AUTHOR'S NOTE: Now, this revamp occurred from a crisis in Power Rangers Ancient Age. A lot of things in the ranger history change due to a paradox, so what you see on tv never happened.
M.E.G.A MISSION PART 1
At the dawn of creation, all life existed with the need to maintain and withhold balance. The most primal of all forces was that of good and evil, positive and negative energy. In every universe, there exists a nexus planet where all balance is upheld.
It started as a blur, a coin flipping through the wind and landing neither heads or tails. The divination vicissitudes to a scale-tipping neither to the right or left, but the two pans remaining perfectly level. The muse peered upward, showing the dotted lights of stars, each one pulsing and flickering as the gasses on their surfaces burned. Of the several billion celestial bodies present, one object stood in opposition to the others. It did not twinkle or pulse, nor was the surface a burning mass of gas. This object was not a star but a planet, half of which was a burning wasteland consumed by fire, the other shrouded in a cooling mist. This sight was way too accustomed and was always succeeded by another habitual reverie.
There was an explosion of flames as rangers in suits of red, blue, green, yellow, and pink leap through. The design of their attire was a mix of white and their respective color. Also leaping through the air was another unit of brightly colored warrior suits. Unlike the first group, these rangers had a black one in place of green and a white one in place of pink. These rangers had a golden sash running from one shoulder to the opposite hip, as well as a small dagger in their hands. The ten joined the ranks of an army of rangers, each dressed in different suits of various colors and designs, and all armed with a vast array of weaponry. One after another the rainbow army charged into the heat of battle, their enemy outnumbering them in the thousands. The war appeared to be one epic proportion as the two armies clashed. Explosions and flashes of light appeared on every front of battle as the number of enemy ranks only seemed to swell.
Just as the battle was reaching its climax the dreamer awoke.
Forcing himself up, Troy pulls his head away from the window of his father's red pick up truck. His eyes slowly adjusting to the sun shining through the front windshield as he groaned, "Again..."
Dreams are supposed to come with peaceful meanings, heck even a nightmare would have been welcome. Though all Troy will dream about came with irrefutable and yet confusing setbacks.
Bearing witness to a unified army of power rangers would have been enough to have him talking for months and weeks to come. However, being that he's only a few years shy of being a legal adult in less than five years, the spandex-clad guardians of the planet ceased to amaze Troy. Including this recent occurrence, the fifteenth time Troy had this dream and that in and of itself irritated him. His hands heated slightly as a result of his growing frustration and anger, pulsing with warm energy, he forced them to settle as he turned to face the man in the driver's seat.
"Are you done sleeping?" The man said bluntly as he put the truck in park. Puckering his lips, Troy adjusted his posture, forwarding his eyes, squinting from the bright sunlight as he looks out the passenger window. Troy's father, a powerfully built man from years of combat training was a very strict and straight forward guy. He was not known for showing much emotion.
The vehicle was parked right outside a taupe stucco building, resembling a castle in Troy's eyes, but this was the first time he had ever seen it. Teenagers were entering this building with book bags which gave off the indication that this was no ordinary structure, "What's this?"
"...This is your new school," Troy's father responded. The tone of his skin, the shade of coffee brown, and his chin was buried beneath the hairs of his grayish thin goatee. Troy's father wasn't looking directly at Troy but he could tell that the teenager had an astonished look on his face.
New School? How many times has Troy heard that saying? Gritting his teeth Troy looked to his dad. "And how long am I going to be staying here? A month or two? I might as well not even try since I'll be transferred again, right?"
"No. This is for real this time." Inhaling deep, Mr. Burrows turned to face his son, "You're going to live with your aunt and uncle."
"What?" Troy erupted to a correct sitting position from the passenger seat, "This is Hardwood High, isn't their house like 45 minutes from here?"
"Yes but, this school will broaden your horizon. Going to a school in the city is not the right move at this time," Troy's dad said sternly.
Troy just couldn't believe it he slouched back in the passenger's seat. "How could you do this to me? I don't know anybody, who do you expect me to trust?"
Troy's father had nothing to say at this moment, only guilt pour through the man's mind and it bothered Troy when his father had no form of an answer. Troy despised this, "so you're just going to leave me here?"
Yet again his father said nothing.
