WARNING: This story contains graphic depictions of violence and other mature or controversial themes/topics that not all audiences will find suitable. Please continue reading at your own risk.
***
♪ Yes, I didn't talk to anyone. ♪14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXKuIziEnQ
♪ I was made fun of by everyone. ♪14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFis5w78Lpr
♪ It's something I wish could be undone. ♪14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiFJ4N2N0o
♪ She asked me. I wish I'd had respond. ♪14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahfGPMCR6T
♪ But hear me out: We're all worth being loved! ♪14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewdSGkLwDC
♪ Please hear me out: We're all worth being loved! ♪14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfr7vCcKt6q
♪ I'm crying out: We're all worth being loved! ♪14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVIj81yOHQ
♪ I have no doubt we're all worth being loved! ♪
♪ Please, I beg you all, let's become friends! ♪14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hmJrxJYKq
♪ Let's not judge each other by what's been! ♪14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzztEZbxvFE
♪ It was years ago! It came and went! ♪14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlgho9mDqq
♪ That's a past chapter! New one begins! ♪
***
Something
***
In the last chapter of Something... on the planet Ifnuar, Trerchry realized that she might not be able to use the portal to Ikjot once it appears... because she is not real. But how was she still around even with Acplait's demise? Because she was Acplait's imaginary wife... shouldn't she have ceased with him? How bizarre... but she discovered it may be due to being linked to the mind of Acplait's still-living doppelgänger Ikjot.
And in the main reality, Herbertia and Ikjot made a new friend. Her name: 1098! (Quite a strange name for someone, if you ask me.) Her mission: Educate Herbertia and Ikjot about themselves, the time machine and two people who Ikjot never heard of.
Ikjot led Herbertia and 1098 to his old school in the hopes he would be enrolled to set his past right with Xandra. In the end, he discovered the only thing standing in his way were forms in need of being signed by his parents, as well as parents themselves to meet with the head of the school, Sister Yedda Tull! Wow! That's big!
Fortunately, Herbertia knew just the people who could fill in for them: Somer, Julian, Vanessa, Mike, Vicky and Derick! Not only did they agree to role play as the parents of Ikjot, Herbertia and 1098, but they even allowed the three to live with them!
Meanwhile, Herbertia mentioned to 1098 that she needed to ask Ikjot a question he had yet to answer. But what exactly is she waiting for him to say? Find out or not... this chapter of Something!
***
Something14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RaSoUyqju
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixGEfwjacp
Ikjot's Fake Parents
***
It was an hour after dinner when Somer invited us to play truth or dare with her and her friends. It was, however, eleven o'clock at night by now. I sure hoped they would still be able to get up in the morning. But knowing people their age, I was quite sure that those teens were still going to pull it off.
"Okay, guys..." Somer told us, "here's how the game's going to work." She then took out her gun and spun it around the center of the floor. "If my gun points to you, you have to truth or dare someone. If it points to me, I have to truth or dare someone. Okay? Everyone understand the rules?"
Julian tickled Somer and said, "I understand, babe."
Somer laughed and told Julian, "Stop it!"
"Can't you two lovebirds save this for after we've finished the game?" teased Derick.
"Oh, shut up, Derick!" Somer teased him back, throwing one of Mike's leftover cans at him.
Man, Mike was a slob! I had no idea that the guy didn't know how to pick up after himself. I mean, he left those things everywhere! But, hey! It made the environment of this shack more fun! ...But he was still careless, in my opinion.
Somer happily said, "Okay, time to spin!" And so, she spun her gun. "And our first player is... Vicky!"
"Oh, joy..." said Vicky, rolling her eyes with a smile. "Alright... I truth or dare..."
"Oh! Oh!" shouted Derick, raising and waving his arm. "Pick me! Pick me!"
"In your dreams, lover boy!" said Vicky. "I choose Ikjot."
"Me?" I asked her.
"Yeah," said Vicky. "Might as well get to know you, since I'm gonna be your mom tomorrow and all."
I said, "Well, okay." Since I never knew what a dare would entail, I told her, "Truth!"
"Boring," plainly teased Vicky. "How about a dare?"
Darn! Was this girl reading my mind or something? "Well, okay..." I reluctantly agreed. "Dare!"
"Okay. I dare you to get up and sing."
"Sing?"
"Yup! I need a cool, relaxing song.... Know what I mean?"
"Well, I was kind of in the mood for singing an upbeat song. But if relaxing is what you want, then Ikjot is here to satisfy!"
Everyone cheered to me saying that. Normally, I'd never talk so hip; I'd never even accept someone's request for me to sing in front of many people so easily either. But as I said before, and I'd say it again, that pebble I ate was really helping me out right now. I was glad to have the stress of speaking my mind completely lifted. It felt so good!
"Let's hear it, Ikjot!" cheered Herbertia. I was glad she liked it!
"Alright then..." I said while standing up. "♪ Here it goooooes! ♪" I sang while an upbeat, nighttime casino kind of theme music started playing for me.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIXcY0nw4G
They cheered some more while I continued, "♪ Oh my word, my heart has fallen! I'm on my knees, now I am calling. What can I doooo... ♪" and I leaned to Somer, "♪ for youuuu? ♪"
"You wanna get rocked, Ikjot?" Julian warned me.
"Sorry..." I quietly said, moving away while Somer giggled.
I continued to sing, "♪ My heart, it's always brokeeeen. I've fell for sweetness she has spoken. I've given uuuup... on loooove. They played me, used me, hurt me.... I've known all types and sick of life! But I know good and wellll... that beyond my woes, she holds my light! ♪" While they all—minus a visually bored 1098—started clapping in rhythm, I sang, "♪ You, lady, I hope ya truuuuuue.... Be honest, know Ikjot loves you! ♪" Then I became more energetic, posing and singing with more empowerment. "♪ I need an honest chick! Not evil, sick! Don't like to pick but stop your tricks! ♪" Then outer space appeared behind me with the full moon as its center. "♪ Wherever she iiiiiiiiiis... ya I been waitin' for thiiiiiiiiis! ♪" And with that, I bowed. The instrumental stopped.
They all immediately gave me their applause. If I didn't know any better, I'd say I even saw tears coming from Herbertia's eyes—tears of joy! She ran up to hug me and said, "Good job, Ikjot!" She flirtatiously rubbed her finger on my lips and continued, "I want to talk to you tomorrow."
I smiled shyly and said, "Um... okay!"
Vicky giggled and said, "Now, son, didn't mama said she wanted a 'relaxing,' not an upbeat song?"
I laughed awkwardly and rubbed the back of my head, realizing and replied, "Um... sorry."
Vicky pleasantly said, "I'm just messing, dude."
"Yeah, great job, Ikjot!" said Somer as she prepared to spin her gun again. "Okay, time to select our next player!"
***
By one o'clock that night, after many rounds of truth or dare, we finally fell asleep... well, me and 1098 at least. Herbertia and the others were wide awake, watching movies with the TV's volume turned up to its maximum level. Were these people insane?! It was way past midnight for crying out loud! Regardless, I was able to sleep despite the amount of noise around me. 1098, however, could not....
"Why do they have to be so loud...?" asked 1098 with veins in her eyes. "Why...?"
"Maybe you should try cuddling to something," I told her. "That always helps me."
Taking my advice, 1098 immediately cuddled to something—or rather, someone: Me. Wow... I didn't see this coming. Regardless, we both soon fell asleep. It wasn't until five hours later—when everyone finally decided to call it a night—that Herbertia spotted the two of us in that position. Man, I couldn't begin to imagine the drama that would escalate from this... since I was asleep.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYFPaHAf4G
Cuddling with my man just because you know I like him, huh? thought Herbertia. Her eyes narrowed while she continued to think, We'll see about that....
***
The following morning, everyone was still sound asleep. I was the first to awake, yawning and stretching, before I looked at the clock and realized the time. "Wow!" I exclaimed upon seeing that it was nine a.m. "Hey, guys! Wake up!"
"Huh...?" puzzled Somer, slowly waking up and seeing the time as well. "Oh my gosh!" she said before telling everyone else, "Hey, guys! Come on! We're an hour late!"
Hearing her call, everyone immediately woke up and ran out the door.
Normally, in my introverted stage, I would have kept this statement to myself, but I didn't. I said, "Hey, wait! Don't we have to take showers, brush our teeth and so on? What about breakfast?"
Keeping the door open for the others to leave, Herbertia laughed and replied, "Who needs any of those things?!"
