Annette’s P.O.V.

“Annette! Goodness, wake up!!!” shouted someone near me LOUDLY, disturbing the very peaceful slumber I just managed to slip into a few hours before.

I was half-conscious and I can faintly remember dreaming something. Something about… a forest. And running.

I sighed quietly. Well, there it goes again. I suppose I need to explain.

You see, my father --- Stephen Redstone--- was a very good runner. In fact, he was actually a member of the track team in his high school days and had won quite a number of awards. When I was young, he always tried practicing me near the border of Nuchart Forest. Then, we’d just have a picnic, explore the woods, and stuff like that. I wonder if he knows how much I miss it right now…

Anyway, now you know why that thought disturbed me.

Okay--- back to reality. Where was I? Oh… yeah. The voice. It was a girl. A voice of someone I seem to know very well--- but I just can’t remember. Well, you can’t blame moi. I am too tired to think. Actually, I am amazed how I even manage to process these thoughts, let alone dream; I expected a completely dreamless, unthinking night--- like being a kind of undead. What I did yesterday practically wiped out every bit of energy I had in me.

Well, at least I won’t get overweight--- and I get a lot of exercise.

Yeah, right. Too much exercise.

In response, I turned on the other side of bed and squeezed my pillow tighter.

Whatever. Go away, Owner-of-the-Voice. I need sleep… Sleep is the best thing in the world for me right now. I could never wish for anything much more than sleep--- and peace. And quiet. And to see Valerie the Cow in some kind of cage in a carnival--- with all the people gawking, pointing, and laughing as she shrieked like some sort of enraged baboon. Oh, how I hate her.

Now, that was a completely pleasant thought, wasn’t it?

“Hey, come on! We’re going to be late!” said the girl-voice frustratedly.

Excuse me.

Late? What ‘late’? What’s there to be late for? It’s the summer vacations, for heaven’s sake! And since I don’t have a job yet… Okay. That doesn’t make any sense. I’d really like to know what that means, but between finding out and sleep, I choose sleep. God knows I deserve it.

And why do I have to wake up?

Sleep… Sleep… Must get some sleep… Sleep… I need sleep…!

… … … … … …

I had almost dropped off to unconsciousness again when someone started shaking me by the shoulders and ripped the curtains on my window aside. I know because even though my eyes were closed, I heard the clang of metal rings being pushed aside forcefully against something straight--- like a metal bar. Of course, there aren’t that many things in my room so I’d just be plain stupid not to have guessed correctly.

Sheesh… Oh well. There goes sleep.

I slowly blinked my eyes open, allowing it to adjust. Staring groggily at the sunlight streaming in my rectangular window (I was right; the curtains were drawn aside in a slapdash fashion), I flipped my gaze towards my unwanted visitor.

I sat up. Or to make it more accurate, I behaved like some sort of gigantic arrow that’s been released from a crossbow (which can be my bed).

“About time.” She raised a thin, curved eyebrow at me and breathed out heavily. “Do you realize how long I waited at the gate? Then, how much I had to go through just to get here? And here you are, enjoying such a comfortable slumber---”

“Wait.” She had said all those things really fast. “Nerissa??? What are you doing here? What are you talking about?”

She rolled her eyes.

“I should be the one asking that.” She paused. “Don’t you know what day it is?”

I shrugged. I was really beginning to get confused… I observed her appearance.

Well, it’s certainly her.

Brown, curly hair (which is slightly wet), bronze skin, black eyes… She was wearing a plain chocolate colored dress, which hung down near her ankles. I noticed a violet shoulder bag hanging by one of the hooks at the back of the ancient maple door, obviously belonging to her.

“It’s the first day of school, you idiot.”

“WHAT?” I half-shouted.

THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL? No way! That wasn’t until tomorrow! I felt my eyes widening in mixed surprise and terror. I raced to my wooden trunk, fumbling around for a calendar.

Oh no…

Today IS the first day of school!!!

I emerged from my room thirty minutes later, completely dressed and (thankfully) presentable. I had managed to compel Neri to wait for me outside while I groomed myself, which, I think, irritated her a bit more.

