Chapter 3: My Sister, The Popular Student

The next day, Avegaille was able to get to school by herself. She wasn't with Phil today, since she woke up pretty late from her sleep. As she ran through the hallways to get to her first class, she was able to avoid most of the students in her way until…

"Hey! Watch where you're going!" a student, estimated to be around fifteen years old, exclaimed furiously.

Avegaille fell on the floor and quickly sat up. She also found that the girl she bumped into looked very familiar. The older student wore glasses just like Avegaille and also had short black hair. She was taller than Avegaille by a foot and wore a white long-sleeved shirt with a maroon coat over it and some black pants. In a way, they looked almost like each other, only she was taller and older. The student looked at Avegaille skeptically.

"Jane? Is that you?" Avegaille asked as she stood up and stared at the student even more.

"Yeah, you got a problem with it?" Jane asked irritably as she folded her arms across her chest.

"Nothing, it's just that ever since you moved out, I never saw you…" Avegaille muttered and sighed. "You… you still remember who am I, right?"

"Hey, Jane! Come on, we need to get to our next class!"

Jane turned around and saw her friends waving at her. She turned back to Avegaille and went closer to her.

"Listen, Avegaille, in this school, let's pretend we don't know each other for now, okay?" Jane whispered. She sighed when she noticed how gloomy Avegaille was.

"But…"

"No 'buts', okay? I'll explain things when I get some free time on my hands," Jane quickly interrupted. After that, she ran off to her friends.

"So Jane, who is that kid you were talking to? She almost looks like you…"

"Oh? Her? She's just a freshman asking for directions…"

"Right, but what I'm curious about is why you two almost look the same…"

"Oh, that, you know, sometimes you meet two people who look the same but aren't related at all…"

After that, the group walked off while Avegaille tried to figure out where her first class was. Avegaille couldn't help but be furious over what Jane said to her friends about her. She didn't know why Jane was starting to act like that. She felt it had something to do with her sister moving out of their house after their parents divorced.

"I can't believe my own sister is doing this to me…" Avegaille muttered to herself after overhearing the conversation. She started walking to get to her first class.

.-.-.-.-

At Mr. Collin's class, Mr. Collins was doing the class call as usual. Nicole May couldn't help but wonder where Avegaille was since the seat next to her was empty. As Mr. Collins continued the call, Avegaille quickly rushed in the room but couldn't stop herself because of the slippery floor. She crashed into the bookshelf near the window and fell on the floor. Nicole May couldn't help but become exasperated while everyone else chuckled at Avegaille's act. Mr. Collins quickly stood up and rushed to Avegaille.

"Avegaille, are you all right?" Mr. Collins asked worriedly while he helped Avegaille up.

"Yeah… might need to get some rest for now…" Avegaille replied as she tried to stand up.

"Yes, well, you're still late either way…" Mr. Collins added as he stared at her exasperatedly. He went back to his desk as Avegaille quickly rushed to her seat.

As Avegaille sat down, she noticed that Nicole May was frowning at her. She couldn't help but keep quiet while waiting for her name to be called. Meanwhile, Nicole May took out her laptop and started to type things in it.

"Avegaille, seriously, are you always like this?" Nicole May asked while she continued to type on her laptop.

"Huh? Why do you ask?" Avegaille wondered as she stared at Nicole May skeptically.

"Nothing, I just would like to know. It's like you don't care if you get physically injured as long as you get the attention of the class," Nicole May told her. She stopped typing and stared at her.

"What? You mean, what happened earlier? I didn't do that on purpose…" Avegaille protested while she looked down at her desk.

Nicole May raised an eyebrow and continued observing her. Then, she turned to Mr. Collins, who was already calling her name. After a while, Mr. Collins finally finished checking the attendance of the whole class and took out a pile of papers from under his desk. Everyone started murmuring, knowing it would be a pop quiz.

