Rot The Vote

Chapter 1

A/N: This is actually based off of a movie we're making in film class. My film teacher, Mr. Lagasse, came up with the plot. He gave me permission to write the movie in book form and so this is the result. Hope you enjoy. I'll put Yuki-chan's translations at the end of the chapter. I'll post as we film the movie. Author-chan out.❤

It was a normal school day at Deadville High. Despite the name, Deadville High was actually a cheerful place. The lawn was nicely manicured and the students usually had a good time. The stoner kids stood in their designated smoking spot at the corner across from the large grey building, aptly dubbed The Corner. The rebel kids stood in the front of the school pelting Zombies with acorns and small boulders that most normal people call "rocks". Ariana Blue, a beautiful girl with a bright smile and a future to match, stood in front of her American Studies classroom talking to her friends. She couldn't wait to get in there and learn about the world. She always loved school and was always ready to learn something new. She often spent the majority of the class reading or answering teacher's questions earning her the nickname of a teacher's pet.

Ariana was a homely girl, with her curly hair pulled up into a ponytail and her jean skirts. She wore black 2 inch heels and she never wore makeup. Her blue eyes were the color of the sea.

The bell rang and she sat in her desk next to a girl she knew only by reputation. To be honest, Ariana always thought the girl was a little weird. The girl wore a Japanese school girl outfit and spoke a lot of Japanese. Like all the time. At least once every sentence.

"Ohayo!" The girl smiled. Ariana smiled uncomfortably and nodded in response.

"Hey, Mr. Orange Jello." A kid in the back of the class raised his hand, "What are we doing today?"

The kid smelled heavily of weed.

"For the hundredth time, it's Or-an-jel-low" The teacher sighed, pronouncing his name slowly in a way that made it seem like he was trying to teach a slow infant algebra, "And that's a great question. I'll tell you after roll call."

Mr. Orangejello grabbed his clipboard, "OK. Joseph Addams?"

"Fat. Joe." A large kid said angrily.

"Alright." Mr. Orangejello said, checking off the name he muttered, "Wasn't that the name of a rapper in the 90s or something?" Mr. Orangejello then called out, "Brie McBrie?"

A girl who was taking selfies looked up from her phone and shot Mr. Orangejello a dirty look. Ariana recognized the girl. She had long, dark hair and dark eyes. She was always dressed to the nines, walking down the hall in her stilettos, looking like a real life Barbie doll. If Barbie was also an Instagram model.

"Brie's here." Mr. Orangejello said, checking off the name, "Brie? Isn't that a type of cheese?"

After a few more kids, he finally came to Ariana.

"Ariana Blue?" Mr. Orangejello called out. Ariana raised her hand.

"Present and ready to learn, teacher." Ariana replied.

"Yuki-chan!" The girl next to Ariana yelled out, raising her hand as high as a 5'0" girl could sitting down.

"Yes, Yuki, you're down near the bottom of the list." Mr. Orangejello checked off both names, "I dunno why you felt the need to scream it out."

The American studies teacher finished roll call and set down the clipboard.

"As you know, Oregon is raging with zombies." He started as he turned around and wrote two questions on the whiteboard, "In your groups, I want you to discuss the following questions. 1) Should zombies be considered citizens and 2)Do zombies deserve human rights?"

The kid who smelled like pot raised his hand, and Mr. Orangejello called on him.

"If zombies become citizens, does that mean I can't throw rocks at them anymore?" The kid asked, "Because, personally, that was my favorite pastime of the day."

Mr. Orangejello thought, "I... I dunno, actually. I would assume so."

"I don't really have an opinion on zombies." a boy, Ariana thought was named Jake Bimble, replied.

" Zonbi ni jinken ga arubekida to watashi wa omoimasu!" Yuki-chan replied, "Watashi wa karera ga cho kawaii to omou!"

"Are you guys crazy?!" A kid shouted, "They EAT people!"

"You're so negative, man." A hippy girl, Ariana was sure her name was Autumn Breeze, replied.

"Does that mean we need zombie jails if they become citizens? We need to clothe them and house them and feed them... Wait. How do we feed them?" The kid said. The class fell silent.

"Vegan zombies!" Autumn Breeze cried out after a moment's thought, "I believe Vegan zombies can be a thing."

"Vegans are bad enough!"Some boy in the back of the class yelled, "We don't need vegan zombies!"

The class started arguing, but Ariana was lost in thought. Flashbacks to that awful day replayed in her mind on fast forward and on repeat. She could feel anger and sadness bubble over like a witch's cauldron.

"Zombies don't deserve equal rights!" Ariana yelled, "They're monsters! They eat people's mothers!"

The class grew silent as they stared at Ariana. Ariana could feel the hot tears streaming down her cheeks.

"When I was a little girl, I was at the beach with my mother. I-I fell asleep. I was laying in the sun. I-It felt so warm and nice. I-I just fell asleep. And suddenly I heard..." Her voice wavered and she paused to steady it, "I heard an awful scream. I woke and found a-a monster hunched over my mother. Entrails were everywhere and... and her leg... Her leg was across the beach... A zombie ate my mother! So no! They don't deserve human rights! They're monsters!

The class stared at Ariana in shock.

"Well... " Mr. Orangejello cleared his throat, "Thank you for that horrifying... Picture. The reason I made you discuss these topics is so you could ask them at the assembly tomorrow. As you know, Principal Hammerlick is running senate."

The class exchanged confused looks.

"Principal Hammerlick is running for senate?!" Jake replied.

"Nani?" Yuki-chan asked.

Translations:
Ohayo= Good Morning!
Nani?= What?
Zonbi ni jinken ga arubekida to watashi wa omoimasu!= I think Zombies should have equal rights
Watashi wa karera ga chō kawaī to omou= They're ultra kawaii.