Better Times || A Splatoon Story

Day II Hour 12

It was the middle of lunch. All three of us sat at our usual table. "Hey Marie, do you think we can visit Callie?" Pearl asks. "Oh... of course," I said shortly. "It's room 3-124." "Alrighty, we'll stop by for you, so you don't have to everyday," Marina writes it down on her notebook. "That's nice, but I'm fine going everyday," I said. I get up and throw away my food. I said back down with the other two. "Don't you have so many things to do? You are a star after all," Pearl added. "Yeah, but I have to know every single update they say about her, I promised them that," I said. "We're still going to visit," Marina said, kind of offended. "I'm not saying that you can't," I said. The both of them threw their foods away and sat back down. I rest my head on my folded arms on the table. I sigh for the long day of school. I thought to myself, "Why don't I just tell them? Tell them that I need help finding Callie's bullies? They already know what's going on why can't I just tell them?" I felt someone shaking my shoulder. It was Marina. "You just dozed off, the bell just rang," she smiled. "Hey, Marina?" I said with plead. "When it's your patrol around the school, or if you see Pearl. Can you guys help me find Callie's bullies? I heard them earlier this morning... but I can't hear them around anymore. So can you help?" I ask. "Anything for Callie!" Marina smiled widely. "Thank you so much, I needed that help," I thanked her with a hug. "Anything for a friend," Marina hugs back. I hurried to my class, luckily I wasn't late.

The long day went as usual. When the bell rang for all of the students to leave I went to my locker with tired bags trying to pull my eyes shut. I opened my locker and a note fell down to my feet. "Meet me by the fountain after you're done with everything." I examined the note a little bit more. Everything? I shove the note in my bag and went to the council room. Pearl had the widest smirk on her face. Marina enters the room after me. I set my stuff down on the floor and sat down at the table. Everyone else did too. "Alright and we start," I smile. "Latest news anyone?" "So I heard that Callie had bullies up her tail, since when?" Pearl said. "I founded out yesterday..." I said. "Hmm, and how do you know she does?" Pearl said. "She kept a diary..." I said. "Hmm, now I'll have to find them as-" Pearl went on. "Language Pearlie," Marina said. "So did you find anyone else who might be the culprit?" Marina asks me. "Not really, It was just this morning but I don't know what they look like," I said. "Hmm... so who's that person you told besides us?" Pearl said. "Just a student," I shrug. "Cmon tell us!" Pearl pulled my arm, literally. "A person, it isn't your business," I scowled at them. "Pearlie... don't bother her, she's already going through enough," Marina said. "Fine," Pearl sighs. "So, any chance today of finding them?" Marina asks. "No, unfortunately," I sighed. I could tell them about the note I got in my locker, but it's not their business. I don't even know who wrote it either. We sat in awkward silence. "How many faculty members if we help today?" I stopped the silence. "I think I did about 15 today," Marina said. "Well, I did my goal to get more than 2," Pearl chuckles. "How much?" I ask. "Heh, 6," Pearl smirks. "I think I did about 20," I said aloud. "41? Wow more than usual," Marina said. "That's good," I said with a smile. "Any bullying problems?" I ask quietly. "Nope, not since Callie I guess," Pearl said. "Hmm, I guess that's all then? No latest news?" I said. "I'm afraid so," Marina said. "Well, we will see you on Monday!" Pearl got her stuff. Marina headed for her stuff too. "I guess I better get going too," I mumbled under my breath, getting to my things. I grab my school bag and headed out of the student council room. I fished around for the note and went to the location it said to go.