"All right class, I shall distribute to all of you—"

Everyone started groaning before Mr. Collins could finish. Avegaille couldn't help herself and immediately got up, walked up in front and took one of the sheets Mr. Collins was holding. She quickly glanced at it and noticed something different about what was written on the paper.

"Hey, wait a minute! This isn't a pop quiz…" Avegaille muttered as she sweat-dropped.

Everyone else sweat-dropped after hearing what Avegaille said and Mr. Collins quickly took the paper Avegaille was holding and placed it back on the pile. Avegaille quickly returned to her seat and Mr. Collins started to distribute the paper to the class.

"Like I was saying, I am going to distribute to all of you the outline of the lesson for this quarter. You can use this as a guide to advanced reading so that even if you're absent, you won't miss out on any lessons…" Mr. Collins explained as he continued to give each student the outline.

"Heh, a good way to spoil the lesson," Nicole May muttered to herself while she read the sheet of paper.

"Not really, Miss Rustford," Mr. Collins interrupted as he looked at Nicole May. "Even if I give out the outline, only two to three students actually do the advance reading. I suppose you'll be one of those students?"

"If that's what you want me to do, I don't see anything wrong with it," Nicole May said as she shrugged and took out her writing notebook.

"So, I'm guessing you'll be the bookworm who will actually do the advance reading?" Phil remarked to Nicole May and chuckled. He was sitting behind Nicole May's desk.

Nicole May looked exasperated while she tried to ignore Phil's comment. Mr. Collins turned to Avegaille and handed over to her the outline. Avegaille read the whole outline and quickly turned to Mr. Collins.

"You expect us to learn Advanced Algebra before the end of the quarter?" Avegaille asked curiously as she stared at Mr. Collins.

"No, of course not… that's just an optional thing, as it states on the outline," Mr. Collins replied while he went back to his desk. He took out his lesson plan and started to jot down things in it.

"Advanced Algebra isn't that hard as long as you keep practicing with it…" Nicole May muttered to Avegaille as she looked down at her laptop.

Avegaille noticed that Nicole May's glasses were shining, that she couldn’t see her eyes. She quickly opened her notebook and tried to restrain herself from peeking at what Nicole May was doing. Mr. Collins then stood up from his seat and started to write things on the board. While Mr. Collins continued to write, someone from outside knocked on the door. Mr. Collins stopped writing and greeted the person outside. It was none other than Jane, his other niece. He also knew about Jane's position in the Student Council, so he didn't question why she was here.

"Hey, Mr. Collins, do you mind if I make a personal announcement to the class?" Jane asked.

"Sure, Jane… I don't mind… but your little sister…" Mr. Collins started and glanced inside the room.

"She's in your class?" Jane asked nervously and she bit her lower lip.

"Yes, unfortunately…" Mr. Collins replied and Jane entered the classroom. He followed Jane and stood right next to her. He looked at his class, in which the students were doing other things aside from what was written on the board. "Okay, class! The president of the Student Council would like to make a personal announcement to all of you…"

"Wait, you're the president of the Student Council?!" Avegaille blurted as she stood up from her seat and looked at Jane furiously.

"Yeah, so, what's wrong with being the president of the Student Council?" Jane asked while she stared at Avegaille and folded her arms across her chest. "If you don't mind, I would like to make an announcement to all of you here, so please take your seat."

"I can't believe the nerve of you…" Avegaille grumbled as she tried to restrain herself from exploding further and sat down.

"Hey, isn't that your sister, Jane?" Phil asked Avegaille. He knew it was Jane because she and Avegaille almost looked the same but not when it comes to their heights and their taste in clothing.

"Pfft, in this school, she's not related to me in any way," Avegaille replied sarcastically as she leaned her back to her seat and folded her arms across her chest.

Nicole May lifted up her laptop and took a picture of Jane while she was making her announcement. Then, she turned the laptop to Avegaille who was grumbling and trying to ignore Jane and took a picture of her. After that, she compared both pictures and the two sisters almost had the same features. The only thing in her mind was why Avegaille and Jane were somewhat arguing when they met.

