A City Story: The Next Day... Chapter 2

[Misty]

(The color change is an awesome idea for language change)

Felix sat at lunch, only half listening to Chase and Falconer. In fact, he wasn't really listening at all. There wasn't much excitement in it: lacrosse, working out, drills, hot girls. He picked at his homemade sandwhich with mild interest, nibbling at the crusty edges. He was going to get into dancing; it didn't matter what part of town or what planet he came from-Royale, Subterrean, Mars! Dancing was a universal language. Sure, some styles were typically associated with certain places. But a great dancer could master every style.

Glancing around the room, Felix noticed Odette not too far away sitting with the cheerleaders. They chattered away, laughing, probably talking about cheering, stretching, hot guys, and other girl stuff as Odette sat quietly, her binder closed on the table beneath her sandwhich.

Perhaps it wasn't quite the right option to get her to join the outside world, forcing her to join lacrosse with him, but she was getting out!

He grinned.

And meeting some dudes.

[Tinuviel]

Dara nervously played with her bracelet as her mom pulled into the school parking lot. This is going to be horrible. Everyone will have their own friends and I'll be left alone. I hate this. Why can't I just stay home? She tried to shake off the tight feeling in her stomach but it didn't work. They parked and entered the building. Mrs. Talaith briskly led the way in her professional navy suit with black pumps clicking along the linoleum floor. Dara followed slowly behind in her orange sundress, flip flops and brown leather messenger bag across her shoulder. Her long curly hair was carelessly braided down her back. They turned a corner and entered a musty room. A disgruntled woman spoke while her eyes stayed trained on the computer screen in front of her. "How can I help you." It wasn't a question, just a line to say.

Clara Talaith put on her best hostess smile. "I'm here with my daughter, Adara Talaith--we have a meeting with the principal, and I was wonderi--"

"Just go in." with a nod behind her.

Ignoring the lack of enthusiasm, they entered the principal's office. The middle-aged balding man looked up and rustled through the stacks of papers on his desk upon hearing of Dara's situation. "hmm...Talaith...T...schedule...on here somewhe--Here it is!" He handed a schedule, map, and student orientation packet to Dara. "Unfortunately, we don't have tours for mid year transfers. All the students are at lunch now, though--just head down that hall and take a left. I'm sure you can find someone to help you get around. It was very nice meeting you Mrs. Talaith, but I'm afraid I have to get back to work." With that he led them out and closed his office door.

Dara looked at her mom one last time. "The best school in the country? Really?"

"The academics really are spectacular. You'll love it once you get used to it! Now head off to lunch. I'll pick you up at 3." Then, not giving Dara a chance to interrupt, she turned around and clicked out the door.

Sighing deeply, Adara made her way to the cafeteria. She saw exactly what she had expected. Jocks. Cheerleaders. Cliques. She sat down at a table near the back of the room and self-conciously pulled out her salad which she ate while looking over her schedule.

And to think this is only the beginning...

[Anwen]

Gillean walked into the cafeteria slightly later than usual (his Latin teacher had stopped to chat with him) so most of the chairs were taken. He walked over to a table near the back of the room. The girl sitting there was vaguely familiar,... but not from school. He walked over and began to speak.

"Hello, my name is Gillean. What's yours?"

Oops.

"Sorry, I just got back from Latin class. Do you mind if I sit here?" She was quite beautiful! Those thick lashes and grey eyes were riveting. She must be new here. Otherwise she'd have a clique... He realized he was staring at her and allowed his eyes to stray from her face.

[Tinuviel]

Dara couldn't focus on the papers in front of her. I feel so conspicuous and so invisible at the same time...everybody and nobody notices me. She looked up as a tall guy in a leather jacket approached her lonely table. He cheerfully said something in Latin and then asked to sit down.

"Sure." she said, smiling. "Hey, did I see you at the lacrosse party last night? I'm Dara by the way."

He seems nice--certainly not afraid of people. I could learn something from this kid.

[Anwen]

Ohhh... So that was where he had seen her before.

"Thanks! Yes, I did see you at the party. Nice to meet you, I'm Gillean." He stuck his right hand out to shake while finding his lunch with his left. A ham and cheese sandwich with the ham a 1/4" thick rather than paper thin. He liked to eat hearty.

"So, where are you from?" He asked right before taking his first bite of sandwich.

[Tinuviel]

In between bites of her salad with feta and strawberries, Dara kept up conversation with Gillean.

"We just moved into the city from Korrel, the agriculture center. My father supervised grain importation into the capital. Now he's working in the city and we've left the boonies for good."

She took another bite and shuffled through her papers.

"How old are you? We might have some classes together this afternoon."

I hope so--he's the first person who seems to care about my story. He's not bad looking either.

