Chapter Text
Before The Bell
Sasha Waybright looked down at the slip of paper in her hands. It was her new schedule. Today was the first day of her Freshman year. Sasha had read it thoroughly during schedule pickup, but she hadn’t had a chance to really walk her classes and figure out the format of the school. Reading it one more time couldn’t hurt, she had a feeling she’d be glancing at this short piece of paper with generic font thousands more times today.
Name: Waybright, Sasha
Per. Subject Room Teacher
1 Algebra 1 320 Leedea
2 Health 108 Turner
3 Gen Phys Ed. GYM Floreshire
4 English 1 222 Wilkins
Lunch
5 Physical Sci 1 329 Hallette
6 Individual Phys Ed. GYM Parkerson
7 US History 1 213 Philp
She stared at It for a moment. After everything The girls had been through, surely this would be a breeze. After all, she was Sasha Waybright: Leader of the toads, Founder of the Amphjbian rebellion, and first lieutenant to Captain Grime. There was no way a thing like ninth grade and a new school would scare her. Why did Sasha even have to reassure herself of that. Stop second guessing things! Sasha yelled at herself silently.
She took a deep breath and kept walking forward. She was off to Math on the third floor, or she was supposed to be. Sasha had some other plans. There was still twenty minutes before the first bell. There was plenty of time. She headed down the hallway, hoping to find what she was looking for. Sasha got distracted for a moment, navigating through the twisty hallways. This was still gonna be easy, right? Sasha tried to remain sure of herself. This is going to be a piece of cake, Sasha reassured.
***
Marcy Wu stared at the large building standing before her. It seemed more intimidating now than it had before. “Marcy, you can do this. You’ve survived way way worse.” She whispered to herself. Marcy stepped forward slowly. She stopped at the bench outside. It was still slightly dark outside. Marcy didn’t necessarily want to sit here in the shaded morning but didn’t feel comfortable venturing inside until she was sure she was headed to the right place. Marcy slid her schedule out of the front pocket of her bag, holding it tightly in her hands.
Name: Wu, Marcy
Per. Subject Room Teacher
1 US History 1 213 Philp
2 English 1 222 Wilkins
3 Gen Phys Ed. GYM Thompsonburg
4 Accel. Algebra 331 Fensbee
Lunch
5 Apparel Textile 130 Kellet
6 Basic Media 105 Barlowe
7 Physical Sci 1 329 Hallette
Marcy had tried her best to memorize it before hand, but she let her nerves lead her to believe she hadn’t. US History was her first class. Simple. She just had to find the class room In a bout twenty minutes. Marcy stood up, wandering further down the cement sidewalk. It was hige and long. There were several entrances, but the main entrance was to crowded with excited seniors, neutral Juniors, and annoyed sophomores for her to make her way through.
It seemed like finally she’d found another entrance, slightly less crowded. Marcy took a breath walking closer and closer through the still massive group of people. She was excited for today, but also nervous. This whole thing was new, which Marcy knew wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Today would be fun, she knew it. Marcy also knew that today would be a lot more than fun. She kept taking deep breaths. In and Out. In and Out. Over and Over. Marcy was perfectly aware that when she was nervous her “condition” became worse. She tried not think about it to much, to avoid it happening.
Marcy didn’t want to be stuck in her own head again, both literally and figuratively. She kept breathing, walking deeper within her new school. She pushed her nerves away, or at least she tried. That was when she noticed a familiar face. Marcy tried her best to maintain her energy. She knew that if she broke into a run that not only would it violate school rules, but also put her in danger of having some sort of seizure, due to her injury. It had been almost two years now, and she was still effected.
She picked up speed little by little, making sure to be aware of her surroundings. Marcy had reached the person she was looking for. She jumped up behind her playfully. “Sash!” Marcy exclaimed loudly. It didn’t draw to much attention because everyone else in the area seemed to be just as loud. “Hey, Mar-Mar.” she responded turning to face her friend.
“Have you seen Anne anywhere yet?” Marcy asked hopeful. “No, I haven’t” it was like Marcy to ask about Anne first. Sasha tried not to show that it bothered her. It was great that Marcy cared so much about them. It really was. Sasha didn’t really know why it bugged her the way it did. “I was just going to look for you and Anne. Then I might have sort of kind of, not saying I did, gotten lost in this ridiculous hallway.”
Sasha added. “Wait how did you get in from back here?” She questioned. Marcy slightly giggled “I couldn’t get through the first entrance so I went around and found the entrance by the gym.” She answered. “Wow, I can count on you to know where all the entrances are. I could’ve been walking in normally, Instead of fighting my way through a gigantic crowd of people.” Sasha answered back. Marcy giggled. “Um, What class do you have first period?”
Sasha was desperately hoping to have classes with Anne and Marcy. This school was so much bigger, and the chance became less and less. She knew they wouldn’t have the same elective classes, but here’s hoping. Marcy looked down at the schedule that still remained in her hands. “US History. You?” It was obvious that all three of them would want to be In the same classes. Sasha’s face shifted slightly “Algebra” she said agitatedly.
