If The Octonauts were Mean Girls (COMPLETED)

SHE DOESN'T EVEN GO HERE!

The gym was abuzz with every Junior Student present, and Principal Inkling, far from pleased, was dealing with the fallout of a gossip war. The hot topic? Pinning down the mastermind behind 'The Burn Book'. Peso had the scoop but was tangled in his own web—if he spilled the beans, he'd be in the hot seat too.

As they settled in, curiosity was at a fever pitch. Peso's attempts at camaraderie were met with icy glares from Tweak and Kwazii, who acted as if he'd vanished into thin air. Inkling, desperate for a resolution, demanded the truth about the Burn Book debacle.

"Never!" Inkling thundered, "In two decades as a principal, I've never witnessed such a circus! This 'Burn Book' business is the last straw. No confessions, no Spring Fling Dance—simple as that."

The crowd gasped. Could the Principal really pull the plug on the dance?

"Now, listen up," Inkling continued, "I get it, you've got issues with each other, but hurling 'ugly' around isn't going to make your day any brighter. And I see you've all cliqued up."

Dashi, the once-reigning queen bee, signaled for attention.

"Yes, Dashi?" Inkling acknowledged.

Standing up to a chorus of eye rolls, Dashi declared, "Just to set the record straight, we're not cliquey here."

"Drop it," interjected Selva, "The Burn Book's author? Probably just some bored souls with too much time. And for the record, I do not baby talk to plants."

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd. The culprit was among them, but who? Inkling had a hunch. Aware of Dashi's past antics, he was determined to mend the rift this Burn Book had caused.

"Okay," Inkling announced as he set aside the Burn Book, "Everyone, close your eyes."

Initially, there was confusion, but then all complied, their eyes shut.

"Now, raise your hand if someone has ever spoken bad of you behind your back," Inkling instructed.

A moment of reflection passed before, one by one, hands ascended, reaching skyward. Inkling took in the sight.

"Alright, open your eyes," he directed.

Eyes fluttered open to a shared reality; hands lowered in unison.

"Once more, close your eyes," Inkling continued, and as the darkness returned, he posed another question, "Raise your hand if you've felt personally victimized by Dashi."

Paws lifted, not just students, but teachers too. When eyes reopened, the extent of Dashi's gossip was laid bare. Inkling, however, had a plan to mend fences.

Shortly after, he rallied everyone around a table, sparking curiosity and skepticism about his method. Climbing atop the table to demonstrate, he said, "This is about trust. I propose we each write an apology to those we've wronged, and then, to show our willingness to let go, we'll fall backward, just like this." And with that, Inkling leaned back, ready to trust in the fall.

As Principal Inkling spun and tumbled, the crowd caught him in a trust fall gone right, sparking a wave of apologies. Each person penned a sorry note to a friend they'd snapped at, followed by their own trust plunge. It was a healing ritual, and with each fall, the air grew lighter.

"Shellington," Barnacles began, his voice echoing off the paper, "I'm sorry for laughing when you had that 'accident' at Barnes & Noble."

Poor Shellington's face bloomed with shades of crimson.

"And I'm doubly sorry for blabbing about it," Barnacles continued, "Triple sorry for bringing it up now."

But instead of falling back, Barnacles dove forward, the crowd scrambling to catch him. Then, a girl climbed atop a table, her voice quivering with emotion.

"I just wish we could return to those middle school days," she sniffled, "baking a cake of rainbows and smiles, sharing it, and bathing in happiness..."

Sympathy swelled until...

"She doesn't even go here!" Kwazii's outburst sliced through the sentiment.

Confused glances were exchanged as they realized the girl was a stranger.

"Do you even attend this school?" a teacher inquired.

"No," she wept, "I'm just brimming with emotions..."

"Alright," Principal Inkling soothed, "time to head home."

As she retreated, Tweak stepped up with her apology, and Dashi, unable to contain herself, burst into giggles.

"Tweak better not take another tumble off her horse like last time," Dashi quipped with a smirk.

The room erupted in snickers, all but Peso and Kwazii joining in. Tweak's eyes darted between the two; she wasn't just any girl, she realized, she was the puppet master.

"Alright..." Tweak began, fishing out her rehearsed apology, "So, there's this new kid I befriended this year. Thought it'd be a hoot to throw Dashi Dog's life into chaos. Had him cozy up to Dashi."

Jaws dropped as Tweak laid bare the scheme since Peso's arrival.

"Post-prank, we'd reconvene at my place, cackling over Dashi's gullible moments. We slipped her these chocolate bars—calorie bombs, really—and pitted her pals against her," Tweak confessed.

Laughter filled the air, even as Shellington and Barnacles reeled from Peso's deceit. Dashi stood frozen, processing Tweak's torrent of confessions.

"And then... Oh, Peso, my dear accomplice," Tweak snickered, "He locked lips with Dashi's BFF, Selva, and we shattered that friendship. And the foot cream for face wash switcheroo? Classic!"

The crowd lost it, howling with laughter as Dashi's anger towards Peso simmered. Tweak's grin softened as she faced Dashi.

"Man!" Tweak burst out, "I'm so sorry, Dashi. Can't fathom why I did it. Maybe 'cause I'm just CRAZY ABOUT YOU! Chew on that!"

With a dramatic flourish, Tweak spun and fell back, the crowd catching her mid-fall.

"AY-YI-YI-YI-YI-YI!" Tweak's victory cry rang out.

Applause roared for Tweak's bold revelation, while Shellington and Barnacles shot Peso looks of betrayal. Peso's eyes followed Dashi as she stormed away, and he hurried after her, trying to mend the remnants of their friendship.

"Wait, Dashi," Peso pleaded, "this wasn't supposed to happen!"

"So everyone despises me? I'm not bothered!" Dashi retorted angrily.

"Wait, Dashi, just listen—," Peso attempted again.

"No!" Dashi yelled.

By that time, everyone had gathered outside, witnessing the heated exchange between Dashi and Peso.

"Oh, the word on the street? They claim you're the homeschooled oddball who couldn't quite match the sizzle of Barnacles and Shellington. Quite the talk of the town, aren't you?" Dashi quipped. "Yeah, so don't try to act so innocent! You can take that fake apology, and shove it right up your Feathery-"

Dashi is struck by a bus, eliciting gasps of shock from everyone. Peso steps back, unable to grasp the unfolding events.

Contrary to the grim jest, Dashi Dog did not die; however, she sustained severe injuries, including spinal damage. Rumors circulated that Peso had pushed her, but these were unfounded; he had not.