"Another day, another dollar, class."
The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and Descole was teaching another life lesson to his homeroom. It was only the second day of school, and he had already exhausted every life lesson he knew – which was exactly two lessons.
Luke and Flora had taken what would become their normal seats at the back of the classroom, as far away from Descole's spray-it-not-say-it manner of speaking as possible. Luke balanced a pencil on his upper lip, unsuccessfully I might add, while Flora colored her desk with an eraser. Both tasks were pointless, which is exactly why they annoyed Descole.
"In other words," he paused before continuing, his boa fluffing up. "You must always…live life to its fullest…and never lead equines to bodies of water." Another pause. "And that was today's lesson. I hope you all took notes, because you most certainly should expect a 30 question quiz on equestrian maintenance tomorrow morning."
Luke dropped his pencil.
Before Luke could do any fancy footwork to retrieve it, Descole had waltzed over and gently laid his foot atop of the pencil. Luke squeaked. The entire class went silent. The birds stopped chirping. Flora continued drawing on her desk.
"And what is this?!"
A kid at the front whispered something about a pencil. Descole sentenced her to twenty years to life in the hallway. She got out on parole about 6 years in and fled to Canada, and word on the street says she now runs a successful Make-Your-Own Pottery store.
"Uh, a pencil, Mr. Descole," Luke said. Flora rolled her eyes while simultaneously taking cover in the case Descole literally blew up and sent them all into the hall. "Just a pencil, sir."
Silence. Nobody breathed. Nobody blinked. The clock stopped ticking, the dogs stopped barking, the earth stopped rotating, and Bill Hawks stopped eating his balanced breakfast of four cheese sticks.
Descole's lip twitched. Luke's eyes glazed over as he sank deeper into his seat. Descole inhaled deeply, stood straight, held his arms against his sides, and screamed internally. And screamed. And screamed. And screamed.
It was unholy.
Nobody had ever heard a noise quite like his internal scream, and nobody would ever hear anything like it again. Those who didn't hear it wouldn't believe it happened, but maybe they're the lucky ones. Maybe it's best to never have heard something like that. Maybe it's a blessing.
But Luke and Flora heard it. Aurora heard it too, but she thought the Azran had finally awoken from their death slumbers to reclaim their lost territories, so she began chanting. The classroom was illuminated with glowing runes and grids and was practically turned into the 1980s Tron movie, and the entire building began shaking. The girl in the hallway shrieked, Bill Hawks choked on his balanced breakfast of four cheese sticks, and one very disgusted Dimitri successfully revived a medically dead Bill Hawks from Cheese Stick Hell.
All the while, Descole kept screaming.
After approximately five minutes, Descole realized he did, in fact, need to breathe. He gasped for air, which caused Luke to nearly faint and caused Aurora to realize that now was not the time to summon the ancient powers. Flora stared straight ahead, eyes as wide as saucers.
"Now, I shall ask this once more. What is this?" He blew the past events off as if they were nothing. The class became even more frightened by his presence.
"N-nothing, Mr. Descole," Luke peeped.
"Good boy! Now, does anyone have any questions?"
As if luck actually existed in this world, the intercom beeped and prevented Descole from pressing the matter further. The normally deafening crackle of Bill Hawk's voice was barely above a whisper after what the class had just experienced.
"Good morning and welcome to your second day at Gressenheller High, students! Before I get on with my usually charade, I'd like to thank my secretary Dimitri for givin' me that old kiss of life! That smooch of vitality! That peck of zest! That's what real relationships are about, kiddos. If your buddy is laying cold-stone dead on the ground, you better bet that they'd want you to save their sorry ass from bargaining with the devil. Really, if it weren't for Dimitri, I would've lost that fiddle battle and been forced to actually pay for my sins! Ha!" A loud smack was heard, which could only be assumed as Bill Hawk's hand against Dimitri's back. Possibly back. Luke hoped it was Dimitri's back. Flora hoped it was Dimitri's back, too. Descole didn't care and continued practicing writing his name on the chalkboard.
