Post-lunch and several classes later, Inky caught sight of Danny standing alone and paused to gather her thoughts. She had kept a secret from her sisters; she had encountered Danny before school started. It was more of a glimpse during her strolls through the town. She hadn't approached him then, preoccupied with exploring, but now the opportunity presented itself. Inky approached and gently tapped on his shoulder.
"Huh?" Danny uttered, turning to face her.
"You're one of the new girls, aren't you?" He inquired.
"Yes, I am. I'm Inkamena Pacman, but my sisters call me Inky," She responded, fighting the urge to blush.
"Ah! Named after a video game character, right? I'm..." Danny began.
"Daniel Fenton, also known as Danny. We're aware of who you are; the loudmouth sports team made sure of that," Inky interjected.
Danny blinked, taken aback that she knew him already, courtesy of Dash and his cronies. Inky, however, shook her head, dismissing the thought as there was no time for that.
"I noticed you're alone. Are your friends in different classes?" She queried.
"Yeah, Tucker and Sam are in other classes. I'm stuck with gym class and Miss Tetseff," Danny replied with a sigh.
Inky swiftly retrieved her schedule and glanced over it.
"Looks like I'm in the same boat. Is there anything I should be wary of?" She questioned.
"Just be ready for a grueling workout," Danny warned with a sigh.
Gym Class,
Inky shook her head, baffled by Miss Tetseff's approach to training students as if they were soldiers. It was evident that Miss Tetseff was either oblivious or indifferent to the impact of her methods. Regardless of how much she was pushed or reprimanded, Inky maintained her own pace.
"PACMAN! I SAID PICK IT UP!"
Inky paid her no mind and continued at her jogging pace. Many students were surprised to see her defy Miss Tetseff. Inky was fortunate that her gym shirt was loose enough to conceal her figure. Among her sisters, Inky was the most reserved. She was intelligent, attractive, and a delightful presence. Yet, few were aware of the special power she possessed. She couldn't explain its origin or purpose, but she had come to accept it as a part of herself.
Super Speed
It was one of the reasons she wasn't moving faster than a jog. That, and Miss Tetseff was trying to grill everyone into the ground. She heard the whistle and Miss Tetseff's command for more laps around the gym. Inky stopped and leaned against the wall, stunning everyone.
"PACMAN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Miss Tetseff yelled.
"I've finished my laps," she said, to everyone's surprise.
"Who said you were done?!"
"I did. I have a reason not to push my limits—a reason I promised my parents I wouldn't disclose. And just because I don't push myself doesn't mean you have the right to overwork others. Most aren't conditioned for additional laps, and I can see many are out of breath. Times have changed since you were growing up. Also, you can't give me detention for defending myself. You might call it backtalk, but my point remains valid," Inky declared, fearless.
"Wow, the new girl has guts," A student exclaimed, astonished.
"Oh, really?" Miss Tetseff retorted, appearing eager to take on a challenge.
"Just so you know, my sister Clyde has been teaching me and my sisters self-defense. I may not be as strong as her, but I'm capable of holding my own," Inky informed her.
"We'll see about that," Miss Tetseff declared, reaching out for her.
To her surprise, Inky caught her hand and twisted it, then swiftly moved behind her, pulling the arm along. In an instant, Inky had Miss Tetseff's arm locked behind her back, her other arm encircling her neck. Despite her efforts, Miss Tetseff couldn't escape.
"My sisters and I have learned various combat techniques, including pressure points, which I'm applying right now," Inky stated before releasing her.
"This is a school, not a military camp. Don't push your students beyond their limits without understanding what they are. Forcing them could cause harm rather than help," Inky advised, then walked away.
Many students were stunned to witness Inky not only stand up to Miss Tetseff but also restrain her. Inky was indifferent to the potential consequences; she had made her point clear and stood by it. She was aware of the school's deceptions and was determined to prevent others from being misled.
Later,
"Inky, is it true?! Did you really pin the gym teacher?" Blinky exclaimed, rushing to her sister.
"Yes, I did," Inky replied, rolling her eyes.
"How? And why?" Blinky inquired.
"She tried to make everyone run extra laps because I was jogging," Inky explained, prompting nods from her sisters.
They understood that Inky needed to be cautious with her speed. Moreover, they had been hearing increasing falsehoods about the school.
"I detest math," Clyde moaned.
"Is it because it's difficult?" Blinky ribbed.
"No, the math teacher considered me an idiot," Clyde retorted.
"WHAT?!" The sisters exclaimed in unison.
"I identified an error in the math problem, and the teacher dismissed me! I even documented the question," Clyde declared, handing a piece of paper to Inky.
Inky reviewed it quickly and realized the solution was incorrect. Clyde was correct; the teacher had failed to verify their work.
"What transpired, Clyde?" Pinky queried.