What? Was it natural for her to not freshen up or anything before going somewhere, especially to a school meeting? I guess some people had different ways than others. These friends of Herbertia—including Herbertia herself—were one of them.
I got up, ran out the door and followed them through the woods. Little did I know that Herbertia would speak in private to 1098—just like last night at the dinner table.
"What's up?" whispered Herbertia to 1098.
"Nothing," whispered back 1098.
"Oh, really? Are you sure? Because I could've sworn I saw you getting all cozy with my man last night."
"What?!" said 1098 with widened eyes, before boringly looking Herbertia's way. "All I did was cuddle up to Ikjot so I could fall asleep—"
"No excuses," said Herbertia, wagging her finger nearly in 1098's face. "Just keep your paws off him, or I'll make you wish you were the Effect that was never born...."
1098 gasped and asked her, "Are you threatening me?"
Herbertia put up her fists and said, "Yeah! Got a problem with it?"
Before their conversation could continue, Somer asked, "Hey, Herbertia! Are we going the right way?"
"Sure, Somer!" said Herbertia, pretending as though she were completely happy and not mad with 1098.
As for 1098, she rolled her eyes to Herbertia's pretending.
I wouldn't have known what was going on because I was walking with Derick and Vicky upfront, just to make sure I'd keep up with the two people roleplaying as my parents. I was just careful like that, always fearful of making a mistake at the last second.
"So, son, why aren't you walking with your friends?" Vicky teased me.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" I apologized, adhering to her request and made my way to Herbertia and 1098.
Vicky stopped me with a laugh and said, "It's no problem, Ikjot! I'm just messing around!"
"Oh!" I said. I was just so used to people meaning those kinds of things in the literal sense that I had no idea that someone like Vicky would come along and mean it as a joke. I was truly thankful.
Just then, Herbertia walked to me and held me close. "Don't worry, Ikjot!" she told me. "I'll walk with you!" She looked to 1098 with a warning glare and went on to tell me, "If that's okay...."
1098 narrowed her eyes at Herbertia with displeasure.
"Now," Herbertia continued to me, "don't forget! I still want to speak to you after the meeting..." before giving 1098 a nasty glare, "in private!"
At this point, 1098 was growing very angry, tired of being accused.
"Sure!" I told Herbertia. Not knowing her reasons, I wondered if she wanted to speak to me in private because I was in trouble or something. It's funny how the thought that maybe she wanted to hook-up with me never came across my mind. Of course, I still thought that, when she first met me, she was only feigning love so I could help her steal the time machine. Little did I know how wrong I was.
***
It was around ten a.m. when we finally arrived at the school... maybe. I wasn't wearing a watch to accurately tell.
"Ah, welcome back!" Ms. Pasternak greeted us as we walked into the front office. "I see you've brought your parents!"
"Nice to meet you, Ms. Pasternak!" Somer greeted and shook her hand. "I'm 1098's mother," then she signaled to Julian, "and this is her father!"
"I'm Julian!" he happily said while shaking Ms. Pasternak's hand. "Pleased to make your acquaintance," he said with a bow, trying to get a laugh out of her.
"A pleasure to meet you both!" said Ms. Pasternak before looking over to Vicky and Derick. "And you are the parents of...?"
"Ikjot!" Derick replied to her. He shook Ms. Pasternak's hand and continued, "I'm Derick!"
"Nice to meet you, Derick!" replied Ms. Pasternak.
"And I'm Vicky..." said Vicky, calm and collected while making the peace sign.
"Nice to meet you, Vicky!" said Ms. Pasternak, looking to her as well. She then looked to Vanessa and Mike. "So," she told them, "you two must be Herbertia's parents?"
"Yes!" said Vanessa.
"Yes!" said Mike.
"Splendid!" said Ms. Pasternak. (Wow... it had been a long time since I heard someone use the word splendid.) "Now, have you brought their forms, parents?"
"Here!" Somer said while presenting the forms for 1098.
"Here!" said Mike, presenting Herbertia's forms.
"Right here!" said Derick, presenting the forms for me.
"Wonderful!" Ms. Pasternak said with delight.
"They are here?" asked a nun who walked into the office from the back door. She was dressed in a black gown with a white veil over the back of her head. Like me, she too was a frog; a Kempholey night frog to be exact. Probably most noticeable were her facial wrinkles, glasses and strands of gray showing through her black hair.
"Yes, Sister Yedda," said Ms. Pasternak, looking to the nun and revealing her name. Ms. Pasternak looked back to us and said, "This is the head of our school, Sister Yedda Tull. She'll meet your families, one by one."
"We'll go first!" said Derick, volunteering me, Vicky and himself.
"Oh, brother..." Vicky said while rolling her eyes.
"Okay, follow me into my office," said Sister Yedda, gesturing for the three of us (myself and my fake family) to follow her through the backdoor she came in through.
We adhered to her command and followed behind her, making it in to her office with her door already open for us. While she made it to her desk and pulled back her chair to have a seat, Derick and Vicky sat in the two chairs before her.
"Huh?" said Vicky, turning her head and realizing that I was left standing. But before Sister Yedda could tell me what to do for fixing this problem, Vicky said, "Oh!" And she laughingly continued, "Let me get my boy a chair!"
"Thanks, Mom!" I said with a smile, playing along.
Vicky immediately grabbed a chair from the back wall and pulled it to the front of Sister Yedda's (Sister Yedda Tull's) desk, just beside her own seat and Derick's.
"Thanks," I told Vicky and took my seat—but not before she got the chance to sit back in her chair.
"No prob, son!" replied Vicky.
"Alright, let me see your forms," Sister Yedda told us.
"No problem!" Vicky said while handing my form to her.
Sister Yedda took a moment to scan her eyes over the pages.... "Alright!" she told us. "So, tell me how you discovered Our Lord's Appearance Catholic Church and School."
"Uh..." Derick puzzled to think of some lie he could tell her.
"A nice family told us," Vicky plainly responded, lying where Derick couldn't.
"Oh, I see!" said Sister Yedda.
Now, I would tell you about the hundreds of other questions she asked us, but all you needed to know was this: They were all the same for each of our role play families! She wanted to know our background, some family history, so on and so on.
When it came down to Herbertia's role play family and their interview with Sister Yedda, Vanessa was tempted to swipe the pencil from her desk. Luckily, she managed to restrain herself. Phew! Seemed like she really could have been the perfect mother for Herbertia.
As for 1098, Somer and Julian gave it their all to make her talk as much as possible. In result, 1098 went on and on about how she was the servitude of guidance to me, Herbertia, the time machine and those two other people she mentioned (Denise and Fiona). In response, Sister Yedda said that 1098 just had a creative imagination. Somer and Julian, on the other hand, began to worry about 1098's mentality.
Oh, yeah! And did I mention that Somer, Julian, Vanessa, Mike, Vicky and Derick all talked about their criminal lives?! Luckily, Sister Yedda thought that too was a joke. Man, was I having a lucky day....
***
It wasn't until three hours later that all of our interviews with Sister Yedda were finished. Thank goodness!
"Well, families," she told us, "everything seems to be in order! Your kids can start attending class sometime next week or tomorrow, if you prefer."
"Ikjot, what do you think?" Somer asked me—since this whole thing was my idea.
"Tomorrow's fine!" I told her. (Besides, I wanted to hook-up with Xandra as soon as possible.)
"Alright then!" replied Sister Yedda with a nod and smile. "Now, what size clothing do each of you wear?" she asked Herbertia, 1098 and I. The three of us puzzled while Sister Yedda said, "All students are required to wear uniforms."
"Let's... see what you have," I suggested to her.
***
Fifteen minutes later, Herbertia, 1098 and I were wearing the school's uniform. The only one differing between us three... was me. I wore long-legged and off-gray dress pants.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdNwHj1XGU
"Wow... nice!" I said while observing my uniform. I explained to Sister Yedda (courtesy of that multicolored pebble filling me with the confidence) that my legs would've been cold in class if I didn't wear long pants. The consequence for that... would have been me sneezing. And I didn't want to go into too much detail but... let's just say the way I sneezed wasn't pretty and that my peers would have laughed at it.
1098 didn't say anything about her uniform; all she did was look it over, bored as usual in her expression.
"Nice?" said Herbertia while observing her uniform too. "Man, what do you see? These things look like they were ripped off a zombie's body!"
I quickly laughed to Sister Yedda and said, "That's her way of saying she likes something!"
"Uh..." said Herbertia, unamused by what I said about her, "no it isn't."
Hey... I couldn't allow Sister Yedda to realize that Herbertia meant to be rude.
