Monsterhearts:Just Another School Day

Sunday August 17th, 12:25 PM
Wildomar, Shane's House
**Shane's in the garage of his own home. He's wearing a brown tank top with dark blue sports shorts. His hands are wrapped with blue tape, though done a bit poorly as the tape is sliding down around his fingers, like he hasn't done it in a while. He's sweating as he punches a large punching bag over and over, alternating between hands. His face is stern, and his gray eyes are fixated on the bag.**

**Clyde**: **His gruff voice breaks Shane from his fixation on the punching bag.** Shane. **He's much taller than Shane, gruffer and has a grey and has a short-trimmed, but thick black beard, making it obvious that Shane inherited the ability to grow a beard from him. He also has short brown messy hair and brown eyes. He's in his mid fifties.** Your mother said I'd find you out here.

**Shane**: **He lowers his arms, turning to look at his dad, as he does he leans back against the punching bag. He doesn't really say anything, but the expression on his face tells his father enough.**

**Clyde**: Last time I found you out here, saw that look, was about that guy at school. **He puts his hands in his pockets.** You've been get'n better since then, since you, told your mom and I about your... **He clears his throat.** Preference. Better grades, not getting into fights... That what this is about?

**Shane**: **He looks away and his fingers find their ways to the bandages around their opposite hands, pulling at them to tighten them.** I dunno... Maybe. It's different this time.

**Clyde**: So you didn't uhh...

**Shane**: No-no it's nothing like that. **He looks down at his handwraps and remembers that thing from the detective's office, one of the heads shrieking as it turns to look at him with glassy pale eyes, the image is quickly replaced by an apparition that looks almost like Liam, it's golden empty gaze looking down at him as it evaporates into black feathers and smoke.** ...They're just... I'm just having trouble... I don't know... **He sighs in frustration and looks up at his dad.**

**Clyde**: Trouble with what, son? **He keeps a stoic expression, which is signature for him.**

**Shane**: It's just... Change, you know? **He shakes his head.** It's like I don't know what's what anymore... Again... I look around and wonder if that's true, if things're really different... Or if I really just didn't notice before... **He sighs again.** That sounds like nonsense...

**Clyde**: Life is change, Shane. You gotta roll with the punches. You take what you can get and do your best not to hurt someone else doing it... Is this about your truck?

**Shane**: Huh? **He's practically forgotten about the engine in his truck being totalled.** Oh... No... Maybe, I dunno. Just... A part of all this... ... ...Weirdness.

**Clyde**: Well, like we talked about yesterday, if the repairs are cheap, you'll get it back, but if it's shot we can't afford another one. We promised Coty a car this year. **He sighs slightly.**

**Shane**: Yeah... That's alright...

**Clyde**: You know you can talk to me about anything, don't slip back down into bullying and bad grades, alright? Find a good group of kids to hang around with, you don't need bad influences right now. **He reaches out and pats Shane on the shoulder a few times and then lets it sit there.** One more year, and you're free to live your life however you want. You just have to get through this last part.

**Shane**: Yeah... I... Don't plan on screwing this up.

**Clyde**: Good... **He takes his hand from Shane's shoulder.** You plann'n on gett'n back into boxing? **He motions to the bag. It's been collecting dust for months.**

**Shane**: **He smirks.** I don't think I was ever actually *into* boxing Dad... It's just something I liked to do to... Vent.

**Clyde**: Well you got good at throw'n out those punches, still good at it from what I saw. Looks like you've gotten a bit slow with your left there though, breath'ns better, but I suppose that's from all the Swim Polo... **He mutters under his breath.** Or whatever that is...

**Shane**: **He looks down, talking with his dad is making him feel better.** Maybe you can show me, like how we used to practice after you got off work... **He looks back up at his dad. They haven't really spent much time together as his father works a lot.**

**Clyde**: I'd love that. **He smiles warmly.** Uhh, not right now though. Your mom's make'n some kinda tuna casserole and I don't think I'd survive if you and your brother don't help me eat it. Come inside and get cleaned up, I'll coach you a bit after we eat. **He waves his hand for Shane to follow him as he turns and walks towards the garage door.**

**Shane**: **He glances at the punching bag for a moment, then turns and follows after his dad, unwrapping the bandages from his hands. The talk didn't really help him sort out what to do with what he's experienced the passed two days, but he feels better somehow.**

***The next day, at Lunch...***

**Chris, Liam, and Shane are sitting at the small table under the two dead trees. Odie doesn't seem to be eating lunch with them, but they know he's here because Chris and Liam saw him in homeroom this morning. The day is notably colder than the passed few have been and the sky is clouded from a heavy rain last night, which has left the schoolyard damp and puddled.**

**Chris**: **He's only having a bag of Cheetos and a Powerade today for lunch. He keeps looking at Shane, and then Liam. After a long while, he's sick of the silence at the table.** So what happened after I left?