Earlier, Math Class,
"WRONG?! How can that be wrong?!" the Math Teacher exclaimed.
"You overlooked the fact that you added an extra number where there isn't one. Thus, the correct answer is 254, not 255," Clyde explained, surprising everyone.
"And how do you know that?" the Teacher challenged.
"My sister is quite intelligent. It's often hard to keep up with her explanations, but I've managed to grasp most of it. No wonder everyone else is struggling," Clyde remarked, shaking her head.
The Math Teacher became infuriated, unable to accept being corrected by a student, especially one who seemed more inclined towards brawls.
"Well, I have the authority to declare this answer correct. And should anyone dispute it, they will fail this lesson," he declared.
Clyde rolled her eyes as the falsehoods continued to accumulate.
Now,
All her sisters frowned. Pinky groaned, remembering her last class.
"Ugh! And I thought my teacher was bad at her job," She said, drawing her sisters' attention.
"What did she do?" Blinky inquired.
"She treated me as if I had no clue what I was doing," Pinky explained, recounting her science class experience.
Science Class, a few classes before Clyde's Math Class,
Pinky raised an eyebrow as she glanced at her book; something was amiss. Upon closer inspection, she discovered the publication date: 1967! With a frown, she shelved it and retrieved her own book. Clearly, the teacher's materials were outdated.
"Miss Pacman? Where did that book come from?" Inquired the teacher.
"I brought it myself. The textbook we're using dates back to 1967. Since then, many theories and answers have evolved or been validated," Pinky explained, engrossed in her reading.
"And you believe your book is superior?" The teacher challenged, reaching for it.
Pinky swiftly withdrew the book.
"The era you presume we inhabit is not our reality. Indeed, we must heed the lessons of history. However, we cannot persist in old errors; we must advance," Pinky asserted.
The teacher's eyes narrowed as she set down a test, marked with an 'F'. Pinky gazed at it, then at her teacher.
"You cannot assess me on an exam I've yet to attempt!" She protested.
"Naive child," The teacher muttered, departing.
Now,
Blinky was fuming when she heard that. Inky and Clyde growled in agreement as Pinky shook her head in disbelief.
"The 'Greatest School in America,' my ass," Pinky remarked, unconcerned with her language.
"And you, Blinky? How did the teachers treat you?" Pinky inquired.
"It wasn't a teacher. It was that idiot, Dash," Blinky replied.
"Dash?" the others echoed, puzzled.
"Yes, he tried to ask me out and began insulting the boy we fancied," Blinky recalled.
Ten minutes earlier,
"EXCUSE ME?!" Blinky exclaimed, taken aback by Dash's words about Danny.
"Huh?" Dash responded, puzzled, assuming she would have concurred.
"I'll have you know I haven't spoken to him, and I'm capable of forming my own opinions!" Blinky retorted, fixing him with a stern look.
"Why? It's common knowledge that Fenton is the top geek in school. He's a nobody, unworthy of attention. You, on the other hand, deserve someone strong and attractive, like myself!" Dash boasted.
"Firstly, we've only just met, and I hardly know you. Secondly, I'm free to speak with whomever I choose. Lastly, if I decide to get to know Danny Fenton and perhaps date him, that's my prerogative!" Blinky declared, leaving him stunned.
"What?! You'd consider dating Fenton?" Dash questioned.
"Indeed! I once dated someone similar to him, until I discovered he was a total jerk who tried to profit from us. Nevertheless, it's my right to interact with him and learn who he is. You have no say in that!" Blinky stated firmly before departing.
Now,
"THAT'S IT!" Clyde exclaimed, her anger palpable.
"Indeed, they treat us as if we're clueless, allow others to slander students without consequence, and FAIL us when we attempt to correct a mistake. If they expect us to simply comply, then it's time we reveal the truth," Inky declared, prompting her sisters to nod in agreement.
"What should we tell mom and dad?" Pinky inquired.
"Everything," Inky responded firmly.
Unified in their resolve, they nodded. The moment had come to unveil the true nature of Casper High. And perhaps, in the process, they would come to understand Danny a little better.
Pausing here, my concept for this chapter was a mix of different ideas. It began with Inky conversing with Danny during her gym class. My goal was to demonstrate that Inky's intelligence doesn't render her defenseless, hence the introduction of her special power. With Clyde, I aimed to portray her intellect as distinct from her fighting skills, and I subtly hinted at his special power of super strength. Pinky strives to be acknowledged for more than her looks, yet her teacher fails to recognize this; her special power remains undecided. Blinky, the most flirtatious of the four, refuses to tolerate slander without firsthand knowledge, though her special power is also undetermined.
Danny's encounter with Inky, who recognized him prior to their school meeting, aligns with the narrative of my original story. The subsequent chapter will explore the remaining sisters' introductions to him. I considered alternative surnames for the sisters but ultimately retained 'Pacman.'