Wandering Fireflies

Chapter 1: Troublemakers

Song: Gives You Hell by The All-American Rejects

Being insanely energetic in the morning should be a crime.

"Please don't die! I love you. I care about you! Don't do this to me - please don't die on me!" I turned around to see my friend Katja Faye talking to her aloe vera plant. I immediately rolled my eyes.

"Seriously Katja? It's just a stupid plant. If it dies, just go get another one like you always do."

She gasped and caressed the dying plant in her arms. "Don't you listen to him Bobby the Seventh. I believe in you."

"Or you could just not buy another one. I mean, none of your plants have survived for long anyways so..." Katja just glared at Dashiell Benedict. The weird thing about these two is that they were dating. I mean, I don't have anything against either of them, but Katja was one the most popular girls at school and Dashiell...well...he was just a total loser that got picked on by everyone. What? It's the truth. That's why they kept their relationship a secret. It would completely destroy Katja's reputation.

The funny thing is that it's actually Dashiell who wants to keep it a secret. Katja's all for going public, but he refuses to let her throw away her reputation for him. That's pretty stupid if you ask me, but they've known each other since they were born so I guess it makes sense that he's trying to protect her.

"So are we all ready to go?"

"Yeah I guess." Katja frowned. "Hey Zaavan, what do you think principal Harrington wants to speak to us about? I mean, I'm kind of worried. What if we're in trouble?

I just shrugged. Honestly I didn't really care. I mean what was the point? "I guess we'll find out soon enough."

***
Katja and I both entered the principal's office and took a seat beside each other. I scanned the room and my eyes fell upon the one person I didn't want to see. Seriously?! He's here too? Great. Way to make a bad day worse. Vance Dallas. Captain of the school's hockey team, straight-A student and one of the most popular guys at school. Other than me of course. Oh, and did I mention that he's a complete jerk? Boy if looks could kill, with that glare that he was giving me right now, I'd be dead.

"Baby!!!" An overly perky blond kissed his cheek and sat down beside him. "Hey babe!" He smirked at me and I just rolled my eyes. So what if I was the only guy on both our teams who didn't have a girlfriend? At least I was free to do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted.

Suddenly, everyone went quiet as Mrs. Harrington strode into the room. Boy, was she mad.

"I am very disappointed with all of you. You are all better than this. What got into you?"

Well, she wasn't wrong. Only the exceptionally talented got into Audrey Maeve's School for the Exceptional and man, it certainly wasn't easy. That didn't stop anyone from causing trouble, though that was mainly because none of the staff did anything about it. That's why everyone got away with treating Dashiell like dirt.

"You know what. Don't answer that. Put your hand down Ms. Faye. It doesn't matter. In front of me, I have the astounding captains of many different competitive teams in the school."

Well duh.

"It is thus with deep sorrow and regret that I inform you all that the teams you are all the captains of will be cut for the rest of the year."

And that was when all chaos broke loose.

"WHAT?!"

"THAT'S NOT FAIR!"

"YOU CAN'T DO THAT!"

"ENOUGH! My decision is final. Should anyone have any issues with it, I will be more than happy to suspend them. Now, there is one more thing. After school, you will meet with your coaches to discuss certain...arrangements they have made. That is all for now. You are all dismissed. Hurry on to class now."