it'll be ready to go."
"And where will you get money for a car?"
Bradon shot his sister a look. "You just enjoy smothering my dreams, don't you?"
"Yep, that's it."
The three teenagers finally reached Mullborn High School. The trip felt like an eternity to Artemis, dragged out even longer by being forced to listen to the siblings' boring conversations.
They went through the doors to hallways congested with students. Artemis took in his surroundings. Dirty. Unorganized. Loud. He could hear swear words being shouted thirty feet away. There were papers on the floor no one bothered to pick up. People ran and shoved each other out of the way, not caring.
So this was an American public high school.
"It's everything I ever wished for," Bradon said in awe. "Catch you guys later!" He ran off to find his friends.
Robin turned to Artemis. "Want to go find our lockers?"
"I suppose now is as good a time as any." As long as we don't get ambushed on the way there. It seemed likely.
The two of them made their way around the maze of a school trying to find the right locker numbers.
Robin was smiling. "I'm so excited. I've been looking forward to high school for ages."
"You were looking forward to this?"
"Well, yeah. High school's the best."
Artemis watched one boy slap a girl's butt. "I beg to differ."
Robin could sense his lack of enthusiasm as they rounded a corner. "What's so bad about high school?"
"It's disgusting and completely barbaric," Artemis described. "At least the school I used to go to was exclusive and private. There were some form of rules."
"There are rules here," Robin said quietly. "This is a very good school district. I guess it's just not as proper as you're used to."
Did Artemis sense anger in her voice? It was so subtle, he wondered if she even knew it was there. Had he hurt her feelings? Impossible. It's not like he was insulting her.
Their lockers ended up being upstairs. Robin's was 603. Artemis' was 601. Apparently, they were assigned lockers alphabetically, and Fowl and Frome are close together in that aspect. The inside of Artemis' locker was just as dirty as the floor. He would have to clean it tomorrow.
A loud school bell rang indicating five minutes until school starts. Artemis pulled out his schedule and read:
HOUR ONE: GYM
It's official, thought Artemis. I'm in hell on earth.
XXXXXXBleachers lined the gym on either side, and a group of boys sat in one section. Artemis stood near them. Bradon ran into the gym a second before the bell rang. He said, "Hey, Artemis," before sitting down.
A man who looked to be in his late twenties with a whistle around his neck took a place in front of the bleachers.
"Hello," he began. "And welcome to Freshman Boys P.E. My name is Mr. Deam, but I'm sure you already know that since my name is on your schedules." He went on, "This is always my favorite hour. You know why? Because all of you sitting here are the lucky few who get to go to gym first thing in the morning every day!"
A couple boys groaned. Others laughed.
"What? You're not excited?" Mr. Deam shrugged. "Too bad."
Against the wall was a big cardboard box. Mr. Deam pulled it in front of the bleachers so it was the center of attention.
"The first thing we're going to do," he said, "Is change into our gym clothes. There is a strict dress code for this class, and what you're wearing right now is unacceptable. It this box," he patted it, "Are t-shirts and shorts for you. I want you to find a pair that fit you and go change into it. We will be doing this every day."
The group of boys started to stand up and move toward the box. All except one, anyway.
"You can't be serious."
Everyone looked to where Artemis was standing.
Mr. Deam looked confused, as if he were being given directions in a foreign language. "What am I not serious about?"
"Do you honestly expect me to change into clothes that a dozen other boys have probably already worn?" he questioned. "It's not sanitary."
"They've been washed," Mr. Deam said. "They're clean. Now hurry up, and get dressed."
Artemis made no move for the box. "I refuse to wear those filthy pieces of fabric. If I'm going to wear anything, it will be my own, not community shorts."
His words echoed around the large gymnasium. The rest of the class was silent, curious to see what would happen next.
Mr. Deam remained calm. Instead of getting upset, he calmly explained, "If you don't get changed, then you can't participate in our daily activities."
"Oh, my. Now, there would be a loss." You'd have to be the biggest idiot in the world to miss the sarcasm. Mr. Deam was not an idiot.
"Okay. You get a zero for the day. Sit down. If there are no other objections, the rest of you go change."
The boys shuffled to pick out shirts and shorts and made their way to the dressing room. Bradon approached Artemis, who had made himself comfortable on the bleachers.