Sister Yedda and Ms. Pasternak shyly laughed to both of our statements.
"Now," Sister Yedda told our fake parents, "your children must show up on time, every day. Our students and teachers meet outside in the courtyard, starting at seven-thirty a.m. If they don't arrive by then, it is required that they at least arrive in time to meet with their classes as their lines enter the building." Sister Yedda folded her arms and looked down at 1098, Herbertia and myself. "If you don't, that means that you are late and, upon being late two more times, will meet with the Diocese of Righteous Korrigan in regards to your tardiness."
I gulped, remembering just how stressful that rule was. Man, college was so much more lenient with its students....
"Now, are there any questions?" Sister Yedda asked us all.
"Uh, nope!" said Somer, shaking her head.
"We're all good!" said Vanessa.
"That is good!" said Sister Yedda. Then she shook our hands, one person at a time. "Alright! Well, it was nice meeting you all!"
"Nice meeting you too, Sister Yedda!" I said, being the last person to shake her hand.
"Thank you!" she replied to me. She told all of us, "You all have a good day," before telling Herbertia, 1098 and I, "and we will see you in school tomorrow!"
"Will do!" Somer said while holding the door open for us to leave.
"Bye!" Herbertia told the Sister while following us out. "See you around!"
Once we fully left the premises, Sister Yedda laughed and said, "Incredibly so, those... parents seemed almost the same age as their children."
"Pretty crazy, isn't it?" laughed Ms. Pasternak while organizing some paperwork and folders at her desk.
Yet it still wasn't too surprising to Sister Yedda and Ms. Pasternak. They knew how teen pregnancies, and people having children at young ages, was quite common in Righteous Korrigan.
***
An hour or so later, we arrived back home to Somer's cabin. Everyone was just goofing off as usual—they apparently didn't have any responsibilities. I supposed they were living in this shack for free, having no worries about taxes, bills and so on. Maybe it was due to hiding out in the woods that they could get away with not paying for those things; that or the shack originally belonged to someone else but they confiscated it.
While I sat with Vicky, Mike and Vanessa on the sofa and watched TV, Derick and Somer were outside picking some berries for our dinner that night.
As for Julian, he was taking a nap—at least ONE of them had some sense! I mean, seriously! You guys practically stayed up all night and STILL had the energy to goof off?!
Somer had also caught some small frogs for dinner. But... I just went with the berries. She knew I was opposed to eating small frogs since my large frog people considered them our brethren.
1098 was enjoying some frog legs until Herbertia walked by and started harassing her again. "So, how are those frog legs treating you?" she asked her.
"Oh, just fine..." blankly replied 1098.
"Do you see Ikjot's legs when you see those frog legs?" teased Herbertia.
"Uh..." said 1098, giving Herbertia an awkward look, "no?"
"Oh, I see. So it was a one-night stand after all."
1098 paused... and said, "What do you mean?"
"Well, I mean, think about it.... You were all over Ikjot last night and now, today, you don't even want to remember him. Some girlfriend you turned out to be."
"Look..." said 1098, becoming unamused, "I get it. You don't want me around Ikjot. But, Herbertia, I only cuddled up with him because you and your friends wouldn't let me sleep; it was the only way I could."
Herbertia flipped her hair and said, "Well, regardless, I'm going to have my talk with Ikjot now." Putting her face to 1098's, she continued, "Does that make you jealous?"
1098 sighed. "Herbertia, I can read Ikjot's mind, you know. He's confused right now. He doesn't know whether he's open to accept a girlfriend other than Xandra, or bent on having Xandra herself as his girlfriend. In other words, he could break your heart if you're not careful."
Herbertia laughed and said, "Yeah, right! You're just saying that so you can have Ikjot all to yourself."
1098 grew unamused again and said, "Fine. Don't believe me." She continued to eat her frog legs. "But don't say I didn't tell you so when my prophecy comes to past."
"Pfft...! Whatever...." Herbertia then walked over to me and said, "Hi, Ikjot!"
"Oh!" I said, noticing her. "Hi, Herbertia."
She rubbed my chest and continued, "Can we go outside and discuss something, if now's a good time?"
"Oh, um..." I said, blushing from feeling her hand, "sure!"
She continued rubbing me all over while helping me to stand up. She walked us to the door and said, "Awesome!" She stuck out her tongue at 1098, thinking it would spite her that we were going outside alone.
1098 folded her arms in disbelief as Herbertia and I soon opened the door and went outside, closing it behind us.
Now with the two of us standing outside, Herbertia walked me a good distance away from the shack and said, "Okay, you ready?"
"Ready!" I replied.
"Okay! 1098 told me she read your mind and discovered that you didn't know I was waiting for an answer to my question."
"What question?"
Herbertia paused and smacked her forehead. "Oh, brother..."
"What's up?"
Uncovering her forehead, Herbertia told me, "Okay, remember when I hopped in your arms and said, 'I want to be yours?' "
"Um..." I gave it some thought and said, "Yes."
"1098 told me you thought I was saying that just so you'd help me steal the time machine...."
I paused with fear, believing she hated me now for thinking she was some kind of opportunist. I nervously told her, "Oh, well, um... Herbertia—"
"But I wasn't," she said without anger. "I really have loved you since first sight. I was waiting to see whether or not you'd accept my offer to be your girlfriend."
I became filled with shock! This chick was actually ready to be my girlfriend—something I'd wanted for quite some time! I was so happy—but wait? Would her love be real...? And also... ugh, I was so close to being in the same class with Xandra! Why didn't I... think any of this through?
"So... do you accept?" she asked me. "I mean, I don't want to force you or anything."
"Oh, no!" I replied. "Not at all!"
But... shoot! What was I going to do about Xandra now? I mean, if I hooked up with Herbertia, then there would be no way that I could hook-up with Xandra! But was I making the same dumb mistake that I made before? Was I once again thinking about turning down someone who was probably the right one for me... in exchange for someone who was probably not? I honestly had no way of knowing.... But... Xandra did reveal to me that it was my fault for ignoring her that she... became who she was.
Tapping her foot on the ground with folded arms, Herbertia patiently awaited my answer.
"Uh... sure!" I told her.
She hugged me tight and replied, "Awesome!" Herbertia then picked me up and ran back towards the shack. "Wait until I tell Somer and the others, and ESPECIALLY 1098!"
"Wait!" I realized what she said. "What did 1098 do?"
"Nothing important," replied Herbertia with a bland expression. She opened the door, running inside with me and said, "Somer, guess what?!"
"What is it, Herbertia?" asked Somer as Herbertia walked up to her.
"Ikjot and I are boyfriend and girlfriend!"
"WHAT?!" they all said with shock—except for 1098 who wasn't shocked and didn't even say anything.
"This is awesome!" happily said Vanessa.
"This makes me wanna drink soda!" happily said Mike before doing exactly that.
Julian happily held Somer close and said, "Great job, Herbertia! Somer and I are very proud of you!"
"I'm proud too!" happily said Herbertia. "I've never had a boyfriend before!" She moved her face close to mine and continued, "Until now..." before puckering her lips and kissing me.
I wrapped my arms around her before accidentally causing us to fall to the floor... since hugging her was kind of hard to do with her holding me with her hands and all. Everyone laughed to that, as did we (Herbertia and I).
1098, however, just rolled her eyes and didn't seem so pleased.
***
That night, Herbertia and I slept next to each other—much different from last night when it was me and 1098 instead. I guess Herbertia did this on purpose to spite her, since she thought that 1098 was trying to steal her man and all....
But there were two things bothering me. Firstly, I just felt strange hooking up with a girl the day before I'd have my second chance at setting things straight with Xandra. Secondly, could I even trust Herbertia, or would I have my heart ripped out again? I guess I would find out once she backstabbed me. But for now, all I could do was hope that wouldn't happen.
My thoughts were soon interrupted as I felt Herbertia's hand rubbing my left leg. "Ikjot...?" she asked me.
"Yes?" I asked her back.
"Do you think that I'm..." and she looked outside the window, "a freak?"
"What...?" I puzzled.
"Well... I mean... Okay, so, I've met many guys in the same way that I first met you. I've jumped in their arms and asked them to be mine, and they thought I was a tramp or something because of this. In result, they would always reject my offer to be their girlfriend and find someone who wasn't trying to 'play' them."
What she was saying was something I found to be really interesting, because the thoughts of those guys were all too accurate for girls like her. From what I was taught, chicks who just came up to a guy and started flirting with them—or even directly asked them to be their boyfriend, for that matter—were usually tricksters. The question was, was Herbertia the same? Was she no different from the rest? Or was she actually a good, honest girl who just wasn't taught the usual way of hooking up with someone?