"And then you wonder why I'm so heated within myself. This school isn't going to make anything different-"
"Okay look," Troy's father interrupted, "we do not need a repeat of what happened at the last six schools, do we?"
"What happened at St. Petersen wasn't my fault," Troy denounced, defending himself from the accusations of his father, "those jerks came on to me-"
"You broke one kid's arm in three places and left severe second-degree burns on another. It's a miracle the parents didn't press charges."
Did his father really have to remind him of those horrible days? The days Troy also wanted to forget. "..Maybe-maybe they were just asking for it," Troy was just so frustrated he buckled under his resolve.
"I...I am at the end of my rope. I can't afford to move and I can't put you in any more private schools. I'd had hoped that those martial arts classes would have helped you control your anger, but it seems you're using them conflictingly to what I wanted."
"To what you wanted?...whatever," Troy responded carelessly.
"All I'm saying is try your hardest to keep your emotions under control," Troy's father said.
"Yeah..yeah, I hear ya...I'll try to be a good boy," Troy sneered. Today was his first day at Harwood County High and he was already off to a rough start as he opened the door of the truck.
"The next time we meet, could we at least talk about this?" Troy had not shut the vehicle's door just yet, revealing the ceased glowing from his hands but were still warm to the touch. Troy's father wanted so badly to just comfort his son in his time of need, but because of his deep love and sympathy for him, Mr. Burrows restrained himself from speaking. His son was relentless and there were times he had to be tough on him. He bit his tongue from the dishonored, as he responded differently.
"...When you get out of school, take the public bus into Major Soul City and meet your aunt at her place of work...I...I'm being deployed tonight and I don't know how long I'm going to be this time...What more is there to talk about, son? You already know the story. You know you must keep your emotions in check," Mr. Burrows spoke callously.
"But this isn't exactly normal, Dad," Troy scorn.
"Normal is overrated and besides it could just be a..phase." Troy's dad had to be kidding if he thought this effect on Troy's hands was a phase after all these years. "If you're worried about trust, all you have to do is trust yourself and you should be fine. Now go head-on in, you don't want to miss your first day of class."
"Right, don't be late..." Troy just couldn't believe what his father was saying. The common denominator he always detracted was his male parent abandoning him again for the army.
What was it about enlisting yourself in a regimented union was more important than family?
If it was up to Troy, his father would stay home and all the punks whoever messed with him would be deployed. They'd be stationed in positions where the fighting is the thickest. Let's see how brave they were when enemies were firing from all sides and they are not holding back. In that scenario, a broken arm and a few light burns were nothing. The thought of seeing those punks cowering and squirming actually brought a faint smile to Troy's face. That brief moment of joy faded as his gaze refocused on the stern face of his Dad.
With not another word Troy walked out, slamming the door to his father's sedan, terminating the conversation. With the acceleration of the vehicle going from 0 to 30, Troy's father drove off silent and sullen.
It pained Mr. Burrows not to be able to properly communicate with his son, he so desperately wished he was capable of helping him figure out what was happening to him. Mr. Burrows hated the fact he was leaving behind all he had to return to his duty as a soldier. His one regret was leaving things murky between him and Troy.
So Troy was going to live with his uncle or rather aunt since his uncle was, in fact, a soldier too; big surprise. However, they lived almost an hour from this school and it upset Troy as to why he couldn't just transfer into the city, closer to the house he now had to live in. Troy sighed deeply, making his way to the entrance of the school building. Frustration seemed to roll down his face as he walked to the building, he and his father were never seeing eye to eye.
Every time they were together an argument would break out, usually about something meaningless. All of this fighting over the years really made Troy question the moral character of his father.
Did he have any room for emotion or did the army root that out and crushed it? It's not like he would use his heart if he had one, it would just sit in his chest and collect dust. If his father did by some miracle care, they wouldn't be in this situation in the first place.
Could it be that Troy was really the big problem?
These questions haunted him each time he and his father fought. Not only was the conflict with his paternal caregiver weighing on him, but the dreams, the dreams that just wouldn't go away.
The dreams that put an animosity for life warriors themselves, Power Rangers. It was a new day, a new school for the millionth time and Troy was going to make the best out of it.
'You left one kid with 2nd-degree burns.'
It wasn't his fault as to what happened at those other schools, he never sought out conflict it always seemed to find him.