"I would also like to thank everyone who made it to the gym, and not the stadium, yesterday. There was an all-out war between me and the losing side of history on that football field, and I'm glad none of you remaining students had to see that. Wish I hadn't. So, good job! Now, onto your lunch menu. Cheese sticks with a side of milk, a la mood or however that goes. No chocolate milk for the rest of the month, though. I lost a bet I'd rather not talk about, so let's just say that's one negative side effect of that.
"Clubs meeting today are," he coughed directly into the microphone and shuffled his papers. "Annie May Club. 'New members! We choose you. Come join us in the library after school for some'…Dimitri, this writing is smudged. Returning members, remember this a G-related club. No body pillows or excessive and unrestrained cleavage. That goes for you as well, Chess team. Let's see here…Dimitri! Get over here, dammit!"
More shuffling. The class glanced around awkwardly, making sure to avoid eye contact with Descole. Flora finally returned to her earthly form and turned to look at Luke.
"How do we even join these clubs? Isn't it, like, the second day of school?" She asked. Luke shrugged.
"Oh! Students, the club fair is after school today. But don't let that get in the way of the REAL event. Bowling try-outs are today at the community center. There will be one bus, so if you snooze, you suck. Be a part of Gressenheller's proudest everything and join the bowling team today, or else there will be hell to pay! There's no way I'm letting that damned TITTY win regionals again! Bill Hawks OUT!" The microphone slammed against the principal's desk.
"Psst, Flora. Hey, Flora."
"What is it, Luke?"
"I dare you," he snickered, "to join the bowling team."
Flora could never resist a dare, except when she could, but this was something that she couldn't do. Nobody could do this. Nobody was fit for Bill Hawk's bowling team. It was a miracle the current bowling team was still alive.
Descole coughed into his sleeve, ending the discussion before Flora could. Luke wiggled his eyebrows before Flora turned back to face the front of the class.
Descole's homeroom descended into silence once more. And it stayed silent until the bell rang for first block. Unfortunately for Luke and Flora, they were the only two from their homeroom who had Descole's drama class next, which meant they got to share some good quality time with their favorite teacher. At least until someone else walked in, but that wouldn't be for another five minutes.
"So, Luke Triton and Flora…something. How are you enjoying my class so far?" Descole's gaze sliced through his mask and cut deep into the two freshman.
They both glanced at each other then back to their teacher. Neither really had an answer, because yesterday's meeting and Descole's absence had eaten away their class time.
"It's okay, I guess," Flora said. Luke nodded his head before sticking his nose into his notebook. "We really haven't done anything."
Descole shrugged and nodded before turning back to his chalkboard. Luke, surprised by this nonchalance, decided it was safe to talk. An awful decision.
"So, Mr. Descole, yesterday you told me not to talk about Professor Layton, and I was wondering why."
Everyone was shocked by Descole's velocity in this exchange, including me. So shocked, in fact, that I cannot accurately describe what happened next. All you need to know is that Descole punted Luke directly into the sun, with Flora and the ceiling rats as his witnesses.
Luke was fine after about ten minutes, but that didn't stop him from peeing his pants the next time Descole called his name.
The rest of first period was relatively uneventful. Descole sat simmering in his chair, leaving the class to pick their noses in silence. He claimed to be thinking of a punishment for Luke besides launching him into space, seeing as he had just done that. Flora, surprisingly unconcerned by the fact Luke was singed and smelled of smoke, handed him a Hello Kitty Band-Aid only when he got a paper cut about twenty minutes into class. The other students, who had heard the rumors and saw the kids standing out in the hall, made sure to not step on Descole's List of Rules as they walked into the room and to not speak to Descole at all costs.
Second period was a breeze, because Luke spent the entire hour and a half sitting on a toilet and drawing kittens on toilet paper.
Third period was economics, but Miss Altava still hadn't made it back into town, so the class went out to investigate the carnage at the stadium. It was just as bad as Bill had said it to be.
Flora and Luke ate their lunch at the table in the corner with Aurora, who drank her mashed potatoes through a bendy straw. Luke thought that was a great idea and nearly choked, and Flora vowed that she would never be the Dimitri to his Bill Hawks.
