Chapter 1: Mommy Gave Birth to Me, so Deal with It
Sweet, sweet dark warmth. Oh how I love thee. Sleep beckons me to eternal bliss without disturbance. I know that I should wake up to reality, but please. I like five more minutes because I have been staying up on my computer. It is addicting after playing ten minutes turning into six hours, and it was a part of my daily life. Well, summer was going to be over, and I dread going to school to see the teachers. The only good part was that I get to hang out with two of my best girl friends and one boy friend. Note the separation of girl and boy friend.
"Rise and shine, honey!"
Mom, I love you, but please…
ENOUGH WITH THE WAKE UP CALL!
"WAAAAH!" I screamed and fell off the bed when the sounds of clanking echoed in my room. I groaned and looked up to the doorframe where my mom was holding a ladle on one hand and a frying pan on the other. Our neighbors continued commenting me that I look like my mother when she was also at my age. The only difference is that I kept my hair short and had my bandana wrapped around my head like a ninja. My mom keeps her status as a ninja, like my dad, a secret. I guess the family tree had full of ninjas from birth to old age. My three year old baby brother was clinging onto her on the leg like I used to, and he gave me the most adorable laugh.
"Morning, Persey! Wakey, wakey! You got school starting soon!" I winced when she used my baby nickname.
"Morning, mom." Ryuu released my mom's leg and stumbled up to me as his tiny feet can go. He went to my side and land-hugged me on the back. His goofy grin appeared, and I didn't mind that he just body-slammed me on the back. His smile came from my mother, and I had my mom's smile as well.
"Mo'win' Yu-shan!" I turned to lie on my back and gave him the biggest hug, rubbing my cheek against his soft hair. He was also like me, but he had this charisma surrounding him. His hair was still short and soft, but I can see that his hair was sticking everywhere. Mom and I gave up trying to put it down or gel it up because his hair was courser like dad's hair. His attire was still like a baby, except that he wore the black shorts and a white Wutainese long sleeved shirt.
"Morning, Ryuu! Yu-shan is awake and needs to get up! Go back to mommy!" Ryuu giggled and pitter-pattered toward mom. There are many reasons why Ryuu is loved; he already had the whole high school to his whims. One time, he had his first errand in high school and delivered my lunch because I forgot it at home. It was sophomore year at that time, and I think he motivated the Juniors to study harder. He wanted to be responsible, to be protective, and to be brave like me, except that he had the adorable charm in him that everyone lost on purpose. Seeing him being picked up by my mom, she just smiled and left me to my own devices.
My room was clean after the spring-cleaning, but I do have a whole bunch of clothes all over my room. It was supposed to be a simple room: bed, desk, wardrobe, vanity mirror, window, bookcase, and a computer. However, I decorated my room with clothes thrown haphazardly around. My mom gave up telling me to clean up when I said that my room feels like an isolation room, and my dad pretty much blew up a gasket when he saw how my socks were hanging over my lamp.
I decided to get up after a few seconds of cursing and bitching about early mornings, but I would never say it out loud. Mom and I made a vow to never swear until my brother is at least sixteen or at least away from his hearing range. I grabbed my uniform that was hung up on the door and began struggling with the damn blue skirt and blue and white blouse. A red bow was already tied under the blue collar, and I think my mom wanted me to keep myself tidy.
What were you thinking? Yes, I go to a private school. My dad is an ambassador in a different country, yet my mom prefers a normal house. We do have maids around, but it was usually three of them and their arrival around certain times since it involves taking my brother, helping my mother, and making me behave. Right now, we have one in the kitchen and one in the garden. Oh, and we have a garden in the backyard, and we mostly spent our free time tending the flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Mom got bored while I was in her and decided to have homegrown plants since my dad refuses to let her do work. It helps her run off the remaining fat in her and teaches us to learn to respect life.
"I'm going mom!" I shouted as I got everything to prep up for school. Just before I could jump down the stairs, I froze and stopped, backing away when a kunai suddenly flew where half of my face would be. I knew this was going to happen and glared at the maternal leader, who was coddling my baby brother innocently. She does this every time; I know. Was there a thing called normality?
"Okay! Okay! I'll just walk down normally and have Miss Yoshimaru drive me to school." She turned and smiled, waving so sweetly.
"Take care, Persey! I love you!"
I love and hate you, too. You are the most evil woman who gave birth to a hellion like me. I hope Ryuu give you hell. Heeheehee…
Edge High School had its ups and downs as we go through life. Basically, it's whether you love it or hate it: simply black and white. The populace of students is around eight hundred divided by four, so you either get more or less than two hundred students in each year.
