The school of the ordinary, Standart High, remained normal as the students wanted it to be. The outside gates were open as the schedule allowed.
There stood Nate Elfirm on the front, with the other four members of Quad Four just trailing nearby.
After coming home yesterday from Honoway Mall, he had been thinking about his close encounters with the Slimestuck Faden in one of the bathrooms and how he had to try to push his limit to the max against an easily scared creature.
But enough of the past; Nate should focus more on the present at hand, specifically the way to handle another day at Mr. Mouch's class. On the bright side, he wasn't so late that he had to traverse through the wall while avoiding the security guard, Mr. Kowpinn.
He decided he should focus on his studies and other aspects of life foremost, with occasional disturbances like monsters that should be quickly dealt with if he could.
"Hey! There's Nate! You were way ahead of us."
A voice from Cloey came behind him. She wore the same pink dress every day during the entire week. Sam was right behind, still jogging as he remained in one spot.
"Yo! Are you sure that you don't go to the gym, or even exercise at all? I kinda feel like you got faster. Cloey and I are the ones who are here first."
"Heheh... it must be because I ate more for breakfast than I realized. Maybe the extra energy from those hearty sausages made me try to burn off the extra energy."
"Good for you. I had to skip breakfast because Sam and Cloey won't stop hassling me outside my trailer," Manson said with ire.
"I still can't believe you live in that dusty old trailer near the sticks. It looks so small and cramped..." Sam said.
Nate nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I'm not sure if I could fit all my stuff if I lived in Manson's home."
"Hey! My Aunt Maren and I are living just fine in it," Manson interjected, before turning to Nate. "Don't forget, Nate, the time when we went to your room, and there was literally mold growing under your bed. You messy hoarder..."
"I'm not a hoarder; I just like to collect a lot of things, mostly stuff on the ground! And for the record, I'm pretty sure it wasn't mold; even if it was, it's gone now!"
"Hello, Cloey, Nate, Samuel, Manson. It appears we're right on time at the front of the school. Shall we be on the get-go?"
Finally, Sheila Orbison herself is here, the girl with knowledge and perceptive awareness, dead last on their arrival at Standart High.
Her posture as she stood looked rigid, as though made to follow orders like a soldier. Maybe only a tense way of going to school?
Knowing her, Nate assumed that she went to the antique store by the shopping market district again. As it stands, he still couldn't figure out the meaning of staring at the things behind the window. Did the things there really mean anything to her? Anything from her past, like a memento from Standart City's first-ever Green Catastrophe that happened years ago?
Despite it all, Nate walked up to her and gave a standard greeting.
"Good to see you, too. Let's go before the gates lock us out."
And so, without further ado, all five of them strode together ahead, becoming part of the crowd as they entered the school as studious students.
* * *
The halls of the school looked the same as always. The lockers lined up parallel to each other until they met the point of the endless-looking horizon.
However...
Whatever feelings of comfort and rigid normality that may cover anyone who passed by did not make a dent in the cautious and worried vibe that took over the whole school, students and teachers alike.
Nate could see as he walked to homeroom class that dozens of students were all huddled together, their eyes constantly flickering over every area as though some creature might provoke and attack them from nowhere.
"Oh my, I don't like how this school day looks," Cloey stated to Quad Four.
Sheila nodded in affirmation. "Quite a dreary atmosphere if I say so..."
The four of them walked until they reached homeroom, where they would be silent until more people came into class.
"It seemed quieter than usual," Sam pointed out.
"It really is more serious than I thought..." Manson said.
* * *
Mr. Mouch's class was no exception; even though there was the imminent threat of having to deal with complex math concepts, it seemed another thought lingered in the minds of Nate's classmates.
He listened closely to Lucia, and Tom whispered near his side.
"Right, so... didja do anything over the weekend? Heard about anyone that you knew? I am just wondering, by the way... But, like, did something unnatural happen at all? Something that you have to get off your chest," Lucia curiously asked Tom.
"I'm glad you asked, Lucia, because I was about to tell you all the great things that happened, starting with the tours of Moderma and receiving acting roles from major studios and all that... I even started my application for an audition for Torrent Media Studios for—"
"I meant with Jed. He got arrested yesterday."