At the time of the incident, Troy was ignorant of how his inherent abilities worked. Everything happened so suddenly. It was the last few weeks of school, the air conditioning in the school had busted and everyone was miserable. The encounter occurred during the transitioning of classes, the hallways were packed full of sweaty and disgruntled students the tension was already high. What happened next was the straw that broke the camel's back. Amidst the shuffle supposedly Troy bumped into a kid knocking their books to the ground. According to the report Troy then proceeded to kick the books aside further thus inciting the conflict. The student lunged for a punch and acting defensively Troy caught it. It was a simple maneuver and Troy planned to let him go at least until the kid's friend jumped in. The heat of the moment lit a fire in Troy and before he knew it the kid's friend was curled on the ground clutching his arm and his handprint was stamped right onto the original victim's knuckles.
After several battles in court and an agreement to anger management classes, Troy managed to escape arrest. However, the school was forced to expel him. Troy claimed it was all done in self-defense, but his dad always speculated it was intentional.
It was the first day of the week and Harwood high was crowded. The halls were abuzz as students clogged the walkways, chatting amongst themselves and preparing for class. It was only 20 minutes before the first bell rang and that was just enough time for Jake Hollings to make his move. Dressed in his wrinkled free black sweater and his lucky sneakers, he treads down the steps, spotting none other than Gia Moran; the hottest girl in Hardwood High.
She was a goddess, everything about her was perfect. Perfect eyes, perfect lips, perfect walk, perfect voice, and Jake just couldn't get enough it. The only imperfect thing about her was that she was single.
How could a girl with as much caliber as her be lonely? Maybe because no one ever had the guts to ask her out?
No need to fear because Jake was here.
As she unloaded her bag, Jake couldn't help but notice some of the titles of the books she placed. Catcher in the Rye, Othello, Pride, and Prejudice. This meant that she was a reader, her vocabulary must be exquisite if not top tier.
"Um excuse me?" Jake said, leaning on the locker next to Gia. The girl was silent, not taken notice of Jake yet. "Hi, I'm not sure if we really met, um we're in the same first-period class. I'm-I'm-"
"Jake," Gia interrupted, shutting her locker, "I know."
"Ah well, that's great then." Jake beamed, following her down the hall. "So um, do you have any friends?"
Cautious of everything, word choice, eye level, he fumbled on his own words and spluttered, "Um, I'm not saying you don't, I'm just wondering if um-"
"Are you seriously trying to holler at my girl?" Things weren't going as planned after being interrupted by the likes of Barry Harper and Roy Darrel, known as the school's most domineering people.
Collectively, the two of them had a total IQ of 1.5, but enough brawn to get the best of anyone who challenged their brains.
Jake scoff, putting up the tough-guy attitude before looking at Gia and then at the massiveness of Barry and his Cracker Jack, Roy, "your girl? All I was trying to do was make friends, being a friend isn't bad is it?"
"It is when it pertains to what doesn't belong to you," Roy retorted, standing face to with Jake while Barry 6'4 height towers over.
"I don't belong to anyone, Roy." Gia came into her own defense, crossing her arms.
"Oh yeah?" Gia should have thought first before talking back to Roy, "from what I heard you belong to a fraction of this whole school."
"Hey!" That was making Jake upset, "don't talk to her like that."
"I could defend myself, Jake." Gia abruptly declared, establishing her independence, "and besides Roy, I know that everyone is allowed to act stupid once in a while but you're really abusing that privilege."
"Ooooh," Jake laughed, "Now, you see what happens when you messed with the wrong girl? So why don't you just go away and never come back? Then we could all start the first day without any sorts of commotion."
"Oh, and what are you going to do?" Roy got right up into Jake's face, so close that Jake couldn't take a step back when the imposing chest of Barry blocked his way. "Nobody is scared of you. I'm the most feared man in this school, so whatever happens to you, nobody will even notice."
This encounter caught the attention of the entire school, making Roy proud of his position.
Gia could have helped Jake but after all, Jake was asking for it. He shouldn't have bothered her in the first place, especially when everyone knew not to talk to her because it will cause problems with Barry and Roy. In the end, Roy and Barry were the bigger guys and Gia was the small one. If this encounter took place anywhere outside the view of people, Gia would have sided with Jake against the bullies, but after spending years sculpting her current persona, she decided it would be best to keep her image as clean as possible.