Oh, and did you know that instead of grouping people in sections, we group how each yearly student acts? Freshmen were known to be hyper with a lot of sugar consumed. Gods, we thought they were on something until we found candy wrappers in lockers and ants crawling around the place. It was scary, and I, even though I tend to be hyper and pull the pranks, know better than to go between freshmen and their sugar indulgence. I've been through that phase.
Sophomores were considered to be… dramatic. It was first puberty, then growth spurts, then hormone rage, and then all the drama my mom watched during her pregnancy with Ryuu. I would have bought popcorn and bid on who would win, lose, or get socked in the face, but school forbid food inside of classrooms and gambling. I had my fair share of drama, but that was in the past. I think my two best friends were the ones who did the beating during my horrible breakup with my ex-boyfriend.
Right now, we were in Junior year, and we are worried about grades. This is the stress phase were now our asses are in the line to past the tests in order to get into college slash university. We heard that books will be stacked mountain high, and papers will be thrown everywhere with both notes and previous tests. Homework will triple in quantity, and there will be days, or even weeks, that will give you hell. Fuck, I had issues with English until the old hag retired. I was happy when she did, but now I was wishing that the old hag had stayed. I mean, everyone was stressing and freaking, and I was also freaking out. Well… in the future, we will freak out.
Senior year was just next year, and it was getting into college stress. I have heard the homework and projects will lessen, but still, it is hard to get into colleges with the amount of grade point averages. We'll get to that point later. Right now, we have to focus on Junior year.
"Yuffie! I am so happy we found you!" I turned to meet two of my best friends and grinned. Tifa Lockhart and Aeirth Gainsborough rushed up to me, and we ran-hug each other until their body weights overpowered mine and slammed me to the ground.
We have been childhood friends since we were babies, but we had to go to different schools. I was away from most of the time, and whenever we cross each other's paths, we spent our time in the playground until our parents found us at the evening. When high school acceptance was coming around, I wanted to go to the same high school with them and had a lot of arguments with my dad. He wanted me to go somewhere far away, but I refused and said that going away from my friends is like living with the hellish middle school life. I defied him so many times that it got to the point that he conceded for the sake of my mother's stress. Our arguments made her ill with stress, and we almost lost Ryuu because of our stubbornness. Tifa and Aerith were with me during my mother's surgery, and I held them like they were my last line.
Tifa was the most sought out girl in the class, but she was very hard to date since she took martial arts and boxing. Her figure surpassed every girl's standards, and her attitude was that of a mother since she lost her mother at a young age. Most of the guys were after her physical figure, but they all ended up having their asses kicked. She was supposed to be dating this guy name Cloud Strife, but he was like… what? Three years older than her? Don't get me wrong; I would approve their relationship if it weren't for the law saying that at the age of eighteen you cannot date anyone under your age, or you would be labeled as a child molester.
I say that this was the stupidest law I have ever heard. I mean, they are close around the age for all that is holy! He's not like he's ten years older than her! He's in college or wherever he is! Fuck, the law's messed.
Aerith is also in the same situation. She was very kind and would give you the most support that you would have cried for her kindness. I once bowed to her for being the most epic lifesaver when I was in a pinch on studying for Algebra two. I had no problem with math, but that was one time I forgot to study because my baby brother was sick. She brought in dear Marlene to take care of Ryuu, and her adopted parents, Elmrya and Barret, had no problem with letting them come over. Besides, Ryuu was literally the adorable baby of the family, and he has four older sisters to coddle him. Aerith was dating Zack Fair, and I think he was going to take over his adopted father's business in metal smithing. My parents were regular customers in his shop for weapons, both training and real life, and I knew both the father and son. He is like an older brother to me, except that he's four years older than us.
"Hey, Yuffie?" My musing popped like a balloon, and I focused on two of my friends.
"What?" I replied. They had this silly grin on their faces, and I wanted to run. I always questioned on why are we friends every single day, but I always had this shit-eating face before pillows would catapult straight to my face.
"Do you think you'd be dating Reno during this year? We have to get dates before the upcoming dance around a month." I gave out this ultimate glare straight at them before they began giggling like morons. Reno and I have been going out, but they were just friendly hangouts. I see him more as a mischievous sidekick of a brother, and our personality was too similar. I swore that he was my missing twin, and the gods decided to separate us because two chaotic children of the same age and birth mother would end the world. Besides, I have seen him hang out with Elena and Rude more than me, and I do miss him since we have less contact.
"Knock it off, guys! You know that I see him as a brother than boyfriend material! Besides, he's a man whore if you remember!"