I arrived to the fountain faster than usual and stood with patience. There was nobody around, must of been a stupid prank. I threw my note in the fountain in frustration and started to leave. That's when I heard a voice call "Hey." I turned to see a dark blue inkling boy. He had bright yellow orbs like mine and Callie's. He walked over to me. "You're not the one I sent for, so why are you here?" He said with a smirk. He was taller than me, so I had to look up. "I got a pathetic note from you in my locker, telling me you wanted me here," I said glaring into his copied eyes. "But that 'pathetic' note wasn't to you," he folded his arms. "Then what was it doing in my locker you crippled burnt piece of celery?" I growled at him. Even if he didn't look scared, his eyes were. You read people's eyes for their inside feelings. "Pfft, whatever," he rolled his eyes. "You don't make sense..." I face palm, starting to walk away. He didn't stop me. I walked home, and Grandpa was out on the porch smiling at me. It was weird when he smiled, maybe something really good happened. I walked on the steps. "Give your gramps a hug!" He cheers. I awkwardly gave him a hug. "Who are you and what did you do to grandpa?" I pulled away quickly and timidly. "Just because I'm happy don't mean it ain't me," he started to sound like his grumpy old self. "Well, why are you happy?" I ask. "That best dango company that went out of business went back to business!" He said with a even happier voice. That dango place is special to him, he grew up with that dango company 10 years ago it went out of business. That made me smile for him. "That's so cool! When are they going to put them dangos back in stores?" I ask. "I dun know, but it will be great!" He cheered. I crack up a bit, and went to my room. "Don't forget! You have to meet up with your dance teacher!" He yelled from down stairs. "Ok!" I call from the tops of the stairs. I sit at my desk and do my homework, Callie's journal was next to me. When I was done, the sun was starting to set, and I still have to go to my dance class. I put on my dark green tank crop top with black shorts. I slipped into comfy shoes and rode the train. At least it was a stop away. I walked to the backside of Inkopolis and there was the studio. Me and Callie have a private class time. This teacher was the one who taught us all the dances of Calamari Inknatation, Marinetime Memory, Ink Me Up, Now or Never, and City of Color. I walk into the doors.

"Well Hiya Marie!" The dance teacher greets me. "Hello," I smile. "Put your stuff on the wall and let's do the new dance," The teacher orders. I follow and went to go stretch. "Alright! So, did you go over the lyrics of your new song that the songwriters gave to you?" They ask. I nod. "So wanna work on your solo dances? Since Callie is not present?" The teacher said. "Sure," I smile. I was eager to learn it.

It took hours to learn it, but I can still do it a little bit. When me and Callie go, we both watch each other, and boost each other up. I left, I could totally just sleep on this train. I arrive home, and man I was beat. I walked to my room and wanted to read another page from Callie's journal. I sat on my desk chair and open to another page.

"Dear journal. Today was an okay day I went to school and stayed by Marie's side as much as I could so no one really bothered me except one kid pulled on my tenticals and then stuck his mint green gum on me, I almost ran after him but the green of his gum reminded me of Marie so I didn't. At lunch I stayed as close to Marie as I possibly could she got annoyed at that and yelled at me in a high pitched screech to nock it off I could only nod because if I did anything else I would have cried. So I left to the bathroom and cried that's when a purple and pink inkling came in and gave me a swirlee. After that I went to my last class I was not completely dried off, Marie asked me what had happened before class and I just told her I washed my face to wake up and then I ran off. After school Marie and I walked in silence the whole way, I didn't speak because I did not feel like crying again. When we arrived at our house I ran upstairs to my room and slammed the door so I could bawl. I had heard grandpa ask "what's her problem?" Marie answered in an annoyed tone "I think its because I yelled at her at lunch" It made me cry even more that Marie thought it was her. Before I knew it my blanket had rapped me in a sea of comfort, I grabbed the plush hamburger that Marie had gotten me for my birthday, and before I knew it I was in pitch blackness in the darkness of my mind sound asleep."

I felt like it was wrong to smile, but I was smiling at the fact, she still loves that hand made hamburger plush I made. I put my bookmark on that page to read the next one on the weekend. After I close the journal shut, I didn't realize I was crying again. I went to the mirror to take out my tentacle hair out of the bow, when I saw dried shiny tears laying on my cheeks. A bit of mascara went down the stream too. I untied my bow and got a wet wash cloth to wipe my face. I did my night routine and slip into my covers of warmth. I stared at my poster for the longest time until my eyes closed shut.