No one came to Jake's rescue, the students maintained an appalling stance as they watched when suddenly the doors to the main entrance swung opened and then slammed.
Aghast, the students went their separate way, heads low and fearful. Entering the premises was none other than Troy. Ignoring the hard stares erupting from Roy, Troy passed him by. The walk from Troy was bold and with not a care in the world, his facial expression showed nothing. Now with no one watching, Barry and Roy back away from Jake angered the blonde bully incredibly irked by the uninterested crowd. The ability to speak was robbed of everyone who laid eyes on Troy. He was a wild card, rumors of his enrollment began circulating weeks before school started. Many gazed at him in terror having believed the obscured and fantasized details of his expulsion. Others looked at him with mild interest not knowing that this supposed bad guy was so handsome. The rest including Roy and Barry thought he was just another chump.
Troy had hoped to keep his head down and just fade into the background, but already his notoriety went before him. Passing the office en route to his assigned locker, the male staff member halted the student and lead him into his room. "Hello there Mr. Burrows, I will like to have a word with you before you go on with your duties."
Troy went in and with his existence absent from the halls. The students spoke again as relief from the nasty feeling in their stomachs when Troy was present.
"Usually the feared are noticed and the cowards are unrecognizable," Gia's tough girl image was awestruck.
"Who is this punk?" Roy fumed on how someone he had never seen before gave off a fearful aura like that. The students stood their ground when Troy entered, that wasn't possible unless it was his own mother. Now that was a scary sight.
"...I think that's the new kid." Jake brushed off his shoulders as Gia went into her classroom, leaving Jake and the bullies with disorientation.
Thank goodness it was all over, Gia would have to live with the burden if something happened to that stupid guy. Gia knew all Jake wanted was to ask her out, like every other boy in this school which she politely told them no but in her own brash kind of way.
Though that new kid, just wow. Gia heard a bunch of stories about him but never would she had expected to see him. He was much broader than she expected and much more dainty than others have described him, however, it wouldn't hurt for him to smile.
"Hi, Emma!" At least the morning came with exciting news. The overjoyed Emma Goodall was sitting alone in class as the brunette rose up from her chair, embracing Gia in a hug.
"Gia!" Emma said cheerfully.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were staying home today?" Gia gently pulled away from her brown eyes friend.
"No not today, my dad thought it will be best if I come and I figured he was right. I gotta stop using my mom's passing as an excuse." Emma replied. The blonde-haired girl seated herself beside the brunette they both smiled amiably. Emma was grateful to have someone as acute as Gia around. When her mother passed Gia checked up on her every day, she was constantly calling and texting, she made it her responsibility to ensure that Emma didn't wallow in the deepest pit of despair. The passing was so sudden, the doctors couldn't explain what the source was. They can only provide a time table which did nothing but crush Emma.
"It's not an excuse Emma, you're still mourning so it's good to take the time off when needed."
"Thanks, Gia but I missed too much school and I'm way behind," Emma answered.
"The school newspaper hasn't been the same." Gia spoke again, "You know the biggest report was just the change of the milk brand in the cafeteria."
"Really?" Emma sighed, "well I'm in for it today. I have my first interview starting this afternoon. The new kid."
"Whoa really?" That lit up Gia's bright big blue eyes, "You're so lucky."
"Why would you think that?" Emma asked.
"Well have you've had a look at him?"
"Kind of. I just saw a few pictures of him," Emma said as a smile curled on her face when Gia blushed. "Don't tell me you like him Gia?"
"No," Gia chuckled but Emma's knowing expression said it all, "No, I just think he's pretty cute, and I don't say that about anyone."
"That's true," Emma smiles but then frowned with a slight sigh of worry in her voice, "to tell you the truth I'm a little nervous about interviewing him."
"Why?"
"Well have you've seen these questions?" Emma handed Gia a slip of questions from her notebook, which kept nicely in her pink book bag, "he sounds like a really terrible person. I'm not sure we should be giving someone like that any time to shine."
When Gia took a look at the questions, they didn't seem as bad as Emma stated. One inquired his ideal as a student but others were just personal. Like the one about his parents or the scariest question of them all which register as to why he transferred to Harwood High.