Fourth period was geography, taught by Luke's favorite person in the entire history of history; only this time, he didn't have the shirt to prove it. Professor Layton reintroduced himself to the class and started teaching, but he didn't even make it two minutes into his How the States Got Their Boundaries and Other Ways to Avoid Copyright Laws speech before he was called to the office to help settle a "civil dispute."
"So, how do you like high school life, Flora? Do you feel like an adult yet?" Luke, glad to finally be sitting in front of Flora, turned to face her. His smile fell quickly. "Because I don't, and I think it sucks."
"Well, I guess I've had it better than you. I mean, at least I wasn't kicked to the sun and back. But I agree with you. Even this Layton character isn't all he's cracked up to be. Maybe Descole was actually right about something." Seeing as Layton was actually the legal guardian of both her and Luke, Flora really knew how to deal the low blows.
Luke gasped, pulled up his sleeves and threatened fisticuffs. Flora flicked his nose and sent him reeling.
Layton strolled back into his classroom about fifteen minutes before school was over, glossy eyed and contemplative. Apparently the civil dispute hadn't gone well. Nobody pressed the matter.
When the bell rang, Luke and Flora were the first to push their way through the door, around the List of Rules and into the hallway. Flora had seen a poster for the Anime Club and wanted to join, and Luke was all for it. They had to be the first to join. They had to be.
But to get to the library, they had to walk past Descole's room, which, Luke finally noticed, was in the back of the theater. Extreme stealth and planning would be required to skirt around and make it into the library undetected by Descole's heightened senses, which is exactly why the two just ran straight for the library.
This plan, as predicted, failed miserably.
"Pupils! Halt!"
Luke and Flora froze mid-step.
"I've thought of a fitting punishment. Both of you. Come with me." With his standard cape flourish, Descole led the frightened teenagers to the front of the school and then outside to an awaiting bus. Luke and Flora could do nothing but follow him, because not following his orders would surely be worse than what was about to happen. Maybe.
"Mr. Descole, where are you taking us?" Flora asked. No response. It wasn't until she saw Dimitri, clipboard in hand, standing beside the bus that it dawned on her. She had nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. This was her fate. She had to accept it.
Descole and Dimitri exchanged a few words, with the former pointing at Luke the whole while. Luke nervously shifted from foot to foot and chewed on his nails. Flora stood motionless.
"Flora and Luke Triton, your punishment for defying me and interrupting class is as follows: you will be forced to try-out for the bowling team. And if you make it, you will be forced to remain on the team for the entirety of the season. Have fun." Descole made to walk away, but Flora grabbed his cape at the last second.
"Why me? I didn't do anything! Besides, it wasn't even during class! We were the only ones in there." She sounded more and more desperate with each word.
"Why you? By association. Only ones in there? Then there's no one to back up your claim or dispute mine. Besides, didn't I hear you dare each other to try-out? Good day, pupils. Have fun." With that, he sauntered off and dove into the nearest open window. A man shrieked from inside the room.
"Luke, what have you done? You're always dragging me down with you! Always!" Flora halfheartedly began pounding Luke on the top of the head but quickly settled into a reserved – and pained –silence.
"I don't know what I did!" Luke tried not to look stunned when Flora punched his arm. "Honestly! I just asked about Prof-" He stopped short when he thought he heard Descole's heavy breathing.
"Ah, children. Come to try out for the bowling team? Principal Hawks will be delighted to see some new faces on the team. Come along now, the bus leaves in a few minutes." Dimitri waved the two into the bus and gave them the best smile he could possibly muster. Who was he kidding? Those kids were doomed. Just as doomed as he was.
Luke and Flora shared a glance before stepping into the bus and sitting in the seats carved with the least profane words. They sat there for five minutes before Dimitri climbed into the driver's seat and shut the doors.
"Looks like it's just us today, kids." Dimitri adjusted the mirror and started the bus. At least it wasn't just him today.
The bus managed to pull out of the parking lot without hitting any students and was soon chugging down the highway. They reached the community center in a matter of minutes. Dimitri had to pry Flora's hands from the seat and drag her into the bowling alley, while Luke went willingly, albeit in a zombie-like state.