“So your class is on the… third floor then, right?” Marcy asked as Sasha glanced back down. “Yeah, room 320.” She responded. “Ok, let’s go find some stairs. I’m going to room 213.” Marcy replied. Sasha smiled, “sounds good, Marcy.” She exclaimed shoving her schedule back into her pocket. “Come on!” Marcy pulled Sasha’s hand one direction. Her nerves seemed to vanish while she was talking to Sasha. The two took off in search for a stairwell.
***
Anne Boonchuy rushed to grab her back pack off the floor. She finally managed to grab it. She then reached for the handle that opened the door. “Have a good first day, น้ำผึ้ง“ Anne looked back at her Mom, sitting in the drivers seat of the car. “Thanks Mom, see you after school.” She answered pushing the door opened. “Don’t forget this!” Her mom called back. Anne turned back again. “Oh my frog!” Anne took the piece of paper out of her Moms hand.
“Thanks, again.” Anne said as she shut the car door. She waved as her mom’s car pulled away. Anne then glanced down at the paper in her hand. She couldn’t believe she’d almost forgotten something as important as her schedule. She glanced at the time on her phone. 7:15 AM. Anne still had about fifteen minutes to find her first class. She still didn’t remember which class It was though.
Name: Boonchuy, Anne
Per. Subject Room Teacher
1 English 1 222 Wilkins
2 Algebra 1 320 Leedea
3 Gen Phys Ed. GYM Copeland
4 Health 108 Turner
Lunch
5 US History 1 213 Philp
6 Physical Sci. 1 329 Hallette
7 Guitar 1 117 Hart
English was her first hour. She walked through the doors. Anne glanced around the commons, where the door let in. There was another set of doors across on the other side. She immediately noticed something. Anne walked over as quickly as possible. She quietly approached a blonde girl walking next to anotherr recognizable figure.
She threw her arms around the girl suddenly. “Hi Anne.” The blonde turned around, acting as if this was completely normal. The girl next to her turned as well. “Anne, your hair!” They exclaimed at the same time. She’d been wondering if they’d notice when they first saw her. “You like it?” She asked. “Do I ever!” Marcy answered with more excitement. “You finally did get a summer cut. I mean, Marcy’s only been suggesting it for years.” Sasha laughed.
Anne stroked her now slightly shorter hair. “Anyway, How’d you know it was me?” Anne asked. “Who else would be sneaking up behind me like that? Also, Marcy greeted me the same way this morning.” Sasha responded. “Anne! What class do you have first?!” Marcy questioned excitedly. “I don’t know Mar-Mar, one sec” Anne shoved her hand into the pocket of her bag pulling out her schedule.
“Did you even look at your schedule yet?” Marcy asked. “Yeah, I was just a little preoccupied.” Anne exclaimed. Sasha and Marcy both loomed over the paper in Anne’s hands. “We don’t have any classes together!” She complained loudly. “I can’t believe this.” Sasha stated. They were taking five of the same classes, how did they not have one together. “We all have gym at the same time, as long as all the classes use the same girls locker room, we’ll be together a little bit.”
It was obvious Anne was trying to look on the bright side. Sasha didn’t see how that was possible. “I guess.” Sasha answered grumpily, leading Anne and Marcy into laughter. “Ok. We really need to find the stairs, for real this time.” Marcy said. “I think I saw some to the left of the door I came in through, if you want me show you.” Anne offered.
“Yeah, that would be good.” Sasha answered sassily. The three girls headed for the stairs, talking as they walked. “This is the first time we don’t have any classes together. Do you think it’ll be ok?” Marcy asked. “Yeah, we have lunch on some days, and we also have maybe a little bit of gym.” Anne tried to comfort her, but really she needed comfort as well.
“Right?” She added, second guessing every word. “You two know that we’ll still be friends no matter what. Besides as long as we’re together we can take anything.” Sasha answered confidently. Maybe she didn’t have any classes with her besties, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t rock this whole day.
“I just hope people have matured enough over the summer to stop calling us the weird girls” Anne said. “Oh my frog, yes!” Marcy exclaimed. “Seriously though, we all get it, three girls who randomly disappear and reappear, they don’t have to label us for life.” Sasha had always been annoyed with their nickname. Teens could be cruel to each other.
As if it hadn’t been hard enough for the three to adjust back to school halfway through the 8th grade year already. They’d had extra work to do if they wanted to stay in the same grade as before, they had to get used to human grammar again (which they still weren’t accustomed to yet), they had to get used to normal food, and overall talking to human beings again.
The warning bell rang interrupting their thoughts. “We have one minute until class already!” Anne shouted. “Guess so, my phone says 7:29 AM” Sasha responded. “Go! We have to get to class!” Marcy exclaimed. “See you later!” Anne yelled back as she scrambled up the stairs. Marcy followed, griping the rail. Sasha sprinted up to the third floor. It seemed all three girls were separated again. It may only be for a short while, but it was never short knowing these three.