"Aw! But I wanna hang out with you more!" My shit-eating grin was back, and I side-glance at the said person.
"Say to the person who ditched me to my own devices during the stink bomb fiascos." Reno made a dramatic "shot in the heart" pose, and our dear friend, Elena, smacked him upside of the head. Gotta love that blond. Rude was standing beside them, and he was a senior of course. I need to remind myself to ask him how is Senior year later; we need to prep up for the ultimate drama.
"We passed the drama phase last year, Reno. Get your act together since we are going to deal with college tests." Elena's nose scrunched up and made a sour face.
"I hate those tests. The PSAT was a pain in the ass since there was absolutely no direction until our sophomore year." I groaned. She just had to remind me.
"Let's not talk about that. I still have nightmares from Mrs. Helga's class, especially during my summer break." Tifa patted my head in reassurance.
"Just be glad that she retired. She was getting too old on dealing with us." I dully glared at Tifa.
"Did you not remember the rumor about Mrs. Helga's class and her teachings? When you go there, she will haunt you in both reality and in dreams. I thought I failed her class during one of my dreams! It was fucked up!" Everyone, except Rude, busted at gut after my exclamation. It's good to have real friends.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Reno recovered from his laughter and got everyone's attention. "Did you hear anything about new teacher? I heard that he's merciless." I think I froze. Great. Another Mrs. Helga, except it's Mr. Helga.
Aerith pondered for a bit and frowned.
"From what I heard, he does not tolerate lateness or interruption in class. He's young, graduated at the young age, and does not like to socialize with the staff. However, he is a great teacher and makes English understandable." She tilted her head and looked at Tifa.
"He sounds familiar. Tifa, do you remember who it- Tifa?" We all turned to the frozen girl, and she looked pale. I think we triggered something that equals to drama time.
"A-Are you kidding me?" She moaned, and I held her by the arm.
"Teefs? Hey, Boobs! Are you alright?" She didn't say anything but pointed where the gates were. We all turned to see a black, expensive looking car parked in front of it. I think it was a chauffer who opened the back of the door, and now many of the students were swarming the gates. It was later that many of the population were girls screaming, and I think it hurts to listen to them. Whoever they were screaming at, he must have reached to the point of hotness.
Basically, I didn't care and asked Tifa. She was freaking me out.
"Gaia to Tifa! Dammit! Wake up! Who just came in and made you freak out?" I was afraid that she went to a catatonic state at an early age, and I needed her to wake up! Just as I asked that question, the teacher was walking away from the group of students and up to us.
He seemed to be no older than us but had this professionalism aura around him. His ebony hair was long and tied to a low ponytail that contrasted against his pale skin, and he was wearing a dark red suit for one of those classy teachers. What was surprising that his eyes were similar color as Tifa's. Only that they were bright crimson, while Tifa's eyes were wine crimson. He had this ghost of a smile and waved to her.
"Hello dear sister." Her mouth was shut in a firm line, and her eyes flashed dangerously.
"Hi, Vincent. Here to make a living hell?" Whoa! Back up! Tifa had an older brother? What kind of sibling rivalry is this?
"You know this guy?" I shouted and looked at Vincent. His eyes were staring at me and gleamed with this amusement. He bowed to us and introduced himself, and what was creepy is that his eyes never left mine.
"I am Vincent Valentine. Tifa Lockhart is my sister, and I am the new English teacher. I am looking forward to teaching you all. Now, excuse me. I have to prepare the class before the bell rings." With that, he stood up and walked away from us. His eyes never left contact with mine until I couldn't see him, and I had shivers up my spine. What the hell was that all about?
"Tifa? What was that all about?" Instead of getting an answer, I was grabbed and spun to see a warning glare from the said girl.
"Yuffie, whatever you do. Do not cross or come in contact with my half brother. I know him since he came into my life before I started high school, and I'm telling you to stay away from him." I gulped.
"Tifa?" Everyone was gathering around her to place understanding judgment through pats and concerned looks toward me. Their eyes were not of worry to Tifa but of worry to me. What is going on?
"You have to promise me." She hissed, and I jumped. I have not heard anything about Tifa's new behavior, and if she were telling the truth about our new teacher, then I would have to be aware about this Vincent guy. Brother or not, she seemed to hate him with passion, and I am not going to cross either of them.
"P-Promise." When I said that, I made a list in my head about this Vincent guy.
Let's see. Dark. Check. Broody. Check. Sadistic. Mega check.
Man, shoot me on the foot with a shotgun. I think my ass is in the line.