"Well," Gia sighed, handing the notepad back to Emma, "don't think of it as a bad thing. We don't know who he is to even judge. Like this world, for example, always being overthrown by aliens and of course myself for example."
"But you're different, you didn't harm a student."
"Not physically.." Gia conceded.
Emma thought for a moment and then said, "I guess you're right. Well, we'll see later on today. He is in this first-class, after all, we'll see if he isn't as bad as the school makes him out to be."
"He's in this period?!" Gia couldn't help herself when suddenly the bell rang. The remainder of students, storms into the room, including Jake who was accompanied by a medium skin male teenager with nappy hair and glasses resting over his nose. Jake waved and that only made Gia roll her eyes as she kept her gaze away from the obsessed young man.
"It will be better if you sat up Mr. Burrows." The male principal had a demanding presence to him as he went around his desk while Troy slouched in the seat before it. Troy forced himself to sit up straight and the principal being very straight forward was not going to give Troy any type of wiggle room.
"Just so you know Mr. Burrows, your father, and the school board were very clear when you enrolled here."
"Clear about what?" Troy asked sternly.
"One more mishap, one single step out of line, one visit to my office and I can expel you on the spot. No recounts, no respawns."
"Well I do respawn a lot," Troy assured with his hands together and on his lap, "but that doesn't necessarily mean I'm the bad guy here."
"About 19 schools say you are and this being the 20th, I'm surprised you don't have any sympathy as to the chances we all have given you. Your dad being a respected force to protect our lives and you still show no remorse. One mistake and I can send you out the door. Do we have an understanding?"
Without any protest Troy nodded just as the principal opened the door, letting Troy return to class.
After the drama that befell the morning block, at long last, it was time for class. The first one on Troy's schedule was Biology and Chemistry Class with Mister Burley.
"Okay, class. Let's start the year with a science brain teaser." Mr. Burley was ready to start the lesson once he placed his suitcase on his desk as he paced the floor, putting his attention on the students. "What species will outlast all others on earth?"
Emma knew this one and she was very sure of her answer. Maybe participating will get her mind off the last few months and off the interview she was to do later on today as she rose her hand.
"Emma?" called upon her.
"Insects, they'll survive all the bad stuff we're doing to the environment," Emma said. "Some of them have lots of legs. They'll be the last ones standing."
That was a very interesting answer but not to another student who had the need to respond. It was the same kid who walked in with Jake as he wore a blue collared shirt and rose his hand profusely.
"Dude calm down, you're going to hurt yourself," Jake whispered to the male student who sat in front of him.
"She's wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong." The student was anxious for Mr. Burley to call on him when finally he did.
"Yes, Noah, you have a different answer?"
"Robots. Robots powered by perpetual motion engines." That student was Noah.
"Robots are machines. So technically they're not a species." Gia had spoken in her attempt to correct Noah as well as come to her friend's aid. That answer made Noah scoff but Jake melted when Gia spoke.
"Beautiful and smart," Jake said softly.
"And wrong," Noah said back with a smile when the door opened and there was Troy, about 10 minutes late to class as he closed the door behind him.
"Ah, you must be Troy. Nice of you to join us." Mr. Burely greeted but Troy had not said a word back, not even eye contact with the teacher. All Troy wanted to do was hurry up and get to his seat, he did not want nor need anything that would paint an even larger target on his back. Reading the expression of the teen Mr. Burley permitted him to take the only available seat next to Jake and Noah. Still eager to get a word out of the new student Mr. Burley posed the question of the day.
"What species will survive all others?"
Troy needed to answer this one fast," Us, humans." He said as he took a seat which put a wonder upon 's eyes.
"How's that, Troy?" Mr. Burley asked.
Troy shrugged his shoulders, he stared at the teacher blankly trying to politely allude him to his desire not to be disturbed, nevertheless, the teacher kept pressuring him for more information. Racking his brain Troy came up with the cheesiest answer he could think of, hopefully, it would be enough to dissuade the attention from him. "If humans work together, we can overcome anything."
If anyone else said what Troy did the whole class would erupt in laughter, but because Troy was so infamous no one made a sound. Mr. Burley was quite complexed himself, in previous years when he had asked the question the students usually said insects. It was odd for a high school student of Troy's age to have such high hopes for humanity. It was truly baffling.