"Oh, him? I definitely did hear about him. Got in trouble with the police, am I right? And for him to take hostages of those people in the bathroom, that guy is one messed-up bloke. Flashing a bloody knife around..."
A rustling came from outside, stopping the two from conversing with each other any longer. The doorknob rattled, and the door flung open, revealing a short, stout man, and his balding head was definitely his most defining feature.
Mr. Mouch plopped his things on the side of his desk as he stood up to greet the whole class. He clapped his hands once to get their attention.
"Alright, people, enough chattering around. I know... recent events regarding one of the students here in the school have been circulating online and such..."
"..."
Both Marlo and Jed looked down at an angle where Nate couldn't tell what they were feeling.
Looks like the Gym Trainer and the Nutritionist are really affected by what happened to Jed. Couldn't blame them; I would also be sulking if that happened to one of my friends.
"But remember," the teacher continued, "that we all have to go through with this lecture if you all want to be successful for the test tomorrow, so we will have to continue within our ordinary times in our schedules."
The rest of the class nodded in return.
"God, I hope things here get easier in this class. My grades can't handle another flunk, especially when I can't stop thinking about Honoway Mall... so I really gotta step up," Paula Griffin whispered offhandedly.
"Don't worry, Paula, I'm sure you'll be okay. Besides, I'm here to help if you need it," Kylee Herb reassured.
In another direction, Nate could see one of his other classmates shaking with intense emotion. The hands were mystically waving, piercing through the air.
"Through the auric skies of the night, to which I rested with great ease, I shall use a spell of mind strengthening to get through this boring class so that I can practice my magic later."
A girl named Varedeth, with no known last name despite the intensive search by the government, uttered her usual enchanting words in hopes that it would work.
"Not a fantasy fan, more veered towards science fiction, but is that supposed to be a reference to Sunlight Queen: Savior of Two Moons that I merely heard about?" Layla Pess asked, her tone indicating she wasn't expecting a serious answer.
"I thought of it as a reference to her complete insanity," Lucia stated.
"Being detached from the ordinary reality has to be unfortunate," Tom said.
"Guys, come on, it's kind of funny to hear stuff like that. Maybe Varedeth does have some awesome magic that she could show us later," Aliana Augero excitedly said to them.
Randall Evan's eyes were closed the whole time, as though he tried to feel the air's aura around him. "This feeling around the class, despite their outward verbal mentions of being okay in school, the room was filled with eeriness similar to the reactions of the first even Green Catastrophe, Siphence's Verdant Flaring, causing multiple Mini-Green Catastrophes to happen over the Middle Groundlands."
"I wonder what we'll do in Art Class today," Nate heard Mosan Feff say to himself.
"Really hope that this day goes faster..." Bobby Belarus said. "I really have many things to say to my old pals after school, and I try to be friends with even more pals."
Kana Namuro nodded her head to Bobby's comment, as if to agree with his first take. "You could say that again. Mr. Mouch isn't exactly Teacher of the Year in my eyes."
The rest of the class murmured to each other while Mr. Mouch looked under his desk for materials. It was strange to see his classmates, most of whom were friendly or at least acquainted with Jed, suddenly ignore his arrest as if it had never happened.
Then again, Nate assumed that it was to put on a theme of the ordinary. For this ordinary class to function well, it had to be certain that nothing else would interrupt this vibe at all.
At best, most of them would engage in conversation about what happened with Honoway Mall, or say Jed's name as they wished he would return. Overall, the atmosphere was bleak. People like Cloey would be saddened to find her class not like yesterday.
* * *
After a long time of spending inside Mr. Mouch's class, Nate and the others were finally let out and could go to their second-period classes.
As he walked by, he noticed his homeroom classmates huddling up, just like how most people were doing in the halls. While not trying to get roped into the conversation, Nate lent his ear for a chance to eavesdrop on the conversations regarding the tension of the school atmosphere.
"Haven't you heard? Jed Sampson... got arrested by the police," a voice from Marlene Toberwell said. Despite the lies and false gossip she usually shared, this fact was actually the truth
"What?! He did?!" Katie Cobbs said with a shock.
"I thought it was just rumors, but for Jed to get arrested for attempted assault and murder..." Cristo said with clenched fists. "I should have known from the beginning, if only I could've stopped him before it was too late..."
