High School Mayhem
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Disclaimer: The plan to steal the characters is taking some time to come up with, but I'll get there eventually. However as of this moment all characters that you recognise from the book are still Traci Harding's not mine...Do you think an armed kidnapping would work to steal them? (joking, joking) :)
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Chapter Three –
Whilst in the change rooms Katren realised something. Tory and Brian were in the same year level, and were brother and sister, yet neither had made any reference to being twins. How was that possible?
She said as much to Tory, who sighed, and looking mildly saddened replied "When we were much younger Brian was in a tae-kwon-do accident. He took a kick to the temple and was in a coma for several months. He came out of it a week before the date set to turn off the life support. But because of all the school he missed he was put down a year level. He's 18, but he doesn't mind hanging out with kids a year younger."
Iona, Tory and Katren finished changing into their uniforms: for Iona and Katren white with a black dragon emblazoned on the back and for Tory black with a white dragon, because of her extra skills.
Upon entering the gymnasium they found Maelgwyn and Brian, who were talking to their teacher and another boy who was also dressed in tae-kwon-do uniform, awaiting their arrival across the padded floor. They strolled over, and the class began with their new teacher, who was also new to the school, introducing himself. "My name is Mr Irysta. I am to be your teacher in the art of self defense that we know as tae-kwon-do. As your instructor it is my right to request you call me sensei whilst you are wearing those uniforms. Understood?"
"Yes, Mr Irysta" The room chorused readily, they were eager to begin.
Mr Irysta grinned "Obviously none of you are very awake this morning. Who would care to tell me if it's because it's morning or if it's because it's the first day back at school?"
The class stood in stunned silence, not only because a teacher was joking with them, but because they didn't understand what he meant. Ione was the first to cotton on.
"It's because we're not used to addressing our teachers by anything other than their last name, sensei", she replied, putting extra emphasis on the last word.
"Ah, I see", replied Mr Irysta, whose tone had become much more business-like. "I would like you to divide up into pairs. These pairs will be your training partners and opponents, and will remain the same throughout the year, not to be changed, unless dictated so by me. And I won't be changing them unless it's a life or death situation. I will, however, let you pick your own partners. You have five minutes to do so."
All six adolescents looked around the room, sizing each other up. Maelgwyn was the first to move, offering his hand to Tory "Since you think your brother is too much for me to handle, perhaps you will be my opponent instead?"
Tory giggled uncharacteristically, and to her great embarrassment blushed. What was it about this guy that could bring out the feminine side that she so fiercely repressed? Taking his waiting hand she replied "I would love to", giving him a flirtatious grin of her own, knowing what lay ahead, for him, although she could have no idea what lay ahead for herself.
With his sister and new friend gone Brian decided to be the next to choose. He walked to wards Katren, who met him in the centre of the circle drawn on the floor, at the heart of the dragon that was painted inside the shape. He paused for a second, unsure what to say, keeping it short and sweet by holding out his hand and asking "Partners?"
Katren put on a face of mock horror, snatched her hand towards herself, and in a tone that even the posh-est and snobbiest people she knew would envy ,cried "And why would I want to be partnered with a guy like you for the next year!" Brian's smile disappeared faster than Katren had thought it was possible, his shoulders slumped and he slowly walked away, until Katren outstretched her hand towards him, to grab his arm and turn him around. Her face falling into a sheepish grin she said "Just kidding", and when his face lit up with a grin that literally reached from ear to ear he grabbed her hand they walked to the edge of the circle on the floor, sitting next to each other.
That left Ione with the other boy, whom she didn't know. This didn't bother her, she liked meeting new people. She walked towards him, reaching out to take hold of his hand. "My name's Ione, looks like we're partners. I don't think we've met before, but I've seen you around. Your name is?"
"Tiernan", replied her new partner, smiling at his good fortunes. The girl before him, whilst not beautiful in the in-your-face style that Katren and Tory were, was quite good looking, a genuinely nice person, and he looked forward to them getting to know each other.
"Right," called their new sensei," I see you've partnered yourself, so its time for us to begin. I'd like each pair to sit at one of the four main compass points; I'll take the leftover point. You're to cross your legs, close your eyes and focus on your breathing. We'll be learning meditation today."
Six battered teens made their way back to their respective locker rooms at the end of the double period. The first half of their lesson had been dedicated to learning about meditation, which they were told they would be practising at the start and end of each lesson. The second half, the half they had all been much more eager to start, was dedicated to learning to fight. Today they had started on basic punches and kicks all mixed together into a kind of pattern, almost a dance. This, their sensei informed them, was known as kata.
He obviously had already known that Tory and Brian had much more experience than the rest of them, as he had called Tory out to the front to demonstrate with him. The rest of the class had shown different reactions to Tory's performance. For Brian it was pride, he had always admired his younger sister's determination to learn the martial arts. Maelgwyn and Katren could only stare in disbelief at the skills this rather petite girl was showing. Ione and Tiernan just sat back and watched the show, letting nothing of their thoughts show upon their faces.
Tory was the first to be changed into her clothes, and was waiting on Katren and Ione outside the change room, struggling to locate the classroom her next class, French, was in on the map that she'd picked up whilst in the office. She had just found the room, and was grinning triumphantly when Maelgwyn walked up to her, asking if he could talk to her for a minute. Her curiosity aroused, Tory followed him into a nearby corner.
"There's this awesome new movie showing at the local cinema tomorrow night, a martial arts one. I thought maybe we could go see it together?" Maelgwyn asked, looking rather cheerful, yet nervous at the same time.
Tory smiled cheekily, batting her eyelashes at him "Are you asking me out Maelgwyn?" she asked, in a teasing tone, as if she didn't think he was.
"Well, yes, I suppose I am" replied the flirtatious youth, in a very similar tone, seeming glad that she'd caught on so fast.
Tory thought for a second. Yes, she did like this guy, but she'd only just met him, and wasn't sure what kind of a person he was. She would talk to Ione and Katren about him, she decided, see what they thought of him, before she gave him an answer. Flashing him one last smile, she winked, moved so she could get past him back into the hallway, and gleaming with innocence said "I'll think about it" and went to find her French class, turning her back on his cries of "Wait, what do you mean? How will I know what you decide? Can I have your number? Email address? Tory?" Seeing that she wasn't going to answer he leant against the wall, muttering "Damn!" under his breath. Women and their mind games, why couldn't they make things simple? So, she was going to make things difficult. Two could play that game. But he'd get her in the end, he knew it. No girl resisted him for too long...
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A/N. now im sure those of you who write yourselves know that on the stats page you can see how many hits your story has, how many people have it on story alert etc etc ive gotten about 10 times more readers than reviews, so if y'all could review after youve read this then i'd be really grateful, itd be nice to know what you're all thinking. Cheers, mel