"Hmm." Emma hummed to herself as she chuckled softly with Gia. Maybe interviewing this new kid wouldn't be so bad after all.
"Okaay." Mr. Burly was surprised, "Interesting. I certainly hope Troy is right.
High above in the atmosphere of space, the alien space ship looms close to the earth. In the shape of an of a blue arachnid and inside the central bridge, an alien creature peered down on the earth below through a viewing screen. The alien had wings like a cape, moth wings to be exact that were colored in red, white purple and yellow, but its eyes could be seen for miles as they flowed through the sight of space.
"Creepox, what are the bio-organisms like on this planet?" The moth-winged creature on the ship asked. Through his massive viewing screen, another insect came into view. His design was like that of a mantis, a shining silver breastplate was on his chest. Extending beyond the grip of his hands a single curved talon reached out.
Both were razor-sharp to the touch.
"The organisms here are a very weak admiral, they won't give us any trouble. We will be able to carry out our plans easily." Creepox responded.
"Are you sure about that, because the ship has registered thousands of strong activity on this planet?"
"Not to worry, I've seen no sign of a threat," Creepox said.
"Not even that accursed guardian?" The Moth Admiral inquired.
"Him either, there is nothing capable of halting our invasion,"
"Excellent, remain on standby and continue to observe, I will inform you of our next move," said the admiral.
"As you command Admiral," Creepox replied as he walked on the terrace of Earth.
Sauntering through the forested area of his landing the insect alien muttered to himself sharpening his sickle claws.
"Creepox!" A voice called. The insectoid looked around he had thought himself alone in this wood, no one but the admiral was aware of his location. Stepping out from behind a tree, a figure shrouded in a crimson cloak appeared. The monster's eyes became wide in shock, how did he find him out here.
"What do you want!?" Creepox challenged.
"Just to hear your status on finding the Equalizer," The cloaked figure said.
"I told you before, our deal is off. I want no part in your hunt."
"Are you reneging? We've come so far the two of us, and besides what has your Emperor or Admiral done for you? You're supposed to be a general right? Then why are you here doing grunt work?"
"What do you mean!? The Admiral thinks highly of me, that's why he sent me so that everything goes according to his plan," Creepox defended.
"...Remember that time when I said you were cool? I was lying. I knew that by complimenting you and boosting your ego it would be easy to manipulate you. If ignorance was bliss then you must be the happiest creature in the universe. Look at you, Vrak is higher up the ladder than you all because of who his father is."
"That's not true! Vrak was essential in our separation from the Armada. If it wasn't for him our attempt to rebel would have been enough for the emperor to have us executed." Creepox snapped.
"Believe what you want, but what if I told you that Vrak was still loyal to his father and he was merely spying on you?"
"You're lying!"
"I could be, but just know that I have eyes and ears places too. If the time ever comes when you want to be on the winning side you know how to find me." Passing over the head, a red space ship loomed. Twin cannons were armed keeping the vessel in place.
"Isn't that one of the armada ships?!"
"It was," the figure said taking hold of a rope ladder which descended. "Before I go, Creepox, you know like I always say. In order to win you have to lose." The rope ladder was recalled taking the figure into the cockpit. All that was left was a white boa feather that landed on the ground before Creepox.
"...Pirates," Creepox cursed as he trudged on.
The first school day had come to an end the students rushed out one by one. Gia and Emma were in no rush to leave steadily making their way to their lockers, loading their bags with textbooks and notepads.
"Coming to Ernies?" Gia quizzed, it was their normal ritual to visit the local mall and refresh themselves at the juice bar. The nutritious beverage was a sweet treat to combat the dull assignments given by teachers. Gia had hoped that Emma was willing to commit to their plans since the quietus of Emma's mother, the dark-haired girl had been reluctant to leave the security of her home during the summer.
She smiled bravely looking at Gia, it was about time she reinstitutes the tradition.