**Liam**: **He's wearing the same black and red hoodie he's been wearing, with a ghost busters shirt on. His eyes go wide and he looks at Chris, then Shane. He's already finished eating his lunch, and has just been staring at the small box.** Uhh...

**Shane**: **He looks up from his lunch, which is a pair of small hamburgers that he's dipping in ranch dressing. He has no drink. He responds to Chris plainly.** Me and Odie got high enough to fall asleep. Next morning, one of the legendary Twins, Lucas, showed up. He apparently can breath fire hot enough to melt asphalt and cars.

**Chris**: Wait, what? **He looks at Liam.** Is he serious?

**Liam**: **He nods quickly.** He told us he was skipping town with his boyfriend, and his brother, and that if anything happened to Odie while he was gone he'd come back and kill us.

**Chris**: **He narrows his eyes.** ...Boyfriend?

**Liam**: **He just nods slowly.**

**Shane**: That's what you picked out of that? That he's gay? **He raises an eyebrow at Chris.**

**Chris**: Uhh... **He shrugs, feeling uncomfortable.** So he's going to burn us alive if we don't take care of Odie?

**Liam**: **He nods.**

**Shane**: Odie seemed pretty broken up about them leaving town. We left afterwards. On the way back a guy named Leo attacked us. Blew the engine in my truck, then tried to set us on fire.

**Liam**: **He looks at Shane unsure if he's going to talk about the shadowed figure that saved them.**

**Chris**: ...What?

**Shane**: It was a guy named Leo, used to go here. He was looking for more of those Sig-ghils. ...Sigils. Whatever. **He picks up his hamburger and takes a bite. He seems to be taking all of this as if it's normal every-day affairs.** He used some kind of magic. Like he could control fire.

**Chris**: **He just sighs.** ...Damn.

**Shane**: He nearly scorched us, but Liam saved my life. **He looks over at Liam and smirks slightly.**

**Liam**: I did?! **His voice cracks a little and he looks at Shane with surprise.**

**Shane**: You kept that fire from flowing down on us. **He seems to be purposely skirting around the appearance of Avarada.**

**Liam**: **He looks back and forth a few times at Chris and Shane.** You're the one that grabbed me so that we could duck under it... You saved us first... **He looks down and away.**

**Chris**: **He keeps looking back and forth between them.**

**Shane**: ...Oh... Right. **He's kept from remembering the chain of events, as he remembers back Avarada's eyes flicker through his mental image of the event.**

**Chris**: So you two saved each other. **He's still not sure if they're just making this up.**

**Liam**: ...I... Guess we did, yeah? **He looks at Shane and smiles slightly.**

**Shane**: Yeah. **He looks at Liam for a moment, then back to Chris.**

**Chris**: Hmm... Guess we should probably stick together.

**Liam**: Huh? **He looks from Shane to Chris.**

**Chris**: We'll have to talk to Odie about these Sigils some more. This is affecting us directly now, so he needs to tell us more about what's going on. **He's looking down, thinking about their situation as he's speaking.**

**Liam**: I don't think he knows anymore about what's happening though. I think he would've told us... Right? **He looks at Shane.**

**Shane**: **He sighs, his calm facade failing.** Maybe we could drop by and talk to his boss.

**Chris**: We have him in fourth period. We'll talk about it more there, or after, if we can.

**Meanwhile**

**All the boys that tried out for swim and water polo team are lined up at the side of the pool, shoulder to shoulder. The water polo coach, a new guy that wasn't here last year, is walking passed them. This is the first time he's been in class. He's tall, over six foot, and has black hair, with the sides greying. He's obviously not in very good shape, with a slight gut, though he doesn't seem to care. He's wearing a deep blue polo shirt and a pair of orange swimming trunks, he has a silver whistle around his neck. Under his right arm he's carrying a clipboard.**

**Coach Boomer**: I'm Coach Bruce Boomer. You call me Coach, Coach Boomer, just don't call me Mister. Not I'm not that four-foot half-man you've had the passed few years. Principal Foxx brought me in to take us to State this year, and that's exactly what we're going to do! **He pulls out the clipboard from under his arm.** This here is your fate. It decides whether you're going to be in the kiddy pool over there, swimming with your ducklings and your floaties, or the real american deal with me, down in the trenches with the men of water polo. If I call your name, your on the team, if not, you're out. **He pulls the clipboard out and calls out the first name.** Vincent Alvarez...