"But..." Herbertia said while looking to me, "I wasn't trying to play them... not at all. All I was doing was telling them that I wanted to be their girlfriend and see if they would accept my offer. But they told me 'No!' multiple times. I wonder if it was because I was doing something wrong...."
"Not at all," I said, placing my hand on her shoulder. "You were just trying to hook-up with someone the best way you knew how. If anything, I think those guys didn't know what they were missing. I mean, I've been waiting for a girl to just jump in my arms and want to be mine forever by now."
Herbertia's eyes lit up brightly. "You have...?" she asked me.
I nodded and said, "You were that very girl that came to me, Herbertia. You saved me from what I thought would be an endless life of lies. So many girls that I came across... they just tricked me. I wasn't even good enough for them to use.... They just felt it as sport to play me for a sap and laugh as I'd cry from a broken heart."
"That's awful..." Herbertia said with sad, wide eyes and a fretful voice.
"Yes, I know... but you've saved me from those days, Herbertia. I'll always love you, no matter what."
Normally, a girl would have skeptically asked me, Do you mean it? But instead, Herbertia intently looked me in the eyes with saying, "I know you will.... I trust you."
I smiled... and said, "I trust you too, Herbertia."
"Oh, thank you..." she said, touching her lips to mine and kissing me. From there, the two of us started making out... while 1098 was wide awake in bed and spied on us from across the room.
1098 pouted and thought to herself, What a fool.... Doesn't she realize he'll dump her like 'cold turkey,' as these humans say? I can read his mind and... he still has feelings for Xandra. (And then, 1098 covered herself up.) Well... regardless... it's her problem now; not mine. I'll stay out of her way. After all, as an Effect, it's only my job to inform those two of things; not try and stop them from getting into trouble. (Then 1098 briefly peeked over at me.) All I can say, Ikjot, is that you'd better watch yourself. Herbertia is much stronger than the average human. If you make her mad... she will rip you to shreds—maybe even kill you....
***
Meanwhile, Somer and Julian sat outside of the shack, talking to each other about Herbertia and I.
"I don't know, Julian..." Somer said to him. "I mean, we barely even know this Ikjot guy." Then she closely cuddled to Julian.
"It's okay, Somer," said Julian, holding Somer close. "I mean, Herbertia's finally found herself a boyfriend. This is something that she's never accomplished until now. We should be proud of her...."
"I know. But... what if Ikjot isn't the right guy? What if he hurts her feelings somehow?"
"What?" asked Julian, looking down at Somer. "Who? Ikjot? Naaaaah. That kid's too nice; you and I both have seen that for ourselves. I don't think he's the kind of guy who would—"
"But what if he is? I mean, this is some guy that Herbertia picked-up off of the street. He could be anyone or anything for all we know."
"Somer, it's... It's like this...."
"Like... what?"
"♪ Sometiiiimes, we don't trust someone ♪," Julian sang to her, accompanied by piano music. "♪ Sometimes, not know what they've doooone. ♪" He showed Somer his hands, imagining himself to hold a healthy tomato in one and a bad apple in the other. "♪ Sometimes, won't know if they're good or rotten. ♪" Then those items became a pair of hearts. "♪ Most times, that's the way love ruuuuns. ♪"
Somer clutched her hands in a begging motion and sang back, "♪ But, Julian, Herbertia's been through so much. ♪" She looked down with furrowed brows, shaking her head in disagreement. "♪ I'd just feel wrong if he hurts her! That Ikjot! ♪"
"♪ There you go again not trusting someone ♪" He held her chin. "♪ Trust me, Somer, deceit shall not be done. ♪"
Somer stood up and looked to the stars. "♪ I understand that he may be a good man. But asking me to trust him? I tell you I can't. ♪"
Julian comforted Somer. "♪ Well can you do it then for Herbertia's sake? Somer, I say, we must have faaaaith. She's at last found someone out here to love. Her happiness, I'm supportive oooof. ♪"
Somer looked down with doubt. "♪ Maybe you're right. Maybe you're wrong. I don't want Herbertia played, abandoned. ♪" No longer singing, Somer looked to Julian with worry and said, "I just don't know if I can trust him, Julian."
"Somer... I understand. But, for now, I say we should be happy for Herbertia. We must have faith. We have to hope for the best; not the worst."
"Well... maybe...."
"Just look at it this way: Ikjot seems like a pretty nice guy."
"He seems nice... but is he?"
The song raised in pitch, and Julian sang accordingly, "♪ In time, we'll find out; but for now, let's have no doubt. Herbertia's happiness, that's what we're about. ♪" Julian sympathetically looked Somer in the eyes. "♪ I know it's hard to trust this guuuuy. But let's keep our heads up that their love shall not die. ♪"
But Somer still had her doubts. She looked down and said, "I guess so...."
Julian smiled, believing he got through to her... somewhat.
***
Meanwhile inside the shack, you wouldn't expect what was going on. Vicky and the others—minus me, Herbertia, 1098, Somer and Julian—were still awake and talking with each other.
"That dumb Somer..." complained Vicky before throwing a paper plane at a lamp's shade while the others listened to her. "Julian should've been my boyfriend. But nooOOOOoooooo."
"I do find it appalling how that backstabber, Somer, just took him away from you," Derick agreed with her.
"I know, right?" said Vanessa before swiping Mike's soda and drinking it.
"Hey!" said Mike while Vanessa laughed.
"To think you guys were such good friends," said Derick to Vicky. "I find it amazing how she could just take the guy she knew you liked."
"No kidding!" said Vicky with disbelief. "Thanks to her, I'm stuck with you now...."
Derick came close to Vicky, rubbed his finger on her chest and soothingly said, "Hey, baby, I'm just here to comfort you; that's all."
"Get a life..." Vicky said back, pushing Derick by his head to the floor.
"You're not very chill as usual, Vicky," snickered Derick, rubbing his head while sitting on the floor.
"You know that's all an act, genius," said Vicky, rolling her eyes in annoyance.
"Somer stole your man, Vicky," said Vanessa. "She has to pay."
"And she will," Vicky replied. She puzzled and said, "We've just got to think of some way to make Julian see her for what she really is. Then he'll dump her and come to me."
Mike drank a soda and said, "We could start doing things around here that make her seem like she's a bad person. Then we could use those things as bait for us to call her a bad person too. She'd know that she didn't do anything wrong, but she'd also know that we wouldn't know any better for accusing her of them."
Vicky scratched her head. "Um... my mind's too carefree to comprehend what you're saying. Why don't you just demonstrate it for us?"
"It would be my pleasure," laughed Mike. "I'll start setting her up tomorrow. You guys just follow along with whatever I do. Then you'll understand my plan, Vicky."
"Sounds like a plan to me," said Vanessa, smirking with folded arms.
"Yeah," said Derick. "Though I still agree with Vicky on the fact that Mike's plan is pretty hard to understand."
"Which is why he's going to show it to us, genius..." said Vicky, rolling her eyes.
"Right!" said Derick, nodding with a chill smile.
***
The following morning, Herbertia, 1098 and I had to wake up at five o'clock if we wished to get to school on time, traveling on foot and all.
Still, I couldn't wait.... At last, I would finally have a chance at getting Xandra to like me—well, as a friend of course... since I was hooked up with Herbertia now and all. Maybe I should have said "no" to Herbertia's romantic offer when I had the chance. But in the event that things didn't work out with me and Xandra, I would've at least still had Herbertia around. So I guessed my decision to accept her as my girlfriend wasn't entirely flawed.
"Have fun at school, kids!" Somer told Herbertia, 1098 and I as though we were her children. Yes... we were, of course. But it's not like she was much older than us.
"We will, Somer!" Herbertia replied.
"Yup!" I said.
"Well then, by all means, get out of here!" playfully said Julian.
"Shut up!" Somer playfully replied to Julian with nudging his arm.
"See you around, guys!" said Herbertia as she picked me up and walked out the door.
1098, on the other hand, didn't say anything, but waved goodbye instead while she followed us.
"Bye!" said Somer to 1098.
"Take care!" said Julian to all three of us.
"I guess your friends think like me: No driving," I told Herbertia while we walked.
"Actually, no," she told me. "They just don't have the money to afford a car."
"Oh."
"Does that explain why we have to get up so early?" asked 1098 with tired eyes.
"Come on, 1098!" coached Herbertia. "Toughen up!"
"First I have to 'wake' up," replied 1098.