[Anwen]

She was a natural beauty.Her long lashes were framing large, beautiful grey eyes. I could be told she was a nymph or a fairy and I wouldn't know the truth from the lies. Gillean realized he was staring at her again and quickly took another bite of his sandwich.

"I'm seventeen. And this afternoon I have Pre-Calc, OneNation Government, and Physics." He looked at her with a queer smile. "In case you were wondering, the Gov. class was my dad's idea." He brought his sandwich to his lips. "What are you taking?"

"I'm taking English and Composition, Philosophy, Latin, Pre-calc, Government, and Chemistry."

"That's great! I guess I'll see you in Pre-Calc then." Gil said, grinning. He ate the last bite of his sandwich and then walked away.

[Cytherea]

Endosi walked into the cafeteria and saw lots of people.
Wow. This is amazing. It's so much bigger than my other school.
Without thinking, she got a lunch, and sat down at the nearest table. She stared in awe at the huge room and at all the students. She finally turned to her lunch and looked up. There was a boy sitting across from her, staring at her uncertainly. He was very handsome, with wavy black hair and dark brown eyes. She put down her spoon and smiled at him.
"Hi. I'm sorry. Was this spot open?"

[Lithium's CPU]

A pair of roughly and darkly dressed Subterrean boys laughed as they approached the school.

"This is going to be the best yet. That'll show those prissy Royales we mean business."

They slipped through the front door and ran up the stairs. Making their way down the hall to an abandoned classroom, they shuffled through their pockets for something. One carried a bright red plastic canister marked Helioline, a fast-burning fuel that lets off massive amounts of heat when burned.

They douzed the empty classroom's floor in the sweet-smelling fuel, stepped from the door and lit a match.

They dropped it onto the carpet and everything was ablaze in one large woosh.

They hightailed it out of the school and disappeared without a trace into Subterria.

The computer system of the school, sensing the fire, turned on the alarm to evacuate the school while the firemen came. The sirens were piercing and excruciatingly loud.

[Your choice: will your character try to help put out the fire, will they rescue people or will they evacuate the building? There is no wrong choice.]

[Cytherea]

Everybody in the cafeteria suddenly jolted from their seats and ran out of the room, most of the girls screaming. Endosi sat there, wondering what in the world was going on.
Until she heard it.
"A fire alarm? Oh, I hope it's a drill!"
Endosi rushed from the cafeteria, but had no idea where the others went. She turned left and ran into a room.
"Aah! No, this is no drill!"
The room was in blazes, and she didn't dash away from it in time. One of the flames chewed at her pants and her leg. She batted it, and tried to put it out. When she finally extinguished it she ran the opposite direction.
I have no idea where I'm going or what I'm doing! This school is so new to me! Nobody knows I'm in here, either... I have to yell!
"Help! Help!... Help!"
She didn't know what else to yell, but she hoped somebody would hear her.
Anybody.

[Anwen]

Gillean had been preparing for his next class at his locker when the fire alarm rang. As soon as the shrill sound met his ears, he picked up his backpack and hurried towards the exit. The hallways were already filled with smoke when Gil heard a scream for help! Running/crouching, he hurried towards the sounds of a girl's terror. I hope she stops screaming soon, He thought, the smoke'll hurt her lungs! He finally found her desperately trying to open each door. In another setting, she might have been exquisitly cute, but right now, she was somewhat messy. "Hey. Come here. You need to try to keep from inhaling the smoke. Get down, cover your mouth, and follow me. We'll get out of here safely." Gillean gave her a quick smile, and then turned to lead the way out.

[Cytherea]

Endosi quickly looked at whoever was calling her over. She turned her big, watering eyes towards them and then coughed, vehemently. She started making her way to them, but the smoke was so thick.
Ugh... I can barely see... What's he telling me to do?
The boy was saying something to her, but she couldn't hear. She couldn't hold her breath any longer either, and let it out, also inhaling a big whiff of smoke. She tried to cough but couldn't anymore, and passed out onto the floor.

[Anwen]

Gil turned back just in time to see the girl pass out. Oh no! He thought, as he did what any gentleman would do, and scooped her up. He ran through the school with her. The flames licked greedily at the floor and walls behind them. Hot gusts of air blew through his hair or sent sparks spinning wildly down. He was nearly to the exit! He would make it through!

Suddenly, the frames of the great double doors of the school burst into flame.

I don't have time to think. Only act. The doors are no good. The glass will be very hot and if I try to open them I might bring the doorway down on me. Maybe...

Gil rushed into the nearest room, put the girl down, and kicked out one of the windows. He saw his friend, Reynard O'Shea, staring at the school, a horrified and shocked expression on his face. "Hey Reynard!" Gil beckoned and he hurried over. Gil passed the girl over to Reynard just as the fire roared into the room, an inferno now.