"Just what are you doing?" Phil asked Nicole May as he glanced at Nicole May's laptop.

"Nothing, just comparing Avegaille and Jane…" Nicole May replied as she closed her laptop and turned to Phil. "I suppose you know something between the two?"

"Yeah, it's more of a personal thing… If Avegaille tells you about it, you're pretty much lucky," Phil explained as he leaned back to his seat.

"Personal thing, huh? I could probably live with that…" Nicole May muttered to herself as she turned to Jane, who was still making her announcement.

"…And so, for tomorrow, all seventh-graders are expected to be at the extra-curricular activity fair. Is that okay with you guys?" Jane asked as she looked at everyone.

Everyone nodded at Jane in agreement except for Avegaille. Avegaille didn't bother listening to what Jane said, seeing as she wasn't interested in anything that relates with the school or with her sister. She was still annoyed at her sister for treating her like as if they had never heard of each other before. After Jane left, Mr. Collins went back to writing his lecture on the board, trying to not make a comment to what Avegaille just did earlier.

"Extra-curricular activities? Might give me something to do now I'm living in Centralville…" Nicole May muttered to herself while she opened her laptop. She glanced at Avegaille, who was still murmuring to herself. She felt the urge to throw a crumpled-up paper right in Avegaille's face just to get her attention. She quickly tore up a page from her notebook and crumpled it into a ball. After that, she threw it towards Avegaille's head.

"Gee, I know what you're trying to do, but at this point, Avegaille doesn't pay attention to anything around her when she's in a bad mood," Phil interrupted and Nicole May quickly turned to him.

"You could have mentioned that before I threw the paper…" Nicole May muttered as she stared at Phil exasperatedly.

"Not to worry, if you need to know anything about Avegaille, you can always ask me," Phil said and leaned back to his seat again.

"Pfft, I'll bet you have a crush on her, don't you?" Nicole May asked and grinned mischievously.

"Now, why… would you say that?" Phil muttered while he tried to hide his nervousness.

"It's official, you guys are meant for each other…" Nicole May muttered to herself and turned back to her laptop.

Phil couldn't help but blush after hearing what Nicole May said. He quickly opened his Math book to cover his face. Avegaille, on the other hand, was still not moving from her seat. The bell finally rang and everyone packed up their things and went out of the classroom. Nicole May just finished typing everything she copied on the board and noticed that Avegaille was still not moving from her seat. Phil quickly went in front of the two girls, hoping to ease the tension, at least on Avegaille’s end.

"Hey, you two want to go together with me for our next class?" Phil asked.

"Pfft, I'll think about it… maybe no!" Avegaille exclaimed while she picked up her bag and stormed out of the classroom.

"Well, at least she moved…" Nicole May remarked as she shrugged.

"Yeah… but not exactly what I had in mind…" Phil muttered as he glanced at the door, more worried about Avegaille than anything else.

.-.-.-.-

During lunchtime, Avegaille went to the library instead of the canteen. She took out some encyclopedias to read from the reference section to pass out her temper. As she sat down on one of the tables and opened the encyclopedia, she didn't notice that Nicole May was right next to her. Nicole May sighed as she quickly took the encyclopedia off Avegaille's grip to get her attention.

"Hey! What did you do that for?!" Avegaille exclaimed as she stood up and stared at Nicole May furiously.

"Geez, you have such a short temper… you're even worse than I am," Nicole May remarked while she placed the encyclopedia on the table.

Avegaille looked at Nicole May skeptically while she sat down on the chair next to her seat. Avegaille kept quiet for a while and eventually, she sat down and sighed. Then, Nicole May took out her laptop and showed the picture she took earlier to Avegaille.

"Hey, how did you—"

"Eh… my laptop has a built-in camera, which I use to take pictures of whatever I wish to take," Nicole May quickly interrupted as she looked at Avegaille. "Tell me, she's your sister, right?"