"Yeah but first I have to interview the new guy and then head over to the woods. The orange monarch butterflies are migrating and it's like a once in a lifetime event." Emma said slipping her final textbook into her bag. While in transit, the thick schoolbook loosed itself from Emma's grip. Before it's aged spine could land on the ground Gia's firm grasp saved it. Emma was always fascinated by Gia's swift reflexes and intuitive nature, she only wished that she herself could walk with such pride and elegance. The hallways again became mute as Troy passed through. He had a look of aggravation on his face, it seems like his last teacher gave him a bit of trouble. The door slammed as the frustrated teen didn't even bother to stop at his locker. He simply exited the school building with his red backpack slung over one shoulder.
This was going to be tough, Emma hopes she would be bold enough to confront the new kid who was now fuming with rage. She only wished that her questions wouldn't tee him off even more.
"I'll meet you a little later," Emma said to Gia shutting her locker. Reaching into her bag Emma removed a reporter's notepad and pen, gulping hard she raced in the direction of Troy who stormed out the front of the building. After taking a few steps she pivoted toward Gia. "Oh order me-"
"I know. A low-fat cherry-berry strawberry with carob chips but no hot fudge." Emma sighed a breath of relief, Gia hadn't forgotten her customary order and that made Emma proud. Gia was such a great friend and Emma was grateful to have her. A smile was a wave goodbye as the two parted ways. Gia shut her locker making her way toward one of the side exits. The scent of her perfume drew the eyes of Jake who was hunched over at the water fountain, when he saw her go past his eyes couldn't help but pause at her swinging hips before darting up to her luscious blonde hair. He had known that she and Emma always met up at Ernie's Brain Freeze after school to do homework, and today was the day he was going to make his move.
Jake knew had had to be smart about this, approaching Gia without back up didn't garner the results he wanted. Jake was in need of a wingman and who better than his good pal Noah. Jake gleamed as he went to retrieve his buddy who was still fiddling with his bag inside the classroom.
"Come on, dude!" Jake said loudly barging into the room, "Gia is headed to Ernie's brain freeze. Let's motor."
"Jake, she's the hottest girl at this school, do you really think you have a chance?" Noah was trying to make a point as he struggled to zip up his book bag. Was Noah stalling on purpose? Gia was getting away.
"Let's go! Come on!" Jake demanded softly as he pulled Noah to the door.
"Okay, okay fine. But you're buying." Noah whined. Stepping out into the hallway another barricade separated Jake from Gia.
"And where do you think you're going?" Roy was back again and this time he was accompanied by two other colleagues along with Barry. Now wasn't the best time for this, Gia was just a stone's throw away and now she's gone. Another positive of having a wingman, they would take a punch so that the man in question can remain appealing. Noah was frightened, he had hoped to avoid Roy and his gang, but thanks to Jake he was roped right in.
"Uh-ah." Roy shook his head, stopping Jake from leaving, "Your girlfriend isn't here to protect you now."
"She's not my girlfriend," Jake said.
"I know, I just wanted to hear you say it." Roy smiled which caused Jake to clench his jaw.
"Leave us alone Roy, leave everybody alone." Noah came into Jake's defense.
"Yeah, don't you have detention to get to or something?" Jake said.
"Oh, so you came out of the closet? I always knew you two made the perfect couple," Roy began to make fun of how close Jake and Noah were, "That's why Gia would never love you after you stooped this low."
If Roy thought that was going to bother Jake he must be joking, "Come on Noah, we don't need to deal with this right now." Jake said when suddenly more bullies arrived.
"Did I say you could leave yet?" Roy said.
"We don't need your authorization to leave," Noah responded which made Roy laugh as it caused a chain of laughs with the other bullies.
"Hahahaha. You forgot that I run this school, I'm tired of dweebs such as your self ruining my school." Roy said with pride.
Noah scoffed, "So this is your school? If that were true you will be at home and living the high life but instead, you're stuck with the rest of us. Which also makes you a dweeb as well."
"Oooohhh." Jake instigated and that was enough to force Roy to sock him across his jaw. Stumbling back Jake held his face while using his free hand to search for something to support himself with, he always knew his mouth would get him into trouble. The other bullies closed in, cracking their knuckles and smiling craggily as they prepared to initiate Jake and Noah into a beating. Roy yolked Noah by the collar pinning him against a wall, the nappy haired boy squirming and struggling to get free.
"You really wanna play it like that?" The bully was getting angry, "what are you going to do blue boy? You and that stupid shirt. You have all that brain but you're too afraid to fight."
