The Imaginary

Chapter 2: The Transfer Student Is a Junior Mystery Man

THE IMAGINARY

CHAPTER TWO: THE TRANSFER STUDENT IS A JUNIOR MYSTERY MAN

PART 1

They never did stop. They didn’t intend to. It was all giddy, to the extent that it became a noise craze. Not to mention there were arguments and, uh, giggles. I was reading the comic, so I could lock myself away. Savage stirred his milk so strong it nearly spilled. The same can be said for the class’s excitement. It was worse than the delusional state.

"Quiet, now!" cried Laura. She was the queen. Her orders were absolute. Ah, I wish I could do that, or even try it. "More ideas?"

But you really couldn’t blame them. I was a curious kid. The others were playful types. See, the Moon Festival was fast approaching, and it was our first as Level Three students. We were now in the booth system. We could sell stuff in the week-long celebration.

"I-I have an idea!" said Tom. Knowing him, this was probably a Ghost Lover effect. "What about we sell ghost dolls?" I was right. Figures.

"Ghost dolls?"

And a sudden peace, full of dark eyeballs. Thank you, Tom, for this.

"Yeah." He did a few pencil scratches. "Ta-da!" He showed it to us. It was a drawing of a gothic covered in blood. Oh-so bloody. "Like this. It’s cool, right?"

"No." That was flat, more with the serious face. She chuckled. "Just no, Tom!"

The room laughed boisterously. It continued for a while. So the prefect wasn’t present.

"Hey, it counts in the 'more ideas' part." Poor Tom, it was one-on-many. He turned depressed.

"Let me see that," said Rex. He took the paper, then examined it. "This could do well." He returned it to Tom. "But, anyway, you guys up for Stringball? This year’s Moon Cup. Jake?"

Last year, we had parlor games. This year, we could participate in the Moon Cup and play our favorite game, Stringball. It was of Moonsbane culture, this sport.

"I’ll pass," I said.

"Why? There will be cheerleaders, Jake." For the record, Rex, I wasn’t like you. I had no polygamy issues. I was interested in only one girl. And I viewed her as a lady.

"Cheerleaders."

"Yeah, cheerleaders. The girls in class. With those pompoms." The adults called it "human roles." Others, however, were more sensitive. "Some sweet flowers. Imagine that."

"How nice. But that would be troublesome." I could only reveal this much. He, of course, didn’t get what I meant.

"It’s Moon Juice, then. Did I miss any vote?" Ms. President, you forgot us, but it didn’t really matter.

"Oh, we forgot to vote," said Rex. "What about the Moon Dance? You going?"

"Don’t jinx it. You’re already locked up tight. I have a fifty-fifty chance. And I can’t even start from that, from the fifty. I can’t ask her."

"Nah, not yet. Levy’s really stubborn, you see. She ignores me, when I’m being too persistent."

The girl entered the room. Her hair looked like seaweed as usual. She got a scolding from Laura, to which she reacted just as violent. And Rex here stood. It was golden time for some "romantics."

"Speaking of which. Wait a sec, Jake."

"I can see why she’s being stubborn."

"Yeah. And you should consider Stringball. It might earn you some, you know, credits." That was vague. What was he talking about? But it wasn’t half-bad. I might, if Sarah were to join the cheerleading squad.