"Yeah… but we never got along that much, even if we used to live in the same house," Avegaille muttered while she opened the encyclopedia in front of her. "She always gives this impression that she wants to be with the crowd… I don't understand it but it feels like popularity is really a requirement in life…"

"Heh, I'm telling you this once and only once… you don't need to be popular to achieve things in life. Seriously, why do you think I don't talk to other students and tell them I'm the daughter of a famous actress?" Nicole May asked her as she closed her laptop.

"So it is true… you're Sandra Rustford's daughter…" Avegaille muttered as she looked at Nicole May. Then, she thought about what Nicole May said. "And yeah, I think you're quite right about that."

"Since Jane is the president of the Student Council, I'll bet that those people hanging out with her are probably fakes… let me tell you that," Nicole May added while she closed the encyclopedia Avegaille was reading. "You know, when I was in Midway Academy, I thought I would have real friends… but then, I realized that they were just using me."

"You mean those people you were with who always made fun of me?" Avegaille asked as she looked down on the table.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure you remember them by now…" Nicole May muttered and sighed.

While Avegaille and Nicole May were talking, Jane entered the library and saw that the receptionist was fast asleep. Jane tried to hide her laughter and she quickly rushed over to the reference section to find the books she needed. She saw her little sister, Avegaille, and her friend talking together and slowly approached them.

"Hey, Avegaille, so you finally found a friend?" Jane asked and noticed that the book that she was looking for was the one Avegaille had at the moment.

"Yeah, so what's it to you?" Avegaille replied bitterly while staring at her sister with a rather annoyed look.

"Nothing… just wanted to tell you that, I hate being the president of the Student Council…" Jane replied, which surprised her little sister.

"Nobody ever likes being the president of the Student Council," Nicole May remarked while Avegaille turned at her. "I'll tell you the reasons why. One, you need to maintain your grades. Two, you have to be nice to everyone you know, even if he or she is your worst enemy. Three, you have to be nice to the principal or else the principal might remove you as president of the Student Council and place that on your permanent record. And lastly, did I ever mention those people who follow you around whenever you're just around the campus?"

"You're pretty smart for someone who has just been in a public school for the first time," Jane told Nicole May while Nicole May shrugged. "Of course, you do realize I still know you even if you wear those glasses."

"Heh, glad somebody recognizes," Nicole May said in return. "Seriously, you know who I am?”

"Yeah of course, you’re Nicole May Rustford… And don't you know that I am also told who are the famous celebrities' daughters or sons by the principal?" Jane grinned at her, proud at the fact the information she got was correct after all.

"No, but at least now I know…" Nicole May muttered as she looked away from them and sighed exasperatedly.

"So, if you hate being the president of the Student Council, why did you bother becoming one?" Avegaille interrupted, raising her hand to get her sister’s attention.

"Well, let's just say I wanted to change some things in this school before I graduate. And besides, it also gives me an advantage for high school," Jane explained as she turned to Avegaille. "And if you're still mad at me from earlier, then I suppose I can't do anything about it… I've been ignoring you pretty much for the past few years. Man, I feel like a jerk now…"

"Hmm, I still don't get it, but yeah, you've been a jerk lately…" Avegaille remarked and she turned back to Nicole May.

"Yeah, I know… listen, can I borrow that book you have there? I really need it for my research," Jane asked, in which her little sister immediately handed over the encyclopedia she was reading.

"Hmm, research already? But it's only the second day of school," Nicole May muttered and slightly raised an eyebrow.

"I know it's only the second day, but you would not believe how much work the teachers put into us tenth-graders!" Jane exclaimed and sighed exasperatedly. "Anyways, shrimp, if Dad agrees, I might move back with you and Mom. I'll see you then."

After that, Jane left, leaving Avegaille and Nicole May puzzled at what she just said. Both of them stared at each other for a while and didn't know what to say next.

"So, you think you'd like Jane to live with you again?" Nicole May asked curiously.

"Maybe, maybe not… To be honest, I could never get her at all…" Avegaille replied and sighed. She looked around for her sister, who was now standing near the Applied Science section.