"Dude, what are you doing?"
"Refusing to follow orders simply because someone is in a position of authority."
"I hear that, but this is gym! It's the easiest class ever. Why don't you stick it to authority in a harder class, like math?"
Artemis rolled his eyes. Bradon clearly missed the point. When Artemis was the only boy left not in the locker room, the gym teacher sat next to him on the bleachers.
"What's your name?"
"Artemis Fowl II."
He nodded. "Right, the foreign exchanged student. Listen, Artemis. Is this really how you want to kick off the school year?"
"If you mean by not running until I sweat, then yes."
"You have to participate eventually. If you don't you will fail this class," Mr. Deam warned.
"I'm not worried about that," Artemis told him.
"This is a required course. If you don't pass, you'll have to take it again next semester, or you won't graduate."
Artemis cringed as the idea of re-taking P.E.
"You misunderstand me," he corrected his teacher. "I am not worried, because I am not going to fail."
"So, you'll participate?"
"No."
"Even if you could wear your own shorts?"
"I don't wear shorts."
Mr. Deam pondered for a moment. "Fine, it's your choice whether you do anything here or not. I can't force you. I just pass out the grades. If you can find a way to pass my class without any physical exertion, then I'd be happy to see it, because it's never been done before."
It was a challenge, and a fair one at that. Never been done before? Well, this school had never seen Artemis Fowl II before.
For the rest of the hour, while his classmates ran laps and played dodgeball, Artemis sat deep in thought, working out a plan that would allow him to avoid the inevitable horrors of Freshman Boys P.E.
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Second hour was AP English. The entire hour consisted of the teacher going over works of literature they would be examining throughout the year, most of which Artemis had already read and deciphered on his own…when he was six.
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The next class was computers. Artemis took refuge at a computer that was unoccupied on either side. What he needed right now was to go to a place where knowledge was endless, the internet. It was a pastime he had grown fond of while bored or in need of cheering up. He would research a world wide problem or theory that had been baffling experts for ages and solve it before nightfall.
Artemis turned the computer on and clicked on the internet icon. The screen pepped up with a big INTERNET BLOCK sign on it. Artemis tried accessing some websites but the block wouldn't let him go anywhere. If this had happened to Holly, she would've said "D'Arvit!" and taken a good swing at the monitor. Artemis had a more effective method in mind. He checked the clock to make sure he still had time before class began.
A few clicks here. A few clicks there. Roadblock. Need a password. It took Artemis three tries to figure out the right password. School passwords are always so obvious. This one was 'district 19'. A few more seconds and…done. He had access to the internet.
"What are you doing?"
Artemis jumped. He hadn't known he was being watched. He spun around to face a short, freckled boy who was gaping at his computer screen.
"We're not allowed on the internet," the boy accused.
"Obviously," Artemis agreed. "Otherwise there wouldn't be a block."
"How'd you get through the block? Never mind. You'd better get off."
"Or what?"
"Or I'll tell on you." (Cue scary music.)
Artemis was not impressed. "You're starting to irritate me."
The boy's eyes narrowed. His hand shot up into the air. The computer teacher was doing something at her desk. "Yes?" she looked up.
"He's on the internet." He pointed to Artemis.
The teacher looked at Artemis' computer to see the now blank screen. She replied, "I blocked all internet access. There is no way he could have accessed it except through my computer." The tardy bell rang. "Now, take a seat."
The boy grumbled at a smug Artemis, then noticed that the only available computer was next to him. He reluctantly sat down. Artemis wasn't too pleased either. Some of his best work was done on computers. Now, he wouldn't be able to do anything out of the ordinary or risk being tattled on.
Just his luck. So far every hour felt like a waste of time. Honestly, Artemis did not see what was so spectacular about high school. And the day was only half way done.
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Yeah, I had originally planned for the entire first day to be one chapter, but it ended up being too long, so I cut it in half. I already have the rest of the day planned out in my head. I just have to write it.
I would appreciate reviews. I don't think this was one of my greatest chapters, but you all understand how it feels to get reviews. It's nice to know people are actually reading your story and like it. For me it makes me want to write more, and more quickly. So, please review to let me know what you think!