Chapter 5: Rose

Jake was skateboarding his way towards Millard Fillmore Middle School as usual the latest days. Upon arriving, he saw something unusual: a beautiful blonde girl he never saw before was entering the school building along with a big bald burly man. Jake was so focused on the girl he didn't notice anyone or anything else around him until Spud called. "Yo, Jake."

Jake was shocked. "What? Where?" He then remembered his surroundings. "Trixie, Spud, do either of you know that girl?"

"Never seen her before, Jake." Spud commented.

"Must be a transfer student." Trixie suggested. "I wonder from where."

"Maybe she's also homeschooled like I used to be." Jake suggested in reply. "She seemed so awed at being at school as me during my first day."

"Nope." Trixie argued. "That's probably just anxiety from changing schools."

"We'll know when we get to know her better." Jake suggested and started going to the building until he's stopped by Brad.

"Forget it, Long." Brad ordered. "I saw her first."

"That doesn't give you any rights over her, Brad." Jake replied with a frown.

"A weakling shortie like you against the Bradster?" Brad arrogantly asked. "Your only chance with a girl like that is to make her think it's not a coincidence you have the same surname as that billionaire Jonathan Long."

"Are you calling her a gold digger, Brad?" Jake angrily asked.

"Not at all, Long." Brad answered. "I'm just saying you're not big, strong or athletic like me so your only chance with a beautiful girl is to pretend you're wealthy or win the lottery so you'll become wealthy for real."

While Jake and Brad were arguing, the girl and the man were at Principal Derceto's office. "Don't worry, Mr. Killdragonosa." The Principal told the man. "The school year barely started so your niece Rose won't have much trouble catching up."

"I'm glad to hear it, Principal." Mr. Killdragonosa replied. "Aren't you, Rose?"

"Yes, Uncle Hunter." She nervously answered.

"Something wrong, Rose?" Principal Derceto asked out of concern.

"Nothing, Principal Derceto." Rose answered. "I'm just nervous about being here."

"I understand." The Principal calmly said. "New environments can do it to kids. In fact, we have another formerly homeschooled student here and he could help you to adjust."

"He?" Hunter Killdragonosa asked. "I don't know. Can any boy be trusted near my niece?"

"Uncle, you know I can handle myself." Rose argued. Considering the things he deemed her ready to do, she thought her uncle would know better.

"That's what worries me, Rose." He replied. The Principal assumed it was a joke but Mr. Killdragonosa was actually afraid Rose would attract unwanted attention or even worse: there could be a dragon at school and it would find her fighting moves too familiar.

"Don't worry, Mr. Killdragonosa." The Principal reassured him. "Jake Long is a good boy."

"Long?" Like everybody in New York, Hunter Killdragonosa heard of Jonathan Long. "Is he…"

"He's Chinese-American." The Principal said in response to the unasked question.

"He'd better be or it'll be your head rolling along with his for misleading me." He threatened.

While they were discussing that matter, Jake and his friends went to the classroom to endure Rotwood's lectures on magical creatures. They were even worse for Jake, who knew how wrong Rotwood was but couldn't say anything. The class was interrupted, much to the students' relief, by the new girl's entrance. "May I help you, young lady?" Rotwood asked with feigned interest.

"I'm a new student, Sir." She politely replied while presenting her newly-made student card. "Are you Professor Hans Rotwood?"

"Ya, Miss…" Rotwood stopped to read her card. "Killdragonosa, and zis is indeed where you vere supposed to be." He then addressed the class. "Class, zis is Rose Killdragonosa. She's a new student here and, as Mr. Long here, used to be a homeschooled kid." Jake was so focused on Rose he didn't even stop to give Trixie a 'told ya' once his belief about Rose was confirmed. "You may sit next to Mr. Morton here." That woke Jake from his shock.

"Thank you, Professor Rotwood." She said.

"You're velcome, Ms. Killdragonosa." Rotwood replied. He was pleased she's nicer than the average hoodlum.

Rose then sat next to Brad. "Don't worry, Rose. The Bradster can help you."

"Thank you, er, Bradster, but Principal Derceto suggested Jake Long for it." Rose uneasily replied.

"Forget that loser." Brad said. "A pretty girl like you can go far by going with a guy like me."

Rotwood eventually interrupted the jerk jock's flirting. "Mr. Morton, you vill have plenty of time to discuss social interactions during recess. Now pay attention to class before I issue you a detention."

"Yes, Sir." Brad fearfully gave in and Rotwood's lesson continued.

After that class, Jake approached Rose. "Yo, Rose, what about I help you as Principal Derceto suggested?"

"Why, thank you, Jake." Rose thanked with a smile. "Do you have notes from the year's previous lessons so I can catch up?"

"I sure do!" Jake happily exclaimed.

"May I copy them during recess?" Rose asked.

"Of course, Rose." Jake answered. "See you next class?"

"What's your next class, Jake?" She asked.

"Home Economics with Sun Park." Jake answered.

"I have History so, unfortunately not." Rose commented. "See you."

"Jakey, I know it's kind of you to help the other new student to adjust but you're not hoping you and her will be more than friends, are you?" Trixie asked after Rose walked away.

"Afraid of competition, Trix?" Jake teasingly asked.

"For you, Jakey?" She asked in reply. "No chance. The only guys for me are Denzel Washington and Kyle Wilkins. Kyle is like" Spud joined her for that part. "lemon lime in the summertime." She angrily glared at Spud.

"What?" Spud asked. "You say it so often it became quite predictable."

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

"Did three!"

"Three?" Trixie asked in confusion.

"Well, saying 'did two' wasn't convincing you so I hoped to have better luck saying 'did three'." Spud explained.

"Ugh, let's just go to next class, okay?" She asked/demanded and left without saying more.

"Don't worry, Jake." Spud tried to reassure his friend. "Who's Trixie to judge? She still doesn't understand Stacey's playing hard to get with me."

"Okay." Jake uneasily replied. He'd already seen how far Stacey went with 'playing hard to get' but decided not to tell Spud.

Later, when Jake and Rose met during recess, he and his friends saw Rose already had another friend. "I see you already know Courtney." Trixie commented.

"We met during history lessons." Rose explained.

Stacey and her subordinates from the cheerleading squad showed up. "Look it, girls." Stacey pointed. "The new girl is friends with those losers. And to think I thought she could join us."

"Once again, my beloved Stacey is playing hard to get." Spud happily commented.

"Jake, shouldn't someone tell him…" Rose asked until Jake interrupted her.

"Trixie already tried, Rose." Jake sadly commented.

The rest of the school day went over and Rose went back to her "uncle's" home. "What do you say, Huntsgirl?" The Huntsmaster asked. "Is Hans Rotwood the magical creature expert he claims to be?"

"Negative, Master." Huntsgirl formally answered. "He cannot even tell the difference between a fairy and a wood nymph."

"Any possible suspects on who among your school mates could be this American Dragon who started getting in our way?" The Huntsmaster asked.

"Not yet, Master." Huntsgirl answered. "There's a boy with a similar hairstyle but it could be a coincidence. Too many teenagers use hair gel and, as far as we can tell, the American Dragon only keeps its hair in that style while planning to be out as a dragon."

"True that, Huntsgirl, but keep an eye on your fellow students anyway." The Huntsmaster instructed her.

"Consider it done, Master." Huntsgirl humbly replied. At first, she didn't like the idea of attending a school full of people she couldn't discuss magical creatures with but changed her mind upon meeting Jake. She now made sure to remember what her Hunts-nanny said about boys.

End chapter.