"At least he was caught, right?" Kana Namuro asked. "Thank goodness officers Bluefield and Grudge were there."
Nate peered over to see Aliana Augero with her lips pursed over the mention of Jed many times.
"But did Jed really kidnap those people? I know Jed could be annoying to you all—not more annoying than Brandin, though—with how he always tries to make trouble, but I don't think he's a killer," she said.
"Aliana, he had a knife in his hand, and the people who were kidnapped said that Jed tried to kill someone when they found them in the bathroom. There's no other way to suggest otherwise," Randall Evans said.
"Th-that's true..." Katie meekly responded.
"I hate to say this to a former friend, but he's right," Cristo Drudge admitted. "It's just how life is, and it's especially bad for something like this to happen in Standart."
With those words around her, Aliana could only sigh in disbelief.
"If it is true, I guess..."
"..."
After Aliana's sentence had been uttered, a moment of silence swept through the huddled group, until one person chimed in to not let the awkwardness take over.
Kana Namuro held her chin with a finger.
"Even though he could be persistent and annoying, we all thought he was somewhat of a good guy. In the end, I guess he was really a killer hiding amongst us ordinary people."
"I thought Dawson would be arrested first," Marlene Toberwell admitted.
"Hey, I'm tougher than I look, even the police who always watch me try not to get me angry, ya know?"
The sheer immediate presence of a hard-sounding voice made the group jump from the lack of an introduction. Nate hid himself more in the corner and peered over to see a large person with so much beef in his arms that it could be used to make a bunch of burgers.
Dawson Bright came up to the group, easily towering over the girls and Randall, except for Cristo Drudge, the police officer's young intern.
"What do you want, Dawson? Trouble?"
Everyone present in his vicinity took a step back, as though Dawson would blow up in an intense explosion at any second.
"You think that Jed was some evil guy and that he should be the first one to be feared, and y'all ignored the true monster of the school."
The group looked to each other in confusion, not knowing whether or not they should know what the delinquent was talking about.
"What?! It's true, I'm a tough guy, and I won't let myself be soft, and I do have what it takes to kill, you know! I'm more than Jed, I was born to hurt!"
"Stop saying that! Why are you saying this? You'll get in trouble for this!" Kana accused.
"Because," Dawson began, "this school is full of losers, and I don't care if I get any trouble. I want everyone to know that I'm just as bad as the murderin' Jed."
Cristo planted himself in front of Dawson. Putting himself as the target over the people behind him.
"Cut this out, Dawson, you better not joke about this. I won't hesitate to bring you down!"
"Is this a fight you want, Cristo, because you'd better be good enough to make me tickled!"
"I don't tickle, I punch!"
The two were mere inches away from having a full-blown fight occur in the middle of the hallway. Fortunately, though, someone else wedged themselves between the two of them, causing the tension to dissipate.
Sole security guard of Standart High, Mortin Kowpinn, quickly intervened as Nate saw it. His presence immediately made Cristo and Dawson back off without any second thoughts.
"Alright, you two, back off before things get really serious, you know? Cristo, I'll handle this, so stand down. Dawson, you better not be causing any more trouble, or else you'll get sent to the principal's office again. Huh? Would you like to get a suspension on your school record, huh?"
"No..." Dawson softly answered.
"What was that?!"
"I said 'no, sir', sir..."
"Alright then, I'll be on my way. Good day to you, students."
Mr. Kowpinn propped up his crinkled uniform and left for the other hallway, looking around to see any trouble pop up in his peripheral vision.
Nate was about to dash away if the fight was going to happen, but thankfully, it didn't.
"Come on! I thought you two would beat each other to death. So lame... in this ordinary school..." Marlene pointed out.
"Shut up, Marlene!" Cristo aggressively said to her. Without anything else to do, he walked away from the group. Nate could see the people behind Cristo sigh in relief as though he had saved their lives by standing up for them. "This isn't over, teacher's pet!"
"Actually, the teacher's pet for Ms. Sheely is a baby turtle, so you're wrong!" Cristo said to him in return.
"Really, dude?" Kana asked with disbelief on her face.
"What?"
As the clock's hand inched closer to the time of Nate's next period, he saw. He quickly left the halls before the bell would make him late.