When Trouble Comes: A sequel to "Through the other Dimension"

Chapter 15: Ryan Babcock's POV

Our squad sat there on the benches of the Cafeteria, anticipating of what would overcome of us. Two platoons, eight squads, each squad containing six people with a squad leader, assistant squad leader, and four cadets. Each squad yearning for the moment to represent CloudsDale High and get all the glory.

In Hope's Basement, the whole entire night we, as a squad, stayed up all night practicing our routine. While everyone else either slept or prepared to go back to the other 'dimension.'

Destiny and Lance, as siblings, decided to split up into teams. Of course the whole entire squad stayed, while Paper Burner, Amethyst, and Lance would go back to the other dimension. Lylia, Heather, and Sonic Thunder wanted to go, but Destiny wouldn't let that happen, saying "Its too risky."

The squad leader was full of mysteries to me. Even though she spilled the beans about what has happened to her and how Nathin was being possessed by her evil father, she was still hiding something. I knew that her original boyfriend was killed by Toorek, or however you pronounce it, but she was still hiding something from us. I just know it!

I couldn't look at Destiny Hope the same way I used to, knowing that she was a princess and her twin brother was a prince.

Anyways, back to reality. I watched from inside the Cafeteria as second platoon, first squad marched around the courtyard area. The squads that have already went, were either shaking like crazy still or were quietly showing off inside the Cafeteria.

Precipitation hung among our squad as Hope looked at the table and was mumbling something to herself, while the rest of the squad watched Hope from a whole new perspective, including me. She looked up at us and realized we were watching her, and banged her head against the table.

"I hate this," she whispered loudly enough for our squad to hear, "I hate being royalty. I just want to be a normal teenage girl, without having to worry about my evil father rampaging in my best friend's body, and having to keep secrets about who I really am."

She looked up again, this time looking tired and stressed out, with black spots under her eyes. I felt bad for her... Really bad for her, because I didn't know what it was like to walk a mile in her shoes. Wong was the first to speak.

"Like my grandfather once said, 'when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.'" Wong said the last part like a Chinese old man, which made me snicker.

"I've heard that before, but not from your grandfather," Ulysses stated.

"Did your grandfather talk like this?" I commented with a Chinese old man accent.

"Shut up, Babcock. It's called over exaggeration," Hope interjected as she stretched.

"Actually he does talk like that." Wong crossed his arms, looking offended.

"Sorry, didn't know." I raised my arms in defeat, trying not to smile so that I didn't have to do push-ups with Hope. Stevens was trying not to laugh too hard, and he did pretty good. Better than I would've done.

"Thanks, Wong, but that doesn't change the fact that ever since I've told you guys about me being a..."

"Princess." I covered my mouth, knowing what I just did.

"Don't call me princess, Babcock," she growled at me as she gave me her famous death stare. I fell to the ground on my butt, shocked. Everyone looked in our direction, glancing at Hope and than back at me.

"Hey, what's going on over there second squad?!" The platoon leader assistant came over to our table, clearly a bit taken aback.

"Sorry, Dreyer, I don't know what I did there, I was..." I wasn't about to abandon my squad leader now... or ever.