**Kyle**: **He crosses his arms over his chest as he watches the Coach walk back and forth, calling out names. The cold weather has made this class extremely uncomfortable as the pools aren't fully heated, despite this he doesn't seem too bothered by it, if he's shivering he's somehow hiding it.** I can't tell if this guy is serious or not.

**Shane**: Sounds serious... **He's standing next to Kyle as he fiddles with his goggles, his hands are shaking, and he has his towel wrapped around him tightly.** ...Sorta.

**Liam**: **He's standing next to Shane.** Was the last coach easier? **His teeth clatter slightly as he speaks.**

**Shane**: You could say that. **He pulls his goggles off and breaths onto them, then cleans them with his towel.**

**Kyle**: Coach Garcia was lazy.

**Shane**: But that's why we have you. **He pulls his goggles over his head and looks to Kyle.** You're practically the coach.

**Kyle**: A real coach would be better. **He watches Coach Boomer almost slip and fall into pool, and he narrows his eyes.** But I'm not yet convinced that's what Coach Boomer is.

**Chris**: How well have you guys done in the past? **He's standing on the other side of Kyle. He hasn't gotten in the water yet today so he's not as cold as them.**

**Shane**: We got to socal state semi-finals last year. **He shrugs. Coach Boomer suddenly drops the clip board into the pool.**

**Chris**: My old school went to nationals last year... **He doesn't sound like he's bragging, more than he's just disappointing with this school's performance.**

**Kyle**: **The comment about nationals catches his attention.** What was your old school?

**Chris**: Central High Collegiate. Our team was the Hornets. Black and yellow. We were on the local cable at one point.

**Kyle**: Is that a prep school? **He's still watching the coach, who is trying to fish the clipboard out of the pool.**

**Chris**: Yeah. **He seems annoyed somehow.**

**Coach Boomer**: **He grabs the clipboard and holds it up, the water has smudged the words on the page a little.** Chris... Chris iours... Chris. We have a Chris?

**Chris**: **He raises his hand.**

**Coach Boomer**: Alright... **He tilts the clipboard.** Garg... Gurdy... Cluck... Gurgy... Clocktower... **A kid all the way at the end seems to be excited, it's his name that Boomer is trying to make out on the page.** You know what, we only need nine players. So everyone except you, at the end there. **He points to the kid at the end who looked happy.** Whoever you are, you're not on the team, go over to Mrs. Lara and ask her for some footsie pajamas and a tutu, cause you didn't make the cut this year.

**Kid at the End**: But I'm Gary Clockson!! **He looks like his dreams are withing.**

**Coach Boomer**: I don't see that name anywhere on here. You cuttin class kid? Go get dressed and head to the principal's office! Get outta here. I don't tolerate ditching. **The kid tries to say something but he waves him off.** Out, *out*, *OUT*! **The kid hangs his head dejectedly and walks towards the locker room.** Alright, as for the rest of you, you're in for the fight of your life...

**Liam**: **He sighs in relief, glad that he got in.**

**Chris**: Sucks to be that guy... **He bites the inside of his lip.**

**Shane**: Yeah. **He watches the kid walk into the locker room.**

**Kyle**: **He sounds aggravated.** Our last coach might have been lazy, but this one is just incompetent.

***Later, during Mr. Hammer's English...***

**The class is practically over, Mr. Hammer is handing back homework. The group hasn't had a chance to talk, and Mr. Hammer has been lecturing for the majority of the class.**

**Mr. Hammer**: **He walks up next to Liam and pulls out his paper.** Another perfect score, Liam. **He puts the paper on Liam's desk.** It's strange, because only you and Kartrina up in the front are getting these scores, and I've noticed that you two even answer the written questions in the same way... Care to comment on that?

**Liam**: Uhhh... I don't even know her. Mr. Hammer... Sir. **He looks down and back and forth.**

**Mr. Hammer**: Oh I know that. I'm just wondering how it is that you keep answering the same questions in the same way. **He turns and pulls out Odie's paper.** Brendan, you would think that after the last score you got you would at least wise up and find a way to cheat like Liam here, but apparently that would be too much work for you, just like studying seems to be. **He puts the homework on Odie's desk, a 62/100 score with a big "D-" on it.**

**Odie**: I had to work overtime this weekend. **He shakes his head.**

**Mr. Hammer**: I hope that job pays well because you won't be getting anything better with a grade like the one you're getting. **He puts Shane's paper on his desk, a 89/100 B+.** Satisfactory, Shane, but we both know you can get that grade higher. **He looks at Chris.** I didn't even receive a paper from you Christopher.