"Gee..." puzzled Herbertia, "I've never had a boyfriend before." She looked to me and said, "Tell me, Ikjot, what do girlfriends do when they bring their boyfriends to school?"
I said, "Well... let me think.... They usually just hang around with him all of the time, even outside of school. And, here and there—if not most of the time, they kiss and make out."
"Judging by the signals I'm picking up from your mind, you're telling Herbertia these things based on your own experiences of how the couples around you in school acted, correct?" 1098 implied to me.
"Oh, yes!" I told 1098. "Those and the couples around me in college as well."
"So, 1098, why don't you talk much?" Herbertia asked her.
"I only feel the need to say something if it is in regards to educating you or Ikjot on yourselves, the time machine, or Denise and Fiona," replied 1098.
There she went again with those two names I never heard of. Who were Denise and Fiona? I wondered....
"That's dumb!" Herbertia laughed to 1098 with disbelief. "Why not just talk regardless?"
"Please refer to my last response, Herbertia," said 1098.
"But you could express how you feel if you talked more."
"Why would I want to do that?"
"Because it's good to let other people know how you feel, otherwise you'll get lonely."
I was beginning to think that 1098 would fall into the same category that I did back in this time: Introverted. Gee, I wish someone had given me the advice that Herbertia was now giving 1098. Oh, wait, they probably did; I was just too timid and afraid to use it. And stupid as this would sound, I think I finally knew what my reason for not talking was: I was scared of getting in trouble with my teachers for it. I recall being more social in kindergarten, so... I feel like something happened between then and elementary that made me so shy.
Regardless, I didn't want to risk 1098 being doomed to a future of regret from not taking advantage of her school days now. So I said, "Herbertia's right, 1098. If you don't play the role of the extrovert now, you'll regret it in the future. You'll look back to this time and say, 'Hey! Why wasn't I more outgoing when I had the chance?'" I looked down, growing sadder as I said, "You'll... probably fall in love with someone and regret never having even said one word to them."
Herbertia raised her brow to me and said, "Well, you've... got a girlfriend now, so that shouldn't matter."
I nervously looked to her and said, "Oh, but of course, Herbertia!"
"Ikjot..." 1098 said, unamused, "I'm not like you. I don't share your humanly desires. I am an Effect, born to only do one thing: Serve as a basis of knowledge to who and what spawned me. That is where you and Herbertia come in. You're the ones who brought me into existence."
"You may be an Effect; I'm not doubting that," I told her. "But you're also a living being, meant to enjoy life just as much as we are—whether you're human or not."
"Wait, so..." puzzled Herbertia, "if she's not a human, then she's a... thing?"
1098 grew unamused and said, "Herbertia? You're an idiot...."
"Your mama!" said Herbertia.
"Ha!" 1098 said with barely a smirk. "I don't have a mom!"
Just then, a thought came across me. "Wait!" I said to 1098. "If Herbertia and I spawned you into existence, doesn't that make us... your parents?"
"WHAT?!" exclaimed Herbertia and 1098.
Herbertia said, "So then... 1098's—"
"I'm Herbertia's daughter?!" exclaimed 1098.
"And I guess that makes me your father, 1098," I told her.
Herbertia giggled and said, "Looks like you'll have to take back all those rude remarks you've given me; ey, 1098?"
Still in disbelief, 1098 stuttered, "But... but—"
I laughed and said, "Don't worry, 1098. I suppose your mother and I can give you one more chance...."
"Gee, Dad... thanks," said 1098, unamused again.
"And remember to stay in school, courtesy of your parents' advice," teased Herbertia.
We laughed when 1098 said, "Same to you, Mom and Dad."
But I'm pretty sure all three of us knew this was a joke. Regardless of having just been born, 1098 was physically around our same ages.
***
At seven thirty-five a.m. on the school's courtyard (just outside of the buildings for the cafeteria and the classrooms), Xandra was with the following girls: Wynfred, Yosef, Nydia, Orabel, Piper, Helena and Voleta.
Nydia Yarbrough was a very short raccoon girl with long blonde hair (in a ponytail) and bowl-cut bangs. She was my sister Vinanti's best friend back in this year and a little after that. But before Vinanti came to this school and influenced her, Nydia was one of Xandra's clique members.
As for Voleta Hoyt, she was a koala and just a bit shorter than Xandra. Her hair was blonde, long and very fluffy. She and I only had a friendship when I found her again on an internet website, but never a friendship in-person back when we were attending the same school. I was just too introverted back in this time... at least the first time around. This time in 2005, that would not be the case! I was an extrovert and ready to socialize!
Xandra walked in front of Nydia, Wynfred, Yosef, Orabel, Voleta, Piper... and her own little sister, Helena, before those girls would gather in a circle and bow on one knee before Xandra.
Orabel, Voleta and Piper were a clique of their own.
Nydia, Wynfred and Yosef were part of Xandra's clique.
Regardless, because Xandra was the highest of the cool in their fifth grade class, they all had no choice but to ultimately look up to her as their leader, role model, etc.
Xandra said, "Alright, listen up! Since six of you are my 'main' followers, you are all required to state your morning pledge of allegiance to me. So put your hands on your hearts—"
"Chests," interrupted Helena.
Xandra gasped at her little sister's interruption and asked her, "Are you correcting me?!"
Helena rubbed the back of her head while saying, "Um... no—"
Xandra gasped again. "You are such a liar; you totally just did!"
"Okay, I did..." Helena said, unamused. "I'm sorry...."
"No kidding! Don't you know liars get arrested without bail?!"
Though she knew that was complete nonsense, Helena continued to cooperate and said, "Sorry, Xan—"
"Anyway," Xandra interrupted, "place your hands where I can see 'em."
All the girls (except Nydia) placed their hands on their chests in response.
Visibly worried, Orabel looked to Nydia and whispered, "Psst... Hey, Nydia! You need to perform the pledge of allegiance with us or else you'll get into serious trouble with Xandra!"
Xandra looked to Nydia with shock and said, "Nydia, why are you not pledging your allegiance to me...?"
Nydia's eyes widened as she said, "Um, sorry, Xandra..." and placed her hand on her chest.
Xandra rubbed Nydia's chin with her finger and said, "Aw, don't sweat it, Nydia.... We're friends!"
"Wow!" Nydia happily replied, realizing. "Thanks, Xandra!"
"No problem, bud!"
By seven forty-five a.m., Herbertia, 1098 and I arrived to the outside courtyard of the school (where Xandra and the other students were), just as Sister Yedda instructed the three of us to do the day before.
As we came through the gates, Wynfred noticed and pointed at us. "Hey, Xandra!" she told her clique leader. "It's that new student from yesterday!"
"What?!" said Xandra, looking to where Wynfred was pointing and saw me (as well as Herbertia and 1098). "Wow... him again," she laughed with disbelief. "I still can't believe that thing is actually permitted to walk on the same grounds I do."
Wynfred laughed, looked back to Xandra and said, "Yeah, I know, right?! I mean, look at how dorky he looks!"
"And just look at his hair!" said Piper. "It is so ugly. What boy still does the greased back look?!"
"The ones who are too old school for us, obviously?" laughed Xandra to Piper's statement.
With a sly smile, Yosef said, "If I had a dollar for every bit of fashion that he has... I wouldn't have anything!"
"Out of all the losers here," said Orabel, "I'd say this one has to be the worst yet." Orabel nudged Nydia's shoulder and whispered, "Nydia... you have to play along with this if you want them to keep you here...."
"I can make a really great insult," Nydia whispered back to her, "but... I don't know if it would be the right thing to do."
"Pleeeeeeease!" Orabel kneeled and begged her.
"Oh, alright..." said Nydia, still not so sure about agreeing with her. "But only just this once."
"Awesome!" happily said Orabel.
Nydia walked to Xandra, Wynfred, Piper and Yosef. "Hey!" she told them. "Guess what, guys?!"
Xandra turned to Nydia snobbishly and said, "Yes? Is there not something that you would want to share with moi?"
Nydia grew unamused but ignored Xandra's ego and told them all, "What is he? A trash can or the dumpster all together...? I think he's the son of one of them... but in his case, I would say both."
The others paused for a moment... then laughed and rolled all over the ground from Nydia's insult.
Nydia was amazed that she actually was able to make them laugh that hard. "You mean you guys really liked my joke?!" she asked them, happily hoping.
With a happy face, Orabel walked next to Nydia and laughed as well. "Are you kidding?!" she told her. "They loved it, Nydia! I did too!"
Also with a happy expression, Nydia looked to Orabel and said, "Wow; really?!"