Geez… Ms. Delcrozze is going to kill me. Well--- us, really. We are so late. And it’s the first day of school! She expects us to arrive a great deal earlier than usual. This so NOT good.

And just in case you don’t know, Ms. Shirley Delcrozze is our Discipline Director (somebody who swoops upon rule-breaking students like some kind of vulture and throw them to prison) and it’s always handy to bear in mind that she’s way strict. Furthermore, as we are the beloved students of Mizuno Private School for the Selected Youth and are very much submissive towards her wrath, we are supposed to behave properly (meaning: breaking even just one blasted rule is a crime befitted for banishment in hell). Unfortunately, most of the teachers seem to agree with her as promptness is a value that they are trying to stomp into our heads permanently (which, if you ask me, is just clearly absurd).

There are still many late students and as a rule, they are made to sign this late form. Along with it comes a system. Here it is:

If you get late three times in one month, you get The First Warning (a talk with your adviser or class teacher). If you get tardy thrice a month again, you get The Second Warning (a talk with your adviser, parents or guardians, the Discipline Director, and the principal). Another three again and you’re out (you get a sort-of punishment for a whole day and your teachers won’t accept you in class unless you’ve finished it).

I’ve been late several times before but that was during the middle of the school year. This is entirely different. This is the first day of school! Nobody get late on the first day of school--- NOBODY!!! Not unless you want Ms. Delcrozze to blow your brain up or something.

And here we are, going to school at least half an hour later after the bell--- all because of me. And it’s not only that. I’ve included Neri into this mess. I am sure to feel a lot of guilt later on. Probably the time when Ms. Delcozze starts shouting at us at the top of her lungs.

Anyway, I’ve tried making Neri go on to school without me, but she just wouldn’t comply (“Just shut up and get ready because I’m not going anywhere without you,” she said crossly). So, I immediately bathed and dressed up as quickly as I could.

On the other hand, I can’t really take the credit for this predicament. Well, not all of it. Yes, that’s right. Even though I have this tendency to get late for almost about everything, no. It’s not me. I’ve learned to manipulate that.

So, why did I fail to remember that today was the very important day when all of us students need to go to school on time? How come I was still in bed while Neri was waiting for me outside the gate and all? I’ll tell you.

Valerie the Cow (a.k.a., my scum of a stepmother) made me clean the basement. It’s really that simple. Yup, the basement (read: a room full of useless junk which, by the way, was chunked by her). And I--- being the wonderful person that I am--- granted her wish.

Okay, fine.

When she flashed her sickening smile after she told me what to do, I actually had the sudden yearning to snap her neck in two and then disfigure her face so her corpse won’t be recognized by anyone--- especially the crimysterials (soldiers whose expertise lie on solving felonies and enigmas). But then, that would mean that I’d be sinning; not her. Successively, I mastered the strong impulse to do just that and the next urge to scream a multitude of profanities right at her face (if you can call that a face).

I only got to bed at about one o’ clock in the morning. Everything was barely halfway to finished, but I was just so exhausted! Who wouldn’t be? I just couldn’t help it.

And that, precisely, was why I got Neri and myself into this turmoil.

A/N: For those who haven’t guessed through my amateur-ish writing, this is my first writing. I’ve never done anything like this before and I’m having some trouble. Anyway, I’m only using this story as practice and to gain some experience and pointers. I’ve got this story I formulated during my sophomore days and the plot is a lot better. I got the whole story after our Social Studies substitute teacher discussed something about Meteor Garden (our topic was China). Then, all really began to form when a friend of mine (her ambition is to become an animator and she’s into making mangas right now) gave me this drawing of a girl and a boy together. I colored it and I made it look like some sort-of poster. It’s still romance, as I seem to read more of them than fantasy. But I like them both.

If anyone desires to give me some pointers, please do. I’m very open to those kind of stuff right now.

He he… Annette’s ‘partner’ still isn’t here but he’s been into some really enormous transformations. I couldn’t decide what I should do with him but I’ll just get some advice to some of my friends. Or, if anybody’s got any idea, please share.

Reach for the stars!

-witchazel19-

P.S. Ugh!!! My writing just sucks. I feel horrible already. Anyway, I promise I’ll get better. Just need some experience… nn