"Get out of here!" He yelled at Reynard. "I can't get out unless you move!" Reynard stumbled away from the furnace that was once a school as Gillean tumbled over the sill, his leg on fire. Gillean continued to roll until his fiery clothing was put out. The sirens continued to wail, as the fire department and some ambulances came on the scene. It was too late for the school.

[Cytherea]

Endosi woke up in the arms of a teenaged boy. She blinked, her eyes still a bit watery.
Fire engine sirens wailed, and Endosi looked for the red trucks.
"I'm sorry. Are you all right?" said the boy holding her.
"I... I'm fine." she said, shakily. The boy put her down, and she immediately fell down. She bit her lip to stop from crying out in pain, and hesitantly looked at her leg.
That's a second degree burn, at the least. I need medical attention before it gets worse.
"Hey, are you okay?" the boy asked her.
"No. Please get somebody who can take me to the hospital."
The boy nodded and ran off, and then the boy who had found her walked over to her.
"I'm sorry I passed out." Endosi said with a cringe. "I couldn't hear what you were telling me." She turned her green eyes upon him and offered a smile. "I suppose you were telling me to stop yelling."

[Anwen]

[glow=blue,2,300]GILLEAN[/glow] Gil had to grit his teeth as he lay on the snow, looking up at the smoke filled sky. Yup, I definitely got burnt. With a groan, he pushed himself up, little by little, and took a look at himself. Right arm? Check. Left Arm? Check. Both legs in place? Check. He had first degree burns here and there on his legs and right arm, but his left arm worried him. Second degree maybe? Or just a bad first degree. It was beginning to blister...

He looked up and saw that the girl that he had helped out of the building had regained consciousness. And sent Reynard on a mission. Gil walked over to her and, was about to speak, when she beat him to it.

"I'm sorry I passed out." The girl said, cringing as if she couldn't believe she had passed out. "I couldn't hear what you were telling me." She smiled apolegetically. "I suppose you were telling me to stop yelling."

"As a matter of fact, I was." Gillean barely noticed her face, his eyes were not focusing very well. He finally looked over at her again and foced himself to concentrate. "I'm Gillean. What's your name?"

[Cytherea]

"As a matter of fact, I was." Gillean barely noticed her face, his eyes were not focusing very well. He finally looked over at her again and forced himself to concentrate. "I'm Gillean. What's your name?"
"It's Endosi. Endosi Brightworth." she gave him her sweet smile. "My family just moved here. And what a day this first of school has brought for me!"
Her eyes narrowed down to his burns. She pushed herself up and limped towards him. She gently examined his arm as a light snow began to fall. A cold, snowy breeze gently made her hair swirl delicately.
"You've a pretty bad burn, second degree, I'd say. Does it hurt?" she said, looking up at him with her shining green eyes.

[Anwen]

"You've a pretty bad burn, second degree, I'd say. Does it hurt?"

Does it hurt...

"Does it hurt Gil? Are you alright? Should I get a bandage?" Gillean looked down at Maria's face, her blue eyes totally serious and eyebrows scrunched in a worried frown.

"I'm fine, it only hurts a little." He smiled down at her and put his hand on her mussed up thick blonde hair. Wait... Maria had black hair. Not blonde!
Gil started as he realized that his hand was on the girl's, what was her name; Endosi's hair! He started, jerking his hand away suddenly. Reynard dashed up, too tired to even wink at Gil!

"The -- parmedics -- are on -- their way." Reynard said, staggering with exaustion. He looked up. "They'll take care of both of you."

"Good. That's good." Gillean said. He turned back to Endosi. "It does hurt, somewhat, but hopefully I'll get better in a day or two." He managed to focus on her large emerald eyes. "Are you hurt too? Or is it just smoke inhalation."

[Cytherea]

Endosi was startled as Gillean softly touched her hair. His eyes had a far away look in them.
Then, abruptly, he jerked his arm back. She was not sure what he had been thinking of, but whatever it had been, he had left it behind now. His eyes focused again.
"The -- parmedics -- are on -- their way." Reynard said, staggering with exaustion. He looked up. "They'll take care of both of you."
"Good. That's good." Gillean said. He turned back to Endosi. "It does hurt, somewhat, but hopefully I'll get better in a day or two." He managed to focus on her large emerald eyes. "Are you hurt too? Or is it just smoke inhalation."
She let out a light laugh.
"Probably both. I would have kept my mouth shut and tried to get out of the school without yelling, but I know basically nothing about the school. And, I doubt I will, either. It looks rather burnt now."

[Anwen]

"And, I doubt I will, either. It looks rather burnt now." Gil chuckled at this. But the laughter turned to coughing very quickly. I must have breathed in some smoke as well.

The paramedics came and took them to the ambulances. They were each in separate vehicles. At the hospital, Gil was diagnosed and bandaged where needed. And then his mother came and picked him up at the hospital.


Sorry for the 'summary' paragraph. I may fill it out later.

[Lithium]

~End of Day~