"No, it failed..." said a random roach besides Nydia's foot, "like the rest of their insults."
Orabel smiled at Nydia. "Um, will you excuse me for a second?" she pleasantly asked her.
"Um..." puzzled Nydia. "Yeah, sure!"
Still smiling, Orabel lifted her foot and slowly brought it down towards the roach.
The roach was too grumpy to panic or get excited, but he said in a disgusted tone of voice, "Aw, now I know you're not going to—"
Before he could finish his statement, Orabel crushed him with her shoe and rubbed it from side to side on the pavement. Through all of this, however, she still kept a smile. "Done!" said Orabel. "And yeah," she continued to Nydia, "you rocked their socks! Just like me who can, even if you're not wearing any!"
"Wow!" replied Nydia. "Thanks, Orabel...."
"No problem..." said Orabel. Then she noticed Herbertia, 1098 and I as we walked past her and the other girls. She pointed to me and said, "Oh, look everyone! It's him!"
Xandra's only response was a fake chuckle.
Carrying me to my fifth grade class's line, Herbertia finally set me down and said, "Here we are!" Then she kissed me on the lips, much to the shock of the other students.
I blushed with a shy laugh. "Um... Herbertia...?" I told her. "Could we do this kind of stuff after school?"
"But I thought you said it was okay for couples to make out in school," puzzled Herbertia.
I did say that, but I just remembered that these fifth and sixth graders were still not mature enough to take making out seriously—though Hobbs Sydnor did date Ilana Symington who was a former crush of mine in this timeline.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvINYrl9lUu
Still... I deep down knew that, had it been Xandra who kissed me in that moment, I wouldn't had even complained about being embarrassed. And I... just didn't want Xandra thinking that I wasn't available. Wait... why would I think that way? Herbertia was my girlfriend now; I... What was I thinking?
"I guess I was just thinking about my college experience too much," I whispered to Herbertia, responding to her puzzling. "I've overlooked the fact that lots of these kids are pretty immature about other people's relationships and not their own."
"Wow!" exclaimed Herbertia. "That's not fair!" She looked to them and shouted, "HEY, YOU IMBECILES! HAVEN'T YOU EVER SEEN A GIRLFRIEND KISS HER BOYFRIEND BEFORE?!"
And on a side note, THAT KIND OF TALK WAS GOING TO RUIN MY CHANCES WITH XANDRA—wait, what was I saying?! Herbertia was my girlfriend now! Why was I still talking about Xandra?!
One of the teachers, a middle-aged lady feline with the face of a trout (I recognized but forgot her name), grabbed Herbertia by the ear and said, "We don't call people imbeciles at this school. I will see you at lunch."
Knowing Herbertia was in trouble, 1098 quickly stepped out of the sixth grade line, went to the teacher and said, "I'm sorry for her behavior, Miss. I am currently her counselor who tries to keep her in line." She then stood in her toes to whisper near the teacher's ear, "She has a disorder that causes her to go ballistic at times. I will do everything I can to keep her in line today."
"Just see that you do," said the teacher while escorting Herbertia over to 1098.
As for Herbertia, she was shocked! She couldn't believe that 1098, after all the fights they had, did that for her. "Wow, um, 1098..." said Herbertia with a shy smile before shaking her hand, "thanks!"
"No problem," said 1098, also shaking her hand—but not smiling. I guess that Effects felt they were too intelligent to smile or something....
"Nice to meet you!" greeted a girl from behind Herbertia and 1098. Herbertia turned around as the girl held out her hoof and continued, "I'm Ilana!" Yup. That was definitely Ilana; just younger now that we were back in the past.
"Nice to meet you!" Herbertia said before shaking her hand. "I'm Herbertia!"
Well-well-well; looks like one of my old crushes, Ilana, was acting all friendly to Herbertia. Too bad Herbertia didn't know that Ilana was one of the people—besides Xandra—who too made fun of me behind my back, back in this time! I suppose you're wondering why I even had feelings for Xandra after all the trouble she put me through. Too bad! I was still going to give it a shot at being her boyfriend regardless! She was the perfect being with her flawless looks and voice—and being taller than me, woo!—so she was worth pursuing no matter what I knew or didn't. That and... she revealed to me it was her fault that she became the way she did. So it was my responsibility to fix things now!
Wait... I was already hooked up with Herbertia! AH! Why'd I even agree to it?! Herbertia must had gotten me so caught up in the moment that I'd completely forgotten my end goal for returning to this timeline in the first place!
"Nice to meet you!" another girl greeted Herbertia and 1098. "I'm Zine Xiomar!" Zine was a tall, lanky goose with far-spaced eyes and brunette, somewhat curly hair.
"Nice to meet you, Zine!" said Herbertia, shaking her hand.
"Nice to meet you," said 1098, only shaking Zine's hand once she offered.
Little did they know that Zine was merely a member of Ilana's clique; as were Xiomara, Gylda and Hyacinth. These girls were the next people to greet 1098 and Herbertia. Gylda was a tall squirrel with light-orange and somewhat wavy hair; and Hyacinth a much shorter cat with quite the pretty face and blonde shoulder-length hair.
As for me, just when I was about to make my way to Xandra, three boys came to greet me. These boys were Rye, Graysen and Kip. (Kip was a very short hippo, even shorter than Nydia, and looked a lot like Rye except he was... well, shorter and stubbier.) Between myself and them, we were the only four boys in our fifth grade class.
"Hi there, I'm Rye. Nice to meet you," he said and shook my hand.
"Nice to meet you, Rye," I said, shaking his hand and trying to keep a straight face just as he was doing. I wanted to fit in, y'know?
"Nice to meet you!" Graysen greeted me as well—and he showed happy excitement. "I'm Graysen!" he said, shaking my hand.
"Nice to meet you too, Graysen!" I said, shaking his hand too.
"I'm Kip!" said Kip, not showing any excitement (just like Rye) as he greeted me. "Nice to meet you!" he said while shaking my hand.
"Nice to meet you, Kip!" I said, shaking his in the process.
"And you are...?" Graysen urged me to tell him my name.
"Ikjot," I replied.
"Ikjot?" asked Rye. "Nice name!"
"Thanks!" I replied. "You too!"
"Hey!" said Xandra to her girls. "Since he's a loser, let's go act kind and compliment him for laughs!"
Nydia puzzled, saying, "Wow; that's kind of... mean, isn't it—?"
Xandra gasped and told Nydia, "Are you questioning me...?"
Nydia was a bit reluctant to say it. "Well, um...." But she found the courage to speak her mind. "Yes...."
Xandra became sad. "Oh, I see..." she said, looking down depressed. "I guess my ideas are dumb...."
"What...?" puzzled Nydia. "No no, not at all! You're very smart, Xandra!"
Keeping that depressed face, Xandra looked back to Nydia and said, "Then, will you do this for me and the girls...?"
"Of course!" Nydia happily said. "Anything for you! I mean, you said we were friends after all!"
Xandra hugged Nydia and said, "I love you!" Then she commanded to all of the girls, "Now, let's get a move on!"
Following Xandra, they headed in my direction. Soon, Xandra stopped behind me. "Hey!" she greeted me. I turned my head while she continued with that straight face of hers, "I'm Xandra, and wow!" She pointed down at my long dress pants, smiling to my face. "You sure know how to dress professionally for school!"
I blushed, not knowing she was just making fun of me with that statement. "Why, thank you, Xandra!" I responded happily. "Nice to meet you too! I'm Ikjot!"
"Nice to meet you, Ikjot!" she replied. I was waiting for her to shake my hand, but she didn't.
Instead, it was Orabel who offered me her own hoof and greeted, "Nice to meet you, Ikjot! I'm Orabel!"
"I'm Ikjot!" I said, shaking Orabel's hoof—sadly not Xandra's hand. "Nice to meet you, Orabel!"
On a side note, Orabel was one of my past enemies. But now that I was back in time, I could probably change that; make sure that she and I would be the BEST of friends—forever!
"Hi, Ikjot!" Voleta said while shaking my hand. "I'm Voleta!"
"Nice to meet you, Voleta!" I happily said, shaking hers before gesturing to myself. "Ikjot!"
"Pleased to meet you, Ikjot!" happily said Voleta. "Cool name!"
"Thanks!" I happily said. "Same to you, Voleta!"
"Nice to meet you!" Helena said while shaking my hand next. "I'm Helena!"
"Nice to meet you too, Helena!" I said, shaking hers. "I'm Ikjot!"
"Nice to meet you!" Piper greeted me. "I'm Piper!" she said, offering me her hand.