That was not true, in fact, Noah wanted so badly to hit Roy right here but he didn't. He thought of his reputation and his own pride as he swelled harshly not to act on anger "Because I have respect and if you did, you would release me."
"If you say so." Roy smiled and at that instant, he loosed his grip allowing Noah to fall on top of Jake who had taken another blow from Barry. The gang closed in ready to beat the boys senseless but the clicking heels of a staff member was enough to drive them off.
Noah gritted his teeth and clenched his fist as Roy walked away laughing. Had this only been a few years ago Roy would think twice before messing with him, but with his reputation in mind, Noah took a deep breath as his anger subsided.
Emma stood by the steps of the school, staring and thinking as Troy stood from afar as he waited for the public bus to arrive. She didn't understand why she was so frightened to even talk to the guy, he seemed like a nice guy when he came to class this morning but all the stories she heard about him said otherwise. Taking in two deep breaths, she steps down one step and then the other until she finally reached Troy.
"Um excuse me?" Emma grinned hoping that Troy would be eager to speak with her. The male teen swiftly looked the girl over merely raising an eyebrow before returning his gaze back to the street.
"Excuse me, do you have a minute?" Emma asked again with a slight vein of force in her voice. She must have been speaking too soft the first time, why else wouldn't he of replied.
"I don't." He finally responded. Troy's gaze remained affixed on the street in front of him, he had hoped that he would be left alone. His last teacher Mrs. Birts her name was treated him like he was some kind of criminal. That coupled with the fact that 30 different girls approached him asking him stupid and redundant questions didn't help either. He needed to blow off steam and he aspired that his aunt's workplace would provide him with the silence he needed.
"Um, I swear this will only take about 2 minutes. I'm one of the editors for the Clear View newspaper at school. I'm in the same class as you."
"You are?" Troy said, looking at her from top to bottom, "Who are you again?"
"Emma Goodall." Emma introduced herself politely but frowned when Troy closed his eyes, yawning profusely which indicated to Emma that it wasn't a good time, "You must be pretty tired, huh?"
"Is that the first question?" Troy asked apathetic, "Very creative."
"...No, actually that's not," Emma responded, readying her pen and pad to conduct the interview. "Actually the first question is-is it true that you once beat up ten students after an altercation with a girl?"
Troy's face was taken aback, was this girl serious? What was he some kind of monster? Troy knew that the world has seen its fair share of monsters and aliens, he had expected that even someone as simple-minded as Emma could tell the difference. He glanced at her face showing a confused expression, he didn't need another nosy Nancy looking into his background.
"And why would a good girl like you want to dirty herself with my laundry?"
"...I'm-I'm not that much of a good girl." Emma stammered she was not prepared for such a blunt answer. That question proved to be a tender spot, so she decided it was best for her to tackle something easier.
"Are you planning on joining any clubs?"
Troy puckered his lips ignoring her second question. She was trying to change the subject, slither herself out of troubled waters, but Troy already had his fishing line hooked in. He reeled things back to the first question, he wasn't done with that part of the conversation.
"So you're not a good girl? Maybe you're right," his eyes darted to the hem of her pink bottoms "those shorts are a millimeter above the length requirement. You are a total rebel." He said.
Emma narrowed her eyes, scoffing in the process, "Are you avoiding my questions?"
"Not necessarily, I'm just speaking my mind. In interviews, you speak your mind."
"Well then, how long do you plan on staying in school?" Emma asked another question and that was Troy's breaking point, asking questions about his life.
"Okay now that's a question I'm not obliged to answer, but I'll tell you what. Since I like you and people say I've no taste, but I do like you. School hours are over so whoever gave you these questions, you can tell them that I'm so glad they aren't letting their education get in the way of their ignorance." That wasn't only true but that was harsh and Emma had no way to counteract that when the bus arrived. The public transportation had saved Emma from any more intense inquiries. Troy mounted the steps swiping his blue bus card, his fare was paid and the doors hadn't sealed yet. "Don't think I'm not insulting you and your friends, I'm just describing you and your friends."
Before Emma could say a word in response the doors shut and the bus took off exhaling black exhaust into the atmosphere.
Troy, the guy should have been named Richard in that case. Emma had thought those rumors about him were completely false, especially when he gave out that answer in class. However, it also proved that what he had said was just insincerity.