The three walked in on Bill being restrained by five police officers.
"Quit? Quit?! QUIT?! They can't just QUIT the bowling team! Who gave them that idea? Who said they had a right to quit Bill Hawks' bowling team? Jackasses! Every last one of them! And you, too!" He struggled to relieve himself of the guard that had him in a headlock. After elbowing him in the face, he managed to break free and rush to Dimitri's side. "Dimitri! Can you believe this bullshit? Those knuckleheads quit the team!"
"I heard, sir, and I'm terribly sorry." Dimitri had actually known they had quit the team about five hours earlier, but nobody wants to mess with an angry Bill. "But these two came to try-out."
"Morons! Idiots! They – wait. These two came to try out?" He stepped closer to Luke and Flora, inspecting their faces, pulling at their hair, kicking Luke's shins. "These two? I suppose they're better than nothing, but…"
"I did as well." Aurora stepped from the shadows, revealing herself, causing everyone to wonder how she got there. "I sat in the back of the bus, in case you were wondering."
Everyone just accepted that and moved on.
"Well, that makes three hooligans, but…Dimitri! You are now an honorary member! Congratulations!" The principal slapped him on the back, and this time around, both Luke and Flora were sure Bill slapped him on the back.
The bowling alley doors slid open and a young woman strolled inside, her hair in a messy ponytail and her yellow jacket tied around her waist. She stepped into the middle of the group.
"Howdy, hello, everyone! What'd I miss?" She leaned against Luke for support and looked expectantly around.
"Miss Altava! Back from your jog already? Do you want to be a member of Gressenheller High's Bowling Team?" Bill folded his arms.
"Do I?"
"Do you?"
"Do I?"
"I'm not giving you a choice."
"I sure as heck do!"
"Well that's settled, then. Hat boy, tall girl, Dimitri, creepy girl, Altava…who else can I wrestle into this?" He looked around the room, from the pile of security guards to the soda fountain in the corner.
"Professor Layton would probably join us, sir!" Luke chimed in. Bill grimaced, but Dimitri quickly whispered something into his ear, causing him to reluctantly agree.
"Anyone else?"
The five new members of the bowling team glanced around the room. Flora rested her finger on her chin thoughtfully before realizing something.
"Aha! I know who else will join."
She was met with a murmur of confusion.
"I'm sure Descole would love to be a part of this."
Luke burst into laughter before realizing that would mean being around Descole for longer than necessary. Everyone else seemed okay with the suggestion. Flora's plot for revenge was set into motion.
"Great, great. All right! Another successful day at the bowling alley, thanks to yours truly! Everyone go home, get some rest, and be ready to practice tomorrow! We've got some TITTYs to beat!"
With that, Hawks ran out of the building and into the bus, beckoning Dimitri to hurry up and get the heck out of there, before the cops woke up. He was determined to never go to prison, and so far he was doing a damn fine job of that.
Luke and Flora were left to themselves as everyone else wandered over to the soda fountain. They stared at an old man as he failed to let go of the bowling ball and was sent rolling down the lane after it.
"Well," Luke said.
"Yep," Flora replied.
What could possibly go wrong?
sorry for the delay in posting!
Finally, we get to the actual bowling team. After two chapters, I'm sure you were on the edge of your seat, just waiting for when we would finally get a chance to see some Hot Bowling Action. Too bad I didn't deliver.
Now that everyone's on the bowling team, thing will start moving. Everyone, save for the kids at TITTY, has been introduced, so now I can finally get to some good ole character interaction. Nothin' like it.
Also, because nobody cares nor asks, here's the Luke and Flora's (Aurora's too) newly revamped schedules!
8:00-8:30 - Homeroom (overseen by the talented Jean Descole)
First - Drama (taught by the talented Jean Descole)
Second - Psychology (taught by the talented Jean Descole) (a triple whammy)
Third - Economics, I guess (taught by the talented Emmy Altava)
Fourth - Geography (taught by the talented Hershel Layton)
After School 3:15-probably 12 AM - Bowling (coached by the not-so-talented Bill Hawks)
What will happen next time on Welcome to Gressenheller High? Stay tuned to find out!