"Nice to meet you, Piper!" I said, shaking her hand. "I'm Ikjot!"
"Hi!" Nydia greeted me too. "I'm Nydia!" she said, shaking my hand.
"Nice to meet you, Nydia!" I said, shaking her hand as well. "Ikjot!"
"Oh, that's your name?!" Nydia asked me, happy and enthused. "Nice to meet you, Ikjot!"
"Nice to meet you too, Nydia!"
Some people—i.e. Yosef and Wynfred—were too shy to greet me. But since they were standing right in front of my face, I could tell that they wanted to. So I offered my hand to the both of them, one at a time, and said, "I'm Ikjot! Nice to meet you!"
"Hi, Ikjot," Wynfred said, shaking my hand with a small smile of hers and looking down. "I'm Wynfred."
"Hi, Ikjot," Yosef said while shaking my hand next. "I'm Yosef."
"Nice to meet you, Wynfred and Yosef!" I said while shaking Yosef's hand and speaking to them both.
"Nice to meet you," replied Wynfred.
"Nice to meet you, Ikjot," replied Yosef.
"So, Ikjot," Xandra said to me, "where are you from?"
"I'm from Ultramodern Lionello, Olifat," I replied to her. (Just a reminder, Ultramodern Lionello was a city in the state of Olifat—the first state of Fletcher that I ever lived in.)
"Oh, I see!" said Xandra. "So you moved from there because of the hurricane?"
Okay... SO SORRY for not pointing this out earlier. My home city, Ultramodern Lionello, was one of the places hit by a hurricane that came upon Olifat—and a few other states back in '05. This was a sad time for many people... but it didn't stop Xandra and these other students from showing no mercy to me back in these days—at least the first time around when I wasn't an extrovert.
"Yeah," I replied to Xandra. "It was pretty awful."
"So I've heard," she replied.
Meanwhile, Herbertia was a little uncomfortable... okay, VERY uncomfortable about all those girls surrounding me. "Why on Earth are all those girls talking to my man?" she groaned to 1098.
"Oh, come on, Herbertia..." said 1098. "It's not like they're hitting on him or anything."
"Yeah...? Well I still don't trust it...." And so, Herbertia yelled over to them, "WHY DON'T YOU PIGS GO FIND YOUR OWN MAN! THAT ONE'S TAKEN BY ME—"
1098 immediately covered Herbertia's mouth and shushed her. She whispered, "Do you want to ruin Ikjot's chances of setting things right with Xandra?!"
"Setting things right with Xandra?!" muffled Herbertia, angrily looking 1098's way. "What about starting things up with me?!"
1098 knew all too well that I still had feelings for Xandra, and us talking with one another wasn't changing that. But she didn't want Herbertia to know this because... it probably would have broken her heart.
***
In Sanne, Marta was also at school right now—an all-girls private school called Plowe Flowers Academy, which held grades K through twelfth (mine held grades below K through eighth). She walked down the halls while girls greeted her with happily saying, "Hey, Marta!" and, "What's up, Marta?!" and, "How you been, Marta?!" Wow! Apparently, this Marta girl was pretty popular compared to me. Though... she didn't reply to any of them because she was still feeling down about her love troubles.
"Hi, Marta!" Ram happily greeted while standing in front of her.
But Marta looked down with sadness, walked around Ram and headed to her locker.
"What's wrong, Marta?" asked Ram while Marta opened her locker and got her books.
"Oh, nothing..." said Marta, closing her locker upon getting all the books she needed. "Just still looking for that special guy... that's all."
Ram placed a hand on her shoulder and eagerly said, "Marta, we're goin' to make sure you find your dream guy, one way or another!"
"That's right, Marta!" said the school principal, Penelope Plowe (even though she was presently just a twelve-year-old) standing behind Marta and Ram and gaining their attention. Really the only difference with her past self, appearance-wise, was she used to wear just the gray T-shirt and kept her hair in a ponytail... but still sported the ball cap. "Why, you're only a girl from the best academy of female power this side of Sanne!"
"'Only...?' " Marta quoted one of the words from Penelope's sentence, not sure if she was being belittled or not.
"What I mean is that this school is full of the hottest girls on all the island, and you being from here just puts you into the category of one of those girls," Penelope replied (while her stooge, Simona, came to stand beside her). "So no guy could possibly resist you unless they're unaware of what beauty is."
"The problem isn't trying to make a guy like me, but trying to make me like a guy," blankly replied Marta.
Penelope paused.... "Oh!" she realized. "Well, maybe you're just too good for guys then."
Marta looked down, shook her head and said, "It's not that. It's just that I can't find a guy that I'm interested in—"
"I stand corrected," interrupted Penelope. "You're just too good for guys."
"But I don't wanna be! I wanna feel below just one special guy out there who makes me melt upon seeing him. I want a guy who I feel subordinate to just because of their looks alone, let alone any of his other perks and qualities."
"Girl, you crazy?" puzzled Penelope, raising her eyebrow. "You shouldn't feel that way towards a guy. If anything, it's us girls who're supposed to make them feel subordinate to us; not the other way around. Remember, we girls are the rulers of the world. No man has control over us."
Marta and Ram confusedly looked to each other....
"But... what's so important about us being superior?" Marta asked Penelope while looking back to her.
"What's so important?!" exclaimed Penelope. "Simona!" she called for her stooge. "Play me a record!"
"Yes, Penelope," replied Simona, obediently placing a record on a record player.
An instrumental began as all the girls began tap-dancing—while Penelope jigged up and down and sang to Marta, "♪ Girls have power, tell ya girls have power. ♪" She fantasized herself standing on top of the world. "♪ Why you think, to us, boys are inferior? ♪" Back in reality, she placed her arm around Marta's shoulder and sang, "♪ You gotta understand that, as a girl... ♪" and touched her chest, "♪ you rule the man. ♪" Then she dancingly walked off.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02QvjKYyB4
"♪ Oooooooooooh-oooooooooooh-oooooooooooh, ♪" hummed the other girls. And in between their second and third oooooooooooh, Penelope sang, while gliding across the floor and to the back door, "♪ You rule the maaaaan. ♪"14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTiTCscNLg
Penelope then walked on the door and headed for the ceiling while singing, "♪ You say it's love you need? You can get it from ya peeps. ♪" Then she walked on the ceiling. "♪ But when it comes from boys, they will always become creeps. ♪"
Seeing Penelope do this kind of walk, especially on the ceiling, made Marta and Ram look to each other with puzzle.
"♪ Without girls around, love's somethin'... ♪" continued Penelope, "♪ that they'd not need. ♪" Then she leaped off the ceiling and fell back to the floor on her knees, sliding to Marta and Ram. "♪ When will they see... that they're obsessed with me? ♪" Then Penelope put shades on, bobbing her head. "♪ To all you boys, I say... we're not property. ♪" Then other students stood side-by-side with Penelope, singing with her. "♪ To all you girls, I say... we are freeee... 'cause we rule the man. ♪"
"♪ Oooooooooooh-oooooooooooh-oooooooooooh, ♪" hummed the other girls. And in between their second and third oooooooooooh, Penelope sang, fast kicking her feet, "♪ We rule the maaaaan. ♪"
Then the instrumental turned more upbeat. Ram was bobbing her head cheerfully but Marta just had folded arms, watching them.
Penelope got in Marta's face, pointing at her while singing, "♪ Girls are smart and boys are duuuumb. They're below and we're abovvvve. ♪" Then Penelope was grooving in sync with the other girls. "♪ And they say we talk too muuuuch. ♪" Then Penelope and those girls unveiled axes. "♪ Join me, girl, we'll shut them uuuuup. ♪"
"CHRIST!" exclaimed Marta.
Penelope took Marta's hand, dancing with her. "♪ We'll show them girls are enoooough. ♪" And the other girls (minus Marta and a grooving Ram) sang with Penelope, kicking their feet. "♪ Girl power stands strong and toooough. Yeah, boys, we callin' your bluuuuffs. With our hurt and with our worth... every girl rulin' this eaaaarth and, by our hands... we rulin' maaaan. ♪"
"WOO!" cheered Ram, raising a fist happily. "Yeah! Rule the MAN!" And with that, she joined hands with the others.
At the same time, the students who hadn't joined hands were break dancing but also singing with the rest of the song.
"♪ Oooooooooooh-oooooooooooh-oooooooooooh, ♪" hummed the other girls (except Marta). And in between their second and third oooooooooooh, Penelope sang, "♪ I rule the maaaaan. ♪"
"♪ Oooooooooooh-oooooooooooh-oooooooooooh ♪," hummed the other girls again, releasing Penelope and Marta from their crowd. And in between their second and third oooooooooooh, Penelope while happily looking down at Marta and grooving in place, still with those shades on, sang, "♪ You rule the maaaaan. ♪"
"♪ Oooooooooooh-oooooooooooh-oooooooooooh ♪," hummed all the girls, all joining in a cancan before Marta. And in between their second and third oooooooooooh, Penelope sang, grooving and pointing at Marta, "♪ We rule the maaaaan. ♪"
Seconds later, the song ended.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjznV1mGU6j
"So, Marta..." Penelope asked while lowering the sunglasses to reveal her eyes, "do you understand now that you rule the man?"
Marta scratched her head. "Um... yeah," she replied. "But what does that have to do with me finding my knight in shining armor?" she said while fantasizing his appearance with admiration clear as her suddenly dazed, sparkling eyes and big hopeful smile.
With that, all of the girls fell to the floor, realizing that Marta completely missed their point.
Seeing that the girls all dropped their axes, Ram cheered, "Oooh, free axes!" And she walked around collecting them in her arms.
***
As for me, it was probably five minutes until all the students would have to leave the courtyard and head to their classrooms. While I was so busy talking to Xandra and the other girls of my class's line, I had no idea what was going on in Herbertia and 1098's line—simply because I wasn't paying attention to them.
"So, you from here?" Azure Quayle (another one of my old enemies, by my own fault) asked Herbertia. Azure was a tall, lanky cat with somewhat big eyes and blonde hair in a bowl cut with sharp bangs.
"Yeaaaaah?" Herbertia told Azure, feeling awkward about his question and expecting him to know that she was a Righteous Korrigan native. "I was born here!"
"Cool," said Yevgeny Overton, another one of my old enemies (by my own fault). Yevgeny was a very short light-brown bear, with round glasses and was quite stocky in shape. He had low-cut orange hair with sharp bangs.
"I'm sorry! I forgot to introduce myself to you too!" Azure apologized to 1098 with shaking her hand.
"It is a pleasure to meet you," she replied to him. "I am 1098."
"1098...?" puzzled Azure. "Your name is a number?"
"That it is."
"Oh, wow!"
"Indeed."
There went 1098 again... embarrassing me. And as for Azure and Yevgeny... long story short in my original past, I started talking back and standing up to Hobbs and his boys who had been bullying me, but I took it too far when I started talking tough to people like Azure and Yevgeny too. And so they were two of most people of the sixth grade class who grew to hate me... back in my original past at least. Thank goodness that time machine now would grant me the chance to fix this mistake also.
I supposed that someone was going to try hitting on Herbertia. The question was, would she hit on them back? Or would she tell them to get lost for the sake of our relationship? Of course, who was I to want her to be faithful to me when I wasn't even being faithful to her?
"So, Ikjot, what are your hobbies?" Orabel asked me.
"I like stuff that has to do with art—such as writing stories, drawing and such," I told her.
"Woooow!" said Orabel with a suddenly big smile and eyes. "You're an artist?!"
I smiled back, happy myself from her enthusiasm and said, "Oh, yeah! And aside from that, I also like listening to music, watching TV... and being a bum, of course."
Orabel laughed and said, "Oh, I completely get that!"
I looked down with a shy, guilty smile and shrug. I said, "It's pretty bad; I know—"
"No, I love being a bum too!" Orabel happily interrupted and told me.
"Wow, really?!"
"Yeah!"
"Well, alright then!"
Orabel and I had never socialized like this in person before. If anything, she once spent almost twenty minutes trying to get me to say a single word, anything at all, to her. Those days were over... and something like that would never ever happen again! I was going to make sure of it....
With the little time I had left before classes would start, I decided to get in some more words with Xandra.... Well, at least I wanted to until I discovered I was now stuck in a conversation with Orabel.
"So, do you like anime?" Orabel happily asked me.
"Oh, yeah!" I happily told her.
"Cool; me too!" she said, giving me a high-five.
"Hey, ladies, why not let this guy talk to us guys instead?!" Rye joked to Orabel.
"It's cool, Rye!" I told him. "Orabel and I are having a lot of fun!"
Orabel gave me an awkward expression and said, "Oooo-kaaaaaaay...."
Yeah, that was the weird thing about Orabel: You never knew when she'd consider a statement you made as an innuendo. So far, all I had to do was watch what I said to people. As long as I kept that in mind, my plans to repair my past were golden.
"Hmm...?" I puzzled to her. "What's up?"
"Nothing," said Rye, breaking my conversation with her. "She's just being weird."
"I am not weird!" said Orabel while Rye and his boys laughed. They didn't mean any harm though; they were just having fun!
Though, I did remember Rye pulling on Xandra's backpack before, just to be a jerk. I wondered though, would I have the guts to confront Rye in the event that he was mean to Xandra again? I'd have to if I wished to keep my friendship with Xandra—who I wasn't scoring many points with right now! Come on, Orabel! GET OUT OF THE WAY!
Just then, the bell rang, and all of the teachers stood before their classes. When they started walking towards the inside building, that was it; we had to follow. Darn! I didn't get much time with Xandra yet... but I sure intended to. Little did I know that while we walked—and I was too distracted on keeping up with the teacher—Xandra and her girls giggled to each other about all the kindness they feigned towards me, followed by whispering mean things about me.
"What a loser!" whispered Xandra to Piper with a giggle.
"I know, right?!" whispered Piper, also with a giggle.
***
In every class, there was a TV hooked up to the wall. Once all classes were settled, our morning announcements would begin, which informed us of some events taking place, student council plans and our lunch menu. Students, who were recruited outside from their morning lines by our P.E. coach, were chosen to make these announcements.
"Today, our student council decided to have a vote on what color our lunch trays should be," said an orange cat with braces and long, fluffed blonde hair on the TV (her name was Yida Villamar, another one of Ilana's followers). "We have a choice of blue, yellow or green."
Wait... I just noticed something... THESE WERE ALL GIRL SPEAKERS! One female after another, they gave an announcement! I couldn't believe that I hadn't noticed that the first time around back in 2005!
After the announcements were done, our classes began our daily work. For Herbertia and 1098's sixth grade class, Sister Nylah Zita Fix (often just named "Sister Nylah Zita") started off with her Religion teachings. This would normally last an hour, or an hour and thirty minutes, before a thirty minute break or something... or was it my class (Mrs. Ives' class) that took breaks like those? Man, it had been so long that I couldn't remember.
As for my class, we started off with English lessons. I was hoping that I'd score a seat next to Xandra... BUT INSTEAD, I WOUND UP SITTING NEXT TO KIP! OF ALL THINGS, WHY THAT DANG KID KIP?!
Will Ikjot fulfill his goal to get close to Xandra? Find out in the next chapter of Something!
***
Things are getting heated in our next chapter of Something! Family drama going on among the fake families of Ikjot and the gang?! Vicky, why are you mad at SOMER?!
"ADMIT IT!" said Vicky while angrily standing up. "WE ALL HEARD YOU, SOMER!"
"GUYS, LOOK!" said Somer, trying to calm the situation. "THERE MUST BE A MISUNDERSTANDING HERE!"
And Marta's not having too good of a time either in Sanne! Her older sister's looking for a fight... and Penelope might just give her one!
Penelope came flying in from above and landed in front of Tiane. She said, "Hi-YAH!"
It's action personified... next chapter of Something!
***
Something14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvEqVSTLL7
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TFDd11DxB
Ikjot Learns About Rye
***
♪ Yes, I didn't talk to anyone. ♪14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfKMATGbdm
♪ I was made fun of by everyone. ♪14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiPJOMyQ2M
♪ It's something I wish could be undone. ♪14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnR03gMklDZ
♪ She asked me. I wish I'd had respond. ♪14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHioPmxudW
♪ But hear me out: We're all worth being loved! ♪14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcRd7yhglN
♪ Please hear me out: We're all worth being loved! ♪14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeusg4MLMuq
♪ I'm crying out: We're all worth being loved! ♪14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9LMjqtoQK
♪ I have no doubt we're all worth being loved! ♪
♪ Please, I beg you all, let's become friends! ♪14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvQSnWWSAB
♪ Let's not judge each other by what's been! ♪14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPZJrNLrIm
♪ It was years ago! It came and went! ♪14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PleqrKA76
♪ That's a past chapter! New one begins! ♪
***
© 2013 Trerchry.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxh58f5ofxx
All Rights Reserved.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLjMGhpu8G