**Chris**: ...Yeah, I was going to ask you if I could turn it in late... **He looks up at Mr. Hammer.**

**Mr. Hammer**: **He sighs.** Well since you didn't plague me with an excuse like Brendan here did, I suppose you can. However ten points will be removed from the final grade, and I expect the work in *homeroom* tomorrow, and don't make a habit of this. You're not getting another one of these.

**Chris**: Thanks, Mr. Hammer, I won't. **He looks down at his empty desk.**

**Mr. Hammer**: Good. **He turns and walks down the row, handing out more papers to the last few kids.**

**The bell rings. A few minutes later they're all walking out onto the campus quad.**

**Shane**: **He's walking next to Chris.** Hey Odie. **Odie is walking ahead of them, talking with Dustin.** Hey, Odie!

**Odie**: **He looks back at them.** Yeah, what's up?

**Liam**: We wanted to talk to you about something... **He looks at Shane and then back to Odie.** Has to do with last friday.

**Dustin**: **He looks at Liam and shakes his head.** Man, I an't handle Liam, I'll meet with you in the parking lot in a few for the green alright? **He walks off between a few other kids before Odie even says anything.**

**Odie**: **He walks slower so that the three of them can catch up.** ...We probably shouldn't talk about that stuff in school...

**Liam**: Leo attacked us after we left your... Detective place. **He looks around, making sure no one is trying to listen in or something.**

**Odie**: Leo? The baseball player guy? **He looks confused.**

**Shane**: He blew the engine out of my truck, and then he nearly lit us on fire... **He doesn't seem concerned with who overhears them.**

**Odie**: ...God damn it... We'll talk to my boss, he should be back by now. He'll know what to do... **He looks at Chris.** Can you give us a ride there?

**Chris**: I hope this doesn't mean I'm going to become your guys personal chauffeur. **He looks at Odie, then Shane.**

**Liam**: **He whispers.** ...What's a shoffer? **He looks around.**

**Odie**: Well I guess we could ride the bus...

**Chris**: **He smirks.** Yeah I can drive us there. Aint no thing.

**Shane**: Thanks. **He adjusts the pack around his shoulders and walks faster.**

**As the four of them reach the parking lot there seems to be a commotion there. Kids are standing in a big circle watching something. There's some yelling.**

**Odie**: **He looks around, and then looks over a few people.**

**Liam**: ...What's going on? **He's too short to see over the other people, and instead has to push passed a few people to see.**

**Chris**: **He stands in his toes a bit to get a better look, he doesn't really care what's happening, but he might as well look since everyone else has stopped anyway.**

**At the center of the ring of people is Lilith, yelling at Blake. Kyle can be seen standing at the far side of the ring, watching the events unfold with apathy. A bunch of the other swim team members are standing near him. Shane pushes up next to him after a moment, having gotten over there fast.**

**Lilith**: News flash shit-head! You're a fucking nobody! **She's standing to the left with several other girls standing around her, along with a few of the football jocks.** FUCKIN NO ONE!

**Blake**: I'm a nobody, bitch I MADE you! **A few of the football players are standing around him, along with some other popular guys.** You think you can just kick me to the curb!?

**Lilith**: You? Made me? Hah. **She looks around.** Oi, any'you fuckin gawks think I need this roided up has-been to make me queen bitch of this little yard?! **She looks around at them, most everyone is too afraid of her or too awkward to respond.** See?! Look'it them, loyal subjects! **She looks back at Blake.** Who the fuck you got eh, mate? Some grabbers from the locker room! **She laughs.**

**Blake**: I'll show you you STUPID BITCH! **He charges towards her and then slams his hand across the back of her face, sending her slamming to the ground in a single hit.** You think you're tough shit, at least Mandy Lane could take a hit, who the fuck are you?! You're just some dumb little whore from the outback! **The circle of students gasp, and the boys that were standing with Blake try to pull him back, but he's large enough to push them away easily.** You're NOTHING! I run this yard!

**Chris**: **He pushes passed a few of the kids prepares to intervene.**

**If you want to intervene you have to** **Hold Steady** **first to drum up the nerve to get into position.**

**Taylor**: **(Rolling to** ***Hold Steady*** **5 + 4** **+ 2** **+ 2 (Snake Food))** **Cold** **is 13.** **Marking experience.)** **Choosing to carry 1 forward in this scene.**

**Chris**: **He steps between Lilith and Blake, throwing his backpack to the ground.** Hitting a girl like that, that's a real shitty thing to do.

**Lilith**: **She stands up with the help of a few other girls. She looks at Chris, her eyes are watering. She looks back and forth between him and Blake a few times.**

**Blake**: Well well, look who the *fuck* it is... You think because I didn't show up for the rest of last week that you won that fight? **He shakes his head.** I'm gonna kick your ass so hard they'll find pieces of it from here all the way back to Ohio. **He raises his fists.**

**Chris**: Kentucky, dumbass. **He looks around at the other students and then raises his fists.**

**Blake**: **He rushes Chris in a reckless rage, raising his fist. If it connects Chris is likely to get knocked unconscious in a single strike as Blake has the full force of his body behind him this time.**

**Taylor**: **Spending the** ***Snake Food*** **condition to act at an advantage here.**

**Chris**: **His utter hatred for Blake boils to a head and steps forwards towards him before sliding into a into a kind of baseball base steal. Chris's foot slams into Blake's ankle, kicking it out from under him and causing him to lose his balance and launch forwards.**

**Blake**: **He launches, tumbling over Chris and slamming into the asphalt face first. Blake takes** **2 Harm** **and he's out cold. After a moment blood starts to pool around his face.**

**Chris**: **He gets up, limping slightly. Hitting Blake's foot hurt one of his toes, after a moment he walks normally. He doesn't seem too concerned that Blake is face down in a pool of his own blood.**

**Kyle**: He got what was coming to him... **A lot of the other kids start to agree. Chris's reputation on the school yard seems to have increased dramatically.**

**Lilith**: **She kicks Blake a few times, once square in the side of the head.** ...That's what you get you fuck! **She looks to Chris.** Thanks Kentucky...

**After a moment the crowd moves out of the way as a metallic red sports car drives up. The door opens and Leo steps out.**

**Liam**: ...Shit.

**Odie**: He won't try anything here... Just keep calm. **He looks at Shane, Shane's looking at Leo.**

**Leo**: **He doesn't even seem to notice Liam and Shane.** ...Lilith? **He walks up and looks at her, turning his face to his.** Who did this?

**Lilith**: Blake. **She looks up at Leo and rubs the side of her face.**

**As she says this Blake gets up and turns to look at Chris and Lilith, his nose has been broken.**

**Chris**: **He walks up, putting himself between him and Lilith.** You should've stayed down man.

**Blake**: I'm gonna put you in the hospital Ohio! **He moves to attack Chris but stops.**

**Voices spring up around the group.**

**Mr Hammer**: Break it up! Break it up! Everyone move on! **He walks into the circle.** Blake! Why am I *not* surprised that *you* are involved in this. **He looks to Chris.** Christopher. You've been here four days and I'm to understand that this is the *second* time you've gotten into a fight.

**Illiadius**: **(Rolling to** ***Hold Steady*** **to stand up for Chris. 5 + 6** **-1** **is 10.** **Choosing to carry 1 forward.**

**Illiadius**: **(Rolling to** ***Persuade*** **Mr. Hammer. 1 + 6** **-1** **+1 forward is 7.**

**Liam**: Hey! **He pushes into the group passed the kids that are leaving.** Chris *saved* Lilith! Blake hit her! If he hadn't stepped in who knows what would've happened!

**Mr. Hammer**: **He looks at Blake and then Lilith. He narrows his steely blue eyes and slowly looks to Blake.** Leo, please escort Lilith to the nurse's office.

**Leo**: **He glances at Liam for a moment, then escorts her back towards the school, keeping her close.**

**Mr. Hammer**: As for you, Blake. Principal Foxx will surely have something to say about this. **He grabs Blake's arm.** Move. *Now*. **He pushes him to turn away from Chris and the others and then puts his hand on his back, pushing him towards the school.**

**Liam**: **He sighs in relief and then looks to Chris.** Damn Chris, I didn't think you'd help Lilith after how mean she was.

**Chris**: **He watches Blake leaving with Mr. Hammer.** I don't like her, but Blake hitting her... Was uncalled for. **He looks away and walks over to his backpack, picking it up, he turns and walks towards his car.**

**As their group moves together towards Chris's car there's gossip that can be overheard from a bunch of the students that were watching, all of them talking about Chris saving Lilith and making Blake look like an idiot.**

**Chris**: **He ignores most of it, opening the door to his car and getting in, he puts the keys in the ignition and turns it on.**

**Liam**: **He gets in the back.**

**Odie**: **He gets in the front passenger's seat.** So what are we going to do? That's Leo right there. His car is just over there... **Shane gets in and sits next to Liam.**

**Chris**: **He wraps his fingers around the driver's wheel tightly and then shifts the car from park, he turns onto the street and coasts it between a few cars and towards the exit.** We're going to sit outside the